National EMS Memorial Bike Ride

We are happy to announce that the 2010 National EMS Memorial Bike Ride will take place from May 15th thru May 22nd. This year’s ride features three starting points: Bennington, VT (challenging), Portland, ME, and Paintsville, KY and one ending point – Washington, DC. While there won’t be a memorial service this year, there will be a closing event. Details are still being worked out and we’ll let you know as soon they’re finalized. Of course, this will be the first year the the ride doesn’t end in Roanoke, VA at the National EMS Memorial Service. As many of you know, the NEMSMS board elected to change the location and the date of the service this year. We’ll miss Roanoke, but we do hope to be able to represent at the Memorial Service, on June 26th 2010 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Registration for the 2009 rides have been brisk to say the least. To date over 80 Riders and Wingmen have signed on!

With 25 States and 2 countries already being represented, this could be the Ride’s biggest year ever!

Click the map to see the full size version.

The 2009 brochure for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride is now available.

Riders, Wingmen and anybody else with an interest are granted permission to and encouraged to make copies of the brochure and post them in stations, hospitals or anywhere else that you think of.

Thanks for helping spread the word!

Steve Berry (yeah, I’ve never heard of him either) just forwarded his latest tribute to the Muddy Angels support team, also know as the Wingmen. It’s a good name for them, because the ride doesn’t leave the ground without their efforts and dedications!

Nissan, yeah the car maker, has posted some informative videos on their website including several from Lance Armstrong’s coach, Chris Carmichael. You can view the videos online at mastertheshift.com.

There is also a nice little workout regimen available by clicking the picture below:

Looking for more training tips and ideas? Youtube has a dozens of videos posted targeted at all levels of cyclist and covering everything from fitness to equipment. Click here and start watching!

You know what we say…It’s never too early to start training!!!

On Saturday July 12th, over 240 cyclists took off from Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland, in the 5th Annual Emergency Services and Friends Cycle. Included were Muddy Angels Kieran Henry from Cork City, Gary Parkinson and Chris Grant from Northern Ireland, and Greg Castillo from New Hampshire. The ride took off from the Skibbereen Fire Station, and went through Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Clonakilty, and Leap, before returning to Skibbereen. The weather was beautiful, the sites were great, and the support was great. We received help from the Health Services Executive, Cork County Fire Brigade, and the Garda. All of our rest stops were sponsored by the Gaelic Athletic Association. Overall, over $50,000 euros were raised ($79,000+ USD)

You can’t describe the beauty of the country we rode through. The best I can say is look at a postcard, and then imagine a whole rolling landscape of fields, grasslands, hills, and and farms. The hills weren’t bad, the winds stayed down, and it never rained. Overall, you can’t ask for anything better. The people were great, the food was good, and the bars afterward were exceptional. The Irish phrase is ‘craic’ meaning goods times or to party hard/party hearty. Let me tell you, the craic in Skibbereen was excellent!

Sent over by Jennifer was almost thirty T-shirts, as well as Muddy Angels pins, stickers, and wrist bands. Also, FDNY gear was donated by Mike Potasso, and I brought over T-shirts, patches and a few other things. Between selling and giving away items, we managed to raise some money, spread awareness of our cause, and hopefully recruit a handful of people to come over next year. I hope every Muddy Angel stays safe, around the country and around the world, until we can meet again. Look forward to seeing everybody next may in New York!