By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – For Todd Savage, growing up in rural Kennebunk, Maine, allowed him the freedom to ride his bike anywhere and everywhere he wanted. Whether it was bombing down the old railroad bed or trekking up to the Dairy Queen, Savage says that life was all about “the bike.”
Over the years, Savage's love for cycling and the “freedom it allows” has never waned.
“Be it chasing the back end of a truck, like in?Breaking Away, or screaming down a hill, it was all about riding fast,” Savage said. His record speed is 57 mph.
Savage was president of the Minuteman Road Club for four years after which he was elected to?serve a two-year term?as vice president on the board of the New England Bicycle Racing Association (http://nebra.us). NEBRA administrates road and cyclocross?racing in New England on behalf of USA Cycling (http://usacycling.org).?USA Cycling is the organization that is ultimately responsible for the U.S. Olympic cyclists. At the end of his term on NEBRA, Savage was asked by the board if he was interested in starting a more formal program, where kids and parents could join a recognized organization.
In 2012, Savage became president of the New England Junior Racing Association (NEJRA). The goal of NEJRA is to increase awareness and participation in New England junior bicycle racing for youth under the age of 19. The association hopes to recruit kids and their parents into the sport of bicycle racing and encourages event promoters to provide them with places to race. It is a clearinghouse for information, ideas and “lobbying.”
For any young cyclist interested in becoming involved with racing, Savage suggests contacting a cycling club. According to him, clubs are the best source of information and?training?and he encourage everyone, young or not, to start with their local club.
Although there have not traditionally been many races for the under 18 set, this has changed over the past few years with the increasing popularity of cyclocross in New England.?Cyclocross is an off-road, spectator-friendly facet of the sport that is safer (not on roads) and more attractive than road racing. Venues for cyclocross include Stage Fort Park in Gloucester, Roger Williams Park in Providence, Applecrest Farm in Hampton Falls, N.H. and the Chocksett School in?Sterling.
The options for locations that offer racing on the road, where young riders are on closed roads, are fewer. They include Myles Standish State Park in April, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, R.I. and the Portsmouth?(N.H.)?Criterium in September.
“While many people blame video games for keeping kids off bikes, the truth is that kids aren's given the range of freedom we had growing up. My goal is to get more kids excited about racing bikes.?Be it on or off the road. To accomplish this goal, I think I will also have to get parents excited and interested in cycling. I will be happy if I can at least get more people riding.?Even if they don’t race.”
Besides being an avid bike rider, Savage is involved in Westborough Boy Scout?Troop 100. Recently, he helped test a run of the new BSA National Jamboree site in West Virginia.?At The Summit, he was part of a team that put more than 800 boys and girls on mountain bikes in just over two days. Venture Scouting is coed for participants over 14.
“It was incredibly rewarding and I look forward to returning next summer for 10 days at the National Jamboree,” he said. “We expect to put tens of thousands of kids on bikes. I am excited to bring kids into the sport and I am also motivated to get?kids and their parents aware of cycling. Through this awareness, we can make cycling more accessible and safer on our roads and trails.”
The New England USAC (USA Cycling) racing schedule can be found at http://www.nebra.us/events.html. To find out more about NEJRA go to https://www.bikereg.com/Net/16019. To find triathlons offering kids” races go to http://www.kidstri.com/Default.aspx.
