Tag Archives: Tour de France

See and hear ‘Sandy MoveS’ a heartwarming and motivational presentation of a young lady living with obstacles from MS, riding an electric assit bike.

Overcoming many of the obstacles of MS with an electric assist bike

by Russ Lowthian, HaveFunBiking

This coming weekend, hear and see ‘Sandy MoveS’ with her adventures on an electric assist bike.  A heartwarming and motivational presentation of a young lady from the Netherlands who has overcome many of the obstacles living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). On stage at the E-bike Challenge Minneapolis, both on Saturday and Sunday, Sandy will share the key items that opened her thought process to regaining mobility.  Allowing her, with a pedal-assist bike, to ride a course of the Tour de France, peaking the summit of a tall mountain.

A changed lifestyle and an electric assist bike made the difference

With 45 kilo Boaz, Sandy's Rhodesian Ridgeback sitting in the dog trailer.

Sandy with Boaz, her 45-kilo Rhodesian Ridgeback sitting in the dog trailer.

In 2009, Sandy Krijnen an International speaker from Amsterdam was diagnosed with MS, and over the next few years found it hard to walk any distance. Eventually, losing control of her right leg and arm. Frustrated and handicapped-bound within three years, Sandy was determined to find a way to get her independence back. Not wanting to live a life of immobility she found by changing her lifestyle and riding an electric assist bicycle, recovery could and did take place.

The ‘Six Pillars of Consciousness is a good solution for all illnesses

In Sandy’s presentation at the E-bike Challenge, at the Minneapolis Convention Center, March 23 – 24, she will share the key items that opened her thought process to positive growth. The ‘Six Pillars of Consciousness’ to manage ‘Mindset’ that for her included: Food and what you need; Letting go of the things that bring upon stress; Making your own health choices; Finding a natural environment to help you heal; The benefits of communicating; and last and probably the most important of the six pillars, movement.

“I want to point out”, Sandy mentioned, “the fact is I will never heal my illness. MS is forever with me. It is a chronic illness with no found cure. With my lifestyle healing treatment, I can keep the disease livable. I don’t want to give hope on a total cure. Just inspire people to do all they can to have a valuable and independent life.”

The dream journey with the change in Mindset

Sandy and Boaz looking out over the countryside at the summit.

Sandy and Boaz looking out over the countryside at the summit.

For Sandy, after changing her Mindset and finding an e-bike that fit her needs, was able to embark on a dream journey. Last year, with a regained spirit and mobility Sandy completed a 1,250 miles solo cycling trip with her dog Boaz. Cycling from Friesland, a northern province of the Netherlands, to the Mediterranean Sea, she ended at the top of Mont Ventoux. One of the courses used for the Tour de France.

Come and hear ‘Sandy MoveS’ at the E-bike Challenge Stage, then stop by her booth. With the regained independence and fun support mechanisms now available discover new possibilities and adventures.

Bicycle Racing at the 2014 North Star Criterium in St. Paul. photo Stephanie Williams

Understanding Bicycle Racing – How Teams Use Tactics and Strategies

Understanding bicycle racing opens up many questions for potential spectators and amateurs. With the North Star Bicycle Festival & Grand Prix coming back to Minnesota this coming week and the Tour de France beginning July 1st, we wanted to review some of the technical facets and show you a video below on race strategies from this fun sport.

Bike racers at last years North Star Bike Festival and Grand Prix, in Stillwater, MN are jockeying for position as they head up Chilkoot Hill.

Bicycle racing has many similarities to auto racing. They both offer adrenaline rushing excitement for spectators. Plus, each of these sports offers their industry an opportunity to test the latest equipment and safety features, for our future use. However, cycle racing is somewhat of a mystery? What’s a time trial, a criterium or crit vs. a road race, a pelotone, a breakaway and how does team sport advantages and strategies play into an individual winning the race?

Understanding Bicycle Racing Can Be Fun!

As a spectator you don’t just watch bicycle racing. As the racers fly by several of your bodies senses may experience a slight bit of excitement. Your eyes may see a brightly colored blur so close that you could reach out and touch them. You can feel the wind they create as they pass, blow your hair back. While your ears are sure to pick up the buzz of their chains and hum of their tires.

As people from all over the world prepare to flock to these bike races or watch them on TV this summer, you may find the following information helpful. Especially for one of the world’s greatest annual sporting spectacles, the Tour de France. This race starting July 1, runs for three consecutive weeks through Europe starting July 1st, ending in Paris July 23rd. And, if you are new to cycling, here are some key things that might help you better understand what is going on.

Some terms used in this team sport!

Echelon: A line of riders seeking maximum draft in a crosswind, resulting in a diagonal line across the road.

Shelled: A rider who is having extreme difficulty keeping up with a fast pace race in a way they did not anticipate. They will probably end up in the grupetto. (Meaning ALL riders finish in the time needed to ride the next day.)

Musette bag: A small shoulder bag filled with food and drink given to riders at a designated point each day out on the course.

Peloton: The main group of riders in a race.

Breakaway: When a group of one or more riders are ahead of the peloton.

Domestique: A rider working for the benefit of another rider.

Hitting the wall/bonking: When a rider no longer has any energy and is struggling to make it to the finish.

How can I tell who’s winning?

There are a couple of different competitions going on at the same time. The overall leader wears the famous yellow jersey. This means he has taken the least time so far overall the stages combined.

The green jersey is for the general points jersey. This jersey is mostly obtained by the sprinters. At various times during the race, points are awarded for certain sprint sections. The green jersey goes to the rider who has achieved the most points during a race.

The white jersey goes to the “best young rider”. In order to qualify for this, they have to be under 25 years of age.

Last, but not least, is the polka dot jersey. This jersey is worn by the best climber. Similar to the green jersey, there are certain mountain sections at various stages of the race where points are awarded to whoever wins the climb – more points are awarded for harder climbs.

Do teams really matter?

Cycling is very much a team sport. A pro race features nine cyclists selected from a larger group of teammates. Teams work as units and each rider has various responsibilities based on their strengths. Usually, they are all working together to help one key person win. Those team members who are not in the frame for major awards are known as “domestiques”-they do the donkey work that enables their leader to achieve their goals. Sometimes this means going back to the team car and getting water and supplies and other times it may be “pulling” the rider or allowing him to catch a draft behind you in the peloton. Sometimes riders may even turn around and go back to pace a rider back up into contention.

Keep these things in mind as you watch cyclist this summer. Pick a team to follow and watch the many strategies they use to get their leader onto the podium. Stay tuned for more information about race tactics and debriefing of the races!