Bike Diva

Team Type 1 at RAAM

Team Type 1 Takes First Place Finish in Race Across America

The OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System Lets Cyclists Focus on Winning in Record Setting Time

ANNAPOLIS, Md., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Team Type 1 concluded the 28th Annual Race Across America in record-breaking time, finishing first-place in the 8-person team category division. In this 3,000 mile transcontinental cycling competition beginning in Oceanside, CA and ending in Annapolis, MD, Team Type 1 members were put to the ultimate athletic test enduring extreme desert temperatures, wind, the threat of thunderstorms, and rough terrain, all while having to constantly manage their diabetes.

"We are so proud that our team was able to break another Race Across America record and finish in first place," said Joe Eldridge, co-founder of Team Type 1. "Our team's mission is to show people with diabetes that they can accomplish anything if they work hard to control their disease. We hope our team's performance inspires other people to manage their diabetes so they can achieve their own goals."

Team Type 1 was created in 2004 by Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge, a pair of avid cyclists with Type 1 diabetes. In 2006 and 2007, the pair captained Team Type 1 to back-to-back victories in the eight-person team division of the Race Across America (RAAM).

In this year's race, six of the eight team members were able to compete vigorously and control their glucose levels with the OmniPod(R) Insulin Management System: Jeff Bannink, Beaverton, Ore.; Alex Bowden, St. Charles, Mo.; Matt Brooks, Pickerington, Ohio; Lonny Knabe, Portland, Ore.; Bob Schrank, Gurnee, Ill.; Mark Suprenant, Milford, N.H.

"The revolutionary technology of the OmniPod let us focus on competing," commented Mark Suprenant, one of the winning TT1 RAAM cyclists. "OmniPod stood up to all the challenging conditions we faced from California to Maryland and enabled us to deliver our best performance ever."

The OmniPod System consists of two wireless components: the Pod -- a compact, lightweight, self-adhesive insulin delivery device that is worn discreetly on the skin beneath clothing; and the Personal Diabetes Manager -- a wireless, menu-driven, hand-held device that programs the Pod.

"We congratulate Team Type 1 on yet another inspiring achievement," commented Duane DeSisto, President and Chief Executive Office of Insulet, manufacturer of the OmniPod System. "These elite athletes embody our mission to make diabetes a smaller part of life."

About the OmniPod Insulin Management System

The OmniPod Insulin Management System is the world's only tubing-free insulin pump. OmniPod offers people living with insulin-requiring diabetes all the benefits of insulin pump therapy, with unprecedented freedom, comfort and ease. OmniPod has just two components: the small, discreet, watertight Pod, worn almost anywhere on the body to hold and deliver insulin; and the PDM (Personal Diabetes Manager), a hand-held device that communicates wirelessly to program the Pod, calculates suggested doses and has a built-in FreeStyle(R) blood glucose meter.

About Team Type 1 RAAM

The Team Type 1 Elite/Developmental team formed out of the desire to showcase diabetic cyclists during one of the toughest races in the world -- the Race Across America (RAAM). As the cycling season progresses, the 14-member team of elite diabetic cyclists grows better and better, with the younger team members learning the ropes semi-professional cycling, while the more experienced riders are groomed for the biggest race of all, the RAAM. Seated at the top-rung of ultra-endurance competitions, the 3000-mile RAAM is 30% longer than the Tour de France; yet it is finished in less than one-third of the time! The 2007 Team Type 1 RAAM team finished first in the 8-person division and set a new world record.

About Race Across America

The Race Across America is one of the most respected and longest running annual endurance events holding legendary stature the world over. It is one of the pinnacles of sporting accomplishment, globally seen as the highest rung of the ultra-endurance sports ladder. Since 1982, RAAM has a rich and storied history standing as a monument to human endeavors. The Race Across America is an event so staggering that merely to finish is, for most, the accomplishment of a lifetime. RAAM inspires everyone that it touches. A monumental race contested with the utmost of sportsmanship and zeal. Truly, RAAM is larger than life. A breeding ground for champions, a testing ground for elite riders and a shining example of the strength of human spirit.

About Insulet Corporation

Insulet Corporation (NASDAQ:PODD) is an innovative medical device company dedicated to improving the lives of people with diabetes. The Company's OmniPod Insulin Management System is a revolutionary, discreet and easy-to-use insulin infusion system that features two easy-to-use parts with no tubing and fully-automated cannula insertion. Through the OmniPod System, Insulet seeks to expand the use of insulin pump therapy among people with insulin-dependent diabetes. Founded in 2000, Insulet is based in Bedford, MA.

 Media Contact:
 Erich Sandoval, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation
 Tel. +1-917-497-2867
 E-mail: esandoval@lazarpartners.com

Source: Insulet Corporation

CONTACT: Erich Sandoval, Lazar Partners for Insulet Corporation,
+1-917-497-2867, esandoval@lazarpartners.com

Web Site: http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/

18th Annual Fat Tire Classic

PRESS RELEASE

18th Annual Fat Tire Classic Benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled & the American Red Cross Mile High July 17th - 19th, 2009

DENVER, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Sports Center for the Disabled and American Red Cross Mile High Chapter will be hosting the 18th annual Fat Tire Classic from Friday, July 17th to Sunday, July 19th at the Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, CO. Experience world class mountain biking and fantastic hiking with a wide variety of well-marked trails for all levels of riders and hikers! Join this summer tradition with:

 -- World Class Mountain Biking!
 -- Fantastic Hiking!
 -- 6 Catered Meals!
 -- Fat Tire Amber Ale!
 -- Family Fun!
 -- Two Great Organizations!


 Register now at www.fattireclassic.org

The Fat Tire Classic is a Colorado summer tradition offering fun for the whole family. The weekend mountain biking and hiking event raises funds to support the vital work of two great Colorado organizations; the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter and the National Sports Center for the Disabled.

Whether you are an advanced rider, an avid hiker or you just want to take your time and enjoy beautiful Winter Park, CO, there is something for everyone at the 2009 Fat Tire Classic. They can also raise pledges from family and friends to provide even more support for the Red Cross and the NSCD.

The National Sports Center for the Disabled, founded in 1970, is a world leader in the field of adaptive sports and recreation. The NSCD raises five million dollars annually to teach and provide equipment for over 20,000 lessons in over 20 sports which positively impact the lives of people with disabilities. With specialty trained instructors and a state of the art equipment lab, NSCD athletes take to the slopes, trails and playing fields to learn more about sports - and themselves. For more information, please visit www.nscd.org.

The American Red Cross Mile High Chapter helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, more than 3000 volunteers helped victims of nearly 300 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to tens of thousands; and provided support to U.S. service members and their families in Colorado. The Mile High Chapter is affiliated with the American Red Cross and is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Locally seventy-nine cents of every dollar is spent on humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time and money to do its work. For more information, please visit www.denver-redcross.org.

 Media Contact: Rachel Hirt
 Marketing Director
 303.633.5802
 rhirt@nscd.org

Source: National Sports Center for the Disabled

CONTACT: Rachel Hirt, Marketing Director of National Sports Center for
the Disabled, +1-303-633-5802, rhirt@nscd.org

Web Site: http://www.fattireclassic.org/
http://www.nscd.org/
http://www.denver-redcross.org/

MASS Mountain Bike Festival

PRESS RELEASE

VisitPA.com's Mid-Atlantic Super Series Mountain Bike Festival Will Attract Sport's Top Riders

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's official mountain bike team will sponsor one of the largest cycling events in the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend near Harrisburg.

The fifth visitPA.com Mid-Atlantic Super Series (MASS) Mountain Bike Festival Weekend will be held June 26-28 at Oesterling Farm in Marysville, Perry County.

The visitPA.com MASS Mountain Bike Festival Weekend begins on Friday with an evening team time trial before Saturday's 12-hour team relay and nine-hour solo races. Spectators can also cheer on the riders during the short track cross country race on Sunday. The festival features camping, family activities and live entertainment Saturday night.

The event is also a stop on the Dirt Rag World Tour. Dirt Rag is a magazine and online forum recognized as a leading authority on mountain biking. For more information on the race and festival, visit www.highspeedcycling.com.

"It was through our team's success and the high caliber of mountain biking opportunities available in Pennsylvania that we were able to secure this spot on the Dirt Rag World Tour," said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism with Pennsylvania's Department of Community and Economic Development. "Professional and recreational riders alike will find challenging terrain, beautiful scenery and various other outdoor activities, which, together, create a great escape into nature."

The festival is only one stop among a busy season for the visitPA.com Mountain Bike Racing Team, which has dominated the Mid-Atlantic region since its inception. Led by team captains Mike Kuhn of Allentown and Ray Adams of Harrisburg, the nine-member-team of semi-professional mountain bike racers compete in dozens of racing events each season.

The team donates a portion of its prize money to the Pennsylvania-based Blue Butterfly Fund (www.bluebutterflyfund.org), an organization that helps families with children fighting cancer. For more information on the team, go to visitPA.com or check out its blog at http://visitpadotcommtbteam.blogspot.com/.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the state Department of Community and Economic Development, provides travelers with the information they need to enjoy the activities and attractions in Pennsylvania. Go to visitPA.com or call (800) VISIT PA.

CONTACT: Michael Chapaloney

(717) 720-1301

Source: Pennsylvania Tourism Office

CONTACT: Michael Chapaloney of Pennsylvania Tourism Office,
+1-717-720-1301

Web Site: http://www.highspeedcycling.com/

2009 Frank Stark Celebration Ride

Frank Stark Celebration Ride
Presented by the Boca Raton Bicycle Club
Sunday, July 12

Boca Raton City Hall
Corner Palmetto Park Road and Boca Raton Blvd. (2nd Avenue)

Ride Options
62 mile metric century - starts 7:30 AM
30 mile ride - starts 8:30 AM

10:30 AM to 1:30 PM - lunch back at City Hall
Ride support throughout course 7 AM to 1:30 PM

Register Online
Boca Raton Bicycle Club - www.bocaratonbicycleclub.com
Active.com - 20th Annual Frank Stark Celebration Ride

Proceeds Benefit
Bicycle Advocacy
Lance Armstrong Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Dorel Industries New GM for Cycling Sports Group Canada

PRESS RELEASE

Dorel Industries hires Adam Ingrao as General Manager for Cycling Sports Group Canada

National Football League Executive Joins Leadership Team of Dorel Recreational/Leisure Segment

BETHEL, CT, June 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A), today announced the appointment of Adam Ingrao as the new General Manager for Cycling Sports Group (CSG) Canada. In this capacity, Ingrao will be responsible for elevating CSG presence within the Canadian marketplace by leading and developing the overall strategies to meet company goals and objectives. As general manager, he also will drive development of winning sales and marketing programs to fuel top line growth; drive profitability; increase market share; and, will be overseeing CSG's budget and cash flow.

"Adam brings deep creative and strategic business development skills to Cycling Sports Group, and he's uniquely qualified to extend our presence in Canada," said Robert Baird, President of Dorel's Recreational/Leisure segment. "His experience in retail marketing and efficient business operations and development made him the leading candidate for this important position."

Ingrao joined Cycling Sports Group with ten years of management experience for international athletic and performance brands. Most recently, he worked for the National Football League (NFL) overseeing the League's international consumer products business. In that capacity, Ingrao implemented a new business model for international licensing, developed and implemented a global retail strategy, and served as the NFL's primary point of contact for all related international product and retail development issues. Prior to the NFL, Ingrao was an international sales and operations manager for Polo Ralph Lauren in London, and worked as a sales & operations manager for Reebok International's European, African and Middle Eastern distributor businesses, based in London and Munich.

"I am eager and honored to join the Cycling Sports Group," says Ingrao. "I'm confident the experience I gained across the industry has prepared me to raise the profile of our world-class brands in Canada."

About Dorel

Dorel Industries Inc. (TSX: DII.B, DII.A) is a world class juvenile products and bicycle company. Established in 1962, Dorel creates style and excitement in equal measure to safety, quality and value. The Company's lifestyle leadership position is pronounced in both its Juvenile and Bicycle categories with an array of trend-setting products.

Dorel's powerfully branded products include Safety 1st, Quinny, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi and Bebe Confort in Juvenile, as well as Cannondale, Schwinn, GT, Mongoose and SUGOI in Recreational/Leisure.

Dorel's Home Furnishings segment markets a wide assortment of furniture products, both domestically produced and imported. Dorel is a US$2.2 billion company with 4700 employees, facilities in eighteen countries, and sales worldwide.

Source: DOREL INDUSTRIES INC.

CONTACT: Michael De Leon, Cycling Sports Group, (608) 268-8309,
MDeLeon@cannondalegroup.com; Rick Leckner, Dorel Industries Inc, (514)
731-0000

Bicycle Helmet Law for Children

PRESS RELEASE

Bicycle Helmet Laws For Kids Effective But Not Yet the Norm

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Studies have shown wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle reduces one's risk of death by more than 50 percent, yet every three days, a child in the United States is killed while riding a bicycle, and every day at least 100 children are treated in emergency rooms due to bicycle-related head injuries.

A report released today by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health reveals that in areas where no bicycle helmet laws exist, nearly one-half of children, ages 4-17, never wear a helmet.

"These statistics underscore the importance of helmet laws to help prevent death and injury from children not wearing helmets while riding their bikes," says Matthew Davis, M.D., director of the National Poll on Children's Health. "Yet only twenty one states have helmet use laws for children."

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate universal bicycle helmet use by children, ages 4-15, would prevent about 40,000 head injuries and about 50,000 scalp and face injuries every year.

While the poll shows helmet use is better in areas where helmet laws exist (54 percent of parents report their children always wear a helmet while riding a bike), the poll also measured adults' awareness of helmet laws in their communities and whether or not they would support new laws if none existed.

Forty-one percent of parents said they were unsure about helmet use laws in their communities. Overall, 86 percent of respondents would support helmet laws for children in their communities.

The poll also shows that other barriers to helmet use exist for some parents whether or not laws exist in their areas. Among parents who report their child never wears a helmet, 32 percent believe they are too expensive. One in two children in the lowest income families making less than $30,000 per year never wear a helmet.

As children age, self concept and image may play a role in their decisions about whether or not they will wear a helmet. Among children who never use helmets, 59 percent of parents report that their children do not like wearing helmets.

"Wearing a bicycle helmet is essentially a health behavior," Davis says. "It is not yet a fashion statement. For many kids -- especially older kids -- there is a tension between this healthy behavior and being seen as cool or acceptable by their peers. There is a challenge here for health care providers and public health officials to communicate that wearing a helmet is actually the cool thing to do besides being the healthy thing to do."

 The poll also finds:

 - 78 percent of parents report children ages 4-17 ride bicycles.
 - 27 percent never wear their helmets while riding their bikes.

- Among children ages 4-11, 53 percent always wear helmet while riding bikes, while only 29 percent of children ages 12-17 always wear helmets while riding bikes.

- In states and communities that have bicycle laws, 54 percent of children 14-17 always wear a helmet, while only 24 percent of children always wear a helmet in places without a bicycle helmet law for children.

"To try to increase helmet use across the country, there are at least three ways we can proceed. One way is to pass more helmet laws," Davis says. "There is also a group of parents out there who really want their children to wear helmets but can't afford them. We should be better at sharing information about the very successful state and local programs that provide free or cheap helmets for kids. The third opportunity here is to change how families view helmets in terms of how important it is to use them regularly. That is going to be perhaps the toughest because it involves communicating the benefits of the health behavior and really trying to make a longstanding difference in the attitudes of parents and in the communities that may not yet be on board with the use of bicycle helmets."

 Resources:

 C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health
 http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch

Report: http://www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/NPCH_vol6_issue_4_HelmetSafety061709.pdf

 Podcast: http://www.med.umich.edu/podcast/CHEAR/2009/helmets.mp3

 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
 Bicycle Helmet Use Laws:
 www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/TSFLaws/PDFs/810886.pdf
 Cyclist safety facts: www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810986.pdf

 American College of Emergency Physicians

http://www.acep.org/pressroom.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&id=25986&fid=3496&Mo= No

Clinical Pediatrics

Bicycle-Related Injuries Among Children and Adolescents in the United States

http://cpj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/48/2/166

Methodology: For its report, the National Poll on Children's Health used data from a national online survey conducted in January 2009 in collaboration with Knowledge Networks, Inc. The survey was administered to a random sample of 2,125 adults, ages 18 and older, who are a part of Knowledge Network's online KnowledgePanel(R). The sample was subsequently weighted to reflect U.S. population figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. About three-fourths of the sample included households with children. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 1 to 9 percentage points. For results based on subgroups, the margin of error is higher.

To learn more about Knowledge Networks, visit www.knowledgenetworks.com.

Purpose/Funding: The C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health -- funded by the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases and part of the CHEAR Unit at the U-M Health System -- is designed to measure major health care issues and trends for U.S. children.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com/.

Source: University of Michigan Health System

CONTACT: Jessica Soulliere of University of Michigan Health System,
+1-734-764-2220, jesssoul@umich.edu

Web Site: http://www.med.umich.edu/
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/

Bob Tuschman Radio Interview on Growing Bolder

Bob Tuschman's life was going along just fine. He had a great job as a big-time producer at ABC News. It all changed in an instant.

He was riding his bike to work when he was hit by a car and seriously injured. As he lay there on the sidewalk, all he could think was, "There has got to be more to life than this."

Tuschman swore to himself that if he recovered he would change everything. He did recover, then quit his job and followed his passion over to the Food Network, where he is now Vice President.

In fact, he couldn't be more proud of the show, "The Next Food Network Star," which airs every Sunday at 9pm and gives someone else the chance to make the kind of life change he did. He has a new motto, a new love for travel and tells us all about his upcoming adventures!

Listen to the Bob Tuschman radio interview on the Growing Bolder website.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva

Breck Bike Week

PRESS RELEASE

Breck Bike Week: Join Our Community of Cyclists

From novice pedalers to pro riders there is something for all levels of bikers

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- You know Moab is a slick rock haven, and you've taken a spin on Crested Butte's buttery trails, but have you ridden the mining-paths-turned-singletrack in Breckenridge? One of "Breck's" best kept secrets is its expansive backcountry trail network - a sprawling and interconnected system that can be accessed from anywhere in town within two minutes and leading to well over 1,000 miles of riding across Summit County. These gems are usually rewards for locals, or those "in the know", but we're about to introduce visitors to our secret stash during the inaugural Breck Bike Week, July 4-12, 2009.

Bookended by two unique and internationally recognized mountain bike races, the Firecracker 50 on July 4 and the Breck Epic stage race July 5-10, visitors will be able to watch, race or partake in all the non-competitive aspects of Breck Bike Week including led group rides, bike-in movie nights, a "meet the pros/legends/journalists" event, nutrition, fitness and open space best practices lectures, bike fits, kids' races, Tour de France viewing parties, high-end bike demos and more. The bonus is that all Breck Bike Week activities are FREE and open to everyone. In addition, this week will showcase the town's 150 years of history as well as shopping, dining, lodging, other unique activities and temperate summer weather.

Breckenridge is a unique mountain resort in comparison to its neighbors in that it is an authentic historic mining town full of full-time outdoorsy residents who want nothing more than to introduce visitors to the bike paths, trails and roads that make up their backyard bike playground. Breck Bike Week will do just that. In addition, Breck is surrounded by a trail network the width and breadth of which is unsurpassed in North America, a resource that the community is very committed to protect and preserve...while still enjoying it to its fullest. Breck Bike Week is a feast for cyclists of all types and truly communicates the town's passion for biking.

 Breck Bike Week Event Details:
 -- Shorter, interpretive led group rides daily highlighting the town's
  commitment to its trail network and its historic significance.
 -- Five marked 20 to 30-mile 'big-loop' rides that guests can self-tour.
  One-sheet 'ride-guides' will be available through the Breck Bike Week
  Concierge in the Blue River plaza.
 -- Two bike-in movie nights - ride your 'townie' and park it with Breck's
  "bike valet" while you enjoy a free movie on the grass
 -- IMBA "Open Space Best Practices" lecture
 -- Rodale Publishing's "Meet the pros/legends/journalists" event
 -- Boulder Center for Sports Science nutrition and training lectures and
  bike fit sessions
 -- Tour de France viewing and coffee in the Blue River Plaza each morning

 -- Bike demos from the cycling industry's premier manufacturers

For more information on the Breck Bike Week, visit BreckBikeWeek.com or call 877.593.5260. Come join us and experience Breckenridge's bike culture and one-of-a-kind trail system.

Editor's Notes:
* Demo space is free of charge to the cycling industry. If you'd like to
attend, please contact Mike McCormack at mikemac@breckepic.com or Pete Swenson
at pete@breckepic.com with the Greenspeed Project.

* Breck Bike Week Media FAM Trip opportunities for qualified journalists
on assignment. Contact Carly Grimes at cgrimes@gobreck.com for information and
details.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Breckenridge

CONTACT: Carly Grimes, Breckenridge Resort Chamber Public Relations
Director, +1-970-453-5064, cgrimes@gobreck.com

Web Site: http://www.gobreck.com/

Twin Cities Bike Share Program

Duffy & Partners Creates Brand Identity for Twin Cities Bike Share Program

Nice Ride Minnesota will be among the first of its kind in the country

 

MINNEAPOLIS, (June 16, 2009) — Duffy & Partners, the internationally recognized branding and design firm, along with Bike Walk Twin Cities, today announce one of the first bike share programs in the nation - Nice Ride Minnesota.

 

The Minneapolis Bike Share Program, which received a $1.75 million grant from Bike Walk Twin Cities to implement one of the first bike share programs in the United States, turned to Duffy & Partners to name and brand the program, as well as design the brand language for all design-related elements.

 

“We are always looking for opportunities to contribute to the enrichment of our community and to promote smart environmental solutions,” says Joe Duffy, chairman and principal of Duffy & Partners. “As proponents of healthy, active living, we are very excited to get to work on projects that share our passion.”

 

Duffy & Partners designs will be featured on the station kiosks, bicycles, banners, t-shirts, Web site design and all business materials for the Nice Ride system, including letterhead and presentation materials. It was clear that all designed aspects of the system deserved a breakthrough design for a breakthrough idea, like a 21^st century bike share program. 

 

“This is a huge opportunity to do great design for a project that will change how people in the Twin Cities commute,” added Duffy. “Since these kiosks and bikes will be seen all over the Twin Cities, it was important to create a brand identity that people would not only immediately recognize, but embrace. We want as many people using Nice Ride bikes as possible.”

 

Of course, the name had to click as well. Duffy adds, “We feel that the ‘Nice Ride’ name delivers on the cordial reputation of Minnesotans, while also delivering on the ‘nice’ traits of the program. It’s a nice way to get around town, it’s a nice way to be green, and it’s already part of the biking culture vernacular, as in ‘hey, nice ride!’”

 

Bike sharing has been around for decades, but stolen or damaged bikes, along with plagued payment systems, have hindered the growth of such programs. With the introduction of new technologies like electronic kiosks, Web-based membership and payment plans, and the ability to track bicycle whereabouts, it was only natural for the Twin Cities to move forward in implementing a project like this for area residents.

 

“We immediately knew we wanted Joe Duffy and his team involved in creating the identity for Nice Ride Minnesota,” said Bill Dossett, principal consultant for the Twin Cities bike share initiative and a City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation organizer. “Duffy & Partners has a unique sense for city events and culture, as was proven in the identity they created for The City of Lakes Loppet, an annual cross-country ski festival around Minneapolis lakes. Duffy’s experience, coupled with their hometown passion, made for an inspiring, creative partnership.”

 

Along with branding Nice Ride Minnesota, Duffy & Partners is also committed to seeing the growth and success of the program into the future, with members of the company volunteering their time at Nice Ride Minnesota promotional events. Joseph Duffy, designer at Duffy & Partners, also volunteers his time as a board member of Nice Ride Minnesota.

 

Initially, the system will launch phase one with 1,000 bicycles in 75 kiosks around downtown Minneapolis, Uptown and the University of Minnesota. Service will eventually expand to St. Paul and other high-density neighborhoods around the Twin Cities. Phase one is expected to go live in spring 2010.

 

About Duffy & Partners

Duffy & Partners is committed to deliver design to enrich everyday life. Celebrating 25 years of award-winning work this year, Duffy & Partners’ efforts spans many design disciplines including corporate identity, brand identity, packaging design, new media, and environmental design. Clients have included, among others: American Eagle Outfitters, Aveda, Coca-Cola, Brown-Forman, Jack in the Box, Sony, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, The Islands of the Bahamas, Thymes, Toyota and Whole Foods. Additional information can be found at www.duffy.com.

Bike Diva Survives Tahoe Century Ride

 

ABOVE: Map of America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride

On May 22, I blogged about my participation in the upcoming 18th annual America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program. The ride took place on Sunday, June 7. Our team flew out to Tahoe on Thursday, June 4 and returned late Monday night on June 8.

Bus Ride to Tahoe?
Well, not exactly, I'm just being a bit sarcastic. Our trip out to Tahoe wasn't the most relaxing. We flew out of the Ft. Lauderdale airport on Thursday, June 4. The first flight took us to Minneapolis, Minnesota, don't ya know (they have funny accents in Minnesota), where we changed planes. Then we flew from Minneapolis to Salt Lake City, Utah where we changed planes again. Our final flight took us to Reno, Nevada. From Reno it was another 2 hours, by charter bus, to get to our hotel in Tahoe, Nevada.

We left Ft. Lauderdale at 1:40 PM and got to our hotel at around midnight. But Tahoe time is PST which is 3 hours earlier than Ft. Lauderdale which is EST. So midnight in Nevada was really equal to 3 AM in Florida. We were all a bit tired, to say the least, when we finally got to our hotel. But my husband still had enough energy to go down to the casino and loose a whopping $3 on a slot machine. We aren't big gamblers, so wasting $3 is a big deal. Subtract that from your time trial bike fund, was it worth it!?!

 

ABOVE: Palm Beach Team in Training cycle team. Nice palm trees!

Casino Hotels
We stayed at Harvey's Casino while we were in Tahoe. I think all the hotels in Tahoe are casino hotels. I have exercise induced asthma, so I wasn't too thrilled when I realized the casino allows indoor smoking - BLECH! It was hard enough breathing at high altitude, add my asthma and constant smoke filled air and it was a wonder I didn't pass out everytime I left our room. Made doing 100 mile bike ride around the lake very interesting.

But, there was a Starbucks in our hotel lobby - SWEET! And there were also many shops and restaurants in the hotel including a Hard Rock Cafe and Cinnabon. I think this is the first bike trip event I've been too where I've gained weight - BAH!

Our bikes traveled by truck out to Tahoe. We picked up our bikes on Friday at 4 PM from the Horizon Casino. Horizon is right next door to Harvey's so that was convenient. The century ride also started/ended from Horizon, so we only had a couple of yards to ride from our hotel lobby to the ride start.

 

ABOVE: First rest stop at Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe

Team in Training at Tahoe
Of the 3,000 bikers that participated in the 2009 America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, approximately 1,800 of them where members of Team in Training. TNT is the largest fundraising program for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Team in Training chapters from all over the country took place in this event, and this year they raised $6.8 million dollars for the society.

Each member of our team, from the Palm Beach Florida chapter, pledged to raise a minimum of $4,800 for the Tahoe century ride. We got creative with our fundraising efforts this season including a scavenger hunt, spaghetti dinner and mad scientist's party.

 

ABOVE: Bike Diva with Starbucks coffee, trying to stay warm in Tahoe. The crazy guy with shorts and t-shirt is my husband, he's also one of the cycle team coaches.

Cold Weather Gear
It's a good thing there was a Pearl Izumi Outlet Store just down the street from our hotel. Each team member made at least one trip to Pearl Izumi. We also checked out a couple of the sports and bike stores while we were in Tahoe. It was quite a bit colder than we had originally expected.

Thursday through Saturday was very cold, rainy, blah. I had brought quite a bit of clothing with me for the ride, but still ended up getting one of those velcro, fleece-lined headband thingys to keep my ears warm.

It warmed up to 41 degrees the morning of the ride, and the sun was out. We were worried about rain, but only got a few drops at the very beginning of the ride, so the roads were nice and dry. Glad we didn't have to go screaming down the mountains on wet roads - that would have been horrible.

41 degrees is still a bit cold for us Florida flat-landers. I dressed in multiple layers the day of the ride, thinking I would peel off layers as it got warmer. But unless you were standing directly in the sun, while at a rest stop, it never really got warm enough to take off any layers. As soon as you got back on your bike and started riding in the mountains, through shady forests it got cool again. And going fast downhill, really got things CHILLY!

 

ABOVE: Bike Diva, super model?

Bike Diva Super Model
Here's the run down on what I was wearing the day of the Tahoe century ride. Despite all this gear, there were times when I was still cold. My ears were still a bit chilly and except at the very beginning of the ride, my feet were still pretty chilly. But now I know what it's like to ride in cold weather, so when we move to western North Carolina I'll be all set to ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway - always have to look at the positive side of things.

• Team in Training socks
• plastic bags over my socks
• road bike shoes
• leg warmers
• cycling shorts
• arm warmers
• Team in Training short sleeved cycling jersey
• long sleeve cycling jersey
• wind breaker
• full finger gloves
• fleece-lined headband
• helmet
• sunglasses

I'm surprised I could even move with all those layers of clothing on.

 

ABOVE: King's Beach on Lake Tahoe, official lunch stop.

Mechanical Problems
1.92 miles into the ride, your very own Bike Diva was having problems shifting. I couldn't get my bike to shift from the big ring to the little ring up front. I was ahead of most of our team, so I pulled over at an empty parking lot and flagged down the rest of the team. They were easy to spot, each Team in Training team puts a different ornament on top of their helmets to help them identify each other throughout the duration of the ride. Guess what the Palm Beach team had, palm trees!

My front shifter was broke, so my husband Rob and cycle team member Paul, manhandled my chain from the big ring to the little ring. I certainly wasn't going to be able to get over any mountains stuck in the big ring. If I ever do Tahoe again, I would want a bike that has 3 rings in the front, not just two. Oh wait, my front shifter was broke, I only had 1 ring in the front - GEEEZ!

I wasn't the only member of the Palm Beach cycle team to run into mechanical difficulties. Here's a run down:

1. One team member had 3 flat tires during the day

2. My husband had 2 flat tires and had to replace his back tire at King's Beach. Luckily he had a couple of dollars in his bike bag, and was able to buy el-cheapo road bike tire at the bike shop across the street from King's Beach. After flying really fast down some hills, he got his first flat and pulled over to fix it. He has some kind of expensive yellow tires. The yellow had mostly worn away on the back tire, and you could see the black layer underneath. Not too safe, still had to tackle/conquer Spooner mountain.

3. Another team member had to get 2 patches added to her back tire. It was falling apart, and she didn't have any $$ to get a new tire. Luckily she made it through the ride without the tire exploding.

4. Another team member was having brake issues. Luckily there was a mechanic at the second rest stop that was able to do a quick fix so she could finish the ride.

5. At least 2 team members threw a chain during the ride. Easy enough to fix, but a pain in the butt anyways.

6. And my front shifter stopped working less than 2 miles into the ride. Okay, old story, WAAAAAHHHHH - poor me. Let's all have a pity party for the Bike Diva.

 

ABOVE: The Floridians want to know what that white stuff is on top of the mountains!?!

A Bit of Climbing
As you can see from the elevation profile pictured below, there was a bit of climbing to do during the ride. I have exercise induced asthma, so it was a real struggle to get up all the hills. I had to do quite a bit of walking, just couldn't freaking breath and my legs felt like they were stuck in quicksand most of the day. And that was even when I was my easiest gear. Had my rescue inhaler with me, but it didn't seem to help much.

I actually kind of freaked out coming down some of the hills. Didn't like going downhill, too fast around sharp corners near people I've never ridden with. I rode the brakes hard and never got above 28 MPH during the first half of the ride - don't know what my problem was, but I was FREAKING OUT bad. Got a little better by the time I was coming off of Spooner, but I think that's just because I wanted to get the ride over with at that point. Still only got up to 34-36 MPH max coming off of spooner.

I also SAGged up the steepest part of Spooner. Thought there was over 10 miles to go, just couldn't do it, even walking with my bike was EXTREMELY difficult. I was actually only around 4 miles from the top of Spooner, so I was more than half way over, but for some reason I thought I hadn't even started the climb to Spooner, so when a SAG car came by and asked if I needed help I took it. I think my brain was back down at sea level at this point, couldn't barely think straight. I forgot to put my front brake lever back down after I put my front tire back on after SAGging to the top of Spooner. So that's probably why I was going a bit faster than I had planned on - FUN TIMES!

3 other team members SAGGED part of the ride, it was that freaking difficult. This was the 4th century ride I've done with Team in Training, so I'm not exactly new to riding. But of all the 4, the Tahoe century ride, while certainly the most beautiful, was also the most difficult ride I've ever done.

I think my husband did around 40 MPH coming off one of the mountains, and the couple on our team that rode a tandem bicycle said they got up to 47 MPH. WTF! Are we riding bicycles or race cars? I felt like if I hit a bump my entire bike was going to fall apart at those speeds - freaking CRAZY!

 

ABOVE: Elevation profile of America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride

Bootleg Photos
My husband had to stay in Tahoe an extra day for a Team in Training coaches training. And then he had to fly straight to Houston, TX on business. He still has our camera with all the Tahoe pictures on it. So the photos used in this blog post are mostly from team member Mike Kennell - thanks Mike!

Take care,
Lynn Smythe AKA the Bike Diva