Category: Cycling (Page 1 of 2)

Good Eye Podcast – Go Forward Together Ride/Forward Fest Kickoff Live from Final Gravity Brewing

August 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This episode was recorded live at Final Gravity Brewing during the kick-off event on August 14th. We’ll do this again on September 11, and everyone is invited whether you’re riding  in the event, coming to Forward Fest or not.   This is a community organization and these are community events.   The Go Forward Together Ride and Forward Fest event following the ride is Saturday, October 5th.

In this episode we talk with Forward Foundation Executive Director Andrea Starr, Ride Committee member and rider/participant Steve Dragone, and rider/participant Jeff Smack about this year’s upcoming event, past events and growth (this is year 5), the mission of the Forward Foundation, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, details about registration, the cycling community including our official support shop Blue Ridge Cyclery, the 50 and 30 miles routes and more.

Register and find more info about the ride and the after-event here.
www.goforwardtogetherride.com

Learn more about the Forward Foundation and their mission of assisting single parents in financial crisis here:
www.forwardfoundationva.org

2024 Bike MS Colonial Crossroads

April 22, 2024 / / 0 Comments

This is year #21 riding in Bike MS: Colonial Crossroads.  I started riding against MS as a way to contribute to the cause when a family friend was diagnosed with MS.  Since then, I’ve lead a team, ridden alone, ridden with my brother Jeff many of those years, and ridden with friends who have joined the cause for a year or two or even just once.  And it’s all been great.

We have a team again this year named after the fundraising ride we do in the fall to benefit the Forward Foundation in Richmond.  (The FF helps single parents in financial crisis).  It’s a different event, but we crossed the streams.  Our team is called Go Forward Cycling.

Click the banner below to sponsor me and feel free to contact me with any questions or if you’d like to help.  I can put you in touch with the organizers.  Thanks for your support!

Bike MS: Colonial Crossroads 150 Ride 2023, Update

June 5, 2023 / / 0 Comments

The header image is my brother Jeff and me after our “make-up” ride last year.  We both got Covid the week of the ride so we did our own ride a few weeks later by doing a century ride on the Virginia Capital Trail.

We made it back to the official ride this year.  It was year 20, and it was another great weekend in support of an amazing cause and some of the bravest people you’ve ever met.  I’m speaking, of course, of all the people fighting MS every day.  Progress has been made, but there’s still no cure for this son-of-a-bitch of a disease.  It’s slow, progressive, and insidious.  Riding a bike from Richmond to Williamsburg and back is easy by comparison.

Thank you to the MS Society, all organizers, supporters, donors, vendors, partners and riders.

There’s still time to support the effort.  Go to jaysmack.com/MS2023 or click the image below to sponsor me.  It’s my brother Jeff and me at the start line in Richmond on Saturday, June 3.

CLICK THE PIC TO SPONSOR ME!

 

 

 

 

Short clip from the ride from Richmond to Williamsburg on Saturday.

Good Eye Podcast – Go Forward Together Ride Recap

October 2, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Today’s episode is a recap of the 3rd Annual Go Forward Together Ride.  It was recorded at Final Gravity Brewing, the start/finish line for the ride and site of the after party.  The after party actually became the main event as we had to cancel the ride due to remnants of Hurricane Ian rolling in and a state of emergency having been declared.  Safety is always the #1 priority.  Participating in the discussion are :

-Andrea Starr – Executive Director of the Forward Foundation
-Dan Cherkis – Forward Foundation cyclist advisory board and ride leader of the Carytown Bicycles Saturday morning group ride
-Tim Mullins – Market Manager Atlantic, Specialized Owned Retail
-Bryan Oprel – General Manager Carytown Bicycle Co., Specialized Owned Retail
-and me, Jay Smack – Forward Foundation cyclist advisory board and host and producer of the Good Eye Podcast.

Go Forward Together Ride
The Forward Foundation
Carytown Bicycle Company 
Final Gravity Brewing

For a complete list of sponsors and media partners go to goforwardtogetherride.com

Cycling – the dreaded speed wobble

August 18, 2022 / / 0 Comments

This subject came up on a cycling blog thread the other day.  It’s worth looking into.  It’s never happened to me (now that I’ve said that it will), but I’ve been with people to whom it has happened.  It’s absolutely terrifying and they were understandably rattled.  And although I’ve never been with anyone who has gone down because of it, it often results in a crash.

This is a really good article on the subject and explains how and why they happen.  Knowing the physics behind them really helps to understand how you might bring them under control and not crash.  And, as we all know, knowing is half the battle!

Cycling Tips article on speed wobbles. 

Good Eye Podcast – Jonah and Natalie – Cyclist Safety and Awareness

August 17, 2022 / / 0 Comments

Jonah Holland was struck and killed by a drunk driver last Saturday, August 13 while cycling along Osbourne Turnpike near Richmond.  She was cycling with Natalie Rainer who was also struck and remains hospitalized.  Jonah was an avid cyclist and swimmer and a member of numerous community organizations as is Natalie.

At the time of release of this podcast there are several ways to help.  A “Take Them A Meal” page has been set up for Jonah’s family, but states that the schedule is full.  You can contact the organizer for other ways to help.

Meals for John, Josie and Grayson Holland

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with Natalie’s expenses and hospital bills which will be significant.

Help Natalie Rainer Recover

Story from CBS 6 in Richmond

Feel free to reach out here via email at goodeyepodcast.com.

#liveforjonah

Go Forward Together Ride 2022 – Routes and Info

July 27, 2022 / / 0 Comments

This is the 50-mile route and the 1.5-mile kids’ route for this year’s Go Forward Together cycling event fundraiser.

This year we’re proud to have added some new partners.  In addition to sponsors Primis Bank, The Goddard School, Virginia Credit Union, The Social Ginger, and Garth’s Gourmet Goodness, Final Gravity Brewing will be the location of the start/finish and the post-ride celebration, and the word is that they’ll be brewing a beer especially for the ride.  Carytown Bicycle Company will provide mechanical assistance and support.  And Palani Drive is providing lunch for the registered riders thanks to food sponsor Red River Foods.

Check out the routes via the Google Maps below, and get more info and sign up via the link.

#goforwardtogether

INFO, SIGN-UP AND SOCIAL
Go Forward Together Ride info and sign-up – find all the info you need and register for the ride.
Go Forward Together Strava Club – all are welcome whether you’re doing the ride or not because COMMUNITY.

ROUTES AND GPS
Strava Route
Garmin Connect Course
Ride With GPS Route

Google Maps of both routes – the 50-miler and the Kids’ Ride.

 

Video: Go Forward Team Ride

September 20, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The 2021 Go Forward Team Ride to benefit the Forward Foundation is in the books.  We had great weather with lots of families on-site during the ride.  The 50-mile ride itself went smoothly.  No incidents, crashes or punctures – all-in-all a picture perfect day for cycling.  Huge thanks and gratitude to everyone that came out to support the Forward Foundation.  There was a 20-miler, a 10-miler and kids’ ride and lots of fun, food and activities at Dorey Park this weekend.  Please consider making a donation in support of this great organization led my Executive Director and CEO Andrea Starr.  They work tirelessly to provide support and resources to single parents in financial crisis.   See you next year!

Forward Foundation

Watch clips from the ride:

If you’re on the activity tracking platform Strava you can check out the ride here:

UPDATE – Go Forward Team Ride and Tour de Midnight

September 12, 2021 / / 0 Comments

The Go Forward Team Ride and the Tour de Midnight have joined forces. Ride the Go Forward Team Ride this Saturday and you’ll receive a code to ride Tour de Midnight at a discount.
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The 2nd Annual GO FORWARD Team Ride to benefit the Forward Foundation is this Saturday Sept 18 from Dorey Park
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The Tour de Midnight to benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Virginia is Saturday Oct 16 from Midnight Brewery
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REGISTER HERE, for the Go Forward Team Ride or click the link above.

#goforwardtogether

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