43
Carbon Racing rides for purpose
Video
Photo
Phil Moore, executive director of the Mahoning County Convention and Visitors Bureau, discusses the Summer Festival .of the Arts, the Youngstown Jazz Festival and the Tour of the Valley bicycle race Ñ all slated for July 9-11. Regional leaders are calling it ÒThe Bigges Weekend of the Summer.Ó
Photo
Erin Quinlan of Carbon Racing discusses the 2010 Tour of the Valley bicycle race during a press conference Thursday in downtown Youngstown. The event is scheduled July 9-11.
By John Bassetti
YOUNGSTOWN
One of the fundamental objectives of the Carbon Racing cycling team puts an emphasis on the environment.
Not only is Carbon Racing of Greenford involved with sports teams, sporting venues, charity events and recycling programs, but it is on a carbon-neutral mission.
To get technical, Carbon Racing purchased 14.67 tons of carbon dioxide from Carbonfund.org last year to help the planet maintain its natural temperature regulation.
The exchange to offset carbon emissions fulfilled an effort to promote a cleaner, safer environment for residents in the Mahoning Valley.
On a more down-to-Earth level, Shawn Adams does his part almost ever day.
Adams of Akron is a Carbon Racing team member who will be in the 2010 Tour of the Valley on July 9-11.
Carbon Racing is a non-profit organization created by Tour of the Valley co-founders Dan and Erin Quinlan of Greenford.
As one of the eight men and two women on Carbon’s team, Adams will ride in his second TOTV.
“The course is really challenging, especially the road race,” the 35-year-old Adams said of extra miles tacked on to the 66 traversed by Pro 1-2 riders in the 2009 event.
“It’ll be about 80 miles — a true test this year,” Adams said of the lengthened course that will end with a more spectator-friendly circuit through the streets of Columbiana.
Just last week, Carbon Racing did well in a two-day stage race in Michigan, the West Branch Classic.
“Carbon did well as a team and Dan Quinlan won overall,” said Adams, who placed fifth.
Adams has raced for 15 years, but joined Carbon because of his friendship with Dan Quinlan.
“I like his vision for the team, which is to develop younger riders and also push the environmental issue to make cycling a clean sport — to get people to stop driving so much and ride their bikes more; to get people involved in their community.”
Adams, who said that car-pooling to races is one of the primary methods of reducing emissions, commutes to work.
“I only use my car for other travel, but, during the week, I never drive to work,” said the Akron firefighter.
The two-way distance to his station on a bike is 16 miles, a route he uses twice a week for his two 24-hour shifts.
He tries to commute year-round.
“I ride pretty much all winter. It’s gotta be pretty bad for me not to be able to make it,” he said.