VeloRaptors Ride the BORP Revolution

On Sunday, May 12 the VeloRaptors again participated in the BORP Revolution ride in Santa Rosa, making this the 18th straight year of participation and fund raising.

BORP provides recreation and competition opportunities for disabled children and adults, including adaptive bicycling, wheelchair basketball, and soccer, etc. VeloRaptor participation started in 2006 when the board of the VeloRaptors learned that thieves had stolen specially adapted bikes and trikes from the BORP facility.

Since then, VeloRaptors have participated in every Revolution ride and this year the club’s fundraising total was the third highest amongst the participating teams. We raised nearly $21,000 through 83 contributions. This included funds raised by our Annual Bike Wash event on May 4 hosted by Pauline Fox, as well as registrations from 5 riders, and pledges made to individual riders. Moreover, Steve Goldenberg was the second highest individual fund raiser for the Revolution. Overall, our contribution to the Revolution ride formed a significant portion of the total amount ($240,000) raised by the event.

Riders this year were L-R, Steve Goldenberg, Steve Blair, Pauline Fox, Paul Lettieri, Fred Morse.

The letter below illustrates the appreciation the BORP organization has for the VeloRaptors.

May 29, 2024

Dear (VeloRaptor):

Thank you so much for being part of this year’s Revolution Ride Roll and Stroll. We raised $80,000 more than last year! A huge factor was some stellar fundraising from teams, with two teams, Special Need for Speed and the VeloRaptors leading the way.

Although Special Need for Speed currently holds the lead at $26,459.19, that was with 28 members. In terms of per team member fundraising, the VeloRaptors soared! You all are true champions raising $20,718.72 through 83 donations, which combined with the team’s registration fees, brought in $20,918.72 in support of BORP.

The REV is our most important fundraiser of the year, supporting 20+ weekly programs across 10 adaptive sports and rec activities. Your fundraising keeps BORP going strong.

Once the pledges and sponsorships are fulfilled, we will have raised more than $240,000 — more the 20% over our goal. That makes a huge difference as we plan for our next fiscal year.

We hope you had a great time and are looking forward to next year. Stay tuned for an announcement about the date and location.

On behalf of the entire BORP community, thank you for all you have done to make the 22nd Annual Revolution Ride, Roll & Stroll a huge success!

In community,

Emily Seelenfreud

Executive Director

BORP Adaptive Sports and Recreation

3075 Adeline st., Suite 200

Berkeley, CA 94703

BORP (BAY AREA OUTREACH & RECREATION PROGRAM) • 3075 ADELINE STREET, SUITE 200 • BERKELEY, CA 94703

Tel: (510) 849-4663       Fax: (510) 849-4616 • Web: www.borp.org                                                                  Email: info@borp.org          Twitter: @borp.org

VeloRaptors Support BORP Revolution Ride!

For several years the VeloRaptors have supported BORP, an organization which provides sports, recreation and fitness programming for children, youth and adults with physical disabililities and visual impairments. On Saturday, May 13, BORP held its 21st annual Ride, Roll and Stroll in Santa Rosa. We are proud to say that 11 VeloRaptors participated and collectively raised $23,600, smashing our goal of $15,000. The ride this year was a memorial tribute for former team member Dennis Cathey. The team, headed up by team captain Randy Mellin, had several prodigious fundraisers on it, including one of the top 5, Steven Goldenberg. Altogether the team inspired 103 contributions to BORP.

VeloRaptors Ready to Ride!

You can learn more about the BORP organization at their website:

http://www.borp.org

Pothole Reporting

Joan Gallagher here (I’m a relatively new VR member and know many of you from the Wednesday rides). I’m writing to give you information about the Bike East Bay Hazard Reporting service. Sally Goodman asked that I serve as a liaison between the VeloRaptors and Bike East Bay to improve our ability to get our road hazards fixed. I will work with Tom Willging who is on the Bike East Bay board and who is the official VeloRaptor liaison to Bike East Bay.

I realize that many of you are already familiar with Bike East Bay, but may not be familiar with the hazard reporting process. For those of you who aren’t, please review the information below:

Bike East Bay volunteers report road hazards to the responsible jurisdictions in Alameda & Contra Costa Counties, including any hazards reported via BikeEastBay.org.  They also liaise with local cycling groups – Grizzly Peak Cyclists, Oakland Yellow Jackets, Bike Walnut Creek, Albany Strollers & Rollers, Cherry City Cyclists etc–and now the VeloRaptors–as they often have local contact knowledge that helps them gain access to the right Public Works or city staff. 

In the case of Oakland, a monthly report of the Top Ten potholes (most hazardous to bicyclists) is submitted.  Several years ago, after lobbying Oakland Public Works for more action resulting from their hazard reports, they were able to get OPW to commit to fixing ten per month.  The volunteers are very vigilant to making sure that OPW follows up on their commitments. They don’t see that many Oakland potholes reported each month on their hazards site, so SeeClickFix (more info below) is checked to fill their allotment. 

Hazards include more than just potholes, though we all probably experience the most frustration from them.  Other hazards include traffic signals that don’t sense bicyclists (older intersections with “loops” are the worst); debris in the bike lane or shoulder (think Grizzly Peak Blvd) overgrowth blocking travel or line of sight (Bay Trail in Albany is a constant problem) and a myriad of other hazards such as regular double-parking, drain grates, poor bike lane striping, hazardous railroad crossings, etc.  

If you see a hazard, please feel free to contact me directly at VeloRaptors@gmail.com and I will submit it to the Committee and keep you apprised of its status.  You can also submit your complaint directly to this link: https://bikeeastbay.org/node/add/hazard

Other helpful links:

https://bikeeastbay.org/hazards_map    This is the link to the hazard reporting site. The reports that people have filed and are checked daily can be found here:  https://bikeeastbay.org/hazard_reports 

For an example, check out that link for the report on Debra Dryden’s South Park crash last September. 

SeeClickFix        This is also a good app for reporting road hazards. The limitation is that it is designed to address a wider range of concerns (including, but not limited to homeless issues, graffiti, etc). Bike-related complaints may not necessarily be their highest priority.

Don’t hesitate to contact me or report something because you think it might have already been reported. And it’s often useful to take a picture to document the exact location.

Thanks!

Joan

Oregon Ride Preview

Hello, Raptors!

Last year 5 fellow Veloraptors and I took a week-long cycling trip in Utah with Black Sheep Adventures, a San Leandro-based adventure sport company founded and run by former Backroads guide (and terrific fellow) Fred Ackerman.

The experience was fabulous—wonderful routes, lodging, organization, guides, and at a reasonable price considering all that was included. It felt like a Backroads trip without the high-end accommodations and exorbitant cost.

At my request, Fred has put together a trip for the Veloraptors in central Oregon and the Oregon Coast. The trip would be from October5 -October 10, 2014. There would be 5 riding days plus either a rest or optional ride day, and the distances would be typically 40-60 miles a day with up to 5500′ climb, some with optional longer rides. You would use your own bike, which would be transported by Black Sheep’s trucks from San Leandro. We would carpool to the starting point.

There will be a limit of 16 riders. We need a minimum of 8 riders for the trip to go. First come, first serve.

The cost for the 6 day trip would be $1895 double occupancy; $495 single supplement on each. DEADLINE FOR THE $100 DISCOUNT IS June 6

If you are interested, check out the detailed itineraries. Feel free to contact me for further information, and check out the company’s website: info@BlackSheepAdventures.com.

Let me know what you think! FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS WONDERFUL ADVENTURE CONTACT SALLY GOODMAN AT “ssdgoodman@gmail.com”

This could be a really wonderful experience for us all….

Sally

Club Ride Reminder – Steve Blair

VeloRaptors Cycling Club – Oakland (Montclair), California – weekly bike rides.

Sundays we meet at Nelly’s Java, 1952 Mountain Blvd, (next to the Post Office) in Montclair. Come early to socialize! Wheels roll at 8:30 am sharp!

We also ride on Wednesdays from Nelly’s, leaving at 8:30. There are occasional outlying rides as well.

On Saturdays there is a ride designed for beginners, which leaves from the Warehouse at 416 26th, Oakland (between Telegraph and Broadway. They meet at 8:45 and leave at 9am. These rides often take the Bay Trail to Richmond, where they stop for coffee and snacks. All riders are welcome!

VeloRaptors Great Rides This Year

Great Rides 2013

Canada to Mexico: A tale of three guys bicycling the Pacific Coast.  This summer, club members Kevin McTighe, Dale Perkins, and a friend, Bob Liles, had a great cycling adventure riding the Canada to Mexico ride from August 31 – September 30.  They were supported by Dale’s wife Jeanne and the family dog Chico.  Check it out here.

Paris To Barcelona: This summer club members Randy Mellin, Robin Brummel, Jeff Jones, Fred Morse and Randy’s nephew, Jeff Mellin, rode from Paris to Barcelona and over the Pyrenees mountains. They were joined by Alyston Short (Fred’s friend) who provided great SAG support.  Check it out at: www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/12900. 

Southern Utah: This summer  club members Sally Goodman, Gail Husson, Bruce Bennett, Barbara and Larry DiCostanzo, and Miss Linda has a great experience cycling around Southern Utah: Check it out here.

Spain, Italy, and France:  The bucket list rides of club member Carl Groch. Check it out at: www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/12300.

The Bakery Blog by Steve Blair

Have you Heard?  Our very own Steve Blair is becoming a super techie.  In his newest tech adventure he has started a blog about bakeries all us bike enthusiasts love to visit. So, check it out at:  “http://biketobakery.blogspot.com/“. 

POETRY CORNER

Cyclist Encounters an Insect

This butterfly, the touch of a cat’s soft paw

Against my chest.  A short moment of vibration.

The soft claw of wing’s edge.   Then air.

                               Lawrence N. DiCostanzo

                              On the Volcano road,

                              May 27, 2007

Resurrection

Bury me in a meadow, some untilled waste,

Next to fields of lettuce or off the highway’s verge.

Let it be my stone, engraved in repeated rotation

Through timeless years.  Where rabbits start in the grass,

Mice rustle, and slender king snake makes his way,

In the warm breezeless understory of bush and weed;

Where song sparrow hangs on sideways to dry stalk,

And kestrel teeters, flaps, teeters, on rigid feathers

Spread out in points.  Here it is dry and quiet.

 

And, when the Resurrection comes, let the trumpet be

The brassy, tuneless vibration of the bee, against the clacking

Of locust wings.  Let my waking eyes gaze up

On sweet fennel or Queen Anne’s lace in sun.

And, if God should come to look for me, Let Him be

The cyclist, pausing to rest.  Hands light

On handlebars and saddle, He gazes on this modesty.

And let Him say:  This is too good to waste.

                                     Lawrence N. DiCostanzo

                                    June 27 – 28; September 14, 2005

Top of the World: Bicycling Coleman Valley Road  

 I climb above the fog, yet do not know

The reason for this effort. Can it be

The pleasure when I draw up and see

How sunlight blankets rolling grassland with no

Dark tree to stitch it to the blue. I slow

And see the seam of the horizon smooth

Against a bowl of blue, the only truth

And world my distant forebears long ago

Could love. They hoped beyond that line

There await the lovely muscled herds, the streams

Of fish, the comfort of a hunt: in short, the Place

Where limbs feel happy aches. God, rushing by when time

Runs down, should see I have romantic dreams

And fondly scoop me up from this high place —

The cycling dawdler with the dreamy face.

Lawrence N. DiCostanzo

                              July 12 – 15, 2009