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As of yet un-built custom Rock Lobster up for auction!

The Velo Bella – Kona’s own Christine “Peanut” Vardaros has been selected to join Barbarella and their US National Cyclocross teammates at the romp across the pond in Zeddam, Netherlands on January 29, 2006. Who knew an email from Europe could have Velo Bellas across the world dancing the “Tiki?”  

An opportunity to train on the roads she will be racing this spring during the Spring Classics and World Cups isn’t bad either!  Peanut is the latest American rider living the dream and heading to race professionally in Europe !  While currently racing for the Velo Bellas through the end of Cyclocross season, she’ll be Bustin’ the Bella Beat in Belgium for Lotto-Belisol later this spring! 

After a solid 2005 season, but less than fulfilling US Nationals campaign in Providence, RI, Christine returned home to sell all but her last possessions for a ticket to Europe where she could groove with the world’s grooviest and showcase the talent her Velo Bella friends and fans have seen all year.      

Groove she has with a podium appearance at the Surhuisterveen UCI in Friesland, Netherlands January 4 and a fourth place showing New Years Day at the G.P. Hotel Threeland UCI in Pétange, Luxembourg.  All that dancing can make a girl tired, but when the US National Team sends a calling card what else can she do but say, “YES!”

A few celebratory vegan waffles and organic Belgian beers later with host and friend, Jan Goeman, and Christine remembered she has to pay to play for US at the World Championships!  “Uh, check made of recycled paper please…?”

Not to fear, another “Tiki” around the bike later and a fantasmic California Bella stepped forward donating a custom as of yet un-built custom Rock Lobster with all proceeds going to support Christine’s World Championship campaign! 

Anyone in the world can participate; road, cross, mountain, geared or single speed, whatever you want built to your specifications by Paul Sadoff, one of the great American custom bike builders; and you’ll be doing a good deed by helping a young talent compete in the biggest race of her life.

More details can be found at our benefit eBay auction at:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=7212493747

Or, you can also donate directly to both Barb and Christine’s World Championships soiree by going to our homepage (http://www.velobella.org/ ) and clicking on the donation link.  

A few dollars here, a few dollars there, pretty soon we can all buy Peanut a racing license to the World Championships! Thank you for helping us!

The Velo Bellas would also like to thank the coolest, most awesomest, most incredible, foxiest fans in the whole cycling world, the Bella Nation, for donating so many of their pounds, dollars, euros and pesos to help send Barb to the World Championships.  Young, old, male, female and everyone in-between, Bella KISSES to all of you, especially that one Fella whose generosity was just, well, ooh la la!

Well, now we’re asking all those same Fellas and Bellas to ask their friends to step forward for Christine today.  We all lifted Barbarella overseas, and Peanut got over their on her own but needs help to stay long enough to compete! 

Velo Bella - Kona is a non-profit, grassroots, multidiscipline cycling team based out of Watsonville , CA . The Velo Bella mission is to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle through cycling and laughter. They inspire women to get out and ride a bike, race a bike, and to eventually grow the pool of talent and have a lot of fun along the way. While the core Velo Bella - Kona Team is a committed group of female racers, membership includes female cyclists interested in completing their first race, century, or even group ride. More information on Velo Bella can be found on their website: www.velobella.org.