We Are Not Monsters, We're People!(May '98)
"Oh.... I can't. Let me get into shape before I come out with all you in shape, fast as lightning racer types," said Earl (not his real name).

"I think it would be great for you to come out and join us for our Saturday morning ride from BGI in Broad Ripple. The pace is a moderate one and we stick together as a group. It will be fun," said Doug his real name).

I find it interesting on how many times I have found myself involved in a conversation like that one.

Often times in the eyes of many cyclists, a person who shows up with lycra, a sleek bike, shaved legs and a few races under their belt is assigned the persona of speed monger, fittest for survival, bully on the block, troll who keeps beginner cyclists in their jersey pocket for power food on long rides. Why is it when a teacher, engineer, architect, computer programmer, mechanic, student, fireman, man of the cloth, etc. becomes a "bike racer" they become a jerk who lives to humiliate all those who are not in good condition. The idea then seems to grow that the beginner better not show up on ANY ride until they can hang with the lead group for fear of enduring the humiliation of becoming one of the left behinds, off the backs, or failures for not being able to keep up. Who needs that kind of negative reinforcement in a hobby that they are supposed to be doing for enjoyment?

Those reactions are what I see in the eyes of many people who I invite to come ride with the club on Saturday mornings. I see the apprehension and tentativeness. I think I understand some of the history that makes them hesitant to join me and the rest of the club in our matching helmets and duds for our solidarity ride. I see the sarcastic thought jump from their memories about "friendly rides" that they have been on before that weren't so friendly. I know what they think when I say that it is an easy ride when before some easy rides have left them all alone in the middle of purgatory crying for their moms.

What can I do to negate the horrifying stories that have been passed from generation to generation of cyclists about riding in a group whose member's race? What can I say to erase weeks, days, months, or years of bad memories of rides that ended alone, off the back, and miserable? All that I can do is announce an open invitation and hope that people trust and believe what I say.

It always warms my heart when some one that I have talked with does come out with the group and has a positive experience. We had a number of them at Training Camp I this past weekend. The next time you find yourself in a conversation with a person like "Earl", I hope that they feel comfortable enough with what you say to take a chance and join us to see that we are people first and cyclist second.

Doug takes up Cheerleading(April '98)
Never in my history have I been a part of so much excitement associated with the club. I have talked with many, many people who are raising an eyebrow or giving a thoughtful "Hmmmmmm..." when they hear about who we are, what we believe in, and the things we are doing.
I know that I have talked about this before, but I am constantly amazed at the level of energy and exicitement people have when we talk about our upcoming season. The staff at BGI, Trane, Cannondale, The Children's Museum, NIFS, people off the street at the BGI Spring Event, and the in the club itself just seem to be swept up with the potential of the upcoming events. I am very proud of the commitment and support I have felt from the membership. I see it through the higher attendance at the monthey meetings and how hard a growing group of members is working to bring what was at one time a crazy idea to reality.
Many people have said, "Well, shucks, Doug, I haven't done that much." That is the most beaustiful sentence. We are chipping in a little bit and what is coming out is spectacular. Anytime a volunteer group can put something together that impresses professionals; it is a true testament to the character of the group.
I can't wait for the weather to break and I can see you out on the road doing what we love.

Gandhi of Cycling(March '98)
The teachings of Gandhi were quite simple. When good and evil face off, the truth of good will prevail when evil has nothing to fight against. He instructed the people of India to not fight back against the most powerful army known to man. The English Army would beat and shoot, maim and kill the passive and defenseless natives. Without any counter violence to fuel their evil actions, the British soon realized the truth that their actions were wrong and evil.
Last Saturday on our ride we crossed paths with a Butler foorball player who had an acute case of testosterone excessive. He shouted insults and threats of violence as we quitely road past. Darren, in only the way Darren can do, calmly rolled up to the man and let him know his displeasure in the man's actions and offered him the opportunity to carry out his threat and 'wail' on him.
When given this opportunity, the man didn't quite know what to do except to keep on volunteering threats.
How long would we have sat there? How long would the stand-off have lasted? The arrival of a Butler Police cruiser has hidden that answer deep in the omnious vault of 'what ifs...& maybes' next to the question, 'What would have happend if I had asked Marget Bistray to dance at the Spring Dance in the 9th grade?
When you go out onto the road this season and someone comes by and launches an assault of evil upon you, will you fuel their fire and let their evil grow to live for another day or will you let them see your beaten and maimed soul. I say let the truth of their evil ways be the shackle of their guilt and the path to a more peaceful tomorrow.

Cycling and the WWW(February '98)
A few weeks ago I realized the power of the WWW. I received an e-mail from Korea (and that is NOT in Indiana). It was from Steven Whitmore who used to be a Speedway Wheelmen back in the early 70s into the md 80s and he happened across our wonderfully designed web site.
But I also realized the power of something much more exciting. I realized the power of the Speedway Wheelmen. Joe congratulated me on being the president of the Wheelmen and gave me a compliment by acknowledging the fine tradition of the Wehelmen and the special role the president has played in that tradition.
The thing that struck me the most was the fact that he wanted to join! I mean the guy is over there flying helicopters and is not going to be back in the states, let alone Indiana, any time soon and he wanted to pay dues and become a member again simply because in some way he wanted to be connected to the rich traditions and quaility of the club and its memebers.
I receive a dozen or so letters a year to becong to the largest alumni group in the world. 140,000 Penn Staters have felt the need to stay connected to that part of their history. Despite the marketing blitz, I have no desire to join.
What is the magic of the Speedway Wheelmen that prompts a member from 13 years ago and half a world away to want to don the old orange and blue? I'm not quite sure, but I think I am feeling a little bit of it right now. What will you feel about the Wheelmen in 13 years?

First Impressions(December)
First impressions are often hard to shake. The 1998 season will be filled with numerous occasions where someone will be formulating their first impression of the Speedway Wheelmen.
The first of those occasions will be at our end of the year celebration. We hope to have our 1998 sponsors there to greet everyoine and begin to see why the Speedway Weheelmen have been a leader in cycling for Central Indiana for the past 32 years.
In addition to that, the Children's Museum, all the families, new riders, and motorists on the road will all formulate first impressions this year of the pepole wearing the blue and orange.
How you want to be remembered is how the club will be remembered. Help be a part of greatness.

You Think I am What? (November)
That's right! I said IMPORTANT. I know you might have a hard time believing it, but it is true. And for some of you who haven't been around much lately, I have also been saying that I MISS you.
I think Speedway is Special for that.
I might be very wrong about this, and I hope that I am, but I don't think that there are many clubs in the Indianapolis area that think that about their members. I think that is what makes Speedway different.
Our club accomplishes great things because we believe every member is important and when you don't' come around you are missed Be a part. Only you can say YES!

Satisfaction (September)
It is hard to be satisfied. I think it is in our human nature to be disappointed by the things that we have not accomplished yet. And in that disappointment all the spectacular things that we have accomplished in our lives get washed away in the blur of progress.
I remember when I was young how excited I was when I was first able to tie my shoes.
I can't remember the last time I was proud of myself for being able to tie my shoes.
I have come to expect that I will be able to tie them but when you think about it, it is still one of the great accomplishments in one's life.
I also remember the day I was determined to ride my bike for the first time without my training wheels. I almost never get up early unless I have to. Especially on a Saturday. But there I was, up before anyone else in the house, coasting back and forth in the garage. Dad finally came and opened the garage door so I could take my practice out to the sidewalk. Before Mom had the pancake griddle hot that morning, I was flying up and down that sidewalk with only two wheels.
I can't remember the last time I was proud of myself for being able to balance on two wheels.
Every moment since then, just like the rest of you, I have set goals for myself and forgotten to remain proud because the skill has become common place in our lives. I used to have a goal of one-day riding on a Velodrome, then racing on one, moving up to a CAT3, and then to the Pro-1-2 level.
I have been a little down on myself for having a couple of frustrating weeks at the track. For some reason I stepped back for a moment in time and I asked myself how proud would I be if my goal were to ride on a Velodrome or just race on one and compare that to what I have accomplished this year alone.
Take a moment and think back a few years ago to some of the goals that you set for yourself. Be proud, right now, on how far you have come. Hold on to that feeling before your brain gets swept up in the need for progress and improvement.

Be Careful Out There (July)
A few weeks ago new club member Nathan Larimar was jousted off his bike by a 2 x4 sticking out of a car window. The news just did a story about accidents involving emergency vehicles and cars. I love to ride my bike and I am not planning on stopping any time in the near or far future.

What these three statement scream at me loud and clear, and I hope that they are screaming at you, too, is that no one is going to keep you safe out on the road better than you. If motorists are clueless about the approach of an emergency vehicle with sirens and lights going to town, I can't trust that driver is going to see me any better. There are those horrible times when you are doing everything in your power, like Nathan, and still end up on the short end of a stick (pun intended). Luckily he is doing fine.
Be smart at intersections, especially while doing in-town or high traffic rides. You can ALWAYS get a good workout without being suicidal in traffic
Ride as far to the right as safely possible, especially when riding two abreast or in a pace-line. Those riders who drift toward the centerline when there aren't any cars in sight are asking for trouble.
Just remember, luck is when preparation and opportunity meet. Good luck on the road.

Ê

Speed (May)
I don't know why I like it. But, I do. You know the feeling. When your eyes roll back into your head and your heart rate is pushing past the red line as you speed down the road. Your body has been working at its max for the past 10 minutes and then you force it to put out just a little bit more for the final sprint.
It is at that point, when you cross the line or when you finish a VO2 MAX, that you set your body free from the tortuous effort that you have demanded from it. I am always amazed at the peacefulness that washes over me as my mind gets caught in a loop from all the different sensations. I whimper because of the pain. I rejoice because I know that I made it to the end. I celebrate life because I pushed myself to the edge . I experience euphoria because I AM the dictionary definition for speed (look it up).
It is then, that lasting moment of BEING, that keeps me coming back year after year and week after week. I love to starve myself of BEING so that I hunger for it, dare I say crave it?
I train in my zone 2 over the dark winter so that with each extra minute of daylight in the spring, I become giddy with excitement knowing that the long awaited sensation is just around the corner.
With each week that passes, I ration out the eclectic sensation just enough to feed my desire, yet to keep me hungry.
When I think like this I find that no one can ever make me hurt enough to make me want to give up or to give less than my personal best. I am in control of the experience of my life. I choose a path that lets me enjoy every moment on my bike.
Hmmm...I guess I do know why I like it. Do you?

Be a Part (February)
As the weather starts to turn nice, everyone is anxious to shake off the cabin fever and get outside. That holds true for bikes and motorists. This season, be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. Good training and riding can take place without abusing traffic laws and patterns.
I hope that motorists will come to associate the blue and orange that graces our uniform with courteous, common sense partners of the road. The phrase "strength in numbers" doesn't make the action right. Demand the right thing from yourself and your peers and help create a better environment for all cyclists.

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