English Chair Completes Biking Challenge, Raises Funds for Department

Associate Professor and Chair of the English Department Robert Matz, left, recently biked 224 miles in 24 hours. Leading up to the event, Matz decided to turn his ride into a fundraiser for his department, and raised about $2,700 in pledges. (William Beck)
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UPDATED 3:28 p.m.

The chair of George Mason University’s English Department recently biked an “epic” 224 miles in 24 hours, and in the process, raised about $2,700 in pledges for funds for his department. 

“I have a friend who’s very into this kind of endurance biking, which is called ‘randonneuring,’ and he asked me if I wanted to do it,” Robert Matz, associate professor and chair of the English Department, said. “It sounded fun and I liked the idea of doing something new.”

The event, which began on April 16, spanned all over the Middle Atlantic. Matz’s route started in Falls Church, Va., then went out to Poolesville, Md.; Shepherdstown, W.Va.; Berkeley Springs, W.Va.; and Winchester, Va. At this point, Matz and his crew of four began the return home, stopping in Purcellville, Va. and Herndon, Va., before the ride finally came to an end at the Key Bridge Marriott in Washington, D.C.

“My goal was to finish, to finish safely and to enjoy myself, and I did meet those goals,” Matz said.

Once Matz had already decided to partake in the challenge, he decided to turn it into something more than just a bike ride. He thought that this would be an opportunity to connect with alumni and to do some fundraising for the English Department. Donations were pledged ahead of time per mile traveled by Matz’s crew. He was able to garner about $2,700 in pledges, which is intended to support current students, as well as for advances in department equipment and programs.

“As with the whole university, times are tight,” Matz said. “But they are mostly tight with respect to hiring new faculty, and to do that with privately raised funds, you need millions, not thousands. The money the Chair’s Challenge raised, however, will help the department be able to spend more, especially on student needs such as scholarships or support for internships.”

Although Matz did complete the challenge, it came down to the wire. Not only did he face a strong headwind, but he suffered some bike problems as well. With just six hours to get back to Falls Church before the 7 a.m. deadline, he and his team were still in Winchester, a substantial 70-mile journey remaining.

“When you’re not tired, 70 miles in 6 hours is not that hard, but at that point, I was pretty tired,” Matz said. “So when I was done, I was very happy to be done, and I thought, ‘never again.’ But that feeling went away pretty quickly, and I hope to do this ride again next year.”

Matz has been biking seriously, with some significant hiatuses, since the age of 15. He often bike commutes to campus. His longest biking excursion previously was 130 miles in 24 hours, as well as a five-day 300-mile journey with his son from Pittsburgh to D.C.

“I highly recommend bike commuting,” Matz said. “It gives you exercise, you don’t have to find a parking space, it’s good for the environment and it’s fun — usually.”

He hopes to ride in the 300k challenge coming up on May 8, but is not sure he will have the time. However, he does plan on doing the 224-mile challenge again next year, just without the fundraising aspect.

“When you’re on a long ride like this, you keep going, rely on those you’re riding with as they rely on you and you have fun, even though parts of the ride can be hard,” Matz said. “Kind of like working in a university under straitened financial circumstances. Kind of like life, really.”