New England Classic

Jonathan Vaughters is sporting director of Slipstream-Chipotle (the argyle guys), former rider for US Postal and Credit Agricole, and a record setting climber of Mont Ventoux.

He’s written five tips for climbing. And while NEC doesn’t climb anything like Mont Ventoux, we (at least the seven dayers) climb Crawford Notch, Mt Killington, and several others. It’s worth reading.

Expert Advice From Johnathan Vaughters

1. Rule #1: Get on with it
2. Rule #2: Don’t be self-concious
3. Rule #3: Relax
4. Rule #4: Pedal all the way around
5. Rule #5: The Little Engine That Could

Gas is now going for about $4.00 per gallon.

Perhaps you’ve heard.

There are a fair number of riders from the greater New York/ New Jersey area and we’re looking to see if we can get some of them paired up for the trip in order to save some gas. It doesn’t take any more gas to get two people here than it does one (provided, of course, they’re in the same car!)

We’ve already had one request for a ride share from New Jersey. He’s got the car and bike carrier, he’s looking for a passenger to help share expenses.

So how about it. Anyone wanna share a ride?

Post here or write to admin at newenglandclassic.org

Looking for training rides? There are a couple coming up this weekend.

Charles River Wheelmen have their annual Spring Century on Sunday (100k and 50 mi options). It leaves from Wakefield and follows some of the same route as the NEC, day 1. The first Haverhill train can get you there in time for the metric/50.

And don’t forget, if you are registered for the NEC, you can ride any of the New England one-day rides with no additional fundraising. Like the one Sunday in Bah Hahbah. Contact Faith if you’d like to ride. See “Contact Us:” over there—>.

If you’re interested in the CRW ride, post a message here and we’ll see about getting a group together.

Today, May 1, starts National Bike Month.

Let’s all hope the weather finally makes a turn for the better. MassBike has a whole slew of things to do this month, something almost every day, no matter where you live.

Don’t miss the 12th annual Par-tay at Redbones on Monday, May 19 (benefits MassBike and NEMBA). Barbecue, beer and bikes: what’s not to like? Ride your bike, they have free valet parking for bikes. Or take the T (Davis Sq, red line). If you’re in a car, you’re on your own.

But one of the best things you can do to celebrate Bike Month is register for the New England Classic.

This week, the American Diabetes Association is encouraging people from around the country to make a difference by calling Congress and urging them to do much more to fight diabetes.

Please call 1-877-ADA-2008 today and urge your members of Congress to help the 20.8 million Americans with diabetes by supporting an increase in research and prevention funding for diabetes at the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We need all the help we can get so please let your friends, family and co-workers know about this.  We need to make sure Congress understands the effect diabetes has on the lives of millions of people living with this disease.  For more info on Call to Congress, please visit our website at www.diabetes.org/calltocongress.

Want to do even more - register for the New England Classic and raise money to help fund ADA’s own research projects.  Have a great time riding your bicycle around New England while supporting this important cause.

Your help is really important.  Thank you in advance for your support.

April 22 will mark the 38th anniversary of Earth Day.    Earth Day signifies a growing commitment to environmental action and change. 

The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has published their 7 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day.    Take a ride to celebrate one of America’s most unique recycling projects: the rail-trail.  It will be good practice for the New England Classic.

Patriot’s Day (sorry, Massachusetts and Maine only) is observed this year on Monday April 21. That’s also the day of the Boston Marathon. There is somewhat a tradition of cycling the marathon route before the race begins. We start at the finish line in Copley Square, go to Hopkinton, and return for a total of 52 Miles, 770 yards. It might be more of a circus than usual this year as Lance Armstrong has announced he’ll be running, so expect larger crowds. There are lots and lots of cyclists who do this ride! Come and join them, er, us. Yes, you have to go up Heartbreak Hill, but unlike the runners, you also get to go down! How great is that?

So if you’re interested in riding the marathon route on Patriot’s Day, post a message here or write admin {at} newenglandclassic {dot} org. We have to start sort of early because they close the last couple of blocks towards the finish line when the race starts (but the route remains open until the racers approach). The wheelchair race starts at 10:00.

Wear your TdC jersey!

1. Nearly one in ten American adults now has diabetes
2. Diabetes is the fifth-leading cause of death by disease in the United States
3. Diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure
4. Each year, more than 80,000 people with diabetes undergo amputations
5. Diabetes can cause other serious health problems ranging from stroke, heart disease and kidney failure
6. The incidence of diabetes has increased by 61 percent since 1990 and continues to rise at an alarming rate
7. Approximately 20.8 million Americans have diabetes - including 6.3 million who don’t even know it
8. An additional 54 million people have pre-diabetes, putting them at great risk for developing type 2 diabetes
9. One out of every three Americans born today will eventually develop diabetes if present trends continue
10. More than $1 in every $10 spent on health care services in the United States is attributable to diabetes.  This translates to more than $132 billion direct and indirect healthcare costs

Riding the New England Classic will help us raise the much needed funds to help support the mission of the American Diabetes Association - to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. 

The New England Classic is a great ride for an important cause.  Please register today by clicking on the link to the right.

As part of the American Diabetes Association’s partnership with MassBike and the League of American Bicyclists, John Siemiatkoski will be teaching Enjoy Better Bicycling, from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9 in ADA’s Boston office, 330 Congress Street, Boston, MA.

Description: Off-bike lecture/discussion; free and open to the public. This course–which provides an overview of bike safety principles, tips for riding in traffic, maintenance and accessory advice, and more–is generally held on a weekday evening and is a prerequisite for Basic Bicycling Skills and/or Intermediate Bicycling Skills (Road I equivalent). Please RSVP by emailing bikeinfo@massbike.org to attend.

-John Siemiatkoski

Massachusetts Bicycle Coaltion - President, Board of Directors

League of American Bicyclists - Cycling Instructor #1306

The American Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day, “wake-up” call to inform the American public about the seriousness of diabetes. The American Diabetes Association encourages people to take the Diabetes Risk Test and find out if they are at risk for developing diabetes. Observed on the fourth Tuesday of every March, the 20th annual American Diabetes Alert Day is Tuesday, March 25, 2008.

Why is Diabetes Alert Day important?

• Nearly 21 million children and adults in the U.S. have diabetes
• One-third of those or more than six million do not know they have diabetes
• One in five Americans is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes

For many, diagnosis may come seven to ten years after the onset of the disease. Therefore, early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and delaying or preventing some of its complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney disease, stroke, amputation and death.

Everyone should be aware of the risk factors for type 2 diabetes. People who are overweight, under active (living a sedentary lifestyle), and over the age of 45 should consider themselves at risk for the disease. African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and people who have a family history of the disease are at an increased risk for type 2 diabetes. 

What is the Diabetes Risk Test?

On Diabetes Alert Day, the American Diabetes Association will “Sound the Alert” about the dangers of diabetes. People are encouraged to take the Diabetes Risk Test. The risk test requires users to answer seven simple questions about weight, age, lifestyle and family history — all potential risk factors for diabetes. People scoring 10 points or more are at a high risk for type 2 diabetes and are encouraged to see a health care professional for further evaluation.