BACK IN BLOOMERS-
A CYCLING FUNDRAISING EVENT: AUGUST 12-19, 2006

From August 12 – August 19, 2006, , we staged BACK IN BLOOMERS, recreating the first leg of Annie' s historic ride from Boston, MA to New York City, NY. Like Annie, we cycled in bloomers, and we think we raised as many eyebrows today as she did in 1894. Our ride, like Annie's, was a fundraising event, and it was a great success. Thanks to our friends, family, corporate sponsors, and generous folks along the East Coast, we exceeded our fundraising goals, and raised almost $10,000.

BACK IN BLOOMERS kicked off on Saturday, August 12, with a launch party near the steps of the Massachusetts State House, where friends, family, and Wheelmen celebrated the important moment in women' s history when Annie Londonderry began her liberating voyage. We traveled through Walpole, MA ; Providence, RI ; Wickford, RI ; Mystic, CT ; Madison, CT ; Trumbull, CT; and Rye, NY. In the town centers, we set up shop and distributed press kits and Luna Bars, gave brief lectures about Annie, high wheel bike demos (by Gary Sanderson), musical presentations (by Ben Willman), and even the occassional 19th century quiz show, hosted by Michael Rogers. . BACK IN BLOOMERS crossed the finish line in Washington Square Park on Saturday, August 19, and we partied like it was 1895 at Mundial Bar & Lounge in the East Village. It was the perfect finish to a fantastic week.

The BACK IN BLOOMERS core cycling entourage included Gillian Klempner and Meghan Shea of Spokeswoman Productions; Peter Zheutlin, Annie's biographer and great-grand nephew; Gary Sanderson, high-wheeler enthusiast; Director of Photography Mike Rogers; and musician and Director of Support Van Services, Ben Willman. Also on the ride for various portions of our journey was Jennifer Lindsay, Danny Zheutlin, and Nancy Sandman.

BACK IN BLOOMERS would never have turned out so perfectly if it weren't for our friends, family, and the very generous people who supported us, and hosted us along the way.

To see some pictures of the ride, visit our blog and look at the postings from August.