I am a Boston Mamma!

Check out The Boston Mamma Interview with yours truly

“Welcome to Boston Mamas Rock! – where we’re giving a voice to fabulous local mamas from all walks of life. Read on for today’s interview with Lauren Hefferon, mother of three, avid cyclist, and director of the bicycle tour group Ciclismo Classico. Then go ahead and nominate yourself or a friend!

Lauren Hefferon, Director and CEB (Chief Executive Biker), Ciclismo Classico

Christine: Welcome, Lauren! I was so fascinated to read about your international company based right out of Arlington. Tell us a little bit about your background. You studied anthropology at Cornell; what path led you to starting your bicycle vacation business Ciclismo Classico?

Lauren: I started cycling longer distances and really began to embrace cycling passionately when I was a freshman in high school. I was very active and played many sports but once I tore cartilage and had knee surgery I realized that I had to find a sport that was low impact yet fueled my desire to be very active. During my tumultuous teenage years, cycling was both a safe and positive escape. I remember packing my lunch and taking off for the entire day to ride to my heart’s content around Southern NH (and worry my parents to death!). I would stop at general stores, churches, graveyards, whatever tickled my fancy; every summer following was mine to ride and explore where I lived and beyond. My high school graduation adventure was a two-week bike camping trip up the Maine coast to Nova Scotia with five guys and myself; only three of us made the whole trip. When it came time to choose a college, I chose Cornell not only for its education but also for the incredibly beautiful Finger Lakes as a cycling destination. My father at first was concerned about getting my priorities straight but he knew that if I was cycling daily in a place that I loved that I would be happy and would thrive.

At Cornell I immediately signed on to lead bicycle-touring classes for their Wilderness Reflections program that orientates new students via experiential outdoor programs. In terms of academics, my major was anthropology, which perfectly fit my adventurous and culturally curious spirit. I started to see myself as a cycling anthropologist – wherever I rode, I would observe and appreciate the subtle variations and unique qualities of the people, traditions, and places I experienced. Envisioning guiding in my future, I did a six-week National Outdoor Leadership backpacking training course (NOLS) in the Wind Rivers of Wyoming. I absolutely fell in love with the leadership learning experience and began to pursue other leadership opportunities, including working as bicycle tour guide for Interlocken International Kids Camp (now know as Windsor Mountain).

Upon graduating from Cornell, I received a Rotary scholarship to study art in Italy, the native country of my grandparents. Before beginning my studies in the fall of ‘83, I embarked on my first solo bicycle-touring trip through Europe. The multicountry camping bike tour, starting in Italy, was three months and 3,000 miles long. During the tour (that wound its way through my grandmother’s home town) I took notes, recorded my route, and presented my Rome to London itinerary to Camp Interlocken’s Research and Development director. With his blessing I launched my career in itinerary development and the following summer led my first six-week Rome to London camping tour with 14 teenagers. It was the hardest job of my life but I loved it. I was hooked and it was one of their best selling itineraries.

During my three-year stay in Italy, I rode, raced, and explored every road in Tuscany and envisioned leading tours through this gorgeous countryside. I returned to Boston in 1986 and after dabbling with an art degree, and some waitress and temp gigs, I knew that the only person I could work for was myself. I jumped off the diving board, developed a couple of itineraries in Tuscany, designed a simple brochure, and hit the road smiling and selling what I loved.

Christine: Your tours are now international, but when you started the business, did you have to start smaller while you developed a client base? What was your first expedition and how did you find clients for that first journey?

Lauren: I launched my first two tours in June of 1989 for a grand total of 18 guests (we now have over 1000 per year on 85 tours). Both these tours were in Tuscany, a region I know like the back of my hand. My approach to getting clients was pure gorilla marketing: cheap ads, handmade posters, letters to friends, and hundreds of phone calls. The following year my then future husband Mauro got involved and we had five tours and 60 guests and continued to double and triple our business every year until 2001 when the world as we know it changed and all travel companies had to evolve and adapt to a new world of travel.

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2008 Jingle Ride Slide Show

12th Annual Jingle Ride Rocks Boston!

On behalf of our entire Ciclismo Classico Team, I wish you all a wonderful and peaceful holiday season and an exciting and adventurous 2009. The Jingle Ride, a Ciclismo Classico tradition, is proof that even in this challenging economic year for all, there is still much to sing and be joyful about.

For the 12th year in a row over 50 spirited and costumed cyclists of all shapes, sizes and ages gathered in Arlington center for The Jingle Ride, a festive 20 mile caroling-costumed bike ride to Boston and back that this year raised $700 for Cycle Kids, a non-profit cycling education program for children. For my team, family and all of the loyal participants, the Jingle Ride is the highlight and festive launch of the holiday season. My 9- year old daughter Valentina (dressed as an angel) and 6 year-old Luca (dressed as a nutcracker) love the event and happily pedaled the whole way on the backs of our tandem. My pre-teen son Lorenzo, now too cool to wear a costume, managed to crack a smile and enjoy a candy cane or two.

The Jingle Ride’s success lies in the fact that it is free, fun and celebrates simple holiday traditions: Singing carols and connecting with the community. The temperatures were brisk but the sun was out and the roads were dry. This year we got lots of great press and were featured in The Boston Herald (on Tuesday 12/16), Boston Metro and were joined by a special guest, Chuck Nowlin from WZLX, 15-year veteran who handles one of the most successful afternoon drive shows in Boston featuring the Attitude Adjustment Hour. We even made the FOX ten o’clock news. Our lastest addition to the Ciclismo team, managing director, Andrew Conway (AKA Velo Fellow) captured the essence of the ride on posted this short Jingle Movie on Vimeo.

When I was pregnant with my first son, Lorenzo, I had the crazy idea of a bike ride that would combine my love of a parade with caroling and cycling. We put the word out in November and by the second Sunday in December 1997 the first Jingle Ride was born with 30 riders congregating on our front lawn. The simple joy of singing, biking and making onlookers smile with our costumes, decorated bikes and festive songs always makes the ride a great success. Never canceled by cold, rain or snow, our ride still takes the same wonderful Arlington-Cambridge-Boston route

We started in Arlington Center and rode down the minuteman bikeway, down Mass Ave to Harvard Square where we launched our caroling with Feliz Navidad, Santa Clause is coming to town and others. We then proceeded down the Storrow Drive side of the Charles River bikepath to the Hatchshell where took our traditional group photo.

Crossing Storrow Drive, we sang Santa Claus is Coming to town and Winter Wonderland as we rode down Charles St. The smiles that we brought to weary shoppers faces is always worth the trip. We always stop at the frog pond to serenade the ice skaters. Onto Downtown crossing where we invaded the cobblestone streets with our collective rendition of Sleigh Bells. People take pictures, sing along, point us out to their crying kids. I always work hard to get even the grumpiest shoppers to smile. It doesn’t take much when you are dressed in a Rudolf Costume riding a candy cane decorated tandem with a cute angel on the back and pulling a burley with a boom box and an angelically dressed American girl cuddled in a pillow.

Pedaling down Congress St, photographers from The Boston Herald and Boston Metro snapped away! We bid Chuck Norris goodbye in Quincy Market and we dispersed for warm lunch and drinks. From here we headed back through the public gardens and down Newbury St. for our traditional warped singing of the 12 days of Christmas. We usually make it to seven swans a swimming before we all go a bit brain dead but this year we had crib sheets on our handle bars. Even with tired voices and even more tired and cold bodies, the spirit was high!

We ended the ride pedaling back to Arlington via Central Square and Mass Ave and many versions of We are Having A Wonderful Christmas Time. Back to our house for our Post Jingle Party. Nothing like piping Hot Lasagne, some red wine and a warm fire to end this wonderful event.

Thank you loyal Jingle Riders! Thank you Joe, Andrew, Justin, Mauro (Santa!), Cristiano, Rachel, Natascia, Anna Maria, Janet, Chuck Nowlin and last but not least our crazy but enthusiastic kids and everyone who helped make our 12th Jingle Ride a Huge Success! See you next year! Happy Holidays!

How about starting your own Jingle Ride? It’s super easy and we are happy to help you plan and promote the event. You need a nice route, some passionate cyclists and some good cheer. Ciclismo Alumni and fellow cycling advocate Rob Miceli is launching the first Jingle on the Cape Ride. Here are the details:

What: Jingle on the Cape Ride
When: DECEMBER 20, 11AM
Where: Cape Cod and the Islands Chapter Jingle Bells Ride, Woods Hole MA
12 miles, flat terrain. Join vocal local bicyclists for a cold ride-and-sing with a warm finish.

Begin at Pie in the Sky Bakery, Water St. Woods Hole. We will carol for a while, then ride via Shining Sea Bikeway to Falmouth Public Library for more caroling, then on to Falmouth Mall for another round. Return via Bikeway to Pie in the Sky for hot drinks, baked goods, and camaraderie.

Leaders: Rob Miceli: rmiceli22@comcast.net (508-776-9290) and Ed Gross: edwgross@comcast.net (508-423-3858).

NOTE: Weather postponement, if necessary, will be announced on Cape and Islands newsgroup: http://groups.google.com/group/massbike-cape-and-islands

Turn Beantown to Greentown

Greetings…

As I prepare my Reindeer Costume and my band of elves for the Jingle Ride this Sunday at 10:30, I was excited to receive an email about the D2E Festival this April.

Now I like the sound of this! What’s your idea?

” Help turn Beantown into Greentown. Submit your ideas!

Boston has been recognized as the 3rd greenest city in the nation. Help us get to number one!

Ever thought of a better way to do things in Boston … to live, work, commute, eat or heat? Under Mayor Menino’s leadership, Boston has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives, and he recognizes the importance of the insights of residents when it comes to innovative ideas. This is where Pitch the City comes in.

What’s your big idea?
Pitch the City is an open contest that seeks creative ideas to help make Boston better for people and the planet. A jury will review all proposals and choose four finalists to pitch their ideas to Mayor Menino at Down:2:Earth, Boston’s sustainable living expo on April 5th at the Hynes Convention Center. “

Bicycle City Website and future City!

I recently learned of a an inspirational web site Bicycle City. In addition to being a great resource to those of us who dream of more bicycle friendly cities, the folks at Bicycle City are actually planning to develop a USA city that is completely bicycle friendly

Bicycle City began as a dream in the early 1990s. Now, Bicycle City has substantial funding and a great team working diligently to build the first community in the United States. With Americans more concerned than ever before about preserving our environment and getting back to clean, healthy, community living, there’s never been a better time to introduce Bicycle City to the world.

READ MORE AND Sign me up!

Lauren