2012 Sponsorship Packet

2012 Sponsorship Packet

“Everything is possible, one pedal stroke after another!” –Jena Page Greaser

Overall Mission

This is an effort to be the first New-England based grassroots cycling team to promote environmental activism & local non-profit outreach. We (Jena & Ryan) are both activists for the environment and a more sustainable world. We are both active volunteers for Bike Newton & Green Decade Newton. This Spring we will be leading a Family Bike Ride in & volunteering time for a Spring Tune-Up. We believe that the bike is a vehicle for a healthier planet. Commuting to work every day via the bike is always our mode of choice, no matter the weather. We believe in a sense of freedom and empowerment on the bicycle. We live a life committed to community. Being local and having a sense of place are the most valuable aspect of sustainability. Both of us are emerging professionals in the field of environmental work. 

The essence of this project is to promote awareness of the changes needed in order to get the cycling community talking about what needs to be done in order to make bike racing more environmentally sustainable. We do not have the answers yet, but it is our hope that this idea of ours will spark conversation and help make change! We want to have as many local, non-profit groups possible on our jersey. Please considering to spread the word and helping us out in any way possible. Talk to your friends, family, companies you work for, local organizations you are involved in, etc. and If you are interested in donation or having your company logo, or a non-profit organization of your choosing (even if you are not in the northeast region, and want to show support with connection to community and grassroots!) on our jersey, contact us at jena.greaser@gmail.com. The more financial help, the more we can promote cycling advocacy and community! Your donation does not have to be anything more than $25 to get the organization logo of your choice on our jersey (see more specifics below on sponsorship packages). You will be able to see where you money is going and know that you are helping to start a new movement. Please read our blog to find out more about our goals!

"We're each just one person. By joining together, we can accomplish goals well beyond our reach as individuals. That's why hooking up with an organization, a campaign, or a group of like-minded friends and neighbors working toward a shared goal is an essential first step." -Annie Leonard, The Story of Stuff.

The bicycle promotes peace. Below is a painting Jena created 6/10/2011, called “At Peace.” We believe in a sense of freedom on the bicycle and that the world is a happy and beautiful place with cyclists present. 

Meet the Athletes

Jena Page Greaser grew up as a very competitive athlete. She participated in soccer, lacrosse, ski racing, and running at the varsity level through high school. Jena’s athletic success started when she was 8 years old; ski racing. She competed at the USSA (United States Skiing Association) and FIS (International Ski Federation) levels through high school and college, earning many honors and awards. Currently, she coaches ski racing and has been doing so for 6 years. In her first year of cross-country running as a junior in high school, Jena was undefeated in the regular season. She repeated this feat her senior year. Despite several collegiate D1 running scholarship offers for running, Jena knew her passion lay elsewhere. Her start with cycling came about by doing triathlons. She won the first one she competed in at the age of 18. After fully recovering from an eating disorder that almost took her life, she started mountain biking in 2008. Cycling was Jena’s way to cope. In cycling she found her strength to keep on moving forward. She had been working at a bike shop for the summer, getting exposed more to the sport, and fell in love! She proceeded to do her first cross-country mountain bike race that fall, placing 3rd in the sport category.

That fall, Jena found out about the University of Connecticut Cycling team, where she participated in a weekend of racing. She won both the women’s B field short track and cross-country races in the same day. She was un-able to compete in the remainder of the season due to getting sick with Lyme disease. Bad luck hit again that winter when she blew out her knee ski racing. After being on crutches for 4 months, all she was looking forward to was racing her bike again. Despite doctor’s orders, she competed in the 2009 Collegiate Mountain Biking season. Showing her enthusiasm for the sport, she was elected captain for The University of Connecticut women’s team and became a member of the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference Women's Board. She was very active in trying to get other women involved in the sport and helped lead introductory skill clinics.

In the beginning of the season, she had a hard time being confident and strong enough on her leg. However, as the season progressed, she dug deep and worked really hard at overcoming problems with cadence and form. She was able to win her first collegiate A race at Eastern’s. She also attended Collegiate Mountain Biking Nationals, competing in all four disciplines; Cross-country, Short Track, Downhill, and Dual Slalom. Considering her condition, this was quite the accomplishment.

She worked hard at strengthening her knee for her first road season. After a few races of learning race tactics, she placed well enough to compete in the collegiate A field. She had some top 5 finishes and qualified for Collegiate Road Biking Nationals. I the summer of 2010, she was able to start racing USA Cycling as a Category 3 racer, due to her success in collegiate racing. After only two seasons of mountain biking she has received her Professional License upgrade. In addition, she is now an elite category 2 racer for both road biking and cyclocross.

Through the sport of cycling, Jena really found herself. She has learned about acceptance and patience. She believes that if she continues to work hard and diligently in the pursuit of cycling excellence, anything is possible. It is easy to just give up when things go astray, but she possesses the courage to persevere onward in a bike race and in life.

Ryan O’Hara grew up riding bikes in the woods with his friends as well as playing ice hockey nearly all year round. He also played lacrosse from 6^th grade through high school. In high school he played varsity hockey all four years and varsity lacrosse for two years. He began mountain bike racing his sophomore year of high school. During the fall of his junior and senior years he mountain biked for his afternoon sport, each day, taking the place of football that he had done the previous first two seasons. In the fall of Ryan’s junior year he was fortunate to befriend two new faculty members on campus who were elite cyclists. They taught him volumes about the sport. The following spring they introduced him to road cycling. The couple took Ryan under their wing and brought him to races and trained with him. In 2003 they bought him to Mt. Snow NORBA National Mountain Bike Race. Ryan competed in the Sport Category and took 3^rd place!

            Ryan went on to race for Northeastern University during the fall mountain bike season in 2004. He raced in the A class in all the races and went to Collegiate Nationals in Seven Springs, PA with three other teammates. He fell several times in the muddy short track race, but managed a strong finish both days.

            In the spring of 2005 Ryan began doing more road racing and riding. It was more productive to train on the road bike while living in Boston. Ryan joined the Essex County Velo category 4 club and was able to upgrade to category 3 by the end of the year. The next couple years Ryan raced with many of the same riders on Velo-Europa Cyfac and Cambridge Bicycle clubs as a category 3, competing in 30 to 40 races a year. He first raced cyclocross in 2007 competing in a number of races, finding that he really enjoyed it. After graduating from Northeastern, Ryan moved to Connecticut in 2009. He now trained on considerably more difficult terrain, with steeper, longer climbs. Ryan began collegiate racing again and met Jena. He focused most of his fall 2009 season on cyclocross when he earned his category 2 cyclocross upgrade, while Jena was mountain bike racing. In the spring of 2010 they both raced in the collegiate road in every Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference race weekend. It was during this time that Jena and Ryan began dating and training together. They went to Collegiate Road Nationals together in May 2010 in Madison, WI.

            In the spring of 2010 Ryan earned his category 2 upgrade for road racing. He joined his UConn teammate on NorEast Cycling Elite Team for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In 2010 Ryan had a very consistent road season. In 2011 a highlight of Ryan’s season was a 7^th place finish in an elite road race. In 2012, Ryan is shifting his focus mostly to off-road racing, both cross-country mountain biking and cyclocross.

Jena Page Greaser

Contact: 860-803-9772, jena.greaser@gmail.com, grease-lightnin.blogspot.com

Date of Birth: 02/28/1986

Hometown: Barkhamsted, CT

Current Residency: Newton, MA

Disciplines: Professional Mountain Biking, Elite Category 1 Downhill, Elite Category 2 Cyclocross, Elite Category 2 Road Biking

Education: B.A. Psychology University of Connecticut, currently applying to graduate school for a Self Designed Degree at Lesley University in Environmental and Educational fields, and also taking into consideration graduate programs at University of New Hampshire and Antioch University.

Current Employment and Volunteer Positions: School Counselor at Pathways Academy, McLean Hospital, Belmont MA. Intern for Green Decade Newton (also volunteers time at local farmers market Spring-Fall) and member of the Bike Newton Steering Committee, Newton MA. Jena has attended several environmental conferences: Toxic Action Conference 2012, NESEA BE 2011 and 2012, Connecting for Change 2011, MCAN Conference 2011, Solartopia 2010, and more. 

Race Results

Athletic Competitions 2009-2011 (Highlights Only)

Mountain Biking Local:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                                  Category

9/11/11               1       Landmine Classic/Cross-country/Hingham MA       Pro-Open

7/31/11               1       Bike for Bovines/Cross-country/Keene NH               1 (and overall)

4/17/11               1       Fat Tire Classic/Cross-country/Farmington CT         1

Mountain Biking Regional:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                                  Category

                            American Mountain Bike Classic Races:

8/13-14/11         1        Bear Creek Challenge/Short Track/Macungie PA  Pro-Open

                          1                       Triple Crown                                            Pro-Open

5/15/11              1        Tymor Park/Cross-country/Lagrangeville NY            1

                          6                                                                                          Pro-Open

9/12/10              3    Landmine Classic/Cross-country/Hingham MA         Pro-Open

8/29/10              1    Treasure Valley Rally/Cross-country/Rutland MA        1

8/22/10              1     Bike for Bovines/Cross-country/Keene NH                  1

Mountain Biking National:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                              Category

                          Mountain Biking National Championships

                                          Sun Valley Idaho

7/17/11              3        Short Track                                                     1 (age 19-55)

7/16/11              2        Cross-country                                                 1 (age 25-29)

Cyclocross Local:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                                          Category

12/9/11              4        Ice Weasels, Wrentham MA                                       P/1/2/3

11/19/11            2        Northeast Velo Cross, Londonderry NH                   P/1/2/3

11/12/11            1        Plymouth Festival of Cyclocross, Plymouth MA     Open

Cyclocross Regional/State:

Date                Place               Race Name/Type/Location                                                      Category

12/18/11          9                     New England Cyclocross Regionals, Fitchburg MA              P/1/2/3

11/20/11          2                     Connecticut Cyclocross Championship Cheshire CT                        P/1/2/3 (age 23-29)

10/29/11          1 (2^nd overall) Canton Cup: Massachusetts State Championships               P/1/2/3 (age 23-29)

Cyclocross International:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                                                      Category

11/26-27/11     10 (2x) Baystate Cyclocross UCI/VERGE, Sterling MA                   P/1/2

11/5/11            13        Cyclesmart International UCI/VERGE, Northampton MA  P/1/2

10/9/11            14        Providence Cyclocross Fesitval UCI, Providence RI             P/1/2

Road Local:

Date                Place   Race Name/Type/Location                                  Category

8/6/11                4       Concord Criterium/Road/Concord NH               Pro/1/2/3

                                              2nd in all 4 primes       

6/12/11              3          Purgatory Road Race/Road/Sutton MA           Pro/1/2

5/21/11              3          Sunapee Road Race/Road/Sunapee NH           Pro/1/2/3

4/2/11                6          Beanpot Criterium/Road/Somerville MA         Pro/1/2/3    

(Broke up the field on the second lap and lead my teammate out to a 2nd place finish)

9/19/10              2  Portsmouth Criterium/Road/Portsmouth NH           Pro/1/2/3

8/19/10              1  Expo Wheelmen/Time Trial Series,/Hebron CT  Women Overall

7/11/10              1  Attleboro Criterium/Road/Attleboro MA                               3/4

6/19/10              3  Purgatory Road Race/Road/Sutton MA                      3/4

6/14/10              4  The Whaling City Cyclone/Road/New London CT    3/4

Road Regional/State:

Date           Place        Race Name/Type/Location                                              Category

7/10/11          3            New Britain Regional Criterium/Road/New Birtain CT   Pro/1/2

                                    (won 2 primes)          

5/29/11          23 out of 64 Killington Stage Race/Time Trial/Killington VT       Pro/1/2

                        (I was crashed out by riders in both the Circuit & Road Race)         

4/30-5/1/11     4           Bennington Stage Race Time Trial                                    Pro/1/2

                       5           Bennington SR Criterium                     

                       6           Bennington SR Road Race

                       7           Bennington SR General Classification

9/5/10  20        Green Mountain Stage Race General Classification                      Pro/1/2

                                    (I received pay out and was 5th Cat 2 out of 15 total)

8/14-15/10       9          Tour de Millersburg General Classification                       Pro/1/2/3

                                    (5th Cat 2 out of 12 total, 1st races as a Cat. 2)

                        8          Time Trial                  

                        8          Criterium

8/6/10             10         Regional Road Championships: Tokeneke Classic/         Pro/1/2/3

                                     Torrington MA (1st place for Cat. 3 and age group)

7/10/10            2           New Britain Regional Criterium New Britain CT            3/4

7/4-5/10           1          Fitchburg Longsjo Classic General Classification               3/4

                        1          Points Jersey

                        1          Time Trial

Athletic Awards/Honors

2009-2011

Top 10 finishes: 26

Top 5 finishes: 33

Wins: 18

2011

1^st place Canton Cup Cyclocross Massachusetts State Championships, Senior Women  23-29 (Canton MA)

2^nd place USAC North Atlantic Regional Criterium Championships Senior Women 23-29 (Concord NH)
3rd place New England Cyclocross Regionals, Senior Women 23-29 (Fitchburg, MA)

3^rd place overall New England Regional Criterium Championships (New Britain CT)

2^nd place Cross-country Mountain Biking National Championships (Sun Valley, ID)

3^rd place Short Track Mountain Biking National Championships (Sun Valley, ID)
4th place NEBRA rankings Category 2 women overall

• Formed and became captain of the 2011 NorEast Women's Elite Road Racing Team

2010

Yellow Leader’s Jersey and Green Points Jersey awarded at Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Category 3/4

2^nd place USAC Connecticut State Road Championship Senior Women 23-29 (Housatonic Hills, CT)

2^nd place overall New England Regional Criterium Championships, (New Britain Criterium)

3^rd place USAC Regional Road Race Championship Senior Women 23-29 (Torrington CT)

2^nd place USAC Connecticut Cyclocross Championship Elite Women 23-29 (Cheshire CT)

1^st place NEBRA rankings Category 3 women overall

1^st place Winding Trails Off Road Triathlon (Farmington, CT)

2009

1^st place Short Track at Collegiate Eastern's XC Championships 

4^th place XC Events Overall Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference

4^th place Gravity Events Overall Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference

Attended Collegiate Road Biking National Championships

Attended Collegiate Mountain Biking National Championships

Athletic Goals

Mountain Bike Goals 2012:

1.     Top 5 overall in the AMBC Series races, podium finishes

2.     Top 5 result in UCI World Cup race

3.     Qualify for Pro Mountain Bike Nationals, top 10 result in STCX, top 12 result in XC

4.     Pro Series leader Root 66

5.     Compete in 50 mile races (VT 50, Pat’s Peak, Landmine Classic, etc.)

6.     Complete a 6 hour race

Mountain Bike Goals 2013-2016:

1.     Win AMBC race

2.     Podium Pro XCT race

3.     Podium UCI World Cup race

4.     Place top 5 in Leadville 100

5.     Compete in 12 and 24 hour race

6.     Complete La Ruta De Los Conquistadores

Fall/Cyclocross Goals 2012:

1.     Finishing top 15% of the field in all UCI/VERGE cyclocross races

2.     Have at least one top 5 finish in UCI/ERGE series

3.     Compete in Nationals and place top 25% in the elite field

4.     Have an overall improvement among the rankings

5.     Category 1 upgrade

Ryan O’Hara

Contact: 617-999-3496, ryanbikes@gmail.com, ryanbikes.blogspot.com    

Date of Birth: 08/28/1985

Hometown:  Newbury, MA

Current Residency: Newton, MA

Disciplines: Elite Category 1 Mountain Biking, Elite Category 2 Cyclocross, Elite Category 2 Road

Education: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Northeastern University. Completing Masters in Civil Engineering concentrating in Transportation and Urban Engineering (thesis is about environmental assessment of transportation and exploring sustainability), The University of Connecticut.

Current Employment and Volunteer Positions: Recent internship with Toole Design Group, Boston, MA. Mechanic at Landry's Bike Shop, Boston MA. Steering Committee Member of Bike Newton and serving on a Transportation Advisory Committee, Newton, MA. Volunteers time at local farmers market in Newton through Green Decade Newton. Ryan has attended CNU 2011, TRB 2010-2011, Solartopia 2010, and Transportation Summit 2009.

Race Results

Athletic Competitions (Highlights Only)

2011 Road Race

45th TD Bank Mayor’s Cup Criterium P/1/2

32nd Smuttynose Portsmouth Criterium P/1/2

7th Purgatory Road Race Sutton, MA P/1/2

10th Boston Beanpot Criterium P1/2/3

2010 Race Highlights

22nd Exeter Criterium P/1/2

3rd Tour of Battenkill Road Race Cat 3

Qualified for and competed in the following:

2010 Collegiate Road Nationals

2005 Collegiate Mountain Nationals

2004 Collegiate Mountain Nationals 

Athletic Goals

Mountain Bike Goals 2012:

1.     Finish top 10% in category 1 races

2.     Win a cat. 1 Race

3.     Compete in cat. 1 Nationals, finish top 10%

4.     Place top 3 for cat. 1 in Root 66 Series ranking

5.     Finish top 10 in the AMBC races as a cat. 1

6.     Finish in top 25% in World Cup Races

7.     Compete in 50 mile races with a top 10 finish

Mountain Bike Goals 2013-2016:

1.     Complete a 6 and 12 hour race

2.     Earn enough points for professional mountain biking upgrade

3.     Complete Leadville 100

4.     Complete La Ruta De Los Conquistadores

Cyclocross Goals 2012:

1.     Get a top 15 finish in a Shimano New England Pro Cyclocross Race

2.     Rank in the top 20% of NEPCX Series

3.     Win a local cyclocross race

4.     Finish in top 50% at Nationals

             

Sponsorship Packages

Jena and Ryan are looking for financial and/or product sponsorship, so that they can compete in higher caliber mountain biking races. Obtaining sponsorship and financial support for training and travel will help Jena and Ryan pursue and secure their dreams of becoming internationally ranked professional mountain bikers. Although Ryan is still a Category 1 mountain biker, he has high hopes for the 2012 season and gathering enough points for professional status. Hopefully with sponsorship, Ryan can acquire a decent race bike and complete in the 2012 season. Ryan is an essential part of Jena’s race support. He ensures that Jena has the best equipment set up and is prepared with the mechanical aspects of the sport. Ryan’s years of cycling experience is vital to the success of the team. Jena is largely responsible for nutritional well-being and planning/logistics/communication for the season. Each athlete fills an essential role on the team.

-Below is a rough draft of sponsorship levels. Since we are in the midst of acquiring sponsorship, things are subject to change and we are willing to take your suggestions of what you may want!

-The title sponsor(s) will be determined by the most sponsorship awarded.

-Depending on clothing/kit sponsor, we may be able to provide clothing and kits to the Title sponsors, and Sponsors/Co-Sponsors.

Level I: Gold - $250 and up in cash, product, or discounts

• Company logo on equipment and or team clothing (largest size)
• A team T-Shirt/jersey sizing of choice (this will be determined on support from a clothing sponsor which is in the works)
• Team participation in full day event promotion, clinic, or workshop
• Company logo on team and individual blogs & Facebook page with active link to sponsor home page
• Weekly team newsletter with race reports and photos
• 5x7 personalized photograph at the end of the season to be placed in company/organizations office

Level II: Silver - $100-175 in cash, product, or discounts

• Company logo on equipment and or team clothing (medium size)
• Team participation in event or product promotion

• Company logo on team and individual blogs & Facebook page with active link to sponsor home page
• Weekly team newsletter with race reports and photos
• 4x5 personalized photograph at the end of the season to be placed in company/organizations office

Level III: Bronze - $25-75 in cash, product, or discount

• Company logo on equipment and or team clothing (smallest size and only one placement)
• Company logo on team and individual blogs & Facebook page with active link to sponsor home page
• Weekly team newsletter with race reports and photos
• 4x5 personalized photograph at the end of the season to be placed in company/organizations office

Level IV: White Ribbon - anything up to $25 in cash, product, discount

• Company logo on team and individual blogs & Facebook page with active link to sponsor home page
• Weekly team newsletter with race reports and photos
• 4x5 personalized photograph at the end of the season to be placed in company/organizations office

Please notify Jena and Ryan if you would like to become a sponsor. They can be contacted easily by email; jena.greaser@gmail.com, ryanbikes@gmail.com.

Estimated Annual Racing Expenses

Jena and Ryan will be participating in mountain bike and cyclocross racing at the elite level for the 2012 season. This is a first draft on estimated annual racing expenses combined, for a full year. The amounts are laid out if Jena and Ryan were to attend preferred races. To put costs in perspective, Jena had to raise over $2,000 to travel to and from the 2011 XC Nationals at Sun Valley, ID for a 4 day trip. This is obviously the largest race of the season and requires the most amount of support. The majority of the races are local around New England in the Root 66 Series (MA, CT, VT, NH). A few AMBC (American Mtn. Bike Classic) and UCI (Union Cyclist International) races are preferred for competition at a higher level and those are within a 5 hour drive (NJ, PA, DE, NY, and Canada being 7 hours). With each trips destination, we will not only be invested in the cycling community, but also will be involved with the local community as a whole. 

Airfare / Hotels / Gas: $8,000

Race Entries Mountain: $1,500

Race Entries Cyclocross: $1,300

Parts / equipment / tools/ New Bike for Ryan or parts to upgrade his current bike: <$3,000

Coaching: $4,800
Jerseys: $200

Food: $4,500 (Yes, they choose to eat a lot of healthy, organic, local food!)

TOTAL: $23,300

2012 Season Schedule

(The calendar of races will be sent to sponsors once finalized. The races attended will depend on the amount of financial support received.)

4/1/12 Sun R 66 Bunny Hop Brook Middlebury, CT
4/22/12 Sun R 66 Winding Trails Farmington, CT
4/29/12 Sun R 66 Massasoit Lung Opener East Taunton, MA
5/6/12 Sun AMBC Iron Hill Challenge Newark, DE
5/12/12 Sat Norcross Scurry Asford, CT
5/12/12 Sat On The Rocks (M.A.S.S.) Birdsboro, PA 
5/20/12 Sun NECS Weeping Willow Ipswich, MA
5/26/12 Sat R 66 Coyote Hill Short Track/Hill Climb West FairleeRace, VT
5/27/12 Sun R 66 Coyote Hill Classic MTB West FairleeRace, VT
6/3/12 Sun R 66 Domnarski Farm Ware, MA
6/9/12 Sat R 66 Mountain Bike Festival Pats Peak
6/10/12 Sun R 66 Mountain Bike Festival Pats Peak
6/23/12 Sat UCI Mt. St. Anne CAN
6/24/12 Sun UCI Mt. St. Anne CAN
6/29/12 Fri UCI Windham Windham, NY
6/30/12 Sat UCI Windham Windham, NY
7/1/12 Sun UCI Windham Windham, NY
7/5/12 Thurs Nationals Sun Valley, ID
7/6/12 Fri Nationals Sun Valley, ID
7/7/12 Sat Nationals Sun Valley, ID
7/8/12 Sun Nationals Sun Valley, ID
7/14/12 Sat Pro XCT Missoula Montana? Missoula MT
7/15/12 Sun AMBC Anual Bulldog Rump Andover, NJ 
7/15/12 Sun R 66 Stonewall Farm Keene, NH
7/22/12 Sun R 66 Wrath of the Boneyard Merriden CT
8/5/12 Sun R 66 Hodges Village Dam Oxford, MA
8/11/12 Sat 24 Hours Great Glen NH
8/11/12 Sat AMBC Bear Creek Challenge Macungie, PA
8/12/12 Sun AMBC Bear Creek Challenge Macungie, PA
8/18/12 Sat Pro XCT Wisconsin Off-Road Series (WORS) Mt. Morris, WI
8/19/12 Hampshire 100
8/19/12 Sun Rt 66 Paine Mountain
9/9/12 Sun R 66 Landmine Classic Hingham, MA
9/11/30 VT 50

Shimano New England Pro Cyclocross Series (NEPCX), UCI & VERGE Series

Cyclocross Nationals

Future Contributions

Jena will be leading a Family Bike Ride (along with Ryan and other members of Green Decade Newton and Bike Newton) in the month of March and in April volunteering time for a Spring Tune-Up. She would eventually love to be a cycling coach for school-aged children. She loves working with youth and believes that giving back to the sports she loves is one of the most valuable contributions she can make in life. She wants to organize mountain biking skill clinics for women of all ages. Academically, she is working towards her self-designed Masters through Lesley University and the Sustainability Institute at Boston Architectural College incorporating environmental science and architecture (sustainability, whole systems design), education, and psychology. Another way to contribute to the sport of cycling in general is through her art. In addition to her painting, she is in the process of writing a book for kids on bikes. Jena is in the process of organizing a “Women’s Brunch Ride” through Bike Newton. She is helping Ryan to design the Newton Bike Map and be an advocate for installation of safer pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Jena would also like to start a scholarship fund for female students (in high school and college) who excel academically and with the sport of cycling. She would like to be part of a movement to help establish more opportunities for young women and the sport of cycling. Currently, it is hard to come across these opportunities. For the rest of her life, Jena wants to reach out to aspiring female athletes in anyway possible.

Ryan will has been participating in the coordination and design of the bike root for the Family Bike Ride in March and also will be offering his time to help at the town's Spring Bike Tune-Up. He wants to help promote active transportation (walking and wheeling). Active transportation is healthy for people and healthy for the environment.  He is studying Transportation and Urban Engineering within the discipline of Civil Engineering. He worked as an intern at Toole Design Group during the summer and fall of 2011 helping to plan the Boston Bicycle Network. He used GIS to help develop the bike master plan for the City of Boston. After completing graduate school, he would like to be a city planner.

In the future, he wants to learn to build bicycle frames through recycled materials. He has always had a passion for working with his hands. He built furniture in wood shop class during high school. He has held various jobs involving being a bike mechanic/technician. 

            Over the past few months Ryan has been developing a bike map of Newton, MA with the assistance of the non-profit Bike Newton. 

Together they want to organize bike races called Place to Place Racing. Preserving the natural environment is at the forefront of this idea. In addition, this race format would educate racers about the places they visit, and rely less heavily on automobiles for travel to race venues. In the near future they want to travel cross country on their bikes, connecting EVERY state via as many bicycle infrastructure (cycling paths, greenways, bike lanes, etc.) as possible. They have a goal to reach every capital city and promote cycling as a sustainable method of transportation. This adventure will hopefully reach out to the communities at large and send the message that life is good on the bike and it is an important step to saving the future life of the planet. 

They both want to organize charity rides for the environment and for individuals with special needs and disabilities. They believe that through cycling, positivity and wealth can grow.

Jena and Ryan want to promote cycling as a popular mode of travel, like it has become in the Netherlands and Denmark. When people ride bicycles healthy bodies come alive, friendships are made, old fears are subsided, courage emerges, and people are reborn!