T
TritonRider
Guest
This was here yesterday. Adam, JD Bilodeau, and Megan make it happen.
You wanna talk about putting your money where your mouth is.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G22D25AB8
I'm posting the whole article as the paper requires a login, and I object in
principle.
NORTHAMPTON - The sun beat down as Chris DeFrancis of Northampton, still
dressed in his Northampton Cycling Club uniform, sat on the grass and stretched
his race-tightened hamstrings.
At the corner of Main and King streets on the Hampshire County Courthouse lawn,
he had a perfect seat for the races to come.
DeFrancis had been among the 50 men in the 30K amateur division at the
Northampton Criterium for Equal Access bike races. Nearby as he cooled off were
his wife, Jennifer Gross, daughter Amelia DeFrancis, 6, and son Oscar
DeFrancis, 2?, both of whom competed in the 6-and-under kids' race.
''It's a good spot to spectate from, the kids can run around,'' he said as
Oscar and his friend Colby Moore, 4, jumped around. DeFrancis interrupted
himself to let out a loud cheer for his Maynard Road neighbor and fellow bike
club member Joann Glading-DiLorenzo as the women whizzed by in their brightly
colored uniforms and shiny helmets for their first lap.
''It's a good event for Fourth of July,'' he said. Proving the point, on the
lawn around him were dozens of other spectators.
For the second year, the Northampton Criterium for Equal Access races drew
cyclists on road bikes, training wheels, and handcycles - and hearty community
support.
The all-day Fourth of July event raises money through registration fees and
raffles for All Out Adventures Inc., a local nonprofit organization whose aim
is to improve athletic and recreational opportunities that integrate people
with and without disabilities.
''Having people with and without disabilities in the race takes away some of
the stigma and introduces handcycling as a sport in its own right and not just
as a sport for people with disabilities,'' said Megan Briggs, program
coordinator for All Out Adventures.
In fact, the nine participants in the handcycle race included three people
without disabilities from the eastern Massachusetts-based World TEAM - which
stands for The Exceptional Athlete Matters.
Among all the race categories Sunday, about 300 people competed: in three men's
categories from beginners to professionals, an open women's field, Shimano
national youth series, and hand cycle.
All the competitors raced around the same circuit for their share of the $4,500
handed out over the course of the day. The men's professional and women's open
categories had equal prize lists of $1,000.
The race circuit went from the front of the Northampton Hotel on King Street,
turned right onto Main Street, then onto Gothic Street and down Trumbull Road
back onto King Street to the starting and finish line. Most races were 25-30
laps around the course.
Meanwhile, on the courthouse lawn, Anna Moore, 8, who won the children's race
in her age group last year, said she rides with her family and that she
sometimes helps her brother Colby, who was in his first bike race Sunday.
Handcyclists Karen Smith and Jeff Lavoie also competed in their first race
Sunday. Smith and Lavoie belong to a recreational cycling club in Connecticut,
called No Limits, that Smith started to support people with multiple sclerosis.
She said she was a little anxious and nervous about her first race but was
ultimately enthusiastic.
''It just sounds like a fun kind of race,'' Smith said before the competition.
''I like the whole atmosphere.''
''I just hope to finish as well as possible,'' she said. ''And have fun,''
Lavoie added.
Bill C
You wanna talk about putting your money where your mouth is.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?G22D25AB8
I'm posting the whole article as the paper requires a login, and I object in
principle.
NORTHAMPTON - The sun beat down as Chris DeFrancis of Northampton, still
dressed in his Northampton Cycling Club uniform, sat on the grass and stretched
his race-tightened hamstrings.
At the corner of Main and King streets on the Hampshire County Courthouse lawn,
he had a perfect seat for the races to come.
DeFrancis had been among the 50 men in the 30K amateur division at the
Northampton Criterium for Equal Access bike races. Nearby as he cooled off were
his wife, Jennifer Gross, daughter Amelia DeFrancis, 6, and son Oscar
DeFrancis, 2?, both of whom competed in the 6-and-under kids' race.
''It's a good spot to spectate from, the kids can run around,'' he said as
Oscar and his friend Colby Moore, 4, jumped around. DeFrancis interrupted
himself to let out a loud cheer for his Maynard Road neighbor and fellow bike
club member Joann Glading-DiLorenzo as the women whizzed by in their brightly
colored uniforms and shiny helmets for their first lap.
''It's a good event for Fourth of July,'' he said. Proving the point, on the
lawn around him were dozens of other spectators.
For the second year, the Northampton Criterium for Equal Access races drew
cyclists on road bikes, training wheels, and handcycles - and hearty community
support.
The all-day Fourth of July event raises money through registration fees and
raffles for All Out Adventures Inc., a local nonprofit organization whose aim
is to improve athletic and recreational opportunities that integrate people
with and without disabilities.
''Having people with and without disabilities in the race takes away some of
the stigma and introduces handcycling as a sport in its own right and not just
as a sport for people with disabilities,'' said Megan Briggs, program
coordinator for All Out Adventures.
In fact, the nine participants in the handcycle race included three people
without disabilities from the eastern Massachusetts-based World TEAM - which
stands for The Exceptional Athlete Matters.
Among all the race categories Sunday, about 300 people competed: in three men's
categories from beginners to professionals, an open women's field, Shimano
national youth series, and hand cycle.
All the competitors raced around the same circuit for their share of the $4,500
handed out over the course of the day. The men's professional and women's open
categories had equal prize lists of $1,000.
The race circuit went from the front of the Northampton Hotel on King Street,
turned right onto Main Street, then onto Gothic Street and down Trumbull Road
back onto King Street to the starting and finish line. Most races were 25-30
laps around the course.
Meanwhile, on the courthouse lawn, Anna Moore, 8, who won the children's race
in her age group last year, said she rides with her family and that she
sometimes helps her brother Colby, who was in his first bike race Sunday.
Handcyclists Karen Smith and Jeff Lavoie also competed in their first race
Sunday. Smith and Lavoie belong to a recreational cycling club in Connecticut,
called No Limits, that Smith started to support people with multiple sclerosis.
She said she was a little anxious and nervous about her first race but was
ultimately enthusiastic.
''It just sounds like a fun kind of race,'' Smith said before the competition.
''I like the whole atmosphere.''
''I just hope to finish as well as possible,'' she said. ''And have fun,''
Lavoie added.
Bill C
