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Day 4: Hancock, MD to Cumberland, MD on the C&O Canal Towpath
Wow! 4 days down, 4 to go...I can't believe we're already halfway through the ride! Today we completed the last 60 miles of the C&O Canal Towpath and arrived in Cumberland, MD - 184 miles from our starting point!
I got an early start this morning, weary of the a long...

Meet Mike McNees. He is the President/CEO of Syndicus, the company based in Annapolis, Maryland, that provides technical, engineering and scientific staffing services.

Mr. McNees is a Pittsburgh native and he is joining the Point Made! team in Cumberland yesterday and is pedaling with them all the way to Pittsburgh. His son Matthew is riding along as well.

The McNees are set to conquer the trail with a mission. The mission is to raise awareness of Type 2 diabetes. Mike himself is a diabetes 2 Type patient but he has managed it well with exercise and diet. The McNees family wanted to ride the trail on their own, but when they heard of the Point Made! team, they decided to join them out of camaraderie.

We spoke with Mike McNees before the trip, here are some excerpts from the interview.

  PG: Tell us why are going on this trip?

Mike McNees: It began with Syndicus, the company I lead, back when we performed services for the Beacon company, it started with a 1 million dollar initiative called HealthELink. It was an important initiative focused on Type 2 diabetes management and awareness, the goal was to go out and improve the health of Diabetes Type 2 patients and Diabetes Type 2 awareness. We wanted to take that mission even further, beyond the Beacon project and, thus, this bike ride.

PG: What are your expectations for the ride?

Mike McNees: Our expectations are very simple to raise awareness about Diabetes Type 2, we are not looking for sponsors, not looking for funding. Our goal is to raise awareness about Diabetes Type 2. We would like to convey to people that with a careful planning based on a diet and plenty of exercise, Diabetes Type 2 patients can control their diabetes. We also hope to have a very good time on the GAP ride with the Point Made! team.

PG: What kind of bike you have?

I have a Scattante, it was a gift from my son for my most recent 60th birthday. My son Matthew is a cyclist. He lives in Greensboro, for him 100 miles a day is nothing.

Photo: Michael and Matthew McNees ready for the ride

PG: How did you become a cyclist and how did you prepare for this ride?

Mike McNees: I took on cycling this year, really. As a young man, I was a cycling enthusiast. I used to bike in the Pittsburgh area when I was based there (Editor's note: McNees' office used to be in Pittsburgh until 2005). For this ride, I have been training 3-4 times a week in Annapolis, Maryland. I usually ride along the B&A Trail park. It runs along an abandoned railway, the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad, it has been converted into this 13 plus mile-long rail trail.

PG: You are a Pittsburgh native, what do have to say about cycling in Pittsburgh?

Mike McNees: I sense that Pittsburgh has caught on fire as far as cycling is concerned. There are so many new trails, new developments, enthusiasm. I see it as a positive development. That brings me to the point why Syndicus chose cycling rather than, say, tennis or swimming, it is because of the ease with whith you can integrate cycling into your lifestyle. Any member of your family, at any stage of their life and cycling career can adapt cycling to their lifestyle. We also chose biking because it’s also environmentally correct thing to do.

Follow the McNees’ adventures on Twitter @SyndicusInc.

Here is today’s photo of Mike McNees crossing the Eastern Continental Divide 

First full day on GAP ... Brush Tunnel, Mount Savage & other majestic sights. Feeling great. #RideOntwitter.com/SyndicusInc/st…

— Syndicus, Inc. (@SyndicusInc) June 12, 2013

At the Mason-Dixon Line -- welcome to PA! #TeamType2 twitter.com/SyndicusInc/st…

— Syndicus, Inc. (@SyndicusInc) June 12, 2013

Buckle up, folks, because this will probably be a longer post. Along with the news of Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson getting a five-year extension yesterday, Pederson sat down for about 45 minutes with a small group of reporters to talk about his past, present and future at Pitt, as well as his thoughts on a number of larger issues in college sports. Some of this is covered in the story Ray Fittipaldo and myself put together for today's paper, so if you haven't read that already I'll put in some shameless self-promotion. Away we go...

Designer duds aren’t the only way Dad (or any guy) can look dapper.

A brother-sister pair has launched Happy Handmade Haberdashery, a line of handmade bow ties, neck ties and custom vests made from recycled fabrics.

A trip to the Handmade Arcade last year turned up few fashion offerings for men, said co-founder Per Argentine, 27, of Squirrel Hill. So he and his sister Anna, 18, of Mt. Lebanon, decided to make their own out of hand-me-downs and Goodwill store finds, he said.

Together they pick out the patterns and colors. Mr. Argentine helps cut out the patterns and handles the website and business side of the endeavor, while his sister sews the pieces.

They debuted the collection at the Heinz History Center’s vintage mixer event earlier this spring and have had a good response so far to the line’s mix of colors and unique patterns.

For now, the menswear is a hobby — Mr. Argentine is a video editor by day and his sister will be heading off to college in the fall to study textile design. But they hope to continue to grow the line and where it’s available.

Shop the collection online at www.etsy.com/shop/HHHaberdashery. Bow ties are $25-$30, neck ties are $35. Prices for custom vests vary based on the request.  

For Father's Day, enjoy free shipping and $5 off orders of two or more items.

Here are some more looks from the collection (photos courtesy of Happy Handmade Haberdashery) ...