CLIF Family Winery, Capo, and Ride Napa Valley Come Together to Launch the CALIFORNIA LOVE Cycling Kit

CLIF Family Winery, Capo, and Ride Napa Valley have launched the custom California Love cycling kit. Designed specifically to raise funds for first responders and the work done by a local nonprofit, First Responders Resiliency, Inc., (FRRI) out of Sonoma County, CA, this is the second fire focused cycling kit venture by these three organizations. California Love, initially created after the 2019 Northern California fires, was put on hold due to Covid-19. With the large-scale California wildfires beginning earlier than years prior, and Capo’s Italian production house now fully back in operation, Capo is committed to moving into production for a late fall release.

“In 2018 we launched our #NapaStrong kit and raised nearly $13,000 for local nonprofits here in Napa County. Cycling and activism go hand-in-hand, and after the 2019 fires we were again ready to support our community, this time focused on mental health and our first responders. When you see that your entire state is burning up, you know that just about every firefighter or police team is actively involved in managing these disasters, and that’s as just as much mental energy as it is physically energy,” said Rebecca Kotch, owner of Ride Napa Valley.

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05), an avid cyclist himself, introduced Kotch and Ride Napa Valley to First Responders Resiliency Inc. Congressman Thompson had met with the founder at the inception of their program and witnessed their work through the Tubbs, Paradise and Kincade fires. “Yet again, our district and our region are being battered by fires. But I know that we will come together to help each other rebuild, recover and come back even stronger. I am so proud to support this effort that will benefit our incredible first responders and show the true colors of strength and community that have held the Napa Valley together through tough times,” said Congressman Thompson.

“Our motto is ‘Putting PTSD Out of Business™’ and every day, even virtually, we are doing the hard work to make sure we give the first responders (and their families) the support and tools they need to cope with the stress of both their professional and personal lives”, stated FRRI Executive Director and Founder, Susan Farren. “The training we provide brings heightened awareness to the impacts of stress and trauma in the first responder industry. Our live and virtual conferences provide research and science-based proactive resiliency skills and modalities to educate first responders in maintaining their neurological, physical, and emotional well-being.”

According to Gary Vasconi, co-founder of Capo, “we know that many of our fellow cyclists are also police, firefighters and EMTs, and producing this kit is just one small way we can give back to them.”  While the 2018 #NapaStrong kit was unveiled at a large group ride event at CLIF Family Winery, the California Love kit will be launched with virtual cycling events in Northern and Southern California. The California Love kit is sold in men’s and women’s sizing and will be available January 2021. For more information and to order, visit https://capocycling.com/collections/california-love

First Responders Resiliency, Inc. is a non-profit organization established by first responders: Paramedics, Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Dispatchers, Nurses & Doctors. Drawing from their years of serving the public, intertwined with scientific data and research, their team has created a comprehensive program that is devoted to mitigating the rising crisis of Post-Traumatic Stress Injuries (PTSI) in first responders and their families nation-wide. First Responders are faced with trauma and stress on a daily basis that is rarely supported or addressed until they have symptoms of PTSD. COVID-19, the wildfires and our nation’s recent civil unrest have certainly compounded this issue. As health care providers and community members, a first responder’s well-being is the foundation for the safety, care, and support that is provided for us all. First Responders Resiliency, Inc. a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization. For more information about their training program and partnership with departments, such as CAL FIRE, visit First Responders Resiliency, Inc.

Based in northern California and made in Italy, Capo is dedicated to technical performance, progressive style and uncompromised quality. Their passion for cycling drives them forward as they blend the most advanced fabrics, anatomic designs and superior craftsmanship to create cycling apparel one will be proud to own. From race-inspired jerseys to all-day comfort bib shorts, windproof vests to purpose-built rain jackets, body-mapped base layers to fleece-lined gloves and high-visibility warmers.  For more information, visit Capo Cycling

Clif Family shares their love of food, wine and adventure through their unique food and wine pairing experiences, cycling adventures, food truck and organic farm. Their story began on a bike where long days of cycling would end in leisurely meals accompanied by great wine and engaging conversation among friends. They opened the doors to their Tasting Room in 2011 to bring these unique food and wine experiences to the Napa Valley. The Bruschetteria Food Truck followed several years later with a menu inspired by the bounty of produce grown on their organic Napa Valley farm. Today they make 12 wine varietals from their organic estate vineyards and grower partners throughout the Napa Valley and Mendocino.  Their artisan food products are created by their chef to enjoy with their wines and to highlight the bounty of the Clif Family Farm.  For more information, visit cliffamily.com

Ride Napa Valley designs, produces and promotes cycling and non-cycling-based experiences, virtual and real, that support nonprofit organizations.  Over the past seven years, Ride Napa Valley events combined have raised over $1 million dollars towards organizations as such: No Kid Hungry, The Salvation Army Culinary Training Program, Everytown for GunSense in America, Giffords, Alaina’s Voice Foundation, Cope Family Center, Affirm Research, World Bicycle Relief, the Napa Valley Film Festival, the Napa County Bicycle Coalition, the Napa Police Youth Services Bureau, and the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition. For more information, visit Ride Napa Valley.