Is this what you call a “dream ride”?
Award-winning actor and philanthropist Patrick Dempsey, known to his legions of fans as “Dr. McDreamy,” has joined forces with pro cyclist Tom Danielson to create T20 (Twenty-Twenty), a series of week-long cycling camps that will provide a unique and vigorous biking experience in some of the world’s most scenic areas. The first session is scheduled to start this Sunday and run through the week at the fitness retreat, The Ranch group at Live Oak, here in Malibu for a group of 17 private guests, with 10 percent of proceeds going to various youth charities. Two additional sessions have been planned for Oct. 27-Nov. 2 and Dec. 15-21.
The idea for a cycling camp came about when Danielson trained with Dempsey last winter at the Dempsey Challenge, a star-studded charity ride that raises money for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing. Dempsey’s mother Amanda is an ovarian cancer survivor and was the inspiration behind the foundation.
“The roads around Malibu have become one of my favorite places to train,” Danielson said. “You can ride all day on perfect roads with mountains on one side and ocean on the other with very little traffic. Patrick and I are excited to share this area, help others get a jump-start on their 2013 cycling and fitness goals and give back to the future of cycling.”
Dempsey, a Malibu resident, has additional plans for this coastal city.
“I’d love to open a bike shop in Malibu that’s a hangout for cyclists,” he shared. “There’s nothing like that here. I really want to create some community for local cyclists.”
Dempsey is known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd (where he acquired the “Dr. McDreamy” moniker) on the popular ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” and he is currently featured on the cover of the January/February issue of Bicycling Magazine. Danielson’s career highlights include being named “Most Aggressive” rider in the 2012 USA Pro Challenge as well as finishing as the highest placed American on the Tour de France. Danielson recently published the book “Tom Danielson’s Core Advantage: Core Strength For Cycling’s Winning Edge,” which also includes a foreword by Dempsey.
Danielson and Dempsey hope to ultimately create a greater awareness of the sport of cycling in mainstream culture through the T20 program. “We want our sport to be for everybody,” Danielson said. “Kids, parents, professional athletes. We are very excited about the direction that cycling is going in as a sport.”
The name for T20 came about during an interview that Dempsey did with a cycling magazine. He accidentally used the term 20-20 instead of 20-40, which is a common term in the cycling community used to describe interval training that consists of an intense 20-second ride, followed by a rest period of 40 seconds. Fans of Dempsey’s began to tweet about 20-20 riding, starting a social media phenomenon, which then inspired Dempsey and Danielson to give their program the same name. Their ultimate goal is to offer events across the country, uniting the different cycling communities.
“We just want to connect everyone together and convey the sense of community that comes from cycling,” Danielson said. “We want to show that it is not just about going fast up hills or on the road. It’s also about the sense of freedom, wellness and friendship that you need on a bike. This is what cycling is all about.”
The weeklong camps are open to both professional athletes and newcomers to the sport, and were designed to offer a series of fun and challenging rides while building a strong sense of community and friendship amongst cycling enthusiasts. Camp goers will receive training tips, diet and nutrition consultations, hiking and yoga classes, as well as daily massages. Lodging comes in the form of private bungalows and all attendees will receive a Garmin Edge 500 (GPS-based bike computer) in addition to a custom 20-20 jersey and pro caliber equipment from industry leaders Specialized and Garmin.
Spaces in the camp are limited to 17 spaces per session due to the goal of providing a catered experience for camp goers, helping them improve in the midst of a warm and nurturing environment. There will also be the opportunity to receive personal interaction with Dempsey and Danielson during the six-night stay. Ten percent of proceeds from the all-inclusive rate of $8,000 will go to various youth charities and junior cycling organizations.
“It’s really great to have these moments on the bike that really transform you,” Dempsey said. “When you set a goal for yourself and you accomplish it, it’s really fulfilling. And we’re doing it the fun way.”
In addition to the camp, Dempsey and Danielson will be hosting the “Ride On, Tucson!” cycling event on January 20 at Armory Park in Tucson. The event will be celebrating cycling’s large and quickly growing community.
More information about the T20 program can be found via the official website at www.20-20cycling.com.