Tour de Cure Prize Drawings!

We have 8 prizes to give away on the morning of the Tour de Cure!

The drawing will be at the Team Red tent at 7:10am sharp.  Gotta keep things on schedule for the start of the ride.

Here are the prizes:

• Hair Styling Services from Master Colorist/Stylist, Bruce duBois at Jay Michael Salon & Spa
  
  
• One-Hour Relaxation Massage from Augustine Lodis at Jay Michael Salon & Spa
  
  
• Family Pack of 4 Tickets (2 Adult, 2 Children) on the Scenic Steam-Driven New Hope Railroad
  
  
• Bike Tune-Up at Wheel Wright Bike Shop in Abington
  
  
• 4-Pack of Passes to the County Theater in Doylestown
  
  
• Road ID Gift Certificates w/ Free Shipping (for 3 separate winners)

How the Drawing Will Work

Everyone that shows the minimum $200 has been raised in their online fundraising by Thursday at 5pm will be in the drawing.  Sorry for the cutoff, but we need a cutoff time to prepare for the drawing.

We'll draw all 8 names and the winners will pick their prizes in descending order of how much they've fundraised (based on totals at the cutoff time).  We have such a selection of prizes, it was difficult to determine desirability of each prize, so we thought we'd let winners pick in this fashion, although it does introduce some complexity.

Here's the rub, though - you have to be at the drawing to pick a prize in your order.

If you're not at the drawing, we'll continue with prize selection by the others whose names have been drawn and we will post your name on the Prize Drawings board and you can pick from what remains when you get there - so if you missed the drawings, check the Team Red tent for this when you get there.

If those people drawn have not claimed prizes by 1pm, the remaining prizes will be forfeited and we'll draw new names for whomever is at the tent until we give all the prizes away.  For this second round of drawing, prizes will be selected as names are drawn without regard for the amount fundraised.

I understand that the drawing times and the process may be difficult for some, but it's a fair way to hold the drawings considering fundraising levels, desirability of prizes, and the transient nature of the event.  I hope you understand.

Thanks, best of luck in the drawings, and have a great ride!

Cheers,
k

Review: Mock Tour de Cure #2

We would've had 15 on the ride, 4 more showed up a bit
later and I was behind the camera.

 

 

Well, it wasn't meant to be.  The universe did not want us to ride our 2nd Mock Tour, which was to cover the outer 35 miles of the 63 mile 2012 Tour de Cure route.  Just when we were preparing to roll, the skies darkened.  As we debated whether to go or not, lightening cracked just over our heads - that made our decision.  So, we nixed the ride ad all went home.  Some of us drove in from Pottstown!  Oh well - can't control the weather.

But it seemed it only rained on Doylestown because when I got back home to Conshy, it was clear.  Hck, I was ready for a ride, so I did some miles on the SRT.  I saw some other folks from our mis-fated rde also did some miles after the fact.  So, at least I got some training in.

Stokin' Joe Niszczak

I have to tell you, though - something really did not want me to ride that day.  I cracked my rear training road rim last week and the Doylestown to Frenchtown ride, so I had to use my racing tubulars all last week for training.  Very finnicky - racing wheels, I don't like to ride them too much.  They're the type where the tires glue onto the rim, and the rube is sewn into the tire.  So, to fix a flat, you have rip the old tire off and re-glue a spare.  To fix the flat, you have to cut open the stitches, fix the tube, and sew it back up.  Very laborious.  Plus, good tubular tires can easily run over $100 each! 

Anyhow, I last used these tubulars at last year's Tour de Cure and flatted at about mile 52 with a sidewall cut.  I booted the sidewall and fixed the flat and it held air well.  I rode it all last week to train.  But wouldn't you know it, the morning of Mock Tour #2 when I was toppping it off with air - PFFFFFFFFT!  The sidewall blew out.  Oh well - no time to change the tubular.  The clinchers are cracked.  What the hell, I grab the mountain bike and head out to Doylestown.

L to R: Vic Patalano, Lou Montella, Joe Niszczak

I pull up at the Del Val Farmer's market and I hear Joe Niszczak say, "What the hell?  What's with the MOUNTAIN BIKE!"  Long story, Joe.  So there it is.  ; ) 

Probably best that the skies opened up, because it was going to be a long, long ride w/ the MTB. No way I could've kept up with the others - pretty hard core looking group that day.

Another chapter in Team Red training rides.  I should have my new road rim in today - time to build my new rear wheel for the Tour on Saturday. 

Well - gotta run, gotta do 35 miles today... on the mountain bike. 

See you on the road.

Cheers,
k

Ryan and his dad - Ryan's saying, "Tut-tut, looks like rain."

2012 Team Red Barbecue!

Our team barbecue - great day, good food, great people, good times...

Many thanks to Team Red Member, Bill Edwards - for the expert photography!

Edwards Studios

REVIEW: May 6th - Mock Tour de Cure Practice Ride

Nineteen riders turned out for the 35 miles Mock Tour de Cure practice ride on Sunday.  It was cloudy and a bit chilly, but overall it was a nice day for riding and the sun was taking over by the end of the ride.

So, I just have to tell this story.  I brought a bunch of bananas and water to the ride.  And thanks to Charlie Johnston, I found out how great Ambler Donuts are!  So I figured, if folks with diabetes are going to have  donut treat, the best time is just before a bike ride - right?  Anyhow, I was wearing my Red Rider jersey - the one that say "I RIDE WITH DIABETES" really big on the back.  And I simply could not walk into Ambler Donut and order 2 1/2 dozen donuts, pay the guy, then turn around and walk out the door w/ "I RIDE WITH DIABETES" shouting back at him!  HAHA - would've been funny.  But I threw a long sleeve t-shirt over top - just couldn't do it.

Big thanks to the ride leaders and sweepers - Bob Carter, Leticia Amadio Arrington, Bill Edwards, and Lee Maloy who stepped in for our Gonzo Squad leader who couldn't make it.

Also thanks to John Holsinger from Team Merck who took the ride photo, and couldn't be in the photo.  Unfortunately John popped a spoke on the front wheel and had to drop out, but we were keeping a pretty healthy pace until then. 

A lot of fast riders today - Lee and Bill did a great job helping with the speedy crowd.  Bob, Leticia, and I stayed with the Touring Group who lucked out because all the donuts were in one of our rider's cars.  Yum.  Sorry, fast riders, no donuts for you.  ; )  We'll plan better next time.

See you all on May 27th when we ride the hillier outer portion of the 63 mile route, starting at the Delaware Valley Farmer's Market.   See our meetup post for all the details:

   http://www.meetup.com/TeamRedPhilly/events/54353552/


We'll see you there. 

Cheers,
k

How to Raise Your Minimum $200 - And Maybe Make the Top 20?

Time to get moving on fundraising.  First off, we need to raise our minimum $200 to ride in the Tour de Cure.  Then, set your sights on the Team Red Top 20 Fundraisers List!

How to Raise Your Minimum $200
Your Tour de Cure Tour Center has great tools to help make it easy to raise your $200.  From personalizing your Tour page, to managing your email fundraising requests, and linking it all to Facebok and Twitter, you're covered.  See our Fundraising Tips post for some helpful hints to help you!

Earn Fundraising $$$s By Riding!
You can also earn your fundraising dollars by joining our Iron Andy Challenge.  The Iron Andy Foundation will donate up to $300 toward your Tour de Cure ride if you ride more miles than others in your mileage category.  So you compete against others doing the 12, 35, or 63 mile Tour de Cure routes.  And you can log your miles back to 5:30pm on 4/12 - when the contest started.  Who knows, you may already be in the lead!  Learn all about our Iron Andy Challenge by going here.

Team Red Top 20 Fundraisers
Why stop at $200?  You can go down in posterity by making our Team Red Top 20  Fundraisers List! 

Here are our current Top 20 Fundraisers:

1	Larry Lukin	$3,536.00
2	Kevin Horio	$1,145.00
3	Andrew Lyman	$965.00
4	Joel Brazy	$695.00
5	Matt Axel	$670.00
6	Charles Johnston	$500.00
7	Victor Patalano	$375.00
8	Anthony Tamburello	$300.00
9	Susan Lyman	$275.00
10	Brian Fisher	$250.00
10	Vineeth Varghese	$250.00
11	Joseph Niszczak	$225.00
12	Bill Edwards	$200.00
12	Christine Ross	$200.00
12	Ed Kosmowski	$200.00
12	JoAnne Hollenbach	$200.00
12	Laura Axel	$200.00
12	Michelene Corcoran	$200.00
13	Jill Talarico	$176.00
14	David Williams	$175.00

Team Stats
As a team, we just broke $12,000 on our way to our $20,000 overall goal. 

Team Red Philly is in the Top 20 of all the Team Reds in the nation (we're #17 to be exact).  And were' tied for #9 for the number of riders in our team. 

That's pretty good - but we can do better...

Let's show them all what Philly's made of!

Iron Andy Leaderboard - Who Will Win the Prizes!

It's still up for grabs!  You could win up to $300 toward your fundraising just by logging your miles in the Iron Andy Challenge.


You're Not Too Late - Back Log Your Miles!
If you haven't signed up yet, you can log all of your road and trainer miles going back to 5:30pm on 4/12.  If you keep track of your miles, or use a bike meter that tracks your miles, simply join the challenge and log your miles - it's not too late!


How to Join
Go here for details on the challenge and how to join:

    http://teamredphilly.blogspot.com/2012/04/team-red-challenge-earn-s-while.html


Current Standings
Here are the standings so far, with Joe Niszczak, Leticia Amadio Arrington, and Jason Harlow leading the categories!

63 Milers
Rank	Hubbub Name	Rider	Miles Ridden
1	Joe67	Joe Niszczak	415
2	KloppinKlyde	Kevin Horio	373
3	GoodCityKid3	Atsuko Murakami	363
4	PaulB	Paul Burton	210
5	Cricket	Cricket	199
6	Cityslick5	Ed Kosmowski	138
7	liacar	Lisa Caramandi	131
8	lizzardking	Lee Swartz	86
9	IMBillE	Bill Edwards	80
10	Vin	Vineeth Varghese	59
11	bigsky_g	George Alkire	44
12	dbwilliams66	David Williams	10
13	JMG	Jim Gilbert	6
35 Milers
Rank	Hubbub Name	Rider	Miles Ridden
1	Leticia	Leticia Amadio Arrington	205
2	Petz	Christine Ross	178
3	lalukin	Larry Lukin	151
4	DEredrider	Charlie Johnston	49
12 Milers
Rank	Hubbub Name	Rider	Miles Ridden
1	Jasonh	Jason Harlow	0

 
$50 Prize is Ripe for the Pickin'
Hey you 12 milers - that $50 is just sitting there for you!
  If no one else logs miles there, all you have to do is ride 130 miles by the end of May and you'll win $50 toward your fundraising!  That's just 32 miles/week, just 11 miles 3 days a week.  You can do it!


Help Send a Child to Diabetes Camp Even if you don't win your division, if we reach our mileage goal as a team, we can send a child to diabetes camp - for one of the most rewarding experiences of their young lives!  Pitch in and log your miles! 

 
We Really Need Your Miles!
Our current total team miles is 2,695 miles! 

That's great, and we're all training hard and logging those miles.  But the Iron Andy Challenge was based on the whole team chipping in to reach 20,000 miles to send a child to diabetes camp.  By my simple calculations, if we were all logging miles we'd be at around 10,000 miles by now. Wow!  What could be.

I could ask Iron Andy to adjust the challenge to reflect the current number of Team Redders logging miles.  But I'd rather not do that.  C'mon folks - lets log those miles, we can do it! 

And think about this - Iron Andy will let us use the miles we ride on the day of the Tour de Cure - we could log 3,000 - 4,000 miles in that one day! 

Right now, there are 72 of us on Team Red.  And only 19 are logging miles. 

I know you are out there training, we need your miles! 

Please help.  Join the challenge and log your miles.