Eugene, OR to Arcata, CA Training Ride Success

Just got back from a 330 mile training ride. Beautiful days, followed by rainy, and windy ones made for a four day ride along the Pacific Coast that was both challenging and enjoyable (well, at least when we were dry). I learned a lot about the terrain, road conditions, and the other variables about the first four days of our Big Ride in June.

One major lesson was learned: Burley Trailer's are great for commuting and maybe slow paced touring, but for fast, long distance days, the burley trailer doesn't stack up. It makes for a slow and difficult ride. Where more often the trailer acts as a ball and chain, instead of a portable storage vessel. Safe to say, we will be leaving Eugene on the 19th of June with Panniers attached to our bicycles. Burley makes a durable and large trailer, two things that make for difficult 75 mile rides up and down large hills all day.

Back in Eugene now. Spring break is over, back to training and school. I will be doing long distance training rides five times a week, so if you are interested in joining me on training rides, feel free to contact me: gkrupa30@gmail.com

I will be riding with a lot of different groups and riders in the coming months, from all backgrounds and skill levels, don't be intimidated by the slightest (even if you're a so-called beginner, I appreciate relaxed rides as well).

UDK Article

The Kansan just made their first installment of Riding for ROMP 2010. Read about it below:
http://www.kansan.com/news/2010/mar/04/riding-relief/?news

Much more news to come!

WE are in the full swing of training. During Spring Break I am cycling to Arcata, CA. This will be one of my longer single training rides. But, I am looking forward to seeing what the road conditions are like, being that this ride, Eugene to Arcata, is the first couple days of Riding for ROMP 2010.

Updates and photos of the ride soon to come.

Greg

The University Daily Kansan

The University Daily Kansan (UDK) is writing a story about Riding for ROMP 2010. I had an interview this morning with Jinny, the alumni relations reporter, and she sounded enthusiastic about the event and its cause. There might be a possiblity for a multi-feature story outlining the training process and the ride itself!

ROMP is no stranger to the UDK. In 2008, they ran a story about Greg's ride from Lawrence to Madison, which you can find here (http://www.kansan.com/news/2008/sep/02/charity/).

The UDK is one of the most accreditted student-run newspapers in the country, and the William Allen White School of Jounralism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas is consistently ranked as one of the top journalism schools nationwide. Shameless plugs for the alma mater aside, I can't wait to see what this program will put out!

Patrick

Kevin Saunders joins Riding for ROMP 2010

Exciting news straight from Lawrence, Kansas! Renowned American paralympian, author, and motivational speaker Kevin Saunders will be joining Riding for ROMP 2010 in late June as the team travels through the Sacramento area. Mr. Saunders will be kicking off his tour of all 50 states to promote physical fitness and well-being around the same time, and is excited to join the ROMPsters as they journey south.

Mr. Saunders brings considerable experience to Riding for ROMP 2010. He successfully completed a wheelchair ride from Canada to Mexico in 2004, a distance of 2,500 miles on arm strength alone. He followed this incredible feat of endurance with a four-country hand-cycle tour of Europe, where he served as an ambassador for health and fitness on an international scale.

Mr. Saunders was the first person with a disability appointed to the President's Council on Physical Fitness in 1991, under then President George H.W. Bush. President Clinton reappointed Mr. Saunders to the PCPF during both of his terms in office, making Mr. Saunders the only individual to serve on the council under two separate administrations.

Information on Kevin Saunders and his amazing story of success through extreme adversity can be found at http://www.kevinsaunders.com/.

Snowball Effect

As promised earlier, things are starting to snowball. Sponsors are coming on board, donors are lining up, ROMP riders are being recruited, and our cyclists are persistently training. We are also excited to share some pretty great news about the send-off. Congressman Peter Defazio ans State Senator Floyd Prozanski will be coming out to support our ride on June 19th at the send off event at Alton Baker Park. Our goal is to have more than 100 riders and 500 supporters come out that morning. Hopefully, we'll see you there!

More great news to come. Also, as sponsors sign on we will start to link their info to the ROMP website.

As for me... Back to bike more hills.

Riding for ROMP 2010

Who: Pat Mathay & Greg Krupa

 What: Bikeathon

When: Summer 2010

Where: Eugene, Or to Zacapa, Guatemala

Why: Raise $50,000 for ROMP

Patrick Mathay, University of Kansas senior, and Greg Krupa, University of Oregon senior, plan to bike from Eugene, Oregon to Zacapa, Guatemala in the summer of 2010 in support of the Range of Motion Project (ROMP) www.rompglobal.org.

Through this event, Riding for ROMP 2010, the pair plans to raise both funds and public awareness by cycling roughly 3,500 miles, while carrying prosthetic parts for delivery at the 'Loren Jay Mallon' Centro de Rehabilitacion in Zacapa, Guatemala. Through corporate and private sponsorship the two plan to raise $50,000 to help expand services to ROMP patients all over the hemisphere. The two plan to host events, generate media attention, network, collaborate, and share experiences along the way through the most affluent corners of the United States to the poorest corners of Mexico and Guatemala.

ROMP operates two self-sustaining Prosthetic & Orthotic Clinics- Quito, Ecuador and Zacapa, Guatemala. ROMP provides custom-fit prostheses, both upper and lower extremity, and orthotic braces to those that do not normally have access to these services. ROMP is a 501 (c)(3) social justice organization that seeks to create a holistic approach to providing care through a whole range of services.

Riding for ROMP 2010 is the second event of its kind. In September of 2008 Krupa cycled from Kansas City, KS to Madison, WI. In light of the success of the first ride, Krupa and Mathay seek to take the ride and fund-raising to the next level.

Here are some links to ROMPaTHON 2008:

http://www.oandp.com/articles/news_2008-09-18_06.asp

www.kansan.com/news/2008/sep/02/charity/?news



The ride will start June, 19 2010.  The kick off event will start with a bang.  Over 75 riders will join for the first day's ride from Eugene, Or to Florence, Or.

A coalition of ROMP Riders and supporters is rapidly growing.  Sign-up now to show your support and share some time on the road with fellow riders.