Author Archive
Why We Need to be Raising Free Range Kids ~ and to be “Freer-range” Ourselves
Posted by: | Comments
A walk in the woods, climbing a tree or patiently watching a fish rise to a dry fly will not solve everything, but it could go a long way to bring things into a more positive, hopeful perspective. Richard Louv’s “Vitamin N” (the health benefits of time spent in nature) should find its place in the list of Essential Vitamins!
Here is the link.
VeloSprints Session 3 Report
Posted by: | Comments
VeloSprints Session 3 was LAST Monday (Feb. 06) at McFadden’s in Providence and it was a wild affair!
The lunch session brought several folks from a nearby advertising agency and some from Brown University. All enjoyed the 1/2 price lunch and the day’s second fastest time (22.49) was set by Geoff Williams – in boots!
The evening session brought several new faces to VeloSprints along with the 2011 Champion, Dillon Benros. Dillon promptly set the fastest time of the evening – and the fastest time in 2012 – 20.94 seconds! A clear warning of his intentions to repeat in 2012.
Session 4 will be on Monday, Feb 20. We will have an early session – 12:00 – 2:00 and a late session from 5:00 until 10:00pm. It is a holiday! Likely there won’t be too much snow. So come and spin for a cause. So far, VeloSprints at McFadden’s has raised $250 this year. Full session results are below…
More news and pictures are here. Don’t forget to check out our VeloSprints sponsors Cleverhood and Marc Allen Fine Clothiers.
Woonsocket High School Bicyclists Club
Posted by: | Comments
On Tuesday, January 31st, the Woonsocket High School After School Bicyclists Club took their first ride – after weeks of learning basic bicycling, maintenance and share-the-road skills. We covered 8.5 miles from the high school to the Blackstone Bike Path, down a bit and back. For first-timers sharing the road, and learning how to use their gears, they did an awesome job!
We are committed that this ride – and this program – marks the beginning of Woonsocket school children integrating health into their days by riding to school in groups.
The Woonsocket program is made possible by support from local and national grants and individual donors like you.
Please support our efforts to continue this program in Woonsocket and to grow it throughout Southern New England. Make a donation today at USOpenCycling.org and come to VeloSprints to participate and learn how you can help us help each other to be healthier, more productive and happier.
“Well, how did we get here?”
Posted by: | CommentsI love David Byrne. I love the fact that he is a cyclist. And I love paraphrasing his lyrics when discussing the obesity epidemic in America.
Though battle rages among academicians about how, indeed, we did get here, slides like the one below and the last one posted (click here and scroll down) pretty much expose the mystery: we expend fewer calories…and we eat more. Mystery solved! Now, go ride…and take your kids!
We have a dream!
Posted by: | CommentsAfrican American and Hispanic American children suffer obesity at a rate that is 30% higher than whites. That obesity epidemic robs them of their future by stealing their health and replacing it with painful, lifelong conditions like diabetes and heart disease. It makes these children more expensive to employ and less productive in the workplace thereby diminishing their economic – and life – prospects.
Our dream is to to help these kids develop healthy lives and self-sufficiency through bicycling for fun and transportation through in-school, after school and summer programs . With your continued help, we will make this dream a reality.
Help us make the dream come true! Have your place of work adopt a local school and run a VeloSprints program to raise money so we can bring our smart cycling course to the school in the spring (click here). Help get your kid’s school or a school near you adopted by a local business or click the “donate” button on the right and make a contribution.
Would you like to get involved with US Open Cycling Foundation as a volunteer? Please email rdurishin@usopencycling.org for information.
VeloSprints Kick-off Report
Posted by: | Comments
2012 VeloSprints got off to an explosive start with Cat 2 road racer Donny Green vs. newcomer Aron Carpenter. It was a brisk 500 meters with Donny posting 23.95 seconds and Aron coming out on top with 23.89– the second fastest time of the day. Our venue, McFadden’s was friendly and accommodating providing half price lunch and free appetizers to all of the days participants. Jen McWalters of McWalters Pilates made a great showing with a time of 28.91 and Samantha Demers, a 2011 VeloSprints Champion, delivered a smashing 25.19. Notable times were posted by Alex Taylor (24.76) and Charlie Allen with 26.25. The best time of the day was cranked out by Geoff Williams at a blistering 23.44.
Thanks to Will Smith, Chris Martine and Sarah Kudra who posted times along with all the participants who donated and raced to help US Open Cycling raise funds to deliver smart cycling classes to area schools. The Foundation is currently scheduling VeloSprints events at health clubs and businesses across the state. Those venues will host VeloSprints events to raise money so that schools close to them can receive our Cycle-for-Health program in the spring.
If you Missed the kickoff there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. We’ll be at McFadden’s every other Monday evening beginning on January 23rd and new venues, dates and times will continue to be posted on this website.
Have reservations about being a VeloSprinter? Don’t worry, we will place you in a category with cyclists of similar abilities which also makes for more exciting head to head match-ups. All VeloSprints participants qualify to participate in the Grand Finale on April 1st where we will give away thousands of dollars worth of prizes to cyclists at all levels.
To learn about being a VeloSprints host venue to benefit a local school or to have your school adopted, contact Richard Durishin: rdurishin@usopencycling.org.
To see all of the pictures from the session click here.
VeloSprints 2012 Rolls Out!
Posted by: | Comments
(the video linked above doesn’t show that the competitors – and the audience – are watching a computer-generated race-dial that tracks the progress of both contestants over the 500 m distance)
This winter, VeloSprints – Southern New England’s indoor bicycle sprinting tournament – teams up with health and spin clubs, local employers and bicycle shops to raise funds for smart bicycling programs at schools in their communities.
- School kids benefit by bicycling smarter and becoming healthier as they do
- Communities benefit from better overall health
- Venues benefit from contributing to their community
- Sponsors benefit through helping make it happen
VeloSprints Fundraising Events:
Health clubs/spin studios/businesses/bike shops adopt a school – or schools – in their community and host VeloSprints for a day of fun and fundraising between January 3 and March 30. Host venues and their customers/employees donate to sprint 500 meters on our computerized rig. When $500 is raised the adopted school will receive a half-day of our Cycle-for-Health program where they will learn smart cycling, proper helmet fit and nutrition/hydration tips. If $1,000 is raised, the school will also receive a weekend program to involve whole families, or the venue may adopt a second school.
VeloSprints is a competitive event and that competition will intensify this year. Each VeloSprinter’s best time will be posted at usopencycling.org. That time will determine seeding within their age/gender category for the VeloSprints Grand Finale on April 1 at McFadden’s in Providence. As in years past, we will give away thousands of dollars in prizes. Clubs, too, will be ranked on funds generated/programs awarded. A session at any venue costs individuals a $10 donation and “VeloSprinters” may race as often as they wish during a session.
Teams:
We welcome teams! Intramural, club vs. club, company vs. company, community police/fire departments vs. community police/fire departments, spin instructor vs. spin instructor, join the fun! Five per team. Same or mixed gender. Aggregate times determine rankings! Trophies and bragging rights at the VeloSprints Grand Finale are on offer!
Adopt a School!
If you represent an organization (between Groton, CT and Boston, MA) committed to the health and well being of your community, adopt a school and schedule a VeloSprints event! Call us at 401-484-1161 or email rdurishin@usopencycling.org. VeloSprints requires less than 10 square feet to set up and are available from morning through early evening, Monday through Friday.
Get Your School Adopted!
If you are or know an elementary, middle or high school (between Groton, CT and Boston, MA) and you want your student’s health and performance to benefit by developing the life-long habit of bicycling, find a venue (health club, spin studio, employer) and have them call us at 401-484-1161 or emailrdurishin@usopencycling.org or host a VeloSprints event at your school.
Be a sponsor!
If you are part of an organization who wants to benefit your community, you are pro-health, pro-education and pro-sustainability…sponsor VeloSprints. You’ll get the benefits of reaching adults in the health clubs between January and March and reaching families – through schools – from January through June. Just give us a call or send an email to rdurishin@usopencycling.org for more information.
The VeloSprints Grand Finale!
Sunday, April 1, 2012! Thousands of $ in prizes. Overall and category champions crowned. McFadden’s in Providence, from 11:00 am…until we’re all spun out. Best posted VeloSprints time from the “regular season” determines seed order. $40 registration fee for the Grand Finale.
Getting ready for VeloSprints 2012!
Posted by: | CommentsGoing to be different this year. Going to make you more a part of our making a difference in saving people from the pain and loss of the things obesity causes: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, blindness. More news soon!
Why Wear a Helmet, Part II
Posted by: | CommentsA couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of wearing a helmet. Remember, helmets are for situations you cannot control…like wild Impalas. Though most Impalas in America are of the four-wheeled variety you will see, if you watch this through to the end, how a helmet can make a difference. Consider this: the argument against wearing a helmet in the setting in this video would go something like this: “Hey! Man! You’re riding on grass, what could happen?” Remember, helmets are for situations where even the best riding skills won’t help.
