After break-out success in the U.S. 'cross scene this season, Maureen Bruno-Roy has earned a discretionary invitation to join the U.S. National Team for Cyclo-cross World's in Zeddam, the Netherlands in January. An expensive proposition for this full-time massage therapist, Bruno-Roy's family, friends, coach and sponsors have gathered together to help pay her way and sent this note to ask if you would be willing to help as well:
Two seasons ago, Mo Bruno-Roy decided to try a cyclo-cross race or two. At the snowy Verge Series season finale that year, she found herself battling for the win in Merrimack, New Hampshire with Olympian Mary McConneloug. "Hey, you might be kinda good at this ‘cross thing," we all told her. The next year, Mo got a little more serious. She hired a coach, trained more, planned a set race schedule, and came pretty damn close to winning a master's national championship in the deep mud of Portland, Oregon. She finished 2nd after a tussle with another rider in the last 2 turns. The next day, she squeezed out a 15th place in the elite women¹s race with whatever energy she had left. Clearly, there was progress, and potential for more. It was a hard thing to live with; that second place. So Mo raised her game again in 2005. She set concrete goals, started training sooner and harder, and had custom bikes provided by Independent Fabrication. Mo showed up at the national championships in Providence, Rhode Island as the top-ranked US rider, with a Verge New England Series title under her belt. She used the Masters race as a warm up, winning with a two minute lead over the next rider, taking the stars and stripes jersey, and avenging her 2nd place from 2004. The following day, Mo showed up and did more damage, tearing off the start to take charge of the race, ripping the field apart and battling to a bronze medal. With that result she earned an invitation to ride in the 2006 Cyclo-Cross World Championships, in Zeddam, The Netherlands, and the confirmation that Mo is truly a world-class cyclo-cross rider. The thing is, Mo's not a professional cyclist. She's a full-time massage therapist who works not only to pay her normal bills, but to cover all the expenses she incurs for the joy of racing her bike. Because the trip to the World Championships isn't funded by the national cycling federation, Mo's friends, family, and sponsors are coming together to make sure she has the financial resources to take this opportunity as far as her talent will allow her. Mo's trip will begin when she flies to Belgium on January 12th. She'll race the World Cup in France on January 15th, the World Cup in the Netherlands on January 22nd, and finally, the World Championships in the Netherlands on January 29th. Below are three ways you can help Mo make this trip and achieve her goals: Benefit show: On Thursday, December 29th, at Great Scott in Allston, MA, "Human Shield" and "The Feel Like You Wouldn't Believe" will be playing a double bill and donating all the proceeds from the door to Mo's World Championship effort. If you're a Boston-area cyclist, you might recognize Human Shield's front man Craig Gaulzetti as the manager of International Bicycle Center in Brighton, and sponsor of New England's Pro Cycling Team, Team Nerac/Outdoorlights.com. The Feel Like You Wouldn't Believe is an all-bike-dork deal, including Jon Bruno on guitar, Logan Hodson on drums, Matt Roy on sax, keys, and sound effects, and Adam Hodges Myerson on bass. Tickets are $10 at the door. Doors open at 9 pm. Great Scott, 1222 Comm Ave in Allston, MA Redbones party: On Tuesday evening, January 3rd, the party moves to Redbones in Davis Square, Somerville, for a fundraising dinner, raffle, and celebration of Mo's national championship weekend. It'll be a great Redbones buffet (with food for the vegetarians, too), free beer from Harpoon Brewery, and lots of raffle prizes from Mo's sponsors and supporters like Independent Fabrication, Cycle-Smart, and others. The party starts at 7 pm. Entry is $15 at the door, and includes a trip through the buffet, a pint of Harpoon's IPA, and a raffle ticket. Bikereg.com donation page: If you can't make any of the functions but still want to be part of the effort to send Mo to World's, BikeReg.com has set up a donations page for her and is contributing 100% of the service fee back to Mo. Go to www.bikereg.com and show Mo some love!
