Mountain Biking Isn't A Sport For Guys In Their 60s. Or Is It?

Al Tinti, CT NEMBA's Secretary and Glastonbury Mountain Biking legend got a mention in the Courant's Online Edition called GET OUT.

Wheels for Kids

Christmas spirit and Universal bike enthusiasts converged on Cannondale in a wonderful way. Last Wednesday night a big group of volunteers washed, mechanically checked/overhauled and detailed over 50 juvenile bikes in one evening. Soap and water flew, wrenches spun at six work stands. People used to working on Campagnolo with kid gloves fixed Huffy’s with slip joint pliers… and had a blast doing it.

These 50 bikes will become Christmas gifts for kids of local Danbury families in need.

This effort supported the Wheels for Kids program of Danbury Youth Services, a program that was almost discontinued before Cannondale kicked in $1600 to run it for the 2008 holiday. Since then the activity, accomplishment and outpouring of support has been just awesome.

Schwalbe donated new 20” rubber. Thanks Celeste and Schwalbe.

Bethel Cycles kicked in a supply of juvenile inner tubes. Thanks Greg.

Tom Tomassen, the Program Director for Wheels for Kids managed the collection of all the donation of bikes, all year. Tom and his son had personally overhauled many bikes this season on their own to keep the program alive. Thanks Tom and Sean.

For more pictures and another perspective, check out the post on Cyclesnack.com.

Holiday Spirit: Wheels for Kids Program, Bethel, CT

If you haven't seen this yet and have something to contribute, please do!

Hello Friends,

At the 11th hour CBC came up with modest funds to save this program, barely in time for Christmas. Normally by 5 December the program would have already collected and refurbished a good portion of what would be distributed this holiday. Because the program was given last rites, we are scrambling to get it on track in very little time. I am writing to local and fairly local people with two requests:

1. This weekend, please check your garage and basement. Talk to your neighbors and friends. We want to collect more bikes for donation. In priority order of need: boys 20” wheel BMX style bikes, youth mountain bikes, girls 20” wheel bikes, trikes/sidewalk bikes. Any condition is fine. We will overhaul those that are worthy, take parts from others. (Adult bikes are also welcome, will be used for Danbury Youth Services other, non holiday program: Earn a Bike.) Please bring these bikes to Cannondale on Monday or Tuesday. Or over the weekend: just leave bikes near the back door of 16 Trowbridge Drive.

2. Some of you like to work on bikes. You are invited to toss your tools in the car and come on over next Wednesday evening and turn wrenches. Free beer/pizza, old friends, new friends, a good bike buzz and real Christmas spirit are guaranteed. Those of you who have portable bike repair stands, please bring them.

Thanks very much, David

David L. Campbell

Director of Technical Services

Cannondale Bicycle Corporation

16 Trowbridge Drive

Bethel, CT  06801

direct (203) 749-7183

fax (203) 748-4012

e-mail david.campbell@cannondale.com