Thursday, November 30, 2006

TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar/ACA European Cyclo-Cross Fundraiser


TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar/ACA European Cyclo-Cross Fundraiser
Presented by:
TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Cyclo-Cross Team (part of the American Cycling Association's development program)




photo of Daniel Summerhill courtesy of Nicholas Saucier


The success of American cyclo-cross at the international level depends on
our riders gaining valuable experience racing in Europe, especially early in
their career. The TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Cross Team was founded on this premise,
and with another successful US race season wrapping up, the team will be
sending several Junior and elite riders to compete in Europe.

3 Riders from the TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Cross Team have been selected to participate in US National Cyclo-Cross coach Geoff Proctor's Euro Camp IV. The Euro Camp helps develop American riders by giving them the support they need to experience and succeed at European racing at its highest level. Based in Belgium from Dec. 22-Jan. 5 (the busy holiday cross season), each rider will be able to race 5-7 times at World Cup, Superprestige, and GVA Series events. Team members attending are: Juniors Jim Lennon and Danny Summerhill, and elite Troy Wells.

In addition, these team members are planning to represent the US at the 2007 Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Hooglede, Belgium. The US Worlds Team will travel over to Europe again mid-Jan., to race a World Cup in preparation for Worlds on Jan. 27-28.

This fundraiser is a necessary source of financial assistance for the 3 TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar Cross Team members who are racing in Europe this winter. Riders participating in the Euro Camp pay their own way for travel and the support they receive in Belgium. US Worlds Team members (except for the National Champion) must pay for their entire trip package as well.

BikeReg.com has set up a donation page for Jim, Danny and Troy, and will cover all service fee charges for each pledge. 100% of your donation will go directly to the riders. We're hoping you can help out, too. You can make any donation dollar amount you can afford.

The TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar team, Jim, Danny and Troy thank you for your help!

Choose the rider to support or donate to the general fund to support all 3 riders equally.

The American Cycling Association which operates the team is a non profit 501c3 organization recognized by the IRS. Donations are tax deductible.

We'd like to thank all the TIAA-CREF/Clif Bar sponsors for their support in making this such a great season:

Clif Bar and Clif Shot

Patagonia, Javelin, Crank Bros, Cyclocrossworld.com

fi'zi:k, Swix, Hincapie Sportswear, Hutchinson

Curve, Challenge, Giro, Pedro's, Cycle-Smart

Re:cycle Hardwear, Sheila Moon, Boulder Cycle Sport

Mavic, Alpha Q, JBV Coaching, 5280 Magazine

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Fundraiser for ACA development 'cross programs



Wed. Dec. 6 at the Boulder Theater...come check out the premiere of Sam Smith's new 'cross film, Transitions 2: 'Cross the Pond

The event is a fundraiser for the American Cycling Association's development 'cross programs, the ACA Mudskippers (juniors 8-12) and the TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR team (juniors 16-18, and Under-23).

Tickets are $10, purchased through the Boulder Theater website, at Boulder Cycle Sport, or at the door.

The film is a unique and funny, in-depth look at the American racers taking on the world's best cyclo-crossers in Belgium during the Christmas racing season in 2005. TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR team members Brady Kappius, Alex Howes, Troy Wells and Daniel Summerhill are featured, as is 2005 team manager Brandon Dwight.

The proceeds of this event will go to the 2007 Mudskippers team and the TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR team members traveling to Europe this winter for the European Cyclo-Cross Camp and the World Championships.

Hope to see you there!

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Brandon Dwight's latest VeloNews.com Diary


Just up today, the latest installment of Chocolate, Waffles, and Cross, the cross-season diary written by Boulder's Brandon Dwight.

Brandon helped me found the TIAA-CREF/CLIF BAR Cross Team in 2004...back then it was just him and me organizing the team and we only had 4 riders!

Brandon is racing this season for the bike shop he owns, Boulder Cycle Sport - they've been a great sponsor for the cross team, helping us get a lot of the parts and supplies we've needed for the season.

Last weekend for the final USGP races, Brandon traveled and stayed with the much bigger version of our old small-time development cross team, and wrote about the trip for his diary.

Looking back on Thanksgiving food sources

Author Corby Kummer (The Pleasures of Slow Food) muses on the effects of global warming on our food sources - particularly interesting to think about after consuming some Thanksgiving staples that used to come from one part of the country and now are better grown in other parts of the country or Canada.

From Thursday's NY Times.

Making renewable energy a reality in Colorado


Good opinion article by Craig Cox (Executive Director, Interwest Energy Alliance) in today's Denver Post Perspectives section, titled Making renewable energy a reality.

TEAM CLIF BAR is working to fight climate change