Trips For Kids - Metro NY

Mountain Bike Swap BIKE SWAP! November 12 at Noon in Oyster Bay's Theodore Roosevelt Park.

2011-10-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Mountain Bike Swap Meet November 12 at Noon in Oyster Bay's Theodore Roosevelt Park.

Meet at the covered pavilion, BYOBBQ if you want to do some grillin while your chillin. Some picnic tables available but bring your own table is you have lots of bike stuff to sell or swap.

Directions: LIE to route 107/106 north. At the fork bear right onto route 106 north. Take that all the way into the town of Oyster Bay where route 106 is called South St . Go past Nobman's Hardware and W. Main St and make a left onto Bay Ave then bear left into Theodore Roosevelt Park. You will see the covered pavilions on the left.

Come meet the pros!

2011-10-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Rebecca Rusch Wraps Up Gold Rusch Tour with NYC Events

2011-10-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hilary Hutcheson, PR Director

hilary@outsidemedia.com

Rebecca Rusch Wraps Up Gold Rusch Tour with NYC Events

The World Mountain Bike champ will host An Evening with the Pros: Rebecca Rusch and Katie Holden, including meet and greets, film screenings and rides for fans and media

Ketchum, ID – Sept. 8, 2011 – Rebecca Rusch, the three-time Leadville Trail 100 Women's Champion and three-time 24 Hour Solo Mountain Biking World Champion, announces the final stop in her SRAM Gold Rusch Tour with a number of events in New York City October 6-8th. Rusch will host a Meet and Greet and a free clinic with fellow MTB pro Katie Holden and will take local media on private rides through New York City’s Highbridge Park.

An Evening with the Pros: Rebecca Rusch and Katie Holden What: Enjoy food, drinks and socializing with two of the top women’s mountain bikers

When: 6:30-8:30pm on Thursday Oct. 6th Where: Sid’s Bike Shop at 151 W. 19th St.

Free Women’s MTB Clinic

What: SRAM Pros Rebecca Rusch and Katie Holden will host free clinics for women all day. The SRAM MTB Ride Experience 2 x10 Van will be on site with bikes to test. When: 10am-4pm on Saturday Oct 8th

Where: Highbridge Park between 155th St. and Dyckman St.

Rebecca will ride with media on Thursday Oct. 6th and Friday Oct. 7th. Those interested in scheduling a media appointment should contact Amy May (amy@outsidemedia.com) at their earliest convenience.

The reigning and three-time Leadville Trail 100 Women's Champion and three-time World 24 hr Champion knows a thing or two about pain. Drawing from a background in adventure racing, Rebecca has a deep well of skills: paddling, rock climbing, biking, navigating, skiing, and more. Since turning pro in 2001, Rebecca has proven to the world she has what it takes to execute any of the above even after going beyond her limits in faraway places like Kyrgyzstan and Tibet. After winning adventure races became routine, she added 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike racing to her résumé and proceeded to dominate the sport. Rusch writes regularly about her adventures and training and her thoughts can be found at www.rebeccarusch.com. www.twitter.com/thequeenofpain

Come Meet the Pros! October 6th, 7th, and 8th

2011-09-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday October 6th Happy Hour Q and A - 6:30-8:30 at Sid's Bike Shop at 151 West 19th Street Cocktails and Appetizers will be served- Come and Meet Rebecca Rusch and learn about how she became the 3x winner of the Leadville 100 and hear how Katie Holden became the UCI Pan American Champion.

Friday October 7th - MOVIE and RECEPTION of "RACE ACROSS THE SKY Leadville Trail 100" Bicycle Habitat is hosting a screening Race Across the Sky! Come and get inspired - Buy tickets online at www.raceacrossthesky.eventbrite.com and come to the after Party Please pre purchase tickets as we need to get an idea of numbers for the food for the after party!

Saturday October 8th 10:00AM - 4:00 PM FREE WOMAN'S CLINIC at High Bridge Mountain Biking Trails!

There will be 2 clinics
1) XC/Endurance Clinic by Rebecca Rusch
2) DH Clinic by Katie Holden
SRAM Ride Experience Van with 2x10 Drivetrains bikes available for demo!
And it is FREE!!!!!!!! WE NEED YOU to make this happen! Please Come and Have FUN with us! Support your local Mountain biking club and let's show the pros that New York Mountain Bikers Rock!!!

October 1st Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

2011-09-21T16:58:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: Andree Sanders 917-658-9289/andree@tfkmetrony.org

TAKE A KID MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY-

New Yorkers can be part of a global celebration of biking and kids’ health

(New York, NY) New Yorkers from every borough are invited to celebrate IMBA’s 8^th annual INTERNATIONAL TAKE A KID MOUNTAIN BIKING DAY on Saturday, October 1 from 11 AM to 1 PM in Queens’ Cunningham Park. Guided group rides will depart from the park’s North Woods Trail shortly after 11 AM. The trail head is located at 210^th Street and 67^th Avenue and can be reached by subway, bus and car. There is parking at the site. All participants must bring their own bikes, helmets and drinking water. This free event is being sponsored by Trips for Kids Metro New York (www.tfkmetrony.org) and Bicycle Habitat (http://bicyclehabitat.com) in association with IMBA (www.IMBA.org).

Register at http://takeakidmtbday.eventbrite.com. For detailed travel directions go to www.tfkmetrony.org.

In support of First Lady Michelle Obama's “Let’s Move Outside!” initiative, IMBA has pledged to get 30,000 children participating in 300 cycling events on October 1. Trips for Kids Metro New York’s (TFK) hopes to help our city take the lead in reaching this goal. Since IMBA and TFK believe that kids should be on bikes every day, all participants are encouraged to sign up for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA), whereby riders will pledge to be active at least 5 days a week for 6 weeks. What better way to get active than to be out riding a bike?

Trips for Kids Metro New York regularly leads specialized rides in Cunningham Park as part of its weekend programs. TFK is a non-profit 100% volunteer organization that provides mountain bike outings and environmental education for kids who would not otherwise have these opportunities. Trips for Kids Metro New York teaches lessons in personal responsibility, achievement and environmental awareness through the simple act of having fun.

For more information about participating and /or volunteering in Trip for Kids Metro New York programs, please email info@tfkmetrony.org .

Ride Around London - spreading the message of cycling to urban youth

2011-08-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

Access Sport: All infront of CRC van.resized.JPG

The Ride Around London – a new 115-mile sportive looping the capital on Sunday 25 September – always looked like a good bet. But dig a little deeper into the work done by Access Sport, the charity organising it, and the ride becomes even more compelling.

Access Sport works with business, community groups, sporting bodies and grassroots sports clubs to channel money into community sport, improving access to sports and sport facilities for disadvantaged kids and those living in the inner cities. A large part of its focus is on cycling, and the Ride Around London is a key fundraising event.

“This isn’t just another bike ride,” says Hannah Miller, the charity’s event organiser, explains. “It’s cycling for cyclists. We’re trying to create opportunities for kids who don’t have bikes, or facilities on their doorsteps, but who want to go out and ride.”

Looked at from one angle, the picture of cycling in the capital’s inner boroughs is bleak. The Olympic Boroughs – despite promises of regeneration and that slipperiest of words, legacy – still suffer from some of the highest levels of children living in poverty and youth obesity in the country. Until CC Hackney and Tower Hamlets CC were set up, in 2007 and 2008 respectively, there were no cycling clubs in those boroughs, which have a combined population of 430,000. There are relatively few faces from ethnic minorities in the elite sport, and, while there are Olympics athletics hopefuls who have grown up and trained in the streets adjoining the Olympic Park, there are no cyclists.

Access Sport CEO Mark Hardie wants cycling to become an aspirational sport among inner-city youth, in the way that athletics and football are currently. He believes cycling has a massive potential for growth – and not only among the MAMILs who are currently driving the UK industry forward. “It’s growing exponentially, but it’s growing in certain areas, and not in others as much as it could be. Can we bring more kids in… can we diversify this a bit?” he says. “In deprived areas, access to sports is markedly worse than in better-off areas. Sports participation is markedly worse.”

The situation is not helped by cuts in local authority youth services, which many have seen as contributing to the recent trouble and looting – and which have badly affected some of the neighbourhoods Mark is talking about. Yet he’s keen to point out that Tower Hamlets CC and CC Hackney, which Access Sport supports, provide community services and summer clubs for local children and teenagers.

“Community sports clubs are really, really important,” he says, referring to places such as the riot-affected Hackney and Haringey. “I suppose they always were, but they’re even more important now that other services are being lost. Although there are heavy cuts hitting local authority sports development teams – and school sports have been cut by two-thirds – we think what we’re doing can make a difference.”

The charity has proved effective at pairing grassroots sports clubs with big business mentors, to help them become more savvy at accessing funding. It is currently helping build five BMX tracks in the five Olympic Boroughs, and also works with the London Mayor, British Cycling and others. Chain Reaction Cycles is the Ride Around London’s lead sponsor.

“With the Ride Around London, we’re raising money that will go into building new BMX tracks and supporting clubs – predominantly but not exclusively cycling clubs” Mark says. “It will make a difference on the ground, helping cycling clubs engage with more kids, do outreach in schools and reach more vulnerable young people.”

Good causes aside, the Ride Around London should be a blast. Starting at Herne Hill velodrome, it loops over Box Hill, and travels clockwise along the North Downs. It then passes through Windsor, into the Chilterns and through Hertfordshire to finish at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, a 2012 venue. There’s also a 60-mile option, trail rides and a jam-packed ‘Festival of Cycling’ – a village of attractions at the end. Organisers are currently trying to source a big screen to show the UCI Road Race World Champs in Copenhagen, which take place on the same day.

A few weeks ago Access Sport held an awareness-raising ride, with members of CC Hackney, and Maurice and Germain Burton of Streatham’s De Ver Cycles, joining the organisers to take on a section of the Ride Around London course.

Maurice is a former pro and a British record holder at 20km on the track. For him, encouraging cycling with urban youth is a question of expanding horizons and finding talent: “I was once in that position myself,” he says. “When I was a young boy, I used to go with school to Herne Hill track. There was a coach called Bill Dodds – I remember one of the things he said: ‘From here, today, you can go to the Olympic games.’ And with that I knew: this was where I need to be. I knew I had ability, but before that I didn’t know how to go about it.” He continues: “Take Germain, or his brother. If I wasn’t a cyclist, most likely they wouldn’t be either. There must be a lot of ability out there.”

Germain, his son, is a 16-year-old hot prospect (and current Bec CC hill climb champion), who’s been outpacing the seniors at Crystal Palace this year, and cutting his teeth on the continental youth circuit. And Tao Geoghegan Hart, CC Hackney’s 16-year-old star, is on the Olympic Talent Programme, proving Maurice’s conjecture. Germain, too, is enthusiastic about the Ride Around London’s aims: “It’ll raise awareness of cycling and will get more riders interested in racing – and indirectly raise the level of competition in the UK,” he says. “It’ll be good for the sport and for the community in general.”

But what about those without elite potential? The community benefits – and benefits to cycling – are powerful enough. “Cycling does have a very powerful endgame in that there’s a number of ways it can spin off,” Mark Hardie says. “It’s one of the few growing industries. People can become interested in bike maintenance, there are apprenticeships out there. We’ve also supported L-Dub BMX in Bristol, a club that’s come from absolutely nothing and that’s now engaging hundreds of young people. It’s been helping them learn bike maintenance skills. Some have been learning carpentry, building ramps; others have progressed to work in and manage bike stores.” Looked at from this angle, the prospects might not be so bad after all.

To book a place on the Ride Around London and to fine out more about Access Sport visit their website www.accesssport.org.uk

Today's top stories

Bealach Mor Challenge
September 3, 2011 - 09:00
The two counties Challenge ride
September 4, 2011 - 05:00
Essex 100
September 4, 2011 - 06:30
Manchester 100 Ride
September 4, 2011 - 07:00
The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride 2011 – Scotland
September 4, 2011 - 07:30

See all events

Items for Auction

2011-05-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a pdf showing the items for auction at our 2011 Bikes and Bites Benefit.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

2011-05-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Marilyn Price honored with President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition Community Leadership Award

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - December 21, 2010 -The President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) has chosen Marilyn Price to receive a 2010 PCFSN Community Leadership Award. The award is given annually to individuals who improve the lives of individuals within their community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities, fitness or nutrition-related programs.

Longtime environmentalist and bicycle enthusiast Marilyn Price uses her passions to improve the lives of at-risk children. In 1986, Price founded Trips for Kids (TFK), a nonprofit organization that opens the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-a-Bike programs. Today the organization has more than 70 chapters located throughout the United States, Canada and Israel.

"It is our pleasure to present this award to Marilyn Price," says Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. "Physical activity and good nutrition are important components of living a healthy lifestyle, and we are pleased to recognize individuals like Marilyn Price who are committed to making a difference and positively influencing the health of their communities."

"Trips for Kids is overjoyed to be the recipient of this prestigious award," said Marilyn Price, founding director of TFK. "Recognition from the President's Council will significantly boost our visibility and encourage more people to sign up as Trips for Kids chapters."

This year, the President's Council presented the Community Leadership Award to 28 individuals across the country for making sports, physical activity, fitness, and nutrition-related programs available in their communities.

About PCFSN
The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) is a committee of up to 25 volunteer citizens appointed by the President to serve in an advisory capacity through the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through its programs and partnerships with the public, private and non-profit sectors, PCFSN acts as a catalyst to promote healthy lifestyles through fitness, sports and nutrition programs and initiatives that educate, empower and engage Americans of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. For more information about PCFSN, visit www.fitness.gov.

About Trips for Kids
Trips for Kids (www.tripsforkids.org) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Marin County, California. With 69 chapters operating in the United States, Canada and Israel, Trips for Kids opens the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-a-Bike programs. TFK rides are the "vehicle" through which the kids gain confidence, skills, and an appreciation for nature. TFK's after-school Earn-a-Bike and job training programs teach kids how to build and repair bikes, while they learn the values of responsibility, patience, and hard work.

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Media Contacts
Chip Smith, SOAR Communications, 801.656.0472 x 1, csmith@soarcomm.com, or
Eric Goldman, Trips for Kids, 415.578.3708, efgoldman@tripsforkids.org

The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show April 30th

2011-04-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

This Sat, April 30th, Tom Allen of Manhattan Media is producing a Bike Expo at Center 548 in Chelsea from 10 am-6 pm. Please spread the word. It's called The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show.

They have a FB page and a Twitter page that you can follow/link to.

http://newambikeshow.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-New-Amsterdam-Bicycle-Show/191348224212283

http://twitter.com/#!/NewAmBikeShow

Check it out !

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

2010-12-21T19:21:00.001-08:00

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day was a Success!

2010-10-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

October 2nd brought amazing weather - after a week of hard and heavy rains, the skies cleared, the temperature was 70 and there was low humidity; a perfect day for biking. And with this perfect day, we had many families coming out to try this sport called mountain biking.

Pedro Ybarnegaray, a pro BMXer, from Bolivia came as a volunteer and gave us a litlle demo of expert cycle handling. We had an amazing volunteer turnout so we were able to lead multiple level rides. We did beginner rides, intermediate rides and advanced rides It made for an amazing day. Fun was had by all! What a way to end our season!

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Saturday October 2nd

2010-09-24T18:26:00.000-07:00

Trips for Kids Metro New York

would like to invite you and your kids to

Take a Kid

Mountain Biking Day

When: Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Where: Stillwell Woods County Park , Syossett, NY

Itinerary: Ride starts at 12:00 Rides will group up by skill and experience. We will ride every 15 minutes or as groups fill up.

Meet: Stillwell Woods Trail Head

Time : 12:00-2:00

RSVP : andree@tfkmetrony.org

This is a great opportunity to pass your passion for pedaling on to kids.

We are currently seeking interested participants (Kids and Adults) as well as volunteers for all aspects of the events including Bike Mechanics, On-site Coordinator.

Don't forget to RSVP!!!!

Trips for Kids is an organization that has been helping disadvantaged kids discover mountain biking since 1988. Trips for Kids chapters nationwide make a difference in kids' lives by opening their world to mountain biking.

Concerned Long Island Mountain Bicyclists (C.L.I.M.B.) was established in 1990 as a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to the growth and safe enjoyment of mountain bicycling. We promote a strong relationship between recreation and conservation by educating the mountain bicycling community on environmentally sound and socially responsible trail use.

IMBA's International Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day celebrates the life of Jack Doub, an avid teenage mountain biker from North Carolina who had a true passion for the sport from an early age to the time when he passed away in 2002. Event funding is provided by the Jack Doub Memorial Endowment. Additional support comes from CLIF Kids, the National Park Service and Smartwool.

Read the Article on TFK Metro New York in Newsday!

2010-08-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Biking helps them straight into their future

Originally published: August 14, 2010 3:23 PM
By JAN TYLER Special to Newsday

Photo credit: Ed Betz | TFKMetroNY vice president Eugene Sorenson leads a group from Little Flower Children's Home on a bike ride.
(July 24, 2010)

Mountain bike trails typically involve a series of ups and downs.
And a group of volunteers believes that riding those trails can show children that life’s ups and downs can be confronted with courage and self-confidence.
“I firmly believe that a day on a bike can change a child’s life forever,” said Andree Sanders, president of Trips For Kids Metro NY, which hosts one-day mountain bike outings for the underprivileged. “I hope to show these kids that facing and overcoming new challenges can build self-esteem and confidence.”
On a recent Saturday morning at Cathedral Pines County Park in Middle Island, volunteers from the group met up with a van carrying four boys from Little Flower Children and Family Services residential campus in Wading River.
The volunteers outfitted the boys — mainly it is boys who participate — with bikes and helmets and offered instruction. Then the group hit the trails.
Little Flower houses and cares for up to 100 boys and girls, 9 to 19, referred from social services agencies on Long Island and New York City.
“Many children are here due to some disruption in their families,” said Sharon Condon, Little Flower’s Recreation/Volunteer Coordinator.
Some go home on weekends, she said, but others look forward to special activities such as the Trips For Kids outings. Girls rarely participate in the rides, said Eric Rickenbacker, 40, of Coram, a 12-year employee of Little Flower.

Physical challenges
Sanders, 46, of Manhattan, a longtime mountain biker, said the chapter conducts rides for as many as 200 kids yearly at Bethpage State Park and Cathedral Pines, a Suffolk County Park. The New York chapter is one of 65 in the United States, Canada and Israel of Trips for Kids, an international nonprofit founded in 1986 to offer free bike trips to inner-city kids who had never had the opportunity to test themselves physically. Most had never seen the countryside. The group’s premise was that the kids would learn valuable life skills and self-confidence.

Working well together
Sanders brings her husband and son to help on the rides. “It’s important to show the kids how families can work and play together,” she said, “something most of them have never seen.”
“Sharing the day with these children is as much fun for me and my family as it is for them,” says TFKMetroNY vice president Ron Ganz, 48, of Syosset, as he unloads bikes and equipment from the van. “We love to see the joy and smiles on the faces of these underprivileged children who might never have an experience like this as they grow up.”
The park trails are built and maintained by CLIMB (Concerned Long Island Mountain Bikers), a volunteer organization. About eight miles of trails follow the contours of the terrain and some are rugged.
“Mountain biking is not like street biking,” Sanders said. “There are techniques to learn, how to handle the rough surfaces.” She and other group leaders demonstrate how to master the jumps over fallen logs and negotiate hills and gullies. After watching the demonstrations, the boys follow, often with cries of “I did it! That was super.”
The group also aims to use the rides to create an awareness of the natural world. “We point out the distinctive features of the trees and shrubs and even how the rocks were deposited by glaciers millennia ago,” Ganz says.
At the end of the day, the volunteers and participants sit on the grass under the shade of the towering pines that give the park its name. As they sip bottled lemonade and nibble cookies, each child is urged to talk about the day. They appear tired but excited.
“When we get back, those kids are ‘wired’ and they can talk about nothing else,” Rickenbacker said.
One Little Flower resident, 16-year-old Mike, could hardly contain his enthusiasm: “Being outdoors in the woods, riding the trails over the hills and bumps — it was the greatest day I ever had.”
Trips For Kids Metro NY welcomes volunteers. Information is available at
www.TFKMetroNY.org

Check out the article in today's NY Times

2010-07-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

Check it out - Mountain biking in New York City- Yes New York City!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07 /23/nyregion/23mtnbike.html?_r =1&ref=todays paper

Urban Athlete: Bend It Like Bollywood

An interesting Article on Girls, Boys, and Biking.....

2010-03-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

Life as a Bike Jockey: Eve-olution and the Bike

by Judy Freeman

March 16, 2010
Comments

Imagine you’re on your bike, staring up a long, uber-steep climb — like the kind you’d find on Slickrock Trail in Moab, Utah for example — high dumptruck-abilty rating with a low forgiveness factor.

Looking up the rock face, you run the checklist of what you gotta do to make it to the top: proper gear selection, body positioning and so on. You’re also scheming your Plan B move in case Plan A doesn’t pan out. (By the way, your Plan B should account for the serious drop-off penalty to your right.)

Your buddy has just made it up and now it’s your turn. You’ve never made this climb before, but you’re feeling today is your day. You’re a bit nervous, but still game.

At this point, if you’re a healthy male, you’ve gotten a large rush of adrenaline to the bloodstream. This is going to amp you up for the challenge, goad the competitive inkling and increase your focus and clarity; all helping you feel ready to attack.

If you’re a healthy woman, well, maybe not so much. You’ve released the adrenaline, but it’s likely you just got an even larger dose of acetocholine. This happy little hormone makes you feel uncomfortable and nauseated with clouded thought.

And because of an added rush of oxcytocin, the “Tend-and-Befriend” hormone, you have an urge to connect with others and tend to the needs of the group. You’re not necessarily looking to discuss your feelings, just the same you could throw out a “How you doin?”

What looks on the surface to be nervous chatter, is actually a physical response to help calm the nerves.

XX Riding

RACE READY
Time to get the rally shorts on for the Pro XCT series opener in Fontana, California at the end of this month. Looking forward to getting back to racing, visiting with old friends and snacking on hurt sandwiches. Will keep you posted.

Beth Davis, MS, and the executive director of The Women’s Wilderness Institute (TWWI) in Boulder, Colorado, filled me in on these physiological differences in stress responses between the sexes. TWWI teaches outdoor skills using methods based on these considerations and the learning styles more common to females. In addition to the above, there are many more gender differences in approach to challenge based on psychology and socialization.

To explain it all would take a college degree or two. Still, I think even just a few points from our conversation can go a fair ways in understanding how Eve rides different from Adam.

What’s Biking Got to Do with It?

To give an idea of how these differing responses may have developed, Beth offered the image of a group of early humans under attack. While the men grabbed weapons to ward off invaders, the women became group-focused and rounded up the children to move to safety. This division of labor was likely supported by instinct. As it aided with group survival, the patterns would be reinforced; camping these responses in our physiology.

Cool, but what does this mean when it comes to tearing up trail thousands of years later?

Beth explained that when faced with a daunting physical challenge, it helps many ladies to understand that wanting to throw up isn’t always a sign to give up. This can make for a better assessment of a situation. And knowing that connecting with the group can lend to success, a woman can find support for herself through a challenge.

Just Do It

However, if you’re the person helping with the support, remember that saying “Just do it” isn’t always as rallying as hoped. When adrenaline is pumping and the competitive impulse is super-charged, choice may not be a key ingredient to initiating action. But for most females, having options and an incremental approach when highly stressed is a step towards the desired goal.

“Just do it” doesn’t really give room for options or differences in learning styles. A woman might prefer, “Try this portion of the ride and see how you feel.”

This is a point I’ve heard from a lot of gals when explaining a frustrating biking experience with a coaching boyfriend. Though well intentioned, the beau wasn’t the best cheerleader employing the Nike-esque encouragement. When it comes to the ‘ol just do it, perhaps it’s best just to not say it.

Gingerly Approaching Gender

This is not to say that gals will invariably shy from a double-dog dare or be arrested by nausea at every turn. Enter the movie Women of Dirt with its stout cast of lady huckers. But even at a high level of competency in a sport, a woman may get that squeamish alarm from a high-stress maneuver.

Beth, a long-time mountain climber, was recently on a climb with a vertical roped rock-climbing section. On one particularly hairy pitch, she said she started feeling queasy and concerned about carrying on. Yet, instead of being paralyzed with fear, or thinking it was a sign she was out of her skill range, she recognized what was going on for her. She assessed her needs, supported herself through the task, and made it to the top.

Generally, I Don’t Make Generalizations

Of course, everyone is different, and life experience and ability will also affect the situation. And this is in no way to paint a picture that guys have none of these responses or are insensitive and not to be trusted giving biking help to the opposite sex.

Ultimately, this is to say, that at the bottom of that sketchy rock climb — physiologically speaking — females and fellas may not be experiencing the same trail. Hopefully, understanding this could help some gals progress further on the bike. And if it saves a relationship or two, well, that’d also be sweet.

After all, once you’ve made the climb, guy or gal, the smiles and hells yeah! are pretty much the same.

The Women’s Wilderness Institute teaches outdoor skills from biking to ice climbing to women and girls. To learn more, visit www.womenswilderness.org.

Judy Freeman is a pro mountain biker out of Boulder, Colorado. In 2009 she represented the U.S. at the World Championships in Canberra, Australia. For 2010, she’ll be racing for Kenda/Felt Mountain Bike Team. Other sponsors for 2010 include TrailMaster Coaching, Hayes, Manitou, Voler Apparel, Pearl Izumi, WickWerks, KMC, SDG, Crank Brothers, Uvex, Pika Packworks, Smith Optics and Mighty Good Coffee.

Trips for Kids Metro New York co-sponsors Pedal for the Planet on April 25th

2010-03-31T05:52:00.000-07:00

Trips for Kids Metro New York Hosts 2nd Annual Bike and Bites Festival

2010-03-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Trips for Kids Metro New York

Hosts Second Annual Bikes & Bites Benefit

With Your Help We Can Get Hundreds of Kids on Bikes

This Season

(New York, New York) March 11, 2010 - Trips for Kids Metro New York (TFK), will be hosting its second annual Bikes and Bites Benefit on Tuesday April 27, 2010 7:00-9:00 at 107 West Restaurant and Bar on the Upper West Side at 107^th and Broadway. TFK is a non-profit organization, that provides inner city kids with a transformational day of mountain biking fun!

TFK ‘s mountain biking trips teaches the kids mountain biking skills, environmental education and give them a self esteem building experience all by the simple act of having fun.

“Our rides activate and excite a child’s personal awareness through interaction with the environment and physical activity.” says Andree Sanders, Executive Director of TFK.

TFK provides an important service to Metro New York kids who have limited access to the outdoors and physical activity. TFK gives urban children a rare opportunity to experience mountain biking under the guidance of trained professionals in non urban settings. TFK’s outreach is committed to reaching the diverse group of urban youth, ages 10-18.

TFK’s specialized mountain biking intervention program nurtures positive attitudes and brighter perspectives helping kids lead healthier and more productive lives. Kids’ lives can be changed by getting them onto bikes and out in nature, where they can learn about themselves through discovering the environment around them. Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2008) has concluded that children who are regularly exposed to nature “thrive in intellectual, spiritual and physical ways that their ‘shut-in’ peers do not”. He says studies show that enjoying nature reduces kids' loneliness, depression and attention problems.

In support of National Bike Month approaching in May, TFK is hosting its second annual Bikes and Bites Benefit to help get hundreds of kids on bikes this season. The event will be held at 107 West Restaurant and Bar on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 7:00-9:00pm. Tickets are $30 per person, which includes drinks and appetizers. The event is open to the public and tickets will be sold at the door and online. There will be a silent auction with items such as a weekend getaway near Tanglewood, a hand blown vase by internationally know artist, Michael Davis, and many different gift certificates to local restaurants and stores. Raffle items include a kindle, many bike items and the grand prize is a Mountain Bike.

For further information or to arrange coverage of this event, please contact: Andree Sanders, Executive Director at 917-658-9289, asanders@tfkmetrony.org

Andree Sanders Interviews with JAM ( Just Ask Marlene)

2009-10-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

We asked our favorite industry VIP’s to share

what’s on their minds, what they’re working on

and what makes them tick. jam is so excited to have

Andree as our VIP!

What is Trips for Kids?

Trips for Kids Metro New York is a non-profit organization that provides mountain bike outings and environmental education for kids who would not otherwise have these opportunities. It teaches lessons in personal responsibility, achievement, and environmental awareness through the simple act of having fun while enabling them to realize their full potential. You can learn more about TFKMNY at http://www.tfkmetrony.org/

How did you get involved with this organization?

I was first introduced to Trips For Kids Metro New York in 2002 at the New York Bike Show. I started as a passionate volunteer and now I am the Executive Director. During my first ride, I watched a group of 10-16 year-old boys have the time of their lives and it inspired me to continue to help others. That was in 2002, and I have never looked back.

What are you hoping for kids to get out of these trips?

I hope these kids get a new outlook on life from these rides. We focus on their accomplishments throughout the day and teach them how to apply these lessons to their everyday lives. We also introduce them to exercise and nutrition, which they are not usually exposed to, in a fun and exciting format. Most importantly, I want them to have FUN and come back for more!

What has been your greatest accomplishment at TFK?

In the three years that I have been Executive Director, we have gotten several hundred kids out on bikes. That is more kids on bikes than all of the prior years combined. I have created a strong client base and fundraising program to keep our rides funded. Getting the kids to challenge themselves and have fun is a formula that works. I look forward to improving the program and reaching even more kids next year!

You have 2 kids, how are they involved in TFK?

My family plays a big part in Trips for Kids Metro New York. My husband helps lead trips with me, and my 10 year-old son is an amazing ride volunteer who demonstrates the bike positions and skills needed to ride off road. It is nice for the kids to have someone their own age helping out - this way they can see that it is possible to do. My 3 year-old daughter even comes along, attached to my bike in a chariot. It’s great to be able to teach my children to give to others, while showing them how a family can work and play together.

What has been your favorite part about this program?

I love seeing how the kids have transformed in just a few hours. At the beginning we have them try to ride up a hill, which many of them can’t do. By the end of the ride, they are racing up that same hill! It is an amazing for them to measure their own skill growth. The kids have a great time. They learn skills in biking and team building, and most importantly, they learn to have confidence in themselves. My favorite part is seeing the smiles on their faces after they finish a ride. It makes me want to share this experience with every child I meet!

Go to JAM's website for the complete story http://justaskmarlene.com/vip.html

Volunteer Tells All To CLIMB !

2009-10-26T07:05:00.000-07:00

CONCERNED LONG ISLAND MOUNTAIN BICYCLISTS

My Experience with

Trips for Kids-Metro New York

by Peter Rudolph

This story is about my experience volunteering for Trips for Kids. I had heard about the program, but didn’t know much about it. A couple weeks ago I was approached by a friend and fellow mountain biker to help lead a ride at Bethpage State Park. As he explained it, we would just be “taking kids out for a day of riding.” Little did I know what I was in for.

As the kids arrived I was a little nervous, and I could see that they were as well. We got them set up with helmets, gloves and name tags. The first smiles came when they re- ceived their own personal water bottle to keep. This also made me smile. We then gave instructions on safety and the operation of the bikes, such as how to shift the gears, use the brakes, etc.

Next, we fit them on the bikes one by one. As we fit each kid the excitement and nervousness grew again. Some of them seemed completely unable to ride. Once fitted, we started to get them to try and ride. Some took right off while others needed a lot of help. After 30 minutes of be- coming familiar with the bikes, it was time to hit the trails.

I would be leading the group with the help of several oth- er volunteers. We headed out on one of the easier sections to get the kids warmed up. Right away the first kid behind me, Ahmed, started asking questions: “How good are these bikes? How much does yours cost? How long have you been riding? Where do you ride?” We continued along and the kids improved with each turn of the wheel, learning to shift at the right time and how to tackle the terrain.

Riding with a lot of people makes for a slower ride, having to stop for others to catch up. Each time we stopped, Ahmed and another boy, Hamed, were right behind me. I could tell they wanted to let it rip and that they were strong riders. Ahmed and Hamed said they had never been on mountain bike trails before, but you could have fooled me. We rode for about an hour and then headed back for lunch.

After lunch we broke into groups, and I led a ride of the advanced riders which included Ahmed and Hamed of course. We rode some of the most challenging trails and as usual, Ahmed was right behind me. At one point he said,

“This is the best day I’ve had all summer!” He really loved it and couldn’t get enough, becoming a better rider with each challenge we encountered. At each stop, I taught them about trail etiquette, such as yielding to pedestrians and equestrians, how to read trail signs and safety, and Ahmed always had a lot of questions. His enthusiasm was amazing and contagious.

We rode for one and a half hours then returned to the group. The rest of the group was tired, but I could see that Ahmed wanted more. I asked him if he wanted to check out some really cool stuff and before I finished my sentence he was on his bike. We took off to hit the most challenging terrain in the park.

I took it nice and slow to make sure he was OK as we made our way to the top of one of the biggest hills. At the top we peered down one trail and I said “That trail looks scary, right?” and he said, “Let’s do it!” I asked if he was sure and he said he was, so down we went. At the bottom, he mentioned to me how he had seen this kind of riding on TV and couldn’t believe he just did it. We went on to ride everything in the park and he never fell once.

At the end of the day after everyone had returned, we gathered for cookies and to tell the group about our expe- riences that day. When it was Ahmed’s turn, he said how much fun he had riding with me, his new “riding buddy.” When it was my turn, I explained that after all my years of riding, I realized that I was not as good as I thought! That’s because of how he made all the trails look so easy when I always thought they were so hard.

After we had packed up and the kids were relaxing, Ahmed came over to me, shook my hand and gave me a hug and said, “Thank you, I’ll never forget you and this day as long as I live.” I was extremely touched to say the least. To think I had that much of an impact on someone was truly amazing.

TFK is a unique and rewarding experience, not only for the kids, but the volunteers as well. I look forward to vol- unteering again, but I will always remember that day and how it affected not only me, but Ahmed and all the kids.

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch Appear at Manhattan Showing...

2009-10-19T21:30:00.000-07:00

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch to Appear at Manhattan Showing of Race Across the Sky

19 OCTOBER 2009 NO COMMENT

Rusch poses with the *other* Leadville winner. What

This Thursday, 2009 Leadville 100 womens winner Rebecca Rusch will make a live appearance at the Union Square 14 movie theater in New York City for the showing of “Race Across the Sky”. Come meet this endurance racing legend (2 time 24 Hour Solo world champion) before the movie inside the Union Square 14 theater, or throw back some drinks with her at the official NYCMTB afterparty at Professor Thom’s (2nd Ave between 13th and 14th) from about 9:45pm onward.

Only in NYC can you watch the Leadville race movie with one of the winners of the race! If you can’t make the movie, come out for the afterparty. We’ll have some NYCMTB swag to give away, and Rebecca’s bringing her own stash of goodies from her sponsors, including Specialized and Red Bull!Publish Post

It’s shaping up to be one heck of a night of mountain biking…

Trips for Kids Named 2009 Non-Profit Organization of the Year

2009-10-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trips for Kids Named 2009 Non-Profit Organization of the Year by the
California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Oct. 13, 2009 - The California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports selected Trips for Kids (TFK) as its 2009 Non-Profit Organization of the Year from more than 700 nominees. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Anthem Blue Cross Foundation presented the award to TFK with a gold medal on September 16, 2009 at the Fourth Annual Spotlight Awards ceremony in Sacramento, Calif.

As part of the award, Trips for Kids will receive a $10,000 donation at a special ceremony in San Rafael, Calif., on Nov. 19.

"Trips for Kids is overjoyed to be the recipient of this prestigious award," said Marilyn Price, founding director of TFK. "Recognition from the Spotlight Awards will significantly boost our visibility and encourage more people to sign up as Trips for Kids chapters. The prize will really help us give underserved youth an opportunity to be active through our mountain bikes rides."

The California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has granted more than $1.75 million to the Council over the last five years.

"I congratulate all of this year's Gold Medal winners," Governor Schwarzenegger said.

Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld, founder of Major League Lacrosse and Exercise TV said, "We're proud to shine a spotlight on each of our awardees because they are each doing something amazing to help California's children."

Trips for Kids is a 21-year-old national non-profit based in San Rafael, Calif., with programs that give underserved youth a chance to experience the joy and challenge of mountain biking, while learning valuable life skills and an appreciation for the outdoors. There are currently 66 Trips for Kids chapters in the United Stated, Canada and Israel.

For more information on Trips for Kids, please visit www.tripsforkids.org or call founding Director Marilyn Price at 415.458.2986.

# # #

About Trips for Kids
Trips for Kids (www.tripsforkids.org) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Marin County, California. With 60-plus chapters operating in the United States, Canada and Israel, Trips for Kids opens the world of cycling to at-risk youth through mountain bike rides and Earn-A-Bike programs. Trips for Kids started in 1988 as a grass roots effort by avid mountain biker, environmentalist and Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee Marilyn Price to provide inner-city youth a way to enjoy the outdoors and gain much-needed life skills.

Fueled by success in the San Francisco Bay Area, the national organization was launched in 1999 with the expanded mission to open as many chapters as possible in order to provide kids with lessons in personal responsibility, achievement and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun through mountain biking.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Marilyn Price, Trips for Kids, 415.458.2986, info@tripsforkids.org or
Maura Lansford, SOAR Communications, 801.523.3730(wk), mlansford@soarcomm.com

Exciting things happening for Mountain Biking

2009-09-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

Mountain biking goes national in schools! This is very exciting.

High School Mountain Bike Program Goes National
Sep 23^rd, 2009, 5:30pm

NorCal Cycling Program Goes National

National Interscholastic Cycling Association Grows Out of NorCal League
New Organization for High School Cycling Attracts Industry Support

Contact: Matthew Fritzinger matt@nationalmtb.org Tel: (510) 524-5464 www.nationalmtb.org

BERKELEY, Calif.—The National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) is launching October 1 as a new organization to promote and facilitate interscholastic high school mountain biking in the USA.

With Specialized Bicycle Components stepping in as the National Founding Sponsor, and the Easton Sports Development Foundation II stepping up its backing of the SoCal League to include a sponsorship match program at the national level, the fast emerging national association shows it has earned the trust and support of major industry players.

While the search for sponsorship continues in the quest to fully meet operating costs, a Trailblazer’s Team of individual benefactors has been established to provide additional support in getting – and keeping – the association off the ground. Early members of this important group include Charles Moore of McGuire Real Estate and Scott Tedro of Sho-Air International.

NICA has grown out of the highly successful NorCal High School Mountain Bike Racing League, which is now entering its tenth year. The launch of NICA follows the successful first year of the NorCal League spin-off, the SoCal Interscholastic Cycling League.

The new association is led by NorCal League founder, Matt Fritzinger, and will commence its work with four state or regional chapters. The initial states and regions are Northern California, Southern California, Colorado, and Washington.

By 2020, NICA’s vision is to have developed high school mountain biking coast to coast by providing successful models of league development to interested regions.

Matt Fritzinger stated, “It's only because of the combined support of Specialized and ESDFII that we are able to launch this milestone effort. This is a tremendously exciting step not only for us, but for mountain biking in the USA. Our Mountain Biking programs provide a range of positive experience for teenage kids, many of which would not have come to the sport if it were not for their high school team. We are currently looking for two or three more major corporate partners and individual supporters to join our Trailblazers Team.”

Ned Overend, the 1990 Mountain Bike world champion, and a godparent of the sport, said, “This is exactly the kind of thing we need to develop not only mountain biking but all kinds of cycling in the USA. If league graduates want to go onto racing activities, that’s great, and they can choose which discipline inspires them. But many of these kids go on to a healthy, fulfilling life of recreational cycling—both on and off road—which they then introduce to their families. You can see how this will create growth in future generations. The importance of this kind of program for cycling in the USA cannot be overstated.”

NICA is also currently recruiting founding board members.

What: National Interscholastic Cycling Association launch
Where: Initially four areas: Northern California, Southern California, Washington, Colorado
When: Launch date October 1, 2009
Who: NICA’s executive director is Matt Fritzinger

About the National Interscholastic Cycling Association
NICA is the National Governing Body for grades 9-12 interscholastic mountain biking. With the support of National Founding Sponsor, Specialized Bicycle Components, and the Easton Sports Development Foundation II, NICA has been established to foster the development of high quality competitive cross-country mountain biking programs for high school aged athletes. NICA provides leadership, governance and program support to promote the development of interscholastic mountain biking leagues throughout the United States.

Welcome to Trips for Kids Blog!

2009-09-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Trips for Kids Metro New York’s First blog! I am so excited to share our adventure, our accomplishments and our goals with all of you! To start off the blog I want to let you know who we are and what we do.

Trips for Kids Metro New York (TFK) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide mountain bike outings ,environmental and health education for kids who would not otherwise have these opportunities. We teach lessons in personal responsibility, achievement and environmental awareness through the simple act of having fun.

TFK works specifically with lower income youths, ages 10-18 of all ethnic/racial backgrounds. These kids come from the five boroughs of New York City. Each one works with the kids as we ride and teaches them the skills needed to accomplish the ride. The rides start off on mainly flat terrain such as a dirt road , and as the day progresses, the terrain changes to become more challenging. By the end of the day, the kids can ride over logs, climb and descend hills, and execute whoop-de-whoops (descending a large hill to climb up the next).

Out on the trails, kids gain a fresh perspective; on their lives; the world, and their place in it. After a fun-filled day of appreciating a portion of the environment that they are not often exposed to, filling their lungs with big breaths of clean air, and participating in a really fun and challenging physical activity, the children go home, smiling, inspired, with a head full of wonderful dreams and plans; sometimes for their future, or sometimes just for the next ride.

We have touched the lives of more than 165 kids this year with this experience out riding the trails in Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties. To help you understand their experince, here are some of the things they have had to say:

“ I learned how to have confidence in myself” Mayra, age 16

“ I have never seen so many trees” Tony, age 10

"Today I learned how to change gears on hills which made them possible. I did way more than I thought I could do." Yvonne, age 13

“I had the best day of my life” Samuel, age 16

Stay tuned as our season is not over yet! We have more rides and will be keeping you up to date on our happenings. Please check in!

Trips For Kids - Metro NY

Mountain Bike Swap BIKE SWAP! November 12 at Noon in Oyster Bay's Theodore Roosevelt Park.

Come meet the pros!

Rebecca Rusch Wraps Up Gold Rusch Tour with NYC Events

Come Meet the Pros! October 6th, 7th, and 8th

October 1st Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Ride Around London - spreading the message of cycling to urban youth

Today's top stories

road.cc hot topics

Items for Auction

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show April 30th

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day was a Success!

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Saturday October 2nd

Read the Article on TFK Metro New York in Newsday!

Biking helps them straight into their future

Check out the article in today's NY Times

MORE IN N.Y. / REGION (24 OF 30 ARTICLES)

Urban Athlete: Bend It Like Bollywood

An interesting Article on Girls, Boys, and Biking.....

Life as a Bike Jockey: Eve-olution and the Bike

by Judy Freeman

XX Riding

What’s Biking Got to Do with It?

Just Do It

Gingerly Approaching Gender

Generally, I Don’t Make Generalizations

Trips for Kids Metro New York co-sponsors Pedal for the Planet on April 25th

Trips for Kids Metro New York Hosts 2nd Annual Bike and Bites Festival

Andree Sanders Interviews with JAM ( Just Ask Marlene)

Volunteer Tells All To CLIMB !

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch Appear at Manhattan Showing...

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch to Appear at Manhattan Showing of Race Across the Sky

Trips for Kids Named 2009 Non-Profit Organization of the Year

Exciting things happening for Mountain Biking

Welcome to Trips for Kids Blog!

Trips For Kids - Metro NY

Mountain Bike Swap BIKE SWAP! November 12 at Noon in Oyster Bay's Theodore Roosevelt Park.

Come meet the pros!

Rebecca Rusch Wraps Up Gold Rusch Tour with NYC Events

Come Meet the Pros! October 6th, 7th, and 8th

October 1st Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day

Ride Around London - spreading the message of cycling to urban youth

Related stories

Tags

Today's top stories

road.cc hot topics

Items for Auction

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

The New Amsterdam Bicycle Show April 30th

Trips for Kids gets Important Recognition- Congrads to Marilyn Price

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day was a Success!

Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Saturday October 2nd

Read the Article on TFK Metro New York in Newsday!

Biking helps them straight into their future

Check out the article in today's NY Times

MORE IN N.Y. / REGION (24 OF 30 ARTICLES)

Urban Athlete: Bend It Like Bollywood

An interesting Article on Girls, Boys, and Biking.....

Life as a Bike Jockey: Eve-olution and the Bike

by Judy Freeman

XX Riding

What’s Biking Got to Do with It?

Just Do It

Gingerly Approaching Gender

Generally, I Don’t Make Generalizations

Trips for Kids Metro New York co-sponsors Pedal for the Planet on April 25th

Trips for Kids Metro New York Hosts 2nd Annual Bike and Bites Festival

Andree Sanders Interviews with JAM ( Just Ask Marlene)

Volunteer Tells All To CLIMB !

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch Appear at Manhattan Showing...

Leadville Winner Rebecca Rusch to Appear at Manhattan Showing of Race Across the Sky

Trips for Kids Named 2009 Non-Profit Organization of the Year

Exciting things happening for Mountain Biking

Welcome to Trips for Kids Blog!