Ride with George Hincapie!

Ride with George Hincapie to get NYC school kids on bikes

The Attraction:
Multi US National Champion, 13 time Tour de France veteren and NY’s all time cycling legend George Hincapie! 

The Event:
Saturday, October 18th, ride with Big George! We will meet at Cadence at 174 Hudson (at Vestry) at 8:30 am and ride to Nyack and back, about 55 miles. Full support, including food and mechanical services will be provided and don’t worry, no one will be left behind. Regsiter here, registration is limited so sign up soon! Upon our return to Cadence, we will have refreshments and more time to chat with George and sign autographs. 

The Cause:I Challenge Myself (ICM) challenges and supports youth from under served communities in New York City to achieve physically, socially and academically through their innovative cycling program– Cycling Smarts.  Recently ICM was awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant to bring to scale its cycling program by expanding to three new schools over the next three years.  The grant covers a portion of the program expenses and ICM needs your support to make the following possible : 

1. Use Cycling to help Reduce Adolescent Obesity and Foster Positive development Social and Academic Development Among Economically Disadvantaged youth: Cycling Smarts is an interdisciplinary elective Physical Education class that integrates math, science and social studies that helps students achieve physically, academically, socially and emotionally. Cycling Smarts is offered four or five days a week during the last period of the school day and one to three hours. Weekend fitness trips and long-distance bike tours are also offered in the program and second semester students participate in ICM’s annual Century Ride.

2. Bring Cycling to Scale in NYC Public High Schools: Replication and evaluation of the Cycling Smarts class at four school sites in three years allows ICM to strengthen its existing curriculum, which can then be used as a model to replicate Cycling Smarts not only in NYC but across the U.S., especially, in cities with high adolescent obesity rates.

3. Create an Intramural Cycling League to help Create Cycling’s Future Athletes: Because cycling is not a sport offered at NYC public schools it is not currently offered as a sport through the Public School Athletic League or its own intramural/interscholastic league. Having four school sites with active cycling programs with fully equipped entry level road bikes opens the possibility for having cycling included as a sport through PSAL.

4. External Factors Favor the Growth of Cycling in U.S.: Increasing fuel costs and concerns of the effects of fuel emissions on the environment are elevating an interest and resurgence in cycling as a viable commuting option. By exposing students to cycling long distances, Cycling Smarts is on the forefront of this growing national trend at the high school level and nurtures future bike commuters and supporters.

Accomodations courtesy of the Empire Hotel Group

Cadence Cycing and Multisport 174 Hudson Street NYC Tel: 212-226-4400

Questions about the event? : Alex Ostroy alex@nyvelocity.com 212-995-2692

IChallengeMyself.org : Ana Reyes anar@ichallengemyself.org (718) 585-5021