Larchmont Brothers To Bike 2,500 Miles To Benefit Local Charities

When Lucas Zabotin, 15, took a two-week bike trip from Maine to Canada last year, he enjoyed it so much that he decided to do it again this year.

"It was a great experience," he said.

This time, however his older brother Sacha Zabotin, 17, will join him on his adventure.

The brothers, who are students at the in Larchmont, will be taking part in the Apogee Adventures' Teen Summer Adventures Bicycle Tours, a six-week bike ride from Charleston, S.C. to San Diego, C.A. for teens aged 15 to 18.  Apogee is a Maine-based company that leads hiking, biking and other outdoor adventures in the U.S. for young adults who, in turn, make their trip a community service effort. 

The bike trip will raise money for the Food Bank For Westchester and Larchmont Pet Rescue.

"We will be riding about 82 miles a day," Sacha said. "I am nervous, but I think it will be really fun."

The boys will attach all their belongings—including camp tents—to their bikes. They will stop for food and then set up the tents at campgrounds at night.

"We usually sleep at campgrounds, but sometimes churches take us in," Lucas said.

The two packed very small bags with only necessities. They are not allowed to bring iPods, cell phones, laptops, or any electronic devices.

"One of the main goals of this trip is to communicate with groups without all the technology," Sacha said.

The night before their flight to Charleston, the boys were at their home, preparing for their trip.

"I packed four shirts, two pairs of shoes, soap and shaving cream, only necessities," Sacha said, referring to his relatively spartan packing list.

Lucas said he is thrilled to be doing the trip a second time. He recalled his fondest memory from his first experience.

"I remember waking up at four or five in the morning and watched the sunrise in Pemaquid, Maine and they have one of the earliest sunsets," he said, smiling. "We started our bike trip right after."

Their mother Nicole Zabotin, 44, said she is thrilled for her sons. "I am very excited for them," she said.

"This is a huge undertaking. It is challenging  but they will be together. They will always have this experience that they share." 

Donations on behalf of the Zabotin brothers for the Food Bank can be made on the organization's website here. For Pet Rescue donations, please send a check made out to Larchmont Pet Rescue with “Zabotin bike trip” in the memo section. Checks should be mailed to the Zabotin residence: Nicole Zabotin, 33 Byron Ln., Larchmont, NY 10538.  Collected funds will be donated to Pet Rescue. Please call (914) 262-6609 with questions.