One of the cross country races I look forward to each summer is the Massanutten Hoo-Ha. This year the event is celebrating it's twenty-first running and teaming up with IMBA as a Team IMBA Event. The Hoo-Ha is also a stop on the Kenda Cup East series and will feature some great new trails built by hard working members of the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition, so there are tons of reasons why the twenty-first annual Hoo-Ha is going to be better than ever!

I'm actually talking about paying the planet.

You might think I'm crazy or that I've spent too much of my time listening to the song Beds are Burning from Midnight Oil.

The time has come
To say 'fair's fair'
To pay the rent
To pay our share
The time has come
A fact's a fact
It belongs to them
Let's give it back

For now, I'm talking carbon emissions. All of us can reduce our emissions by driving less and biking more. Sounds good to me! But, what about the miles that we can't seem to avoid driving? You've probably heard about carbon off-setting.

I admit that I was skeptical about the latest crop of carbon-offsetting programs, until I did some research and learned more about the process. For example, did you know it could take as few as four trees to offset one TON of carbon?

One of my sponsors - Volkswagen - has partnered with CarbonFund.org Foundation to offset one year's carbon emissions for all new Volkswagen purchases made in the US, now through January 2. This Volkswagen Carbon Neutral Project has also made it easy for current VW drivers (like me) to calculate and offset their yearly emissions.

Contributions to CarbonFund.org support carbon-reducing programs focused on renewable energy, energy efficiency and re-forestation. Contributions specifically made to the Volkswagen Carbon Neutral Project will fund the re-forestation of 1,100 acres of the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, a.k.a. the "VW Forest." Strategically planted in this fertile valley, the VW Forest will grow quickly and benefit from a long growing season each year. That's cool, eh?

I joined the Volkswagen Carbon Neutral Project with a donation of $59.24. This offset the 25,000 miles Erin and I have driven in the VW Jetta and 6,000 (slightly faster) miles driven in my new Trek/VW GTI.

Even if your auto isn't a VW, you can participate. It's a cool thing to do. It takes just a little time and is inexpensive compared to the price we'll have to pay if we wait until later.

Get out there and do some good. Once you start, it's surprisingly easy.

Now, does anyone know where I can find a bicycle powered lawn mower?

Ciao,

JB