It’s that time of year. Alpine Shop is helping us throw another Singletrack Session in the woods. Dust off the MTB, pump up the tires, oil that chain and come out to Castlewood and join us for an introduction to mountain biking. This year we’ll start off with some skill tests to get you in the right group to best accommodate a good learning curve for almost any ability…so don’t be intimidated if you’re new.

We strongly recommend pre-registration, to guarantee you’ll receive a Dogfish printed shirt. Hope to see you there!

Ride rolls out at 6pm from Straub’s parking lot in Webster Groves. First weeks have been SUPER!!! Ballas and RockHill have been repaved and are beautiful like glass, time and route seem to work beautifully for time allowance and sunset!  We will continue to ride this route until May. At that point, we plan to offer a longer route  (20-24 miles).  Generally the attitude on this ride is “an awesome gung ho mind set and lots of positive energy” So exciting to see so many new faces, feel free to come out and join us!

“What I have eaten today”

As far back as I can remember, I have had a rather embarrassingly ravenous appetite. I blame it on heredity.  When I was a kid on weekend trips to the Lake of the Ozarks, my family would stop twice on the three hour trip to the Ozarks for food breaks. Not to mention that we had the car loaded with Pringles and Amighetti sandwiches to get us through until we could stop in Sullivan for Mc Donald’s and St. James for ice cream.

Unless I am sleeping or under general anesthesia, I find it very difficult to go more than about four hours without food.

Given my aforementioned background, you can imagine my shock and disbelief when I had my first encounter with a “That’s All that I’ve Eaten” eater.

My roommate freshman year in college was a “That’s All that I’ve Eaten” eater.  She was a big fan of ”The Days of Our Lives”.   Every afternoon I would get back to the dorm following my exciting biology labs to find her perched on the beanbag chair watching “The Days of Our Lives”.  I would say, “How’s it goin?” Her automatic reply would be.” I haven’t eaten anything all day” or… on a good day… “ All that I have had to eat all day is a Jolly Rancher” or something else ridiculously small like a sesame seed.

My response to my roommate was usually “Wow.”  She hasn’t eaten anything or maybe just a sesame seed since she woke up until now (say 3 p.m. for general reference)?? It was incomprehensible!  How did she not pass out? She must be super-human! It was almost as if she should join the circus…Andrea the single sesame seed eater would come on right after Brenda the flame eater. Every afternoon she would tell me of her hypoglycemia defying situation.

As my life has gone on since college, I have encountered several other “That’s All that I’ve Eaten” eaters.  They seem to have a burning compulsion to tell you that they haven’t eaten or how little that they have eaten. You sit down to eat with them and they just can’t help but let you know that all that they have eaten prior to that meal is one M & M.

I know that I am on the other end of the appetite spectrum but I can’t help but wonder if there are some underlying issues with these folks.  I have developed several hypotheses and would appreciate your input to help me get to the bottom of this life long mystery that I have been grappling with since college.

1. These folks are martyrs. When they tell you that they have eaten one

pumpkin seed since last Tuesday, they are looking for sympathy. Maybe this is indicative of a checkered childhood.

2. They are uber competitive and see minimalizing food consumption as a way to “one up” up you. E.g. I bet that you have eaten two pumpkin seeds since last Tuesday.
3. They are insecure and need your approval. They want a pat on the back for eating one pumkin seed. “Way to go man!” That’s the words that they want to hear.

Please let me know your input! In the meantime, I feel about as uncomfortable as someone at a wake when I am encountered by a “That’s All I’ve Eaten” eater.

My perplexity as to reply “I am sorry!” , “Wow you are soo impressive”, or “You get a gold star!” is beginning to wear on my nerves.

Thank you for your help.

Never suppress your appetite for knowledge or good food.

BR

This song could be considered my anthem for the Tuesday night Hub spin this week.

I got to the Hub early to get a spot in the very front to set up my trainer. I was, for
the record, the closest to the TV and fans. As time went by, the rest of the group
showed up and began to assemble behind me.

With a click of the remote, the Chris Carmichael DVD began to play and we all began
to pedal.

My mind began to wander. Stevie’s song “For Once in My Life” filtered in…..

For once in my life, I was off the front instead of off the back on a Hub ride.

For once in my life, I did not flinch when someone near me crashed. One of those
talented folks on rollers bit it. But I didn’t care because I knew that I wasn’t going
down. I am on a steel stand! Ha! No skin off my bod!

For once in my life, I welcomed the head wind. It wasn’t slowing me down man. No
way. Bring it on! Cool me down! Yeah buddy!

For once in my life, the fact that I pulled the whole way and others sucked my wheel
didn’t matter. F it! They weren’t going to pass me at the finish line!

And finally..for once in my life….at the finish line…I would be ahead of those
who had drafted off of me and be able to throw up BOTH arms…not just one…in
victory…YES!!!!!!

Dream your dream definitely more than once in your life.

BR

Big thanks to these shops that have stepped up to sponsor Team Rev and the Mountain Bike Frostbike Series!

When you’re gearing up pre-ride or warming up post-ride, stop by and say hey at the shop nearest your MTB location.

The Cyclery |2472 Troy Road Edwardsville, IL 62025  |  618-692-0070
(Map!)

Ballwin Schwinn | 15340 Manchester Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011 | (636) 391-2666
(Map!)

TREK Bicycle Store of St.Louis (Ballwin) | 13922 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63011 | 636-394-2453
(Map!)

TREK Bicycle Store of St.Louis (Arnold) | 2194 Michigan Avenue, Arnold, MO 63010 | 636-287-6700
(Map!)

Big Shark (West) | 17233 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, MO, 63005 | 636-534-8080
(Map!)

Yep, it’s Frostbike time. Go to RideFrostbike.com for the information and to register.

The quick gist is that we’ve switched MTB and road Series this year, meaning singletrack in January and pavement in February. We’re still brewing on the road routes, but trying to offer a good mix of locations. While you’re contemplating whether or not you want to hang up your bike until the tulips start popping up again, consider this infographic (produced by Healthcare Management Degree) on the benefits of biking. Rev on, my friends!

Created by: Healthcare Management Degree

While we cannot get these delivered before the holidays, its a great belated gift to yourself or a family member who wants to ride in Team Rev colors!

We are offering an expanded list of items this time, including jackets, vests, and arm and knee warmers (among other requested items).
Sizing charts can be found on the Champion Systems website: http://champ-sys.com/custom/cycling/size-chart

Order all of your favorites HERE. Only taking orders until Nov 21st, so don’t delay!
Don’t miss out, we do not order extras because of the cost to stock these items and we only order about once a year.

NOTE: Prices have changed slightly from those advertised at the meeting on 11/7. We miscalculated some costs and apologize for the change. For those who ordered at the meeting, we will still honor the lower prices you paid that night. Additional items will be charged at the prices now advertised.

email Suzanne Renner with any questions: suzanner@teamrevcycling.org

Members, now is your chance! Make your vote count. The winning design will be unveiled at the Team Rev Happy Hour on Nov 7th!

Taking votes for only one week: Oct 25th – noon on Nov 1st.

You should have received voting instructions in your email. Votes will only be taken in this manner. Votes posted on Facebook or under this post will not be included.

VOTE NOW!!

Will it be design “A” or “B”?

It’s time for another FANTASTIC REV HAPPY HOUR

When: MONDAY, November 7, 2011

Place: Café Ventana, 314-531-7500, 3919 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108

http://cafeventana.com/index.php

Time: order dinner on your own at 6pm
meeting starts at 7pm and goes till 9pm-ish

Things to expect:

1) The NEW Team Rev Jersey Design for 2012 – YEAH Chris!

2) Announcements for upcoming activities for the rest of 2011 including:

* Wed night (Afterdark) ride info

3) Door Prizes

4) Paula MacMann from Chainspirations will be there showing her unique bicycle jewelry http://chainspirations.com/

Also Plans for 2012:

Frost Bike & Membership deets
Chocolate Ride

AND MUCH MUCH MORE

Hope to see you all then.

It was a cool autumn morning when the Team Rev riders began to assemble on the Ameristar parking lot to do the Trailnet Ride the Rivers Century.  This star studded group consisted of:    Amy McClintock- a very strong  new Team Rever rider from the Wednesday night ride,  Lisa Glad-another very strong Team Rev newbie ,  Dessa Paris-12 hour endurance champion,  Amanda Hassner-24 hour endurance champion, Susan Kloha- Team Rev veteran rider and mountain bike bad ass, Randy Love- an amazing 62 year old rider who does weekly centuries and prefers to ride in sandals! Holy, Janet Bassel -one of the founding members of Team Rev who is a Senior Olympic gold medalist and just all around good bike rider, Alice Butler- a member of the Team Rev board and 2011 Froze Toes champion, and myself-okay so maybe not everyone in the group was a star.

The ride started out in a very surreal setting as we rolled across the Page extension bridge into the Creve Coeur valley. The sun was on the horizon and there was a dreamy layer of fog covering the fields. I have often been in the fog mentally but I have never ridden through it. It was quite literally cool.  As I rolled through the clouds, they gripped my bare arms with cool dampness of a moist towelette.

We made our way up Marine Rd. and out of the valley. The cool morning gave way to a gorgeous sunny day.  As we proceeded towards Forest Park, heady topics were discussed….”Why do dead possums smell worse than other road kill?”….”Do they smell worse when they are alive?” …”Is their odor stronger because they are bigger than squirrels?”…No one seemed to have a definitive answer but it really didn’t matter.

The route took us through Forest Park to the CWE to downtown where we made our way to the glorious Riverfront Trail.  The Riverfront trail is known for it’s cool urban art, fishy looking fisherman, industrial aromas, and penetrating pavement.

We made it across the RFT without opening a single CO2 cartridge. Miraculous!

The RFT took us to the Chain of Rocks Bridge where me and Amy put on a bunny hopping show that would have made Bugs proud. Amy stole the show with a gravity defying hop that brought her rear wheel at least a foot and a half above the bridge deck. Impressive!

The Chain of Rocks Bridge was followed by a trip up the levee trail where cx skills were tested to get through the overlapping gates. All but myself made it through with catlike agility. The levee trail took us to our lunch destination in Alton.

After lunch, we made our way up the Great River Road. The Mighty Mississippi rolled by on the left. To our right it looked as though someone had put a stick of dynamite under a Crayola 64 pack. The trees along the bluff exploded in burnt sienna, maize, maroon, orange-yellow AND yellow-orange!  The tail wind at our backs made 23 mph effortless.   It was the kind of stuff that cyclists dream about.  We made our way through Alton and the quaint town of Grafton where we boarded the Brussels ferry to take us across the Illinois River.  Upon exiting the ferry, we were greeted by stunning golden rolling farm fields. This beautiful roller coaster ended at the Golden Eagle Ferry.

The Golden Eagle Ferry took us back across the Mississippi to Missouri. We were back in Missouri and ready to tackle the final leg of the journey.  A formidable head wind was waiting for us.  The Team Rev peloton pulled together and helped each other to the finish.

The odyssey ended in the Ameristar parking lot with a flurry of fist bumps, cheers, and a few beers.

What a ride. What a group.

I am going to avoid using the “e” word here. I do not want to be considered cliché.  This may, however, have been the Ride of the Century.

It has been two days since the ride. I am still smiling.

Rev on!

BR