SpiderMonkeyCycling

Finishing is Winning by Dean Okun

2012-01-27T09:57:00.000-06:00

Before.

Looking back, the reasons I decided to run a marathon are somewhat fuzzy. It was clearly a snap decision. Pretty sure I just opened my big mouth and said something stupid like "anyone can run a marathon". Problem was, several people heard me say that, since I was on a Spidermonkey Saturday ride. One of those people was Josh Green, who I believe then said, "if you do it, I'll do it". Now who's the idiot?

I wish I had good reasons, like a desire to challenge myself, to do something out of the ordinary or to find out whether I had the courage and stamina (both physical and mental) to accomplish it. I think I just wanted to get a cool medal and one of those oval 26.2 bumper stickers. I had no idea the journey I was about to start....but thankfully I had Josh with me!

Having Vanessa in my life has many benefits, especially when it comes to having a running expert in your corner...and one of the most encouraging people I have ever known. She was so excited when I decided to run a marathon. She put a training schedule together for Josh and I, gave us advice on everything from where to run and how to dress. By all accounts Vanessa is an expert marathon runner. Having run Boston twice and fourteen marathons in total...she knows what works and what doesn't. We were in good hands.

Josh and I decided to run our short runs (tues, wed, thurs) on our own, and do our long runs on the weekend together. Our first run together in the 18 week training program was a 5 mile run! We ran 9:15's and couldn't believe how far 5 miles was! I had been running the Burger and Beer fun runs with Universal Sole and ran a few 5K runs, but I had not really run more than 200 Yards (yes back in high school it wasn't metric yet) in 30 years. My body protested loudly: Joints popped, muscles squealed, tendons frayed. Being a cyclist was not helping!

After our first double digit run together, Vanessa made pancakes for us. The following week, Stewart treated us to Lox and Bagels! (the bagels were even cut into stars of David, just for me :)). We were so lucky with the Chicago weather, we thought most of our runs would be in the cold and snow, but the weather was amazing. I would suffer on the 15 mile run, Josh did amazing. Josh would suffer on the 16 mile run, I smiled the whole day. We helped each other through the bad days. We both suffered through the 18 mile run. And then anxiety set in. "How am I going to run 26.2 if I could barely make it home on the 18?". Advice and encouragement came pouring in. "Trust your training and the power of the taper!" Josh and I did the work, over 250 miles of training! I lost 8lbs...Josh couldn't afford to lose any weight!!!! The training was hard. It took away time from many of the things I love, like riding with the Spidermonkeys on a warm day in December and lifting weights at the Lakeview Y (my home away from home). But we did it! We were ready!!

With a delicious pasta dinner in Phoenix behind us, we got to bed early. Tomorrow would be a big day! Stewart and Vanessa dropped Josh and I off one block from the start line. Crowds, music and it was 50 degrees out! The day was finally here. After a half hour delay, we crossed the start line with the 9:30 pace group. We trained at that pace and faster, so we felt confident to try to stay with them. We were excited to be running with so many people as most of our training runs were very lonely. This was exciting. Vanessa and Stewart had laid out a plan to see us at mile 4, 13, 19 and the finish. Every mile there was a band playing, water stop and cheerleaders. It was perfect. Mile 4 was so exciting! Mike and Rebecca were with Stewart and Vanessa cheering! Dressed in Spidermonkey gear, holding bright colored signs, they were easy to spot in the crowd of people. We shed some extra clothing, gave and got some hugs and kisses...and away we went. At mile 5 it all started to break down for me. A CRAMP in my abdomen. I've had them before on training runs and can usually work through it in a mile or two. Not today. At mile 12 I had to do one of the hardest things I have ever done...ask Josh to leave me. I needed to suffer alone and I was slowing the pace down drastically. I didn't want to hold him back. He asked if there was anything he could say to help me...I said no. I then said, "don't worry, I won't quit!". Off he went. Ricky Bobby, my wingman was off...I would miss him.

Best Cheer Section Ever!

Vanessa was anxiously waiting for me at the halfway point. Concerned that I was not with Josh. I was walking when she saw me. I was struggling, both mentally and physically. Having a cramp caused me to slow my pace, causing me to run differently, causing blisters on the balls of my feet. Everything started going wrong. I was now in a mental battle with myself. I broke down in tears when I saw Vanessa. The frustration of having trained so hard and having such a hard day was difficult to handle. Vanessa used everything in her arsenal of encouragement to help me!!! I finally turned to her and said "I hate you!" I hate you for knowing me better than I know myself. Knowing that quitting was not an option. Knowing that pain is temporary and quitting is permanent. I went on! I can't explain the feeling really. It wasn't pain. I felt numb from my knees, up through my legs. I couldn't tell you how I was still moving, but as Vanessa said, "just keep moving!" I have never been in such an intense, psychological battle with myself in my life. I just kept telling myself what Vanessa said "just keep moving". You can stop forever once you cross the finish. And NEVER run again.

Vanessa must have been so anxious after seeing me like that...and would now wait for me at mile 19. As I turned the corner at 19, I had a smile on my face. I had worked through the mental battle and visualized myself crossing the finish line and getting that AWESOME medal. And my blisters had EXPLODED (this is a good thing). She was so relieved. I continued to try to pick up my pace, but each time I did, the cramp returned. So I accepted that I would not hit any sort of time goal and simply concentrated on finishing.

Finishing is WINNING!

I ran across the finish line with fists pumping and screaming with joy! I was humbled and hobbled.

The best part of the day wasn't actually finishing the race; it was finding Vanessa, Josh and Stewart at the end, waiting for me.

Completion! Completing a marathon has taught me what I am made of...and the result is comforting! I may or may not do that again, but I will always cherish the accomplishment and the journey (with Josh).

Now lets go ride a bike!!!!

Check out more pictures here!

Finishing is WINNING!

Spidermonkey of the Week - Derick Adame

2012-01-25T09:49:00.001-06:00

Where's my beer??

The moment that Ifirst knew I loved cycling was when I “borrowed” my younger brother's SchwinnPredator and jumped it over a pretty decent double at a nearby park inMichigan. I still remember being mid-air and completely uncertain if I wasabout to bust my ass or ride away clean. Luckily it was the latter and I washooked.

The single most influentialperson to my cycling would have to be my dad nicknamed “Jeffe”. He was alwaysriding his Schwinn World Sport to work (about 10-15 miles each way) just forfun and constantly bringing my family on bike rides. No matter if I was playinghockey, racing, or wrestling, he was there to cheer me on and support me when Ilost. To this day if he is in town, he will be the first to my races or thelone fan in the stands at a hockey game. I couldn't ask for more.

As a very active(and short) teen, I left soccer/baseball/wrestling/hockey for more“alternative” sports like snowboarding, skateboarding, and eventually bmxracing. I wasn’t very good because I enjoyed the jumps and practices more thanthe races themselves, but I did pretty well for myself coming away with only aseparated shoulder and a small trophy.

Fast forward tocollege where I sold my car and moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in graphicdesign. My bmx bike was still with me at this point so I rode when I could andused it to save cash not taking the CTA. I also picked up a 70's MotobecaneMirage that I converted to a single speed after realizing how terriblecommuting on a bmx bike was. This 30lb single speed would be the catalyst thatwas about to hurl me to the world of road cycling.

When I met myfiancée, she just started working for the American Diabetes Association and was helpingout with their Tour de Cure cycling fundraiser. My friend and I wondered if itwere possible to do the 62-mile route on our single speeds being as they werethe only bikes we had at the time. Before we signed up, we hit the lakefrontpath just out of curiosity and cranked out a 40-mile ride without cliplesspedals, bibs, drop bars, gears, or any idea how to draft.

In what seemedlike no time, we were halfway through the Tour de Cure and it hit me how muchground I was covering under my own power. The most impressive part of cyclingto me has always been unrivaled freedom it gives the rider. It was a prettyenlightening feeling while hearing nothing but the hum of tires on the road andbeing able to hear every breath. I’m certain I looked like an idiot because I wassmiling the entire time. Occasionally we would ride along a few other ridersand the rolling bond that developed is what left me wanting to find a group.

In April of 2011I did a google search for Chicago bicycle "clubs". When I stumbled on theSpidermonkeys, they seemed fun and relaxed. Then I saw the 312 logo and thingsgot urgent. I emailed Vanessa and came to a group ride, thanks to Fred whohelped me get back to the group after dropping my only bottle, rookie mistake.That year alone I raced the Monsters of the Midway Criterium, Tour of ElkGrove, completed 3 Centuries, and a 200-mile 2-day Chicago-Michigan ride with afriend of mine. My hockey team won our Championship over the summer and I gotengaged earlier this month, pretty packed.

Potato Soup!

In addition tothe inexpensive sport of amateur cycling, I enjoy the other wallet diet that isamateur photography. Since I don't ride a lot of BMX anymore, shooting it is agreat injury-free way of enjoying it without riding. Being a graphic designermeans that I often wear a lot of hats around the office and I guess thephotographer cap just comes with the “cyclist” hat by some sort of hipsternature. My cycling/photography/food blog is here.

I just want toexpress my gratitude to Dean and Vanessa and all the other monkeys who makethis group what it is. Not only are we lucky enough to have the opportunity toenjoy cycling, but we have found a group of incredible people to share it with.What more could a cyclist want?

Beer.

- Derick

Spidermonkey of the Week - Peter Monko

2012-01-18T12:36:00.000-06:00

Celebrating the New Year with some bubbly and CX!

Hi, I'm Peter and I'm a Spidermonkey So what does it mean to be a Spidermonkey? I'm not talking about the cute cuddly ones that howl loudly and are considered a delicacy in Brazil, but the ones that shake their butts, ride their bicycles and piss excellence? What I’ve learned quietly observing these Spidermonkeys in their natural habitat is that being a Spidermonkey means different things to different people. To some it means showing up early in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays to ride long and hard while having a laugh or three with their fellow teammates/friends. To some it means raising boatloads of money to find a cure for MS ,while at the same time riding long and hard and having a great time doing it. To others it means drinking massive amounts of Goose Island beer at the dock party while discussing with fellow teammates the upcoming Grand Tour races and whether or not Contador’s meat was in fact tainted. In case I haven't met you yet, let me tell you about how I became a Spidermonkey.

My story begins in the wild jungles on the southside of Chicago. There are heroes and villains (mostly bike thieves) and of course bicycles in this story. Multiple bicycles. I learned to ride on a bike complete with broomstick that my mom would hold onto in case I tipped over. Who needs training wheels? My childhood took place in the late 80s and BMX bikes were the rage, so I began my bicycling career by dirt jumping near the railroad tracks with my friends. When I wasn’t doing goofing around or getting chased by vicious dogs, I was out on my bike exploring the city. One day during high school I took my Dyno up from the southside to Glencoe and back. I learned the importance of sunblock and padded shorts that day. However most importantly I learned the freedom that a bicycle could give you.

Over the next few years, I progressed as bike rider/racer. I did a few longer bike tours and raced a couple of triathlons on bikes that should not be raced on. The next summer I switched jobs and met Fred Wu who also enjoyed doing triathlons and riding bikes. Then I decided to go back to grad school and joined the Illinois Tech Cycling club. With ITC, I had a lot of fun traveling around the Midwest on the weekends and racing against kids 10 years younger than me, but the season was short and I yearned for more racing and group riding.

Fred told me about this club that he rode on the weekends with. They drank a lot of beer and their weekly rides started not too far from my home, so I decided to ride along in the back one day and the rest is history.

Thanks guys.
Pete

Spidermonkeys of the Week - Sabin West and Irina Balabanska

2012-01-11T09:48:00.003-06:00

Sabin and Irina

Sabin:

People get into cycling many different ways... When I was around 9 my parents bought me a kick ass BMX bike, though I couldn't tell you the name because the same day I received it, it was stolen by a local kid who moved away that same day. And that for me was bicycling for a little while.

I got into skateboarding instead. Until, around 17, when my friends and I were mesmerized by the bike-tech of mid 90's. The thought of full suspension bikes and the first boom tubes from Cannondale and Klein had us all the rage. Eventually, after every pivot point and suspension fork design was exhausted we realized there wasn't much mountain biking in Chicago. Fortunately for us there were cool road bikes to be had.

Eventually I got a road bike but didn't do anything with it other then ride like a jackass, unsafe, without a helmet and was probably more of a nuisance than anything else. I started doing century rides around 21 and would train the TOMRV (Tour Of the Mississippi River Valley) for the original Pallotta Team Works, AIDS rides. My first real century was in fact the first Heartland AIDS Ride, a 540 mile journey from Minneapolis to Chicago in 5 days. Young, inexperienced and on a time trial bike with basketball shorts, a cotton t-shirt of the event, no water bottles and no gloves but using a helmet my friend let me borrow, i jumped into it. It was like jumping into a shark tank with a shotgun. At least I had proper pedals and shoes. Completed the 110 mile leg from MN to WI in around 6 hours and felt like someone beat my legs with a meat tenderizer. Six years later, I did almost every one of the Heartland AIDS Rides and raised over $50K.

I met my wife, Ina at the office I was doing IT and web development for. She did triathlons and is an excellent runner and swimmer but had never completed a century ride. I had done the TREK 100, a ride that benefits children fighting cancer and suggested this ride based on my fondness of the route. She agreed to try it with me, and like my original experience on the first AIDS ride, Ina fought her way through to the end averaging 17-18. Despite that she lost a contact lens at mile 30, she finished with one "seeing" eye and after a couple of asthma-like attacks, she did it and I was so proud of her. (That was the day I decided I wanted to marry her.) Ina says to me, "Well, I almost died. Might as well marry me."

Together we'd train, ride and run all summer, and hit the gyms and the slopes in the winter. But it wasn't until last summer that something changed in the way we train and ride. My buddy Aaron, a fellow SM, suggested a group ride he discovered online that started at Roscoe Village Bikes and went along a similar route we take to Highland Park. Riding in a group became a more challenging and fun way to do what we both love doing alongside many great cyclists. I used the Wed and Sat rides as my training for the Tour of Elk Grove. The Spidermonkey rides helped me maintain form and ride in the drops with a tight, fast group for the first time in my experience and I placed 5th in my first crit. Had I had a little more sprint experience with the team I believe I would have hit podium and intend to do so next season with your help.

Ina:

I grew up in a small communist country of Bulgaria. My first bike was red and immensely heavy and it was called "Zaika" ("rabbit" in Russian, because all of our goods came from Russia.) I loved it and after riding for a while I broke one of the training wheels off. Then I rode tilted to the side for a while. My dad finally decided it was time to take the other training wheel off. He set my bike ready and said: "Now, i want you to ride slowly and get a feeling for it. Don't rush until you feel comfortable." "Uh huh," said I and wheezed off super fast. I couldn't even hear my dad yelling my name after me. Yeah I fell a bunch after. I also fell a lot trying to ride a road bike that was way too big for me. I was pedaling under the top tube as I couldn't reach the pedals over the top tube. Perseverance.

Eventually things got better and we became a democratic country. Imported goods were available and so I got my first mountain bike that didn't require a Mentos crew to move it. I went everywhere with it, including my first long ride of 30-40miles. It was downhill riding from a monastery up in a mountain down to the city. Someone threw cherries at me on the highway and at the end of the ride I looked like I have been homeless for while, with streaks of dirt all over and cherries splashes. This is the brutal scene of cycling in Bulgaria.

Thank you, Spidermonkeys, for welcoming us to your team and we look forward to 2012.

sabin + ina

Spidermonkeys of the Week - Ride Leader Words of Wisdom

2012-01-04T19:09:00.001-06:00

For the first installment of the new year, we thought a few words of wisdom from the Spidermonkey Ride Leaders would help set the tone for another great year or at the very least waste a couple minutes of your time. So read on, absorb the wisdom, piss excellence and ride on!

Dean Okun - The Wisest of the Wise

Any ride that ends at JJ Peppers is a good ride!
"Special A" at Budacki's is the perfect recovery food.
No, Ken Mitchell is not a Rockefeller, but has nicer bikes than them.
Getting a flat tire is NOT catastrophic!!!
You do not chew ZYM!
There IS sushi at the rest stop on the Harmon Hundred!
The Easter Bunny will steal your gloves on the Easter Ride.
Do not change your shorts/skinsuit after applying Embrocation....you will get it on your junk.
Shaving your legs is pro. Not shaving all the way up and having hair shorts is NOT pro.
"Reply All" is not a button you press to win the lottery.
Rookie Tattoo's (or Cat5 Tattoo's) aren't just for rookies!

Vanessa Schilling - Wiser than the Wisest

For the newbies: wearing underwear under your shorts is a huge faux pas. More importantly, you will be made fun of for the rest of your life.
Folding the changing tent looks so easy but it's not.

Rebecca Paulson Meyers - Wiser than Michael Meyers

On chilly rides, an extra sports bra in a sandwich bag for a wardrobe change in HP is a lifesaver.

John Lyon - Questionable Wisdom for Moving to NW Indiana

When temperatures rise stick a frozen water bottle down your back.
When riding home from Three Floyds on a 100 degree day jump in Lake Michigan to cool off.
Don't drink 3-5 beers before riding home from 3 Floyds on a 100 degree day.
If a bus tries to pass a group of 15 people on a Wednesday Night Ride let it go. The next street is probably your turn.
Before you chase Drew up Tower Rd find out where he plans to turn around!

Drew Kushnick - The Wise Attacker

4 out of 5 experts agree that running is not good training for cycling.
Ask one of our ride leaders (Rebecca) how to get a Rookie Tattoo and for advice on how to get them off.

Kristi Hanson - I'm so Wise, I'd rather be Climbing

According to Dean you can ride on a flat for days.
Girls do go on the Wednesday Night Ride. Some of us stay with the fast boys (aka Vanessa, Kim, and Katie), but most of us do not so you will most likely have people to ride with. If not, just know the route and hang on as long as you can. It will make you faster. :-)

Josh Green - Pisses Wisdom All of the Time!

Never let a new rider lead the group, even if they are faster than everyone else in the group.
When that new rider gets to the front anyway and asks should they turn left the answer is "correct" not "that's right."
There is *never* sushi at any rest stop.
Watch out for big grated manhole covers unless you like to fall over at 0 mph when everyone is watching.

Brandon Diffenderfer - I'm so Wise I can spell my own last name

If you "win" the Ugly Jersey competition, we should never see you in that kit again.
Blinkies are cheap, buy one.
PRO: I don’t know where it started. I don’t know who started it. But use of PRO as shorthand for cool/hardman/awesome/remarkable is really, really annoying. More rants can be found here...
We don't care about your max 5 minute power output, you're still slow.

John Castro - Pissed Wisdom Last Year

It's helpful to have 1-3 alarms spread around your bedroom to ensure you get up on time to make it to the Saturday ride. Or bust your ass to catch up with the group somewhere on the way north .. and sometimes if you're really late, hopefully before everyone's done with coffee at HP.
Some experts agree that running is good training for cycling.

We could go on and on and on ... but, we'll spare you. We're looking forward to another great year! See you all out on the road (and dirt)!!

Spidermonkey of the Week - Kyle Kershasky

2011-12-27T17:25:00.000-06:00

Kyle - Always enjoying the finer things in life!

I first heard about the Spidermonkeys at the MS Ride 2010. It was the year the ride was cut short and everyone ended up inside at the beer tent. Dean was talking to a fellow Y Spin instructor telling me about how he trained to ride thru Alaska, Antarctica or something with an A. Although I’ve never seen Dean at the Y nor did I realize until much later that he helped create SMC, I hope he comes to my Saturday spin class someday and make this whole story come full circle. There’s a first for everything.

I first got into biking when I was about 5-ish. The guys on my block all had dirt bikes and it was our way of getting to the park, impressing that one girl, even if she was a tomboy and finding freedom. My first bike was a Huffy with a banana seat that read “Desperado”. (The older I got the less cool it became) I eventually spray painted silver and tricked it out with bike accessories from Zayres. It even had “chromie” valve covers ~~that we stole from neighborhood cars~~.

My first and most recent cycling injury was around the age of 7. My dad taught a basketball camp. I failed miserably at basketball. I weighed nothing and got pummeled by other kids. My dad was also the coach of my grade school team (even with Dad as coach I didn’t start). So I was biking down this monster hill and God knows why I jammed my foot hard between the fork and the tire – this is what scares me about cyclocross – and I flew over my handlebars and planted my right cheek onto the asphalt. I had a big scab on my face for the rest of the summer. I was an only child.

My first “10 speed” bike was in 6th grade. My parents bought it for me as a birthday present. They had it waiting for me in the kitchen with a bow on it. It was yellow with a chocolate brown seat.. Totally not cool compared to Danny’s Hutch and totally incapable of doing broncos. But my parents though I should have one. The presentation of the bike was anticlimactic. On the way home I leaked out that I beat my parents to the mail and hid my report card from them. Boy that was a good birthday.

~~My first time kissing a girl her name was Amanda and she had the hottest~~

My first time getting wasted was the first time I got drunk. It was the summer after senior year H.S. My friend worked at the yacht club in Milwaukee and we waited until all the members left. It was sweet drink followed by hard liquor until I puked and puked over the dock into Lake Michigan. The whole night. Puking, hurling and trying to convince this girl that I was legal. (18). I didn’t drink again until the end of summer when I went to college. Which is where I found beer.

I drank a lot of beer in college. Busch Light Draft. We had a built in bookcase lined with empty beer bottles 4 deep. We threw huge parties. It was weekend after weekend of drinking. What I lacked in athletic skills I made up for in drinking. Floor hockey? Alcohol. Entertainment? Alcohol. Flute recital ? Alcohol in a bong. I permanently cured my shy factor with alcohol. I don’t know how to say this in this blog but I no longer drink. Much. Anymore. But when I do, it’s 312. And boy do I get buzzed. Off one beer. Sometimes half.

My first triathlon was in 2001 on a mountain bike. I saw it as a way to have fun. Dress up in costume, throw candy to the crowd like a parade. Fun stuff. Then once I started training for it I realized these people are serious. There are no costumes, no candy and no drinking. I did the triathlon and from there I was hooked. I upgraded to a road bike, did century rides and became a Spin instructor. Over the next ten years I went on to do the Shamrock Shuffle, Alcatraz, Ironman, ride into my wedding on a tandem, a marathon (in that order) and most recently a USA Triathlon coach and NASM personal trainer. All from the simple interaction of:

Co-worker: You want to do the Chicago Triathlon?
Me: No. Are you nuts? Shit.

Cylclocross is big in SMC. My first time seeing a cyclocross was last month at Montrose. It was freaking awesome. I made a video of it. About the only thing I love more than cycling is making videos of cycling. I even made a video for this entry. I loved the Montrose video. People drinking, cheering, getting dirty, dressed in costumes, handing out candy. Oh yeah, I see where this is going. Where do I get a cross bike….?

My first Spidermonkey ride was on the fast Sunday ride this summer. I really wanted to join a bike group. There’s a an awe from seeing a pack of riders go by. I heard of this Spidermonkey that we speak of on more than one occasion. After the MS ride this year Kristi helped bridge the gap and gave me the low down on the rides. I made it to every Sunday ride that I could in the summer and I and have also enjoyed the VQ Spidermonkey edition. It’s the perfect group. Sprint points, a mix of athletes, philanthropy and a little bit rock ‘n roll. Oh, and alcohol. In my best Dos Equis voice “I don’t always drink. But when I do. It’s with the Spidermonkeys.”

SMC will always be my first bike club love. You had me at “pisses excellence.”

(if the embedded video doesn't work, try youtube)

Things that got cut out of this entry: Cookie dough yum, Dad: licensed Zamboni driver, dog’s name Rocky, first car 77 Nova.

Spidermonkeys of the Week - Sponsor Spotlight - Alex and Lesley Tweedie

2011-12-20T21:16:00.003-06:00

We opened Roscoe Village Bikes in March 2007 and were reallyhappy when some roadies started meeting for group rides in front of the shopand bringing their bikes in for service. We were even more thrilled when that Fall, those riders told us theywould be forming a club and asked us if we would sponsor it. They said the club would be calledSpidermonkey. Interesting name for acycling club, but it’s not your typical club.

What we like about sponsoring the Spidermonkeys is that the ridersin the club are fast, serious cyclists and also truly good, sweet people. The Spidermonkeys are competitive but not cut-throat. They’re good sports. Spidermonkeys are good coaches andcheerleaders in supporting new riders. Spidermonkeys are charitable. Weloved sponsoring the MS ride and knowing there would be so many Spidermonkeysout there. It was especially fun for usto host the packet pick-up for the ride. Being nice, charitable, and enthusiastic about cycling are values thatare important to us here at Roscoe Village Bikes so of all the clubs tosponsor, we feel Spidermonkey is a great fit for our shop.

The first official meeting of the club took place here in October2007. Attendees included Dean, Vanessa,Matt Smith, Bryan Merrill, Nate Iden, Josh Green, Trent Williams, JonathanFairman, Ken Mitchell and more. It was around Halloween and there was aSpidermonkey pumpkin. Now this may ormay not be true, but let’s add to Spidermonkey lore that that the origins ofthe orange in the kit comes from that Halloween themed club meeting.

The Spidermonkey Pumpkin makes an appearance??

Over the years we’ve hosted several BBQ’s and pizzaparties. It’s been a lot of fun gettingto know everyone and hanging out. Who can forget Ken Mitchell’s silent kegstands on a Sunday, summer evening. Asthe club got larger, we’ve hosted less, but we always enjoy visits fromSpidermonkeys, the Wednesday night ride leaving from our shop, having thesizing kits here and meeting new Spidermonkeys.

Silent Keg Stands??

Please stop in and say hi (but not next week since we’ll beclosed Christmas through New Years). Keep in mind official club members receive 10% off new bikes and 15% offparts and accessories. Please introduceyourself as a Spidermonkey or show some spider bling since some of our staffmay not have met you before. We carry awide range of bikes for kids, commuters, recreational riders and competitivecyclists. We also have components likewheels, tires, tubes, shifters and pretty much and anything else a bike needsto roll. We like fixing bikes andservice turn-around times are shortest this time of year so if yours needs alittle TLC, bring it by.

We’re happy to sponsor the club season after season. It’s been a lot of fun and having a crowd oflyrca clad cyclists in front of the shop is good for the neighborhood. As Dean said in his first Spidermonkey e-mail,“Keep the rubber side down.”

Lesley & Alex Tweedie and the Roscoe Village Bikes crew

Fall/Winter Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 11-8 & Saturday,Sunday 11-6

2016 W. Roscoe St.

Chicago, IL 60618

773-477-7550

www.roscoevillagebikes.com

www.facebook.com/roscoevillagebikes

Twitter: @RVBikes


Lesley striking a pose! Nice bike!

Alex tearing it up in CX!

End of Year Awards!

2011-12-18T15:23:00.013-06:00

Thanks to everybody for attending our 4th end of year bash...once again, the night was filled with fun, Goose Island 312, patron, Dean speech, music, dancing, and awards! Click here for pictures.

And this year's awards went to...

Top MS fundraiser's:
Monica Pencz, Josh Green, Rebecca Dill, DJ Ryan, Mike Meyers, Kelly, Kristi

First time marathoner's:
John Castro, Ellen Charnley, DJ Ryan

Ironman:
Fred Wu, Hayes Sanborn, Matt Duffey

Ride Leader's:
Brandon, John Lyon, Josh Green, Drew, John Castro, Kristi, Rebecca

Everybody who travelled to Vegas for spring training!
Everybody who travelled to Lawrence to ride and race!
Everybody who raced!
Everybody who completed their first century!

Great leadership in cross:
Geoff Scott

Most consistent cross supporter:
Hayes

Volunteer of the year:
Mike Meyers and Stewart Chapman

All the Get a Grip guys!
Matt, Michael, Adam, Ken, Geoff Scott

Most Humble:
Kim and Brandon

Best attitude:
Trent

Most improved:
Justeen

And finally, the Ricky Bobby Award. The recipient of this award must consistently show initiative, is encouraging, involved, supportive, is the Rock of Spidermonkey who wakes up and pisses excellence. And the 2011 Ricky Bobby Award goes to...
Josh Green!!

Thanks to all our 2011 sponsor's and partner's:
Goose Island
Get a Grip
National MS Society
Roscoe Village Bikes
Universal Sole
Think Big
Turner Acceptance
Vision Quest
Zym

And to Josh Schilling for making our end of year video!

And to DJ Ryan for making our end of year party so awesome!

A special thanks to ALL OF YOU for making this so much fun for us and for the special gift towards our next spring training camp. We appreciate and feel lucky to know all of you!!

Can't wait for our 5th year as Spidermonkey Cycling! Caaaa caaaaawwww!

Montrose Bake Sale

2011-12-18T15:16:00.002-06:00

Thanks to everybody who supported our bake sale at Montrose this year! We were completely blown away by all the Spidermonkey baker's...who knew we had so many talented cyclists AND bakers???

We raised $600!!! SRAM will match what we've raised which means SB^2 (Spidermonkey-Burnham-Shake-n-Bake) just raised $1200 for world bicycle relief (http://worldbicyclerelief.org/)!!

You guys rock!! Happy Holiday's!

Spidermonkey (Alumni) of the Week - Matt Smith - There Will Be Poop

2011-12-13T18:51:00.000-06:00

In a nod to that movie about drinking milkshakes, I’m goingto name this guest SOTW article There Will Be Poop. It’s a jokeand a warning.

I’m not really sure how someone who doesn’t even ride bikesis bestowed the honor of SOTW, but if you don’t make a stink neither will I(poop pun #1). I started riding bikes in high school because I didn’tmake the cut for the soccer team. I was crushed, but were it not for thatindignity (one of many), I never would have met Dean some 15 years later andeventually become a Spidermonkey. More on the Mean Wiener later.

Mean Wiener calling Matt Phat.

In college, Chris (a riding buddy) and I went to Arizona inJanuary for a little early season training. We rode around on our own,doing stupid stuff like riding past Tortilla Flats (dirt roads) and passingcars on the descent of South Mountain. Not satisfied with trying to killourselves, we called around bike shops looking for some cool group rides. We passed some test that we didn’t even know we were taking on the secondcall, and the bike shop guy whispered in hushed tones, “Be at Globe at 7 onSaturday at the corner of such and such if you want to ride with Tony.” We didn’t think it could be real...riding with Tony Rominger--winner of4 grand tours and 3 tour stages. But when we pulled up, he was there, andhe was glorious. He looked a little nervous when he saw us, but who canblame him? We were a couple of amateurs who thought they could hang withthe hour record holder. Actually, as we would later find out, he was onvacation and not even training, and the team doctor had forbade him from goingover 110 bpm or something. However, Tony can ride at 109 bpm no-handedholding La Gazetta with his right hand and sipping a cappuccino with hisleft pinky faster than Chris and I can ride our bikes. After getting shotout of a cannon. Straight down off a cliff. With a downwind.

So, after 75 miles or so of this 90-mile mountain deathmarch, Tony sees a gas station and wants to stop. We had been out ofwater and food for the last 50 miles, so yeah, we stopped too. Now we aregetting to the point of this story: I had to poop, and in the worst way. Like, a had-to-poop-30-miles-ago-but-I’m-too-afraid-to-ask-this-man-who-doesn’t-sweat-or-breathe-while-riding-his-bike-at-9,000-mph-to-stop-so-I’ll-just-hold-itkind of poop. So, imagine my relief when we stop! We’ll refill ourbottles. We’ll peruse the fig newton aisle. Maybe we’ll chat overmuffins and coffee?

No. Tony strolls in, selects a Mountain Dew, and slamsit. Gets back on his bike. Looks around. Ready to leave.

I panic. I can’t ask him to wait while I poop! NowI have a choice to make. Do I bum rush the bathroom and hope everythinggoes well (and super quick) and Tony doesn’t leave? Or do I play it cooland try to limp in the last 20-25 miles, Tony never being the wiser? Ichose door #2. Riding with Tony was like winning the lottery...I didn’twant to flush it all down the drain and get left behind! I put on my bestpoker face and got on my bike, smiling on the outside, ready to explode on theinside.

I didn’t make it very far. I rode up to Chris and toldhim that I needed him to come back for me with the car. Chris nodded. He’d been briefed on the potential situation. And just like that, Islid out of the back of the pack and crawled into the ditch on the side of theroad at the base of a mountain in Arizona. I will spare you the grislydetails, but suffice to say that I discovered an alternate use for and now havea healthy respect for roadside litter. For those of you just joining in,yes, I pooped in a ditch and wiped my ass with trash.

Yum.

On the bright side - when Chris got to the end of the rideTony looked around and said, “Where’s Matt?” Chris told him that Ihad stopped a ways back. Tony turned around and pointed his bike backdown the mountain. Chris stopped him: “No Tony...I think we are goingto need the car for this.” Tony nodded with a knowing smile and thendisappeared in a puff of white smoke.

Fast forward to 2005. I hadn’t ridden for severalyears and had ballooned up to about 230. I decided to start riding again andfound a group that rode from Higher Gear on Fullerton (R.I.P.). This iswhere I first met Dean. He would constantly tell me how fat I was. He would say, “You’re fat!” Dean was and is a real MeanWeenie. My only goal in life was to drop Dean. But, he motivated meto lose weight! For that I thank him.

Dean always credits me with being a founder ofSpidermonkeys. Dean is very generous - we all talked about it but he putin all the work. So...I’m glad I never made the soccer team. I’mglad Dean told me I was fat. Without all that I never would have hadgreat Spidermonkey experiences, like the 2011 North Shore Century: 9,000Flats Edition.

Silver linings everywhere.

Living the High Life.