Riding for a cause - The Big Ring Riders
Pat's Note: I'm leading off this article with my note instead of at the end simply because I LOVE THIS CREW! I've forged incredible relationships with these riders over the past few years. They welcomed me with open arms and provide weekly training rides and events to look forward to all year round. I'll aim to provide outlets like the Big Ring Riders to our readers as I discover them across the country. You can join if you live in the SF Bay Area or donate to this amazing cause - donate and/or join us here! Learn more about this remarkable group of people below.
Mission:
Promote Diabetes awareness and fundraising for a cure while promoting fitness and friendship through cycling
Slogan:
Diabetes: A Different Way of LIVING!
BRR Background:
The Big Ring Riders (BRR) was formed in March 2010 by Warren Marshall after cycling friends urged him to form the team for the Tour de Cure (TdC). Warren’s son Joshua was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in January 2009 and he has been riding the TdC since that year.
The Big Ring Riders are a group of passionate road cyclist out of the Morgan Hill and Gilroy area in the South Valley. Warren had been trying for some years to get a cycling group together to help people reach their cycling goals and finally it has started to form with the focus of the TdC – both the fund raising and the goal of riding one of the 5 available routes catering for cyclists of all abilities and fitness levels. For the fit and strong riders the goal is the 120k route from Palo Alto over to the coast and back on some of the most beautiful cycling roads in the world.
The Big Ring Riders is not a racing club: we enjoy the social side of cycling and staying healthy though we do enjoy riding strong. We focus on promoting a friendly and inclusive environment for cyclists and encourage people to enjoy the sport. Being socially responsible is part of what draws us together and raising funds for finding a cure to diabetes unites us for a worthy cause. We welcome people to join our group regardless of any other club affiliations and ride the TdC with us representing the values we aspire to. Race under your affiliated club name then come and ride the TdC raising funds as part of the BRR!
Since 2010 the BRR have raised over $136,000 for the Tour de Cure with the team of 27 raising over $42,000 in 2016.
Our goal each year is to grow the team and set higher fund raising goals to help find a cure for diabetes.
Commit to joining us in June to ride the TdC and raise funds with the Big Rig Riders.
Find out more and sign-up at http://main.diabetes.org/goto/BRR and register – Warren will help you set everything up for your fund raising - just email him at bigringriders@hotmail.com when you have registered.
Join on FaceBook: facebook.com/bigringriders
Join the Big Ring Riders on Strava
What is the Tour De Cure?
The Tour de Cure is a series of fundraising cycling events held in 44 states nationwide to benefit the American Diabetes Association. The Silicon Valley TdC is held in June each year out of Palo Alto.
The Tour is a ride, not a race, with routes designed for everyone from the occasional rider to the experienced cyclist. Whether you ride 10 miles or 100 miles, you will travel a route supported from start to finish with rest stops, food to fuel the journey and fans to cheer you on!
In 2013, more than 65,000 cyclists in 89 events raised more than $26 million to support the mission of the American Diabetes Association: to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a silent killer with no cure. It affects nearly 26 million children & adults of all ages in the USA. Diabetes can cause life-threatening complications that can result in blindness, heart disease, stroke, amputation, and premature death.
Diabetes causes more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. Two out of three people with diabetes die from heart disease or stroke.
There are 2 different types of diabetes:
Type 1: diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body (pancreas) does not produce the hormone insulin that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. 5-10% of people with diabetes have this form of the disease.
Type 2: This is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware they are at high risk. With Type 2 either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin.
Insulin is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When you eat food, the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose, which is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells.
When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can cause two problems:
Right away, your cells may be starved for energy.
Over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart.
Fast Forward Founder Pat Miller and Big Ring Rider Founder Warren Marshall post Paris Roubaix 2017.