Unfortunately, Pest also has a strong desire to be in control of those around him.  This little zealot’s intense micro-management can send your good mood sprialing into a smoking hole.  His ability to get under one’s skin is uncanny. My distain for this little ant-eater peaked yesterday after a morning of pointed e-mail exchanges that gave way to a heated phone discussion. Pest would not be alive right now if our discussion had taken place face to face….For the remainder of the day, my mind raced with things that I wished that I had said or would be able to say to the little fella.
This morning I woke up and hopped on the RTN. STP’s Core was blaring in my I-Pod. Pest was on my mind. I began to pedal. Dreams of pommeling Pest into a sniveling pile of wrinkled shirt and messed up hair floated through my mind. Countless possible verbal scenarios came to mind as well. I want to keep this post G-rated so I will not disclose any details on these. To say that I was a little fired up would have been a gross understatement.My typical fixation on RTN’s display panel was replaced by fantasies of Pest control.
SUDDENLY my eyes focused on the RTN display. 14.89 miles covered. 41:24 time elapsed. I was about to shatter the previous RTN 15 mile record.No way. Seconds later, I broke the the previous record by 2 minutes with a time of 41:52.
In much the same way that penicillin was discovered by accident, I had discovered the ultimate athletic performance enhancer… Anger.
My suggestion to my fellow cyclists out there is this…
If you want to ride faster than you ever have before, spend some time with your Pest.

Your in Science,
BR

If you are looking for a leisurely ride in a supportive atmosphere to build your confidence while learning to ride in a group, meet us on Sept 4th at 8:30 am (roll-out is 9:00 am sharp)in front of St. Gabriel’s Church on the corner of Nottingham and Tamm, Saint Louis, MO 63109. Although parking will not be available on any of the streets adjacent to Francis Park, there will be parking available on the side streets.

The 10-mile ride is focused on having fun while you are learning and riding your bike. It is a no pressure, easy pace, “no-drop ride” where no one is left behind.

*Just in case the ride is cancelled or the venue is changed, check the forum the day of the ride to verify. Any changes will be posted by 7:00 am.

You will need to bring the following: a helmet, spare tube/flat repair kit, water, and “In Case of Emergency” information (emergency contact name & phone number, Insurance info, and Allergy alerts).

After the ride, stay and watch the races, grab a hot dog from one of the vendors and have a great afternoon.

Hope to see you there.

My aggressive “in your face” attacks of 2009 had fallen out of my race plan. These girls are too good. You can’t attack them. They weigh 100lbs less than you and probably eat only organic fruits and vegetables. Your beef-eating, beer-guzzling self doesn’t stand a chance.

Then, it happened. On August 24th, a light flipped on in my head.

I had separated my shoulder a couple of days ago during a rather spirited bike polo match. This gave me yet another excuse to add to my self-pity war-chest. I limped around in my sling and devised reasons that I should just curl up and take it easy. It was convenient.

“I’ll just skip my workout for this morning. Heck. I am injured. Whoa is me.”
I slept in. That evening I had a big salad and a couple of beers for dinner. Almost as if I were building a reason not to work out. Lots of fiber and a couple of suds…I was sliding back into my little shelter.
Then, out of nowhere, I decided to hop on the RTN and go for the 15 mile record.
I had all of the aforementioned excuses of Beer and fiber etc. I didn’t have any water either.
Somehow or another, I managed  record my second best time ever 44:09.  It was liberating!

Don’t let the reasons that you should lose keep you from winning.

Will is stronger than circumstance.

Anyday.

Put your head down. Have fun and throw it all out there. You will be amazed!

Later,

BR

Monday August 30. 6:30pm -9pm.
Location: Trailnet Washington Office, 1522 Washington Ave, St Louis MO 63103 314.436.1324
Cost: $10 or Membership Clinic Coupon, pay at the door
Snacks and beverages provided
Please RSVP by 8/25/10 so we know how many people to buy food for!
To REGISTER: Email SuzanneJ@teamrevcycling.org
Details /registration info: http://stlrevolution.com/teamrev/bbpress/topic.php?id=1541

Saturday September 18.
9am -1pm
@ Concordia Seminary/ Clayton MO

BBQ at Kloha’s house following the clinic! (Registration fee includes food! BYOB)
Sponsored by Big Shark, Momentum cycles, The Hub Bicycle Company

Cost $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers
USA cycling license required/or $5 USA one day event license (available day of )

Participants who register before 9/8 will receive a free limited edition Tshirt!
All participants will receive reduced entry fee ($20) for the Hermann beginners races on 9/18 and 9/19.
registration:
To use a member clinic coupon: email steph@teamrevcycling.org or suzannej@teamrevcycling.org

(*limited to 40 participants!! Register early!!*)

Near Fully Evolved Equipment Geek

The bold Julius is now owned by up and coming superstar "The Kid".

Back in I think was about 2006 or so, I began riding with my friend Teresa on Sundays. I resurrected my 1983 Schwinn World Sport. This bike had served me well in my pre-car years. It was all that I needed. This is what I thought. I brought the bike into the bike shop for some routine maintenance. The first maintenance trip that this bike had received in 20 years. My good friend Dave Hoffman was working at Sunset Cyclery when I rolled the World Sport in for some repairs. After questioning whether my lambswool seat cover had received it’s shots, he pointed out that the last time that I had ridden this bike I was 5′6″ and that I was currently 5′10″. Hmm. Time for a new bike.
I purchased what I considered at the time to be the bike of my life. It was a Cannondale Adventure 500. What an upgrade!
Shortly thereafter Teresa and I decided to dive into the century scene.
Dave tricked out my Cannondale with some coaster bars and thinner tires.
When I arrived at the century ride parking lot, a quick glance told me that there weren’t a whole lot of other hybrids out there. In fact, there weren’t any. Nothing but glitzy carbon road bikes.
“Oh well. I don’t care. I’ll show them.” That was my attitude.
At the rest stops, I know that they were all envious of my kickstand. The Cannondale was affectionately referred to as “The Couch”. This was a reference to it’s rather large and cushy saddle.
Towards the end of my century-riding era, I decided that it was time for a road bike. I sold “The Couch” to my brother-in-law and purchased The Couch’s successor…”Julius”.
“Julius”, a bright orange Cannondale Synapse served me well. Julius was there for me in the end of my century career and the beginning of my racing career.
“Julius” was supposedly the end all be all of my bike purchases. Julius was the best bike ever and the last bike that I would ever need to purchase.
I time-trialed in the Highway 40 Time Trial in Julius. That was magical. Julius carried me through my first year of crit racing. He never let me down. What a bike. Julius was never lost in a crowd. Although, in my racing circle of friends, it was pointed out that Julius was a little heavy and that I should upgrade to full carbon.
Shortly thereafter, Black Betty, a full carbon Scott racing bike was purchsed. THIS. Was going to be my last bike purchase ever. Well..then I got into cyclocross and the purchase of Jake the Snake ensued. Tried out mountain biking and purchased Pig.
The following spring I became hooked on track racing and the purchase of Plain Jane ensued. I negotiated for Plain Jane in May by counting her as a b-day present for my July birthday.
Unfortunately, Mike held me to this when I tried to double-dip and negotiate for a time-trial bike in July for my birthday. This was after I had become addicted to time-trialing in mid-June.
The Fixx had a song somewhere in the mid-80’s titled  ”One Thing Leads to Another”.
My relationship with cycling and the equipment involved truly parallels the lyrics of this song!

A year ago I laughed at the time-trialists in their aero helmets, aero bars and time trial bikes. Today I own two of the three aforementioned and, as stated above, I am jockeying for the third. I must admit, however, you will never see this bod in a skin suit!

I have always thought of myself as a minimalist. I have always put the athelete before the equipment. But here lately, I have never been more Hell-bent on purchasing whatever I need to go faster.

What have I become?

It is truly an addiction.

Just as I was addicted to smokes in the past, I appear to have become addicted to cycling gear.

For the record, I do suppose that  cycling equipment is slightly more advantageous to one’s health.

Reluctantly yours in the latest and greatest,

BR

Janey, Nadine, Mary, Donna, Stacey, Maro, Terri, Dessa, Alice & Jackie (not pictured - the photographer...)

Eleven brave women laughed at the heat as we rode the 40 mile route. We even had a newbie, on her first group ride, and she did fantastic! She was even inspired to join Team Rev as a member and decided to join the Team Rev MS150 team to ride with us in Memphis. So many great things happen on Rev rides!

Dessa does a bang-up job organizing these rides!!!! KUDOS to her for all the effort she puts in to getting route info, giving everyone on the ride a route queue sheet, explaining the rules of the road, and keeping everyone together. She is a true leader in every sense of the word!

If anyone has any desire to ride and learn some of the area bike shop rides, attending these monthly rides is recommended. As with all Team Rev sponsored rides, they are no-drop. No one gets left behind and there is always a sweep (or two – thanks Jackie!!!!!) to bring up the back of the group. These rides are generally for an intermediate level rider and not recommended for the beginner cyclist.

The shop rides schedule for the rest of 2010 is:

8/28- Sat 8 a.m. – Mesa Cycles, 1035 South Big Bend Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63117-1605, (314) 645-4447.

9/25-Sat 9 a.m. – Momentum Cycles, 384 Mid Rivers Mall Drive St. Peters, MO 63376, (636) 397-7433.

10/9-Sat 9 a.m. – Trek Bicycle Store, 13922 Manchester Road, St. Louis MO 63011, (636) 394-2453.

11/13-Sat Make-up dates for any we may have cancel due to weather or other conflicts

Make sure to check the Team Rev forum for any and all updated info concerning these rides, especially about start locations. Not all shop rides start from the sponsored shop. Dessa will have a post on the Rev forum the week of the shop ride with all info, start locations, and start times. In the heat, we generally meet at 7:30 and clip in at 8 a.m.

For any questions, contact Dessa at Dessa@TeamRevCycling.org

THANKS FOR A FANTASTIC RIDE THIS MORNING, LADIES!!!

There was an awesome showing of support from the road racers with their cheers and cowbells – thanks for that! Kube even perfected the art of water throwing as racers passed her zone. And she provided Twizzler hand-ups.

Lo getting some much needed relief from Kube's amazing water throw.

The cheers and screams are amazing as you come around the corner from out of the woods and back into the crowd.  Hearing your name yelled out is one of the prettiest sounds of the night.  There were kids cheering for parents.  There were parents cheering for kids. 

the Cash kids cheering for Mommy

Vera Bradley pro racer, Carrie Cash, was even on site to delight the crowds with her lightning speed and poise. Best line of the night: “Hey [insert name of several male racers shouted-at here] GET MOVIN’! Carrie Cash is up there in front of you and she is wearing pink for godsake!!!!” Ya gotta love seeing the girls whip up on the boys!

Kube with her "my aim is true" shot to Carrie

I was the lucky recipient of two perfectly aimed water throws by Kube. They felt fantastic at the time, but quickly got masked by the sweat pouring out of my pores from the humidity and the strenuous effort I was putting forth.

After the races we stand around eating the free food, drinking the free drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), congratulating each other on the evening’s racing successes and enjoying the company and camaraderie of some of the neatest people in the world – mountain bikers.

exhilerated after a race well executed

Walking back to the parking lot with my friends I muse, “I am having more fun than should be allowed!” One friend says, “Yeah! These are our golden years.” I think about that statement and have to disagree. Golden years are when you old and retired. I am young and full of life with adventures yet to discover. I am in my Platinum years! The golden years are centuries away.

Lo, Alice, Dessa, Jackie, Suzanne & Britt

Guaranteed to be a great time, Team Revolution is partnering with the Alpine Shop to put on their annual women’s only Mountain Bike Clinic August 21, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Creve Coeur Lake Park mountain bike trails. No matter what your skill level is, advanced, intermediate or beginner, everyone will benefit from these four hours of worthwhile instruction.

We’ll start the morning with some off-bike learning, bagels, fruit, coffee, and juice which will lead into skills and drills, then putting that knowledge to use on the trails. Our main goals are getting riders trail-ready for a number of terrains, getting some exercise and having fun.

Pro racer for Team Vera Bradley, Carrie Cash, will lead the clinic along with some of the area’s top women mountain bikers being on hand for additional instruction, tips and tricks.
If you want to improve your bike handling skills in the dirt, this will be the place for you! Creve Coeur Lake Park has fun trails that all skill levels will enjoy.

Date: August 21, 2010
Time: 9a.m.-1p.m.
Who: any woman wanting to gain skills and knowledge of Mountain Biking

Cost: Team Rev members – $30; non-members – $35; register at the Clinics page on this website. http://teamrevcycling.org/clinics.html 
*******Register by August 11th to receive a knarly, cool clinic t-shirt! Members wishing to attend with a clinic coupon needs to send an email to Suzanner@TeamRevCycling.org to let me know you are attending and what size t-shirt you want ordered. They are women’s cut, pre-shrunk cotton. *********

Directions: Take I-270 to the Dorsett Road exit, and head west on Dorsett Road. Turn Right into the Park on Streetcar Drive, and then continue down the road into the park. Look for a lighted softball field on the right, followed by tennis courts and then a large gravel parking lot – turn right into this lot.

Any questions, send me an email at: Suzanner@TeamRevCycling.org

See you in the dirt!

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