Benevolent Deity Century Ride

 

Mike and I decided to do a ride along with Team 26 starting at Edmond Town Hall.  Once again, Father Bob had a great invocation and quite a few political leaders, as well as others, who are victims of gun violence got up to speak. It was moving. It's hard to believe that with everything that has happened since the Sandy Hook shooting:

Sutherland Springs, Texas
Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas
Pulse Nightclub, Orlando, Florida
Inland Regional Center, San Bernardino California
Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Oregon
Episcopal Church Hate Crime shooting, Charleston, SC
Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC
Congressional Baseball Shooting
Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL
Nashville, TN Mall Shooting

Our government still does nothing. Even after one of their own gets shot, all you get from Washington, DC is Thoughts and Prayers for the victims. Its just worthless lip service from our elected officials, who the people of this country put there, only to have them cow tow to special interests and lobbyists. They don't represent the people that put them there otherwise they would be bending over backwards to make this great country safer for the people they represent. I am embarrassed. At least, on a state level things are happening to improve our safety and preventing gun violence but we really need it to be at a national level to for it to be truly impactful.

Standing to Senator Blumenthal's left is Matt Knickerbocker, the First Selectman of Bethel. He's a cyclist and pretty good one at that. Monte Frank gave his closing remarks and said that he is carrying a petition of a quarter of a million names asking for new measures in Congress to thwart gun violence.

The riders assembled and then we took off. Team 26 includes two of our riding buddies this year and we wanted to support them by riding as far as we could with them.

May God guide the feet of these 26 riders

I was moved so much by the Invocation given at Team 26 rally I wanted to share it ..

Good God, we gather this morning with a renewed hope that our country and our world will embrace the mission of this ride to end gun violence that every hour of every day of every month in every year brings injury or the end of life to innocent children and adults, an action that fractures a family and a community and opens the wounds of pain, fear and grief.

May God guide the feet of these 26 riders and may our 26 Newtown angels be a constant inspiration to them to ride on in their efforts to obtain legislation that protects lives and to assure us as citizens that we can be safe in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our schools, in our places of worship and places that allow us the recreation and relaxation we need.  As their legs grow tired, assure them that they are not pedaling alone but that You are their guide and their strength along with all of us who stay with them in prayer.

May every push of their pedal be

..a push of remembrance for all who have died at the hands of gun violence regardless of age, race, faith or circumstances

..a push that holds the message that things can change when we work together for a common purpose

..a push of determination that it often only takes one with a mission to change the heart and mind of another

..a push that reminds us that no one should die senselessly at the hands of another

..a push that destroys evil

We pray that you keep them safe in this journey and watch over with blessing those they have left at home.  May each rider be lifted up by the voices of those who stand with them beginning from this public square in Newtown, through New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and finally in our nation’s capitol, voices of solidarity, gratitude and hope.  Ride safe and be blessed.

Amen.

Msgr. Robert E. Weiss

St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church

Hope Peace Love: Sandy Hook Ride on Washington

I rode up to the Sandy Hook Ride on Washington Rally being held at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown, CT this morning.  It was flurrying when I left the house but by the time I got up there it was snowing much harder.

Team 26 rolled in about 10 minutes later and while I was OK standing around in 28 degree weather I was lamenting that I didn't wear my lobster gloves.  The gloves I had on would have been fine if I were just riding but during the speeches, prayers, and kind words by those involved I came to the realization that I might have a problem with the ride today.

I was able to have my picture taken with Stephen Badger, whom I credit for encouraging me to be the cyclist I am today.  He is truly one hell of a rider.  I would like to do this ride.  Maybe next year?

Monte Frank, founder and ride leader or Team 26, makes his closing remarks before we all ride over to Fairfield Hills where the team was the honorary guest at the Sandy Hook 5K.  I rode in the back of the group and while it felt great to be out on the bike, in the snow even, my hands were numb and also not having a fender was making me even more uncomfortable.  I headed over to the Youth Academy to warm up and get a cup of coffee.  By the time I was good to go, Team 26 had took off towards Bethel so I headed down to Sandy Hook and then back up Church Hill and then home.  

It wasn't the best ride but it was still good to get out despite the weather.  Bike felt really good and I could feel that riding the single speed to work is actually helping me with my road riding.

The Connecticut Effect: Get it done, Congress!

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The Connecticut Effect: Ride along with Sandy Hook Ride on Washington

The Sandy Hook Ride on Washington started from Reed School and went to the Sandy Hook Fire Department, which is at the entrance to the Sandy Hook Elementary School and where coverage for that tragic day was centered.  There, Team 26 announced, individually, each of the 26 Victims they were riding for.  It was moving, to see the 26 green and white jackets in a big circle sound off like that.

 

 

A co-worker of mine and who I consider a friend and mentor, Stephen Badger, is one of the leaders of Team 26.

Good Luck!

Stephen is the original owner for the Fredmobile!  

From the fire house, we rode up through the center of Sandy Hook and then up through the center of Newtown on Church Hill Road.

At the Flag Pole we turned north to make a loop at the Newtown Ambulance Corps to further honor the first Responders.

 

When we got to Bethel, I turned around and headed back but first I stopped off at English Apothecary for a Granola bar!

I took the hillier route home that took me over Castle Hill!

The Fredmobile

The Connecticut Effect: Rally for Sandy Hook Ride on Washington

"With the taking of our daughter Grace, I can feel no greater pain, nor have anything left to fear. I appeal to those who have not experienced such a loss to look deep into their hearts, that which they think can not be done," said Chris McDonnell, Grace McDonnell's father.

"We lost the love and the light of our family, our daughter Grace. Since that day, I have made a solemn promise that her life would forever be celebrated, her vision of the world as a beautiful and peaceful place, forever honored, and her voice forever heard,"

I was awestruck by Chris McDonnell's words on Saturday morning.  After what happened on 12-14-2012 in the town that I call home, I can no longer be silent - we have to speak up and put a stop to this endless violence.

As the poster (on the right) says, just because you have the right to bear arms doesn't mean you have the right to an assault weapon.  Too many people focus on the last part of the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms, but they forget, don't know, don't understand, the full import of the 2nd Amendment was to defend our country after taking it away from the British, and thus the right to bear arms as our founding fathers described this right means to also form a militia and there doesn't seem to be many militias around here these days.

Originally, I had intended on riding from home but then thought better of it for the black ice potential so I drove up to Reed School with the Fredmobile on top to ride along with Team 26 from Newtown to Bethel and then I would head back.

There must have been upwards of 500 people that came out to the rally.  It was amazing!  Most of the Ride-along cyclists were from the Bethel Cycle riding group, as well as a few other groups here and there.  Seeing that a good majority of the riders were from Bethel it wasn't surprising to see so much Bethel kit.

Photo credit:  Michael Duffy, Newstimes

Of course no one looked sexier than me on a screaming orange, old school Cycloscross Bike from Cannondale, except perhaps for the Team 26 riders in their green and white riding jackets!

Sandy Hook Ride on Washington Rally

Come out Saturday morning to help send off Team 26!

Bring your bike and ride with them through Newtown

and points west!