Easy Paced "Get to Know Your Bike" Training Ride

Check it out! On Thursday, July 30th, join Ride Coaches Tim Schneider and Jeremiah Angel for a training ride geared toward the beginners. Folks who are simply interested in finding out some more information about basic bike handling, group ride etiquette, etc. are more than welcome to attend too!

We will be meeting at the Beach Chalet Restaurant on the corner of the Great Hwy and JFK Drive at 5:30 pm. Bike Basics talk will begin shortly there after followed by a 6:00pm ride out. Our route will be short (less than 10 miles) and our speed will be easy. This is a no-drop ride, meaning no one will be left behind! The ride will finish back at the Beach Chalet, so bring some money for tasty post ride beverages!

So grab your helmet and bike and bring your questions and join us!

If you have any questions or to RSVP, please email Tim at: timschneider@bestbuddies.org

See you there!

Happy Hour with the Best Buddies Ride Coaches

Join our Ride Coaches, Jeremiah Angel and Tim Schneider, for an informal gathering at Gordon Biersch Brewery in San Francisco or Palo Alto. These will be a casual social gatherings at the brewery for happy hour and a great chance to meet up with our staff and other riders. Don't forget to invite some of your friends along so that they can learn more about our ride and hopefully join you on the road to the Hearst Castle. We hope to see you there!

San Francisco - Wednesday, July 22
Location - Gordon Biersch Brewery in San Francisco (2 Harrison St. San Francisco, CA 94105)
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

Palo Alto - Thursday, July 23
Location - Gordon Biersch Brewery in Palo Alto (640 Emerson St. Palo Alto, CA 94301)
Time: 5:00-7:00 pm

Fundraising Tip of the Week: Tour de France

With the biggest race in the cycling world well underway, the 21-stage, 96th Tour de France gives you a few, creative fundraising opportunities.
1. Throw a viewing party for your friends. Have each person donate a small amount ($20 or more) and then watch the pros as they pedal through their three-week journey around France. Be sure to keep an eye out for Hearst Castle alumni riders David Zabriskie and Ryder Hesjedal who will be racing the tour on Team Garmin-Slipstream!

2. Start a friendly pool with friends, family and co-workers, making bets on who will win the whole thing! To make sure this helps you raise funds, let your Ride Coach know your plans, and we can send you some loot for the winners. Everyone chips in $20, which will count as a donation towards your fundraising goal, and the winners will recieve Best Buddies jerseys, riding gloves, etc!

3. Organize a Tour-de-France spin-a-thon. Create a French music playlist to spin to, and take a 20-mile stretch from that day’s course to mimic. Basically, as you are spinning away, the pros are doing the same. Charge an entry fee and sell raffle tickets for people to bet on what the day’s best time will be. Donations go to you, winner wins a Best Buddies jersey.

Ride Coach Jeremiah Angel Recommends: "Overcoming"

Clips from the 2005 documentary, "Overcoming"

Before the 2009 edition of Tour de France starts on Saturday I'd like to recommend searching out a somewhat hard to find, but well worth the effort, 2005 documentary titled "Overcoming." The film is a profound and penetrating insight into the hermetically closed world of professional cycling. With former pro rider, Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis as the protagonist, the documentary follows him and his new Team CSC as they strive for the impossible: to become the world's best and win the 2004 Tour de France. Also notably featured in the documentary is Team CSC rider Bobby Julich, who participated in last year's Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle. The film is epic, beautifully shot and gives viewers a unique and personal account of what it's like to participate in the world's toughest sporting event, the Tour de France.

Pictures from Hyannis Port Now Online

We've just finished uploading pictures from our 2009 Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hyannis Port event to our flickr account. Click here to view our photo set!