Night riding!

With just 11 day left before their 1st 24 hour race, the team goes out for their first ever night ride.
Like naturals, they were riding just as fast at night as they do in the day.
A big thank you to Mario, Helene and Teresa for helping me get the boys lights set up!
Nothing else to say but two very successful night rides!

Greet Tour D'Afrique riders as they ride into Ottawa August 1

As part of their first North American Epic Bike Tour from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to the Atlantic in St. John's, Newfoundland, Tour d'Afrique will be supporting several Trips for Kids chapters on route. The Tour will pass through Ottawa on August 1st and 2nd.

Tour d'Afrique Ltd. is a Toronto based company named for its flagship cycling tour that, since 2003, has annually traversed the African continent from Cairo to Cape Town.

The principal staff of TdA are avid cyclists, humanitarians, outdoor enthusiasts, travelers and adventurers. They donate bicycles to Health Care Professionals in Africa, support bicycle advocacy and promote projects that protect the environment.

Trips for Kids Ottawa has been selected by the Tour d'Afrique to receive funds raised during their North American Epic Bike Tour. Td'A cyclists will leave Merrickville at 7am, Monday August 1st heading for the TFKO garage at 80 Cymbeline in Bells Corners. TFKO volunteers and kids will welcome them with a BBQ. Come and ride into town with them and join them for a BBQ (a donation box for non Td'A cyclists will be set up).

For more info on where and when to join then, please contact Cat Weaver at (613) 853-9454.

Ride and a Swim

Ben Leo, Walker, Yvan, Esdras, and Djemcy came out for training today in Gatineau Park.

Their hill climbing get stronger with every ride.

We rode trail #36 and we rewarded ourselves with a swim at Meech Lake after the ride!

Thank you Craig Barlow for the jerseys and the camelbaks!

Hill Climbing

Cat met Jordan, Estras, and Djemcy at Carlington Park Hill for some hill climbing training.

Estras's first time on clippless pedals tonight, he took to it like a duck to water, and climbed the ski hill three times.

Jordan also climbed the ski hill without trouble!

Clipped In!

Today Yvan and Walker were fitted with clippless shoes.

After 1/2 hour riding on the grass they were ready to take to the trails of the Greenbelt.

Thanks Helene and Mario for helping with getting the boys clipped in today.

We are Du Team heads to 24 hour race!

Chico Racing will waive fees for the 24 hour Hot August Nights event for "We du Team"

Remember the "new-to-Canada" youths that joined the mountain biking team coached by Cat Weaver at their school, Franco Ouest, who participate in the High school race last month. All of them completed the course well under the expected times for beginner racers, and since then they have been riding once a week with Trips for Kids Ottawa.

Cat Weaver TFKO program director, who has taken 5 youth teams to 24 hour races over the past 3 years, wondered if Chico Racing would waive the race fees for these boys.

Immediately, Adam Ruppel president at Chico Racing replied “Yes, we will waive their race fee, what better way to encourage these boys in the sport".

The race fee for a team of 5 is over $ 600.00, what a generous gift! Thank you Chico Racing!!!

The five young people who will participate in the event came to Ottawa from Haiti, Mozambique, and Burundi in August 2010.

Funds still need to be raised for a rental vehicle, gas and food for these boys, but Cat Weaver is committed to getting them trained and ready to race at Albion Hills August 24/25th 2011!

Cat Weaver has taken many youths to 24 hour events and it has always proven to be a great experience for the teens.