About me: Berkeley Patients Group/ Montano Velo/ IAS/ RH Villa is an elite cycling team based out of Oakland, CA.
Established in 2001, we are an eclectic group bound together by a passion for competitive cycling and a commitment to a team that is like no other. In just a few short seasons, Berkeley Patients Group/ Montano Velo/ IAS/ RH Villa has grown from a small unorganized squad into one of the strongest elite cycling teams in the nation.
As a team, we work together to support just causes, healthy living,the local community,and each other as we live, work, train,and race throughout the season. We believe anything is possible when you combine hard work with teamwork,we set our expectations high and demand only the best from ourselves and each other.
BPG/Montano Velo maintains the presence and organizational design of a professional squad and sponsored by progressive companies interested in creating Brand & Market awareness in the Bay Area.
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Who I'd like to meet:
Smokin' Fast:
Domestic Team Promotes Medical Marijuana Clinic
by Kathie Reid
Velo News Vol. 36/ No. 8
May 14, 2007
When 17 year old Logan Loader rolled up to the start line of the Sea Otter Classic circuit race, he noticed two spectators eyeing his team kit. He assumed the team logo drew their attention, and he was right. Pointing to the red medical Cross with a marijuana leaf in the center, one asked, "So what's that all about? Does everybody on the team smoke pot?"
"Absolutely not," Loader responded good naturedly.
The only junior member of the BPG-Montano Velo team then launched into the squad's standard speech. He explained the team's title sponsor, Berkeley Patients Group, is a medical cannabis clinic, based in Berkeley, California. The teams mostly Cat. I and Cat. II racers, he added are proponents of BPG's mission to provide sick people with safe, affordable access to medical cannabis, but does not resemble Cheech or Chong.
That Little Leaf
BPG took over title sponsorship of the team that was created in 2001 by Martin Thompson and Matt Willinger. Thompson owned RH Villa, a resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, that previously sponsored the team, and Willinger was a Cat. V.
When BPG director Etienne Fontan indicated his interest in the title sponsorship, riders were nervous. "People were definitely afraid, they're afraid of that little leaf," Fontan said. Cannabis use is still considered illegal by the federal government; however, in 1996 Califonina voters passed Proposition 215 that makes an exemption for medical purposes. But the fear disappeared once the riders learned about the clinic and got to know Fontan, a 37 year old Gulf War veteran racing in his first year as a Cat. IV.
Willinger, now a Cat.1 and team assistant manager, explained that the riders didn't disagree with the concept of medical cannabis. "The only concern was we'd scare away other sponsorship," he said.
"If potential sponsors don't agree with some of the principles that we feel are correct and good for society," Willinger explained, "then we don't want them as a sponsor."
This season the "pot team" has already scored some results, including a sixth place overall finish by Brian Buchholz at the Central Valley Classic NRC event. But the team has remained true to its roots as a positive social force. Rob Evans, a business analyst for Apple, said that BPG's main attraction is the camaraderie. "Everyone's willing to sell out for each other," Evans said.
This selflessness has led to multiple team members scoring results, such as Jesse Mendonca's recent win at the Tuolumne Township Criterium. But Buchholz is clearly the team's star. With seven top-10 finishes this season, three of those in NRC races, Buchholz might be the next team member to join a professional squad. Jamiel Danesh moved to Kodakgaller.com-Sierra Nevada from the team last year. And young Loader, is on his way to Europe for three months to race with a French junior development team, Sprinter de Nice, which in turn sent riders to Saunier Duval-Prodir and Credit Agricole.
Cough, Cough
Results or no, the team takes some ribbing in the domestic peleton. "I guess riding by coughing is the most common," Willinger said.
Team member Sean McBride described a race where a spectator was smoking pot on the side of the course; "When the scent wafted onto the course all of the sudden everybody in the peleton is all, 'BPG! Is he with you?'"
While the team says the jibes have all been good natured, they take the mission of BPG seriously. Christian Kearney, a high school math teacher and Cat. I racer, said BPG is run the way medical marijuana dispensaries should be, "The security is very tight there, they're very stringent about patient cards, and it's just well run and organized," Kearney said, "They're by the books, not shady."
McBride said BPG and Fontan in particular are proactive in their communities,"so that the people who mayor may not agree with their standpoint at least respect what they're trying to do."
"There's a lot of safety checks involved to make sure nobody's scamming the system and just abusing privilege," McBride said. "And they do a lot of other stuff for the patients: acupressure, massage, and a hospice program. I'm happy to be part of it."
Fontan has certainly heard his share of jokes too, such as do you guys give out sample from your sponsors?
"I'm glad it's met with humor, but at the same time these guys have gotten results that deserve respect," Fontan said. "They may ride by coughing in jest, but in a while, they'll be sucking wheel."
Ciao! Just stopping by to say hello and to invite you to revisit our website @ AlwaysTakingChances.com. We have a completely new look and have updated the website with new content including our Hall Of Shame page (this week, we are featuring Jorge Cervantes for his book "Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor MEDICAL Grower's Bible- stop by NOW to find out why!) and our Thoughts and Diaries page featuring a blog called "Terminal Indifference" (this is a MUST-read for EVERYONE who is ill or disabled and those who care for them). We have also updated the AlwaysTakingChances.com/forum with new topics. Please feel free to invite your friends and participate. As Always, we welcome & appreciate all of your comments and suggestions! Thanks and have a smokin' day! DomPat ;)
Thanks for adding us as your friend! Please check out our MySpace and our website: www. AlwaysTakingChances. com and please participate in our forums: www. AlwaysTakingChances. com/forum where the community supports Complementary and Alternative Medicine & Therapies. We MAY have many things in common and we can always use the support of friends as we continue to grow!
Hi =D Have you checked out The Mulligan Project? Almost no one buys music anymore =( so if you dig it, Please buy a song. It would make my day! It's so hard to spread the word about underground music so good karma to you for helping me! iTunes US..
The idea of Bike Node is simple: "to help connect cyclists".
Bike Node is a free directory of cycling links for the global cycling community.
It provides a central place for cyclists to easily seek information about anything to do with bikes. It also benefits other bicycle-related businesses through added exposure.
The aim is to create the world's largest resource of cycling websites.
If you have your own cycling-related website or blog, I'd like to invite you to add any links to bike node free of charge (please suggest a category if you don't see an appropriate one). Thanks, Les.
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