[Sportsandrec] Competition Corner Questions

Mon Dec 1 17:24:04 UTC 2008

Hi Justin, The competition corner is sent to the list as an attachment.
Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Justin Williams" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
To: "'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'" 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 4:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Competition Corner Questions


> Where do y'll go.  How do you reveive it?  I don't always gget it.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Cervenka, Stacy
> (Brownback)
> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 6:38 PM
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] Competition Corner Questions
>
> Jennifer,
> I just copied and pasted the text from this month's issue of
> "Competition Corner" below. At least in my email, it's coming across
> perfectly, with no funky computer code, symbols, or upside down question
> marks.
> Hope this works,
> Stacy
>
> COMPETITION CORNER
>
>
> THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SPORTS AND RECREATION DIVISION
>
> VOLUME 2, #4
> November 2008
>
> Edited By
> Lisamaria Martinez
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> TABLE OF CONTENTS
>
>
> THE PRESIDENT'S PITCH, By Lisamaria Martinez
> INTERVIEW WITH PARALYMPIC JUDO BRONZE MEDALIST, GREG DEWALL, By Stacy
> Cervenka
> DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, ACHIEVE! By Jessica Lorenz
> A FEW NOTES ABOUT TANDEM BICYCLES, By Ron Burzese
> FETA-SPINACH SALMON ROST, Submitted By Lisamaria Martinez
>
>
>
> THE PRESIDENT'S PITCH
> By Lisamaria Martinez
>
>
>
> Competition Corner is the publication of the Sports and Recreation
> Division of the National Federation of the Blind. Members can expect to
> read an update from the president of the Sports and Recreation Division
> as well as a variety of articles and web links that may be of interest
> to blind individuals who are interested in--or passionate about--health,
> fitness and recreational and competitive sports activities.
>
> This edition is chalk full of exciting articles. Two of the three
> articles reflect upon the 2008 Beijing Paralympics and spotlights bronze
> medal winning judo athlete Greg DeWall and the gold medal winning
> women's goalball team. The final article, by Ron Burzese, is an article
> I thought I'd include in the Competition Corner edition appearing before
> the holidays. Family members, friends, or loved ones may consider
> reading this article before purchasing that tandem bike your blind
> relative/friend/spouse has been hinting about.
>
> The Sports and Recreation Division Board wants to be one of the very
> first to wish all of you a very happy holiday season. Enjoy this edition
> and may it bring you good cheer for the remainder of this 2008 year. The
> S&R Board is working hard to bring all of you a fantastic 2009 year.
>
> As always, keep a close eye on your email in-box and your finger off the
> delete button for the next edition of Competition Corner.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> INTERVIEW WITH PARALYMPIC JUDO BRONZE MEDALIST, GREG DEWALL
> By Stacy Cervenka
>
>
>
> On January 20, 1997 at one o'clock in the morning, Greg DeWall made the
> decision to end his life. Like most high school seniors, DeWall felt an
> enormous amount of pressure from his parents, teachers, and coaches to
> make many crucial decisions in the next few months that would determine
> the course of his life. Should he join the military? Should he go to
> college? If so, what should he study? A talented high school athlete,
> Greg knew he might be eligible for a wrestling scholarship, but were his
> grades good enough? The future was pounding on his door and Greg was not
> quite sure yet how to answer. So, while his family slept, Greg got out
> of bed, took down the shotgun from his bedroom wall, placed it under his
> chin, and pulled the trigger.
>
> Eleven and a half years later, DeWall stood on the podium at the 2008
> Paralympic Games in Beijing, China and accepted the bronze medal in judo
> for the United States. DeWall, now totally blind as a result of his
> self-inflicted gunshot injury, had competed in the over 100kg division
> and was the only member of the US Paralympic judo team to come home with
> a medal.
>
> Judo, a grappling martial art invented in Japan, is one of the most
> popular sports among blind athletes throughout the world and is also one
> of the few sports in which blind athletes can compete against sighted
> athletes at the highest levels with almost no adaptations or
> accommodations. Judo has been a part of the Paralympic Summer Games
> since 1988 and several blind judoka (judo players) have been nationally
> ranked alongside their sighted peers.
>
> Stacy Cervenka recently sat down with DeWall and talked to him about
> judo, blindness, and his unique journey from that life-changing moment
> almost 12 years ago to his life-changing moment in Beijing and his life
> today as a successful athlete and college student.
>
>
> Q: Tell us about your life before your injury. What sports did you play?
>
>
> A: I have found it easiest to describe myself as the all-American boy.
> Growing up in a blue collar home with an older brother and younger
> sister, my parents were always trying to make ends meet. As kids,
> though, we never felt like we went without.
>
> My brother and I participated in athletics year round. I was involved in
> a half dozen different sports prior to high school. As a freshman at
> Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California, I needed to narrow
> down my sports of choice. I chose to focus on wrestling, baseball, and
> football.
>
> My free time was usually spent fishing and hunting with my brother or
> friend, Ryan. Another extracurricular activity I was involved in was 4H.
> For ten years or more, I raised lambs and hogs for market. At the end of
> a five month period with these animals, we would show them at the local
> fair and then put them up for sale at the livestock auction.
>
> Q: Describe the events that led up to your suicide attempt.
>
> A: As a senior in high school, I was very confused and often felt lost.
> Looking back on it now, it is easy to say that all the problems I had
> were good problems to have. I felt a lot of pressure from different
> angles. I was a successful wrestler who was expected to repeat as
> section champion and qualify for the state tournament. My father was
> constantly talking to me about the military. My mother and others were
> regularly asking me about college and what I wanted to do after high
> school. During this time, I was also trying to get my grades up.
>
> I spent the day of my suicide attempt like any normal weekend. I was
> seventeen; it was three weeks short of my eighteenth birthday. I went
> duck hunting that morning and then played some softball in the afternoon
> with my dad and girlfriend. I followed that up with a nice dinner with
> my girlfriend. That night, something changed. I lay in bed for hours
> wrestling with self-doubt and fear. The airport lights behind the house
> would blink through my bedroom window. With the blinking lights, I could
> see all my medals and awards from the sports I had participated in over
> the past four years. I remember thinking, this all means nothing. In May
> when I graduate, all these achievements and successes will mean nothing.
> I had no idea at that moment what I was going to do with my future after
> high school. I had plenty of options; I knew that. I was so confused
> that I was afraid to choose one. On an impulse, I got out of bed and
> grabbed my shot-gun from the wall. It took less than thirty seconds from
> the original thought of doing it to actually pulling the trigger.
>
> Q: Tell us about the events immediately after the gunshot. When did you
> realize that you were never going to regain your eyesight and that you
> were going to remain blind? How did this affect you?
>
> A: Unfortunately, my mother and sister were home when I pulled the
> trigger. My mom found me in my room hunched over with my faceless head
> in my hands. When the paramedics arrived, they informed me that the
> stretcher would not fit down the hall. I was asked if I was able to
> walk. So I did.
>
> I spent six weeks in the hospital originally. During this time, many
> tests were run. I knew shortly into my hospital stay that, because my
> optic nerves were destroyed, I would never regain vision in either eye.
> Accepting blindness came quickly. It was the adjusting that was hard.
>
> My parents didn't waste any time when it came to helping me adjust. The
> day after I returned home from the hospital, my father put a ceiling fan
> in front of me and told me to put it together.
>
> Q: Besides blindness, what other complications resulted from the
> gunshot?
>
> A: The blindness has actually been the least of my issues as a result of
> my attempt. I suffered major damage and disfiguration of my face. I have
> had to undergo over a dozen reconstructive surgeries so far. The most
> significant thing I deal with is my speech trouble. Until my oral cavity
> is completely reconstructed, my speech will never sound like it did
> before the injury.
>
> Q: Before you took up judo, did you think blind people could participate
> in sports? If so, what sports did you do as a blind person prior to
> joining the judo club?
>
> A: I had heard mentioned a few sports that had blind competitors or even
> sports that were designed for the blind. I had never pursued any of
> these sports, however. The Chico area doesn't have a large enough blind
> community to have organized blind athletic events. Before becoming a
> part of the United States Association of Blind Athletes and
> participating in judo, I wrestled in junior college and wake-boarded. I
> still do a lot of wake-boarding and water-skiing today.
>
> Q: When and why did you take up judo?
>
> A: I took up judo because I was overweight. During a visit to my doctor,
> I shared with him that I wanted to lose weight and that I was looking
> for an aerobic activity. He was a former judo player and knew that it
> was a blind friendly sport. He suggested judo and I signed up for
> classes that day at Haley's Martial Arts Center. Judo started as a
> recreation activity for me. It eventually evolved into competition.
>
> Q: How did your sensei and the other students react to having a blind
> classmate when you first started? Has this changed and, if so, how?
>
> A: Coach Carl Tenckhoff was the head coach of the Chico Judo Club and he
> was uncertain about having me there in the beginning.
>
> Coach Jason Parks took me one on one and was convinced that I could
> learn judo. In a short time, I had the class convinced that I could
> practice with them and that I belonged.
>
> With my recent success, the members of the club know now that not only
> I, but other blind folks, can be successful with judo.
>
> Q: What are some alternative techniques that you use as a blind person
> to learn the throws, holds, etc?
>
> A: It is always hard to stand there while the coach is verbally
> describing a move. Often I get lost in the translation. Whenever it is a
> smaller class, it is beneficial for the blind student to receive some
> one on one time from the coach. More often then not, I get matched up
> with an experienced judo player for practice. It always helps to work
> with someone who is comfortable with the move being practiced as well as
> confident with it. Usually my partner is able to tell me when I am doing
> something wrong and instruct me on how to correct it. Hands on learning
> is really the most efficient tool for teaching judo to a blind athlete.
>
> Q: How did you become a member of the US Blind Judo Team?
>
> A: I was participating at only my fourth tournament in San Jose. I was
> still a white belt at the time. Members and staff of the United States
> Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) were present and witnessed me win
> my division with a record of 4 wins, 0 losses. Mark Lucas, the Executive
> Director of the USABA, approached me later about being the heavy-weight
> on the blind judo team.
>
> I was hesitant at first. After talking with a couple of coaches and
> staff for the USABA, I had decided to give it a chance.
>
> Q: How did you qualify for the Paralympics?
>
> A: Two years prior to the Paralympic Games, qualifying tournaments
> begin. According to your respective finish at each of these
> international tournaments, you earn points. These points will then add
> up through the duration of the international tournaments prior to the
> Paralympics. The World Championships the year before the Paralympics is
> an exception. You still earn points based on your finish, which
> ultimately will help improve your ranking, but if you finish sixth or
> better, you automatically qualify the weight class for your country. If
> an athlete does not finish in the top six, he or she then must rely on
> the points earned up to the date to get invited to the Paralympic Games.
>
>
> Since I was the new guy and had not yet competed in an international
> tournament, I had no points to back me up should I not qualify at the
> World Championships last year in Sao Paulo, Brazil. With a lot of luck
> on my side and my "refuse to lose" attitude, I squeaked out a fifth
> place finish. I followed up that tournament with a 2nd place finish at
> the Para-Pan-American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
>
> Q: How and where did you train for the Paralympics?
>
> A: As I mentioned earlier, I started judo with the Chico Judo Club of
> Haley's Martial Arts Center. Eight months before leaving for China, I
> temporarily relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area to train six days a
> week. The coach of the Paralympic team, Raul Tamayo, is also the coach
> at Stanford University. Four days a week we would train there. Raul runs
> a very intense and productive practice. He will never let you cut
> corners and makes sure you are doing the move right before moving on.
> The other two days a week, we would practice at Cahill's Judo Academy in
> San Bruno, California, under legendary coach Willy Cahill, who has
> coached many, many Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Cahill's is another
> atmosphere all together. After a solid thirty minute warm up, it is
> sixty minutes of fighting. I would usually spend fifty minutes picking
> myself up off the floor after being thrown around by currently ranked
> judo players as well as former Olympians. The other ten minutes, I would
> spend sucking down water.
>
> Sunday was our only day off, as long as we didn't have a tournament.
>
> Q: Tell us about your time at the Paralympics.
>
> A: We spent a few days in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training
> Center before leaving for China, so when we got there, I didn't feel
> anything other then tired and hungry. Fortunately, we had been up for
> hours and we arrived in time to eat dinner and go to bed soon
> thereafter. When I woke up the next morning and realized I was waking up
> in the Olympic Village, it gave me goose bumps. The magnitude of why I
> was there began to set in at that moment. That has no comparison to how
> I felt the evening prior to competition day.
>
> The evening before my day to compete was the worst hurricane of emotions
> I never want to experience again. I felt lost at see as the world seemed
> to spin around me. I couldn't tell you what I was thinking about,
> because I couldn't string a thought or a sentence together in the
> condition I was in. Finally, I made it to my room after forcing down my
> dinner. While listening to music, I must have drifted off to sleep. Next
> thing I knew, it was time to wake up and go weigh in for the
> competition. Like it had never happened, the nerves and the storm of
> emotions were gone. I was ready to fight!
>
> Another memory I will take away from these games is pinning the Cuban
> judoka, Jargaliny Jimenez. He was the reigning world champion and I took
> him down in the first round. Secondly, I'll always remember hearing my
> name announced over the loud speaker as a representative of the United
> States of America. Finally, and most importantly, my family was there to
> witness it. It was special to have them all in China with me on that
> day.
>
> Q: Has your perception of blindness and disability changed since your
> own injury and if so, how?
>
> A: I can't say that I ever had a perception of blind people. So I don't
> know that it would have changed. My perception now though is that we are
> underestimated. I have learned over the years that, like all human
> beings, we do have limits, but all the successful blind people I've come
> in contact with have succeeded because they've pushed their limits and
> eliminated these limits by being resourceful and knowing how to
> improvise. As technology advances, there are going to be less and less
> limitations for people who are blind. Also, with the movement towards
> inclusion in our public schools, more of the general public will become
> educated and exposed to not only blind students, but students with
> various physical disabilities.
>
> Q: What do you feel you've learned on your journey from the night of the
> gunshot to the Paralympics?
>
> A: As far as learning to deal with my emotions, I have learned to wait
> another day. You really don't know how good the highs feel if you don't
> experience the lows along with them. So wait another day. If today was
> so bad that life seems unbearable, tomorrow could change things.
>
> As far as what I have learned about myself, I learned I am mentally
> strong enough to do what it takes. There are so many opportunities in
> life to just give up. Well, that's what I did twelve years ago. I slowly
> have been getting my life back in order and am now a senior at Chico
> State University, where I'm majoring in Recreation Administration. At a
> major junction in my life, I was offered a mountain to climb. At the top
> of this mountain was the Paralympic podium. To reach the top would take
> many sacrifices. I had no doubt my body could handle the challenge. My
> mental strength, on the other hand, was in question. I needed to know
> that two thirds of the way my mind would not quit on me.
>
> I remember five or six months into my training, I doubted what I was
> doing and why I was doing it. Always in the back of my mind, I could
> hear myself saying, quitting is not an option. I soon got over that hump
> and was able to coast right in to the Paralympic games probably at my
> peak.
>
> My short judo career is something I chose to do to improve my life.
> Without sounding selfish, I chose to climb that mountain for myself. I
> did not do it by myself. But I needed to climb that mountain. I needed
> to know for myself that I could handle what it would take to not only
> go, but to be victorious. I proved to myself that I can handle it.
>
> Q: What are your future athletic goals?
>
> A: Right now, the Paralympic Games in London in 2012 are on the
> calendar. My mother and sister really loved traveling to Beijing and say
> they could get used to all this international travel! They tell me I
> don't have a choice. We are going to London and I am the reason why. The
> next twelve months are going to be taken easy though. I put my life on
> hold to prepare and qualify for the Games. I have some time to make up
> for. Finishing my degree is at the top of my list.
>
> Q: What are your future goals outside of athletics?
>
> A: As I mentioned, finishing my degree in Recreation Administration at
> Chico State University is at the top of my list. In the next year or so,
> I hope to complete my internship and then look for employment. With that
> being said, judo will definitely influence where I start my professional
> career. Ultimately, the next year or more will be dedicated to education
> and vocation.
>
> Q: Where would you like to see yourself ten years from now?
>
> A: This is probably the hardest question yet! All I know now is that I
> want to help people. I know that it is what I will be doing in ten
> years. On what stage though, I don't know. I'm interested in working on
> military bases with the spouses and children of deployed soldiers or
> possibly in the prison system with the incarcerated population or
> perhaps with children with disabilities or chronic illnesses. I've
> worked managing the weight room at a Boys and Girls Club and I also
> teach kids' judo classes several days a week. I find that working with
> kids can be very rewarding. Kids tend to help you as much as you help
> them.
>
> Q: What advice would you give to other blind people who are interested
> in taking up judo?
>
> A: Judo is a very rewarding recreational activity as well as a
> competitive sport. I would recommend judo even if a person was only
> interested in exercise and self-defense. It will significantly improve
> your agility and self confidence. Those who want to take it to the next
> level and train for competition will find that judo is still rewarding.
> It just takes another level of commitment and discipline
>
> Whether you are getting involved for recreational purposes or to
> compete, experiment with as many dojos and coaches as you can find.
> Don't waste your time with a coach or a club that is not going to give
> you the benefit of the doubt and work with you.
>
> Also, don't get discouraged in the beginning. A lot of people without
> disabilities don't last two weeks in judo, because it is hard. So, don't
> think that the reason you're not getting something right away is because
> you're blind. Judo is a rough combat sport. Even the black belts still
> practice the basics. So don't be like those people without disabilities
> who only last two weeks. Have patience and believe that, with time and
> practice, you will get it.
>
> Greg is willing to give advice to anyone who is interested in taking up
> judo. Feel free to contact him with questions on how and where to get
> started, the various alternative techniques used by blind judoka, and
> how to get involved with the United States Association of Blind
> Athletes' judo program.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> DREAM BIG, WORK HARD, ACHIEVE!
> By Jessica Lorenz
> I recently returned from Beijing where I competed in the second largest
> sporting event in the world, the 2008 Paralympics. Paralympic athletes
> include people who are blind, amputees, people who have cerebral palsy,
> people who use wheelchairs and people with dwarfism. The Paralympics
> does not include individuals with intellectual disabilities.
>
> The first Paralympics was held in Rome in 1960 and included 400
> athletes. The 2008 Beijing Games included 4200 athletes representing 147
> countries. The 2008 Paralympic delegation from the United States
> included 213 athletes, 24 of whom were visually impaired. But most
> importantly, the Paralympic games is about athletes, not disability.
>
> I am a member of the USA Women's Goalball team that won gold in Beijing.
> I am only starting to realize the meaning of winning a gold medal; as
> days go by the meaning continues to sink in. My Paralympic experience
> taught me how to dream big and to work hard. I spent years getting up
> early, working out, eating right, teaching myself mental relaxation and
> focusing techniques, fine tuning my game and going to the gym or
> training camps rather than to parties or on vacations. My entire being
> was dedicated to one express purpose, winning gold. I worked towards
> this goal with greater tenacity than I have dedicated to anything else
> in my life. Each time I would struggle to fit in a work out I would
> think about winning the gold. When I had a bad practice I would re-play
> my mistakes in my head in order to correct them through either strength
> conditioning or by changing my body mechanics.
>
> I put in 100 hours on the court in the last year simply doing drills
> designed to improve my footwork. Add to that another 400 hours actually
> playing the game- and you get a lot of time spent on a goalball court.
> One of the most important aspects of my game is my speed and my cardio
> vascular conditioning. My Body Mass Index is very low and my VO2 max
> very high. Not only do I run a lot, but I have been regularly tested to
> make sure that I am constantly improving. I pushed myself in ways I
> never had to in order to get to Beijing and come home with the medal I
> planned to come home with around my neck.
>
> The Paralympics is nothing like competing in sports for folks with
> disabilities in the United States. In China we played in front of a
> standing room only crowd of 6000 spectators- which was rather remarkable
> all in and of itself! During the 96 Atlanta games the final games
> attracted less than 500 spectators. Think of the atmosphere of a
> division one basketball game- those were the competition conditions in
> Beijing- it was lots of fun!
>
> I did not feel quite prepared for the mayhem that occurs directly
> following a gold medal win. Two of my teammates were immediately taken
> for drug testing after our game. There is a limited amount of time to go
> and change into the medal attire. There were 100 or so other players
> from other countries who were in the athletes section of the venue
> congratulating us and posing for photos. We had a press conference with
> the Chinese team. The press conference was full of drama- including a
> protest of the game by the Chinese coach; all of this in the 45 minutes
> between the final game and the medal ceremony.
>
> All of China's teams played hard. They have really helped to raise the
> bar in women's goalball and I am honored to have competed against them.
> Going into the gold medal game the USA had two tie games and one loss
> where as China was undefeated. The competition venue Was state of the
> art and my Paralympic experience has given me a great deal of respect
> for China's Paralympic training program. The Chinese have a Paralympic
> training center that dedicates two courts exclusively to the goalball
> program. China's men won gold and their women battled it out with the
> USA to take the silver in their Paralympic debut
>
> Nothing is like standing on that medal podium and hearing our national
> anthem play. As I touched the medal for the first time, I was keenly
> aware of how many people touched part of this dream. Behind every
> athlete is a partner, friends, family, co-workers and coaches- I happen
> to have the best of all of these supporting me.
>
> One oddity with having all visually impaired people on the podium was
> our challenge in finding the appropriate direction to gaze in to show
> the flag our respect. One of our players spotted it though- so there we
> were, right hands on heart, singing along, most of us with tears in our
> eyes- for all the world to see that the USA has the best woman's
> goalball team in the world.
>
> I know what it feels like to be the best in the world at something and I
> had the honor of playing with some amazing women on the USA team. One of
> the interesting things about this particular team is its depth of
> talent- each of us bring very different gifts to the game. I keep the
> ball from going into the net- so I need to be quick and cardiovascularly
> fit. I depend on some of my teammates to have big muscles so that they
> can throw the ball through our opponent's defensive line up. Each player
> on the USA Women's Team dedicated their lives to gold in preparation for
> these games. Gold was our collective dream- not unlike equality of
> opportunity is the collective dream for many of us who are blind. The
> USA Woman's Goalball team came home with gold. I believe that hard work
> and our collective dream of gold are what brought this team to the top
> of the podium.
>
> My message to all: Dream big. Work hard. Achieve!
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> A FEW NOTES ABOUT TANDEM BICYCLES, By Ron Burzese
>
> Ever since I was a little guy, my recreational activity of choice has
> always been riding my bike. I have been on 2 wheels since the age of 7.
> I have been riding more serious, road bikes on 60-mile club rides since
> the age of 13. For years, I took real chances, riding my single bike
> with limited eyesight. Thankfully, I am here to warn some of you against
> this practice. I was 26 when I attended the Louisiana Center for the
> Blind, where I came to grips with my ever apparent blindness, from
> Retinitis Pigmentosa. At the age of 29, I purchased my first tandem
> bicycle and truly returned to my life sport, only this time, without the
> guilt. I had always thought that I would lose much of why I loved the
> sport by riding on the back of a tandem. Once I tried it, however, I
> realized just how much I was missing by trying to fake it on a single
> bike.
>
> Cycling is one of the best forms of exercise out there. It is low
> impact, aerobic, and social. Depending on how you are riding, you can
> burn 400 to 1,000 calories per hour. It can actually be therapeutic for
> many medical problems and preventative for many others. Best of all, you
> can be meeting new friends or catching up with old ones as you ride. My
> favorite rides are when 20 or 30 miles go by and I do not even realize
> it. I am just having a great time with my friends, out in the fresh air.
>
>
> Not only do I enjoy riding tandems, I like working on them. I also love
> introducing cycling to new riders. Here, I have put together some brief
> thoughts to hopefully entice you into trying out tandem cycling. I will
> include my contact information, if you need further assistance. Please
> feel free to contact me.
>
> I categorized tandem bicycles into 3 basic levels: entry-level,
> sport/recreational, and advanced. My first tandem was an advanced model.
> I had already been a cyclist in the past and knew what to expect. That
> said, it took me over a year to write that check. Once I did, I wished I
> had done it 10 years earlier.
>
> If you just want to ride around the neighborhood, you can purchase an
> entry level tandem. These usually cost around $600 to $800 brand new.
> You can possibly find them used on the web for 200 to $400. They are
> less expensive, because of mass production overseas, from relatively
> inexpensive materials. Because these materials are heavier, the tandem
> will not be as responsive, especially when riding up a hill. They also
> may not be as reliable as a more expensive tandem. However, if speed or
> efficiency is not the goal, then you may be happy with this level. Take
> note that these tandems are often referred to as cruiser or comfort
> tandems. They have 26 inch mountain bike style tires, higher handlebars,
> and bigger saddles, often with springs. The tires are wider and ride
> smoothly on the road, but offer greater stability on trails and rough
> pavement. The versatility is an advantage here. Because of a more
> upright riding posture and only one position for your hands, these bikes
> are only good for an average distance of 25 miles, or two hours of
> riding. You can squeeze a longer day out of them occasionally, if you
> are feeling fit. However, if you ride it more frequently, you may want
> to graduate to the next level. Raleigh, KHS, Crestline, and Univega are
> some examples of great, entry-level bikes. Wal-Mart may have a tandem
> for around $300, but I have no experience with it. If you want one,
> contact me and I will check one out to give you my opinions. If you are
> considering participation in triathlons, I'd skip this segment
> altogether.
>
> The next level up is what I would call the middle class enduro and road
> tandem. New, these bikes cost about $1,000 to $2,500. They are made by
> Burley, Cannondale, Trek, Raleigh, Fuji, and other brands. Enduro means
> that you can use it on or off the pavement, depending on the chosen
> tires. You might be wondering what you get for the extra money? It is a
> good question to ask, and the answer is simple--a lighter frame and
> components. When I say lighter, I mean the average bike in this category
> is about 10 to 15 pounds lighter. You will notice a better ride and a
> more efficient transfer of power from your legs to the wheels. Simply
> put, a better experience of what cycling really can be. They may have
> wider, mountain tires, or skinnier, road style wheels, which are 700c,
> (metric for 27 inch). The skinnier tires are more specific to road
> riding, though they can handle some off-road paths with careful riding.
> These bikes are better equipped for actually riding a 25-60 mile ride.
> They will shift and brake better, run quieter, and invite you to ride
> more with a bike club. A road bike is marked by the ram-style handlebar.
> The object here is to not necessarily get you down lower, but offer more
> hand positions for comfort on longer rides. Let me say here that as your
> fitness improves, you may come to prefer riding in a less upright
> position. When you lean forward, you actually feel more stable and take
> more weight off the saddle as you ride. These bikes have faster tires
> that require more air pressure. A bike I like in this price range is the
> Raleigh Pursuit. At $1,350 to $1,500, it is a great value for a bike
> that I would even race. It is no longer made, but dealers may still have
> them in stock.
>
> The third level of tandem bikes is worth mentioning here because you may
> come across them on the market, used, for the same price as the
> mid-priced bikes I just described. They generally cost $2,500 to $4,000
> and higher. They are made by tandem specific companies like Co-Motion,
> Burley, Santana and include higher end Treks and Cannondales. These
> bikes have still lighter, aluminum frames with often faster wheels. A
> noteworthy bike in this segment is the Co-Motion PeriScope. If I had to
> do it over again, I might very well buy one of these. For a blind
> person, who may ride with pilots of a variety of statures, this bike
> offers you such versatility. For example, you can ride it with a 5'2"
> woman in the front for one ride, and then, the same bike can be ridden
> with a 6'3" man. I am just giving a rough guess here. I currently have
> two road tandems, one for tall riders and one for smaller ones. If I had
> a PeriScope, I could get by with one bike that can even be raced. This
> bike starts at $3,000, but if you are planning to grow into cycling,
> then consider it an investment in your health and social life.
>
> A few general notes to consider when purchasing a tandem. Make sure the
> bike fits you well. This is more important for the captain, or pilot up
> front. The back seat of a tandem can fit a wider range of riders. Also,
> before you spend good money to upgrade the saddles, first, upgrade your
> rear end by riding the bike for more frequent, but shorter rides. Your
> body simply needs time to adjust to the new activity. Usually, the
> softer, more comfortable saddles become less comfortable as the ride
> progresses. This is because your sit bones sink into the soft saddle.
> This will put pressure on the surrounding soft tissue, which is not
> meant to bare your weight.
>
> Also, you do not need an expensive tandem to attract pilots. If that
> were the case, I would not want to ride with such people. It may have
> been a passing joke, but I want to stop the myth before it becomes
> legend. If you are riding on the road with a group, you may want to get
> a road tandem to better deal with the distances and speeds. For a
> tandem, though, there is of course two people to help keep up with the
> single bikes, so focus on the motors, too.
>
> Most modern tandems are 24 speed or higher. If you get a 21 speed, or a
> 30 speed, it will not matter. If you plan to ride a lot, I'd be careful
> about buying a tandem older than 1998. Some standards came into vogue
> around that time that may make upgrading easier.
>
> A lesser priced tandem may be a great way to gain experience. As you
> grow as a rider, or a team, you can sell it and move up to the next
> level. Tandems usually hold their value pretty well.
>
> For more reading, check out:
>
> The Tandem Link Info
> Precision Tandems
> Tandem Magazine
> Any other questions, feel free to contact me at my email address or by
> phone at 512-419-1372.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> Did you recently read a cool news article about a blind athlete? Do you
> have your own sports story to share? If so, write it down and send it to
> us! It might just end up in a future issue of the Competition Corner!
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> FETA-SPINACH SALMON ROST
> Submitted By Lisamaria Martinez
> Editor's Note. I have tried this delectable dish and I love it! For
> those who distaste salmon, try the recipe with boneless skinless chicken
> breast. If they are thin, bake for approximately 30 minutes. If they are
> thicker chicken breasts, bake for approximately 40 minutes. Always check
> to be sure the meat is cooked. The chicken version is just as
> magalicious.
>
> I found this tasty recipe one day from a book downloaded from
> Bookshare.org. The book is called, 500 Low-Carb Recipes: 500 Recipes
> from Snacks to Dessert that the Whole Family Will Love, by Dana
> Carpender. My husband and I love this delicious dish! Try it and you'll
> fall in love too.
>
> INGREDIENTS
>
> 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
> 3/4 cup crumbled feta
> 1/2 cup spinach, chopped
> 1/4 cup green onion, if desired
> 2 skinless salmon fillets, roughly same size and shape equaling 0.75
> pounds
> Olive oil
> DIRECTIONS
>
> Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
> Combine the cream cheese and feta, mashing and stirring with a fork
> until well blended. Add green onions and spinach. Combine well.
> Spread the mixture evenly over one salmon fillet. Top with second
> fillet. Brush both sides of the fillet with olive oil.
> Place loaf on shallow baking pan and bake for 20 minutes.
> Yield: 2 servings, each with 5 grams of carbs, a trace of fiber, and 45
> grams of protein.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------
>
> Don't forget to join the Sports and Recreation Division. For questions
> about joining please contact Lisamaria Martinez, president, for more
> details. You may also join our listserv by simply going to
> www.nfbnet.org and clicking on the link "Join or Drop NFBnet Mailing
> Lists."
>
> Thanks for reading COMPETITION CORNER!
>
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