"So, what do I get???"

Oh man, I'm tellin' ya, it is funny sometimes during this time of the cycling year. Cycling just cracks me up at certain moments in time.

I'll explain:

Okay, you know how at the end of the season, the racer-types kinda look around and see what other teams might have to "offer" them. Now, in the Pro ranks, this kinda makes sense - it's their profession, their living, and their lives sort of depend on it right now. Groceries, housing, car payments - it comes from their cycling performance and the pro contracts.

When you get to our ranks - and I'm not speaking for everyone reading this here bloggy thing, but probably the majority - things change a bit. We plunk down anywhere between $500 and $5,000 for a bike - and then probably that same amount of money or more on clothing, coaching, dvds, books, magazines, repairs & maintenance, racing licenses, club fees, tools, components, sunglasses, trainers, car racks, thislustybikethingweallwant and on and on and on. You race? Oh, okay, so entry fees too.

So, you decide it's time to join a club. You want to ride with others, people that you like and have fun being around - that enjoy this same magnificent interest that you have. You want your riding skills and knowledge to improve, and you like the way it feels to.......well.......belong. Camraderie, fun, knowledge sharing, those epic rides, those epic races, working together, miles going by quickly - hey, it's a good feeling to belong. You didn't know what that weird clicking noise was coming from your rear derailleur this past month - but Johnny Teammate over here not only diagnosed it for you, but fixed it on the spot. Bonked out 50 miles in on that 70-mile ride?? Well, Janie Teammate over here has two extra gels to give ya. How you gonna get through that 100 mile ride today?? By having fun with your friends!

And let me say - this is when things really start to crack me up this time of year. Why??? Because of questions like this:

"Well, if I join your club/team, what do I get???"

What do you get??? Well, um, hmmmm. First off, uh, we're not a pro team, so we're not giving away bikes or anything like that. And, as much as we would like to, we can't give you those super snazzy wheels, or pay you to race for a living.

So, you missed out on getting those free team arm warmers?? Damn. That just sux. How about a team t-shirt instead?? No?? You had your heart set on those arm warmers, eh?? Hmmmm. And now you're upset. You joined up, you thought you were gettin' the arm warmers - and damn it, there's none left. And the team wants to ride together and become better over the course of a season - learning, riding, skill building, working together, epic ride sharing, etc. But no - you feel ripped off. You plunked down your $20 or whatever for membership - and those stupid arm warmers are now gone. Damn.

Well, you know what?? Maybe you should ask yourself why in the world you would want to 'belong' on a club or a team in the first place??? Maybe it's not the right thing for you. Instead of asking what you can get - why don't ask what you can do to help. Or better yet, don't just ask - just do. Or bail. Don't threaten to bail - or think about it - just do it.

I know that there are club directors and associates out there who sometimes feel like babysitters this time of year. We have this, that, and the other thing to give you.....but most importantly, we want you to be a part of this cycling "club" that we have going here. And yes, I am just as upset as you that the team arm warmers or t-shirts or hats are now all gone - or the club deal on the 2007 Kickass bike is now over.

But it wasn't why I joined in the first place. That stuff was all secondary, at most.

I plunked down my hard-earned $20(okay, so maybe it wasn't that hard-earned, but you get the point) because I wanted to be a part of the fun, the self-improvement, the exercise, the group dynamic, the skill building, the working together, the cohesiveness......I just thought it would be a kick - it would be fun! If that's not your thing - or the group just ain't workin' for ya - well move on. But, geezo, quit your whinin' about it. Directors - I know you know what I'm talkin' about here.

And besides - not having any arm warmers or t-shirts isn't the end of the world. Heck, we'll put another order in - just tell me what you want.

One of the coolest things I saw this past year from a Sportie team came from these guys. It got towards the end of the season, they still had a little bit of cash left to help the sport team out a bit - and instead of splitting all the money up and giving it back to the members in terms of race reimbursements - they voted to use the money to hire a cycling coach to put on a 2-day skills camp for the team. They weren't asking what they get for being on the club - they just wanted to belong. They get it. They put things into perspective - that at our level, you shouldn't really be asking what you "get" for bein' on the club......because it's all the same thing......we're looking to "get" to become better riders and have fun, get some exericise, some satisfaction, and a sense of achievement.

Okay, Wednesday rant over.