Cycling culture?

It's our little world, right? Those initiated can understand the code words, the emotion behind the description of 'that one last climb before the finish'. The fact that I can spell derailleur without assistance by the spellcheck function is a testament- too damn much time spent doting over two wheeled adult toys. Maybe.


By my assessment, my two wheeled adult toy has sped me along for about 50,000 miles in the last 8 years.


A chamois numbing number of those miles were spent commuting to various jobs, the grocery, the laundromat, the... well, you get it.


My grown ups' toy has carried hundreds of pounds at this point. 6 packs of IPA, bike frames, my lunch packed to take to work at the bike shop.


The therapist bills alone would have bankrupted me if my toy didn't fix my brain while keeping me fit. Seriously, nothing relieves the stress of a busy day like my nightly commute home.


Yes, there are negatives. Chain grease on your pants leg. Inclement weather. Road rage. What price do you pay for a little happiness? The bill is lessened on a bike.


I gotta tell ya, it's a good world to be in, this bike life. Not to long ago I ended up at the E.R. and found myself in a hospital room for a week. I was barely there a night before the GORC site had a thread; cyclist down.
Ron and Alex at the Hub (the shop i worked at then) took care of me and let me worry about getting well, not paying the bills.


Cory the Kona rep bought and donated a bike for a raffle for medical bills. The Midwest Mountain Bike Festival that year was an outpouring of love for your humble narrator. My heart grew a couple of sizes that day.


It is a community. Maybe a bit dysfunctional but no more so than any good American family. And yes there is a culture. It may be lycra pushed past the stretching point or comfort bikes on Grants Trail, 700c, 26", 29er, geared, single, scary... we are bike nerds.


Get over it.


Speaking of bike culture, check out the annual photo show over at Mesa Cycles on the 20th of December. The pix are always good; the spread indulgent. You might witness the rare occurrence of Black Matt smiling. Maybe.


Matt has a website for his photos which you'll find here. Also his blog is a great place to dig out his weak spots for hours of mirthful mockery.


And last but not least, I'm excited to announce that we are collaborating with the Team Revolution Cycling Club. T.R. is a women's cycling team/club. The only one of it's nature in St Louis. Very cool people. Look for more posts about up coming events.


Word y'all,


J Cozad