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1)  If you live in NYC, could you go a year without riding an elevator?  NO IMPACT MAN can and he is coming on Climate Ride.

Imagine really putting your money where your mouth is.  Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man wanted to find out if his family, whom he describes as “convenience addicted, take-out slaves of New York City”, could truly have no impact on the Earth.  For one year, Colin, his “Prada-loving, Starbucks-toting” wife, 2-year-old daughter, and dog attempted to live in the middle of New York City in a small apartment without making any net impact on the environment. In other words, no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilets…

Well, they did it. The entire bizarre and wondrous journey is catalogued on Colin’s hugely popular blog.  Both the book and the documentary film  “No Impact Man” debuted this year.  We’re thrilled to have this brave urban adventurer ON THE RIDE.  Colin has truly gone where no New Yorker has gone before.  Climate Riders will get to hear all about it.

News Update: Friis Arne Petersen, Denmark’s Ambassador, who plans to speak at Climate Ride has now decided to ride!  He will be joining us for three days.  Mr. Petersen will pedal at least 120 miles and enjoy our triumphant arrival at the U.S. Capitol.

2) New Fundraising Incentive…stylish Climate Ride bike shorts

Fundraising incentive prizes are rolling in…Specialized bikes, Marmot gear, a rafting and backpacking trip in Glacier National Park and more! Now that you have begun your fundraising in earnest, we’re announcing a new incentive to keep you going! If you raise $3500 by September 15th, we’ll reward you with a free pair of Climate Ride bike shorts.

That’s right.  These sexy togs will highlight those muscles you’ve been working hard to train all summer, and the windmill graphics will provide you with some carbon-free energy as you pedal through Amish country.  These shorts are high-quality, three-panel Voler chamois.  We want you to hit $2400 and keep right on going to $3500! These were such a hit last year that we sold out on the first day.   Lance would love to look as stylish as Bob Furmanek pictured here at the Silver Springs, MD lunchstop.  Check back on our website in August for a list of fundraising prizes!

3) The Focus Roots Awards take off (thanks Climate Riders!)

Through a partnership with Nike and the Embassy of Denmark, Climate Riders are proud to support the 2nd year of the Focus Roots Awards, a fellowship program created by CR’09 beneficiary Focus the Nation.  Climate Ride will help fund two $10,000 fellowships and send two young climate leaders to Copenhagen this December during the COP15 United Nations Climate Conference.  Already, Focus the Nation has received over 40 exceptional applications.  Read more about the Focus Roots Awards here and get to know the 2008 fellows (some their innovative projects have been mentioned in national press, including the New York Times)! We are thrilled to support this generation of climate and community leaders.

4)  Have you met Mr. Proulx? He’s riding 5005 miles for CR…

Many of our NYC and DC riders have had a chance to meet our dynamic outreach coordinator Michael Proulx who is riding 5005 miles to raise awareness of Climate Ride.  Since May, Michael has covered 8 states and the District. Soon he will head west and cover the entire United States before rejoining us in NYC.  You can read his humorous blog here.  Look for his photo with Michelle Obama.  Smoothie King is on the verge of signing up!

5)  Featured Climate Ride Partner:  Environmental News Network

ENN has a serious editorial mission. Their mission is to inform, educate, enable and create a platform for global environmental action. Don’t waste time drowning in information–at ENN you can find a greater balance and depth of understanding about complex environmental issues, as well as front line reporting, that will be unlike that available to any other environmental news organization.

Set your browser to ENN and join a community of readers who are top environmental leaders from government, business and educators, as well as a broad spectrum of “intellectually curious” citizens. Environmental News Network–Know Your Environment.

Thanks to our Title Sponsor Brita and Presenting Sponsor the Embassy of Denmark and COP15–the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

New to Climate Ride?  See past newsletters on our blog.