A Nod to the Sponsors

By Martin • July 15th, 2009

With the season coming to a close (just look at the race calender — we’re pretty much done), we’ve got plenty of memories to go around. We’ve had some great victories, a few scary crashes and more time on the saddle than is probably healthy for non-professional athletes seeking a balance between work and play. And while each of our successes have come from our own legs and our own teamwork, we’ve been helped along by a roster of invaluable team sponsors.

The Bike Rack: Our title sponsor and namesake, The Bike Rack is where most of us met and where we stated plotting the idea of racing our bikes. One of the only bike shops in downtown D.C., The Bike Rack not only offers top-name brands like Giant and Scott, but also great service and a host of community rides for all levels. Co-owner Chuck is often to be found on the Sunday rides, and even though he talks a big game, you can drop him when the road goes up. But never call him an old man. It makes him mad, and anger is his fuel.

Lyons & Sucher: So why would an ad agency that works with home builders and developers throw their lot in with a raggedy cycling team? Because co-owner Mark Sucher is an avid cyclist and we’re all potential homeowners. (My race winnings will be my first down payment in, well, 1,000 years or so.) Mark rides with The Bike Rack’s Sunday shop ride and kindly threw his support behind the team early in the season. It’s basically because of him that we have team kits this year.

Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy: We put a lot of strain on our bodies during the season, so having a good sports-centric physical therapist is a huge plus. Sports and Spinal stepped in to fill that void perfectly, and best yet, they offered the team their comprehensive bike fitting. The fits included video analysis of riding position and adjustments to pretty much everything, from cleat position to stem length and saddle height. Coming from a guy who used to fit his bike using something approaching educated guesswork, my fit was the best thing to happen to me this season. My saddle was apparently 5 cm too low, which meant that I wasn’t using my hamstrings for much of anything. If you need a good pro bike fit or other services catered towards athletes, S&S is the place to go.

Bear Dog Landscaping: Chris Schmidt, our team’s Cat 1, won’t only beat you to the line, he’ll also do it after having built you a solid retaining wall for the front yard and landscaped the heck out of that mess you call a backyard. His landscaping firm is a must for Mid-Atlantic cyclists.

The Farm at Sunnyside: Nutrition is key for cyclists, and what better nutrition is there than organic produce? (No, Hammer Gel is not a major food group.) The Farm at Sunnyside is located a stone’s throw away from Skyline Drive (great riding) and has a whole lot of organic fruits, vegetables and herbs that you can buy at the Dupont Circle Farmers Market on Sunday’s. When Tim R. flies by you on steep hills, it’s probably because he’s been eating lots of organic beets. Lots.

Twisted Brazz Studio: Not very creative? Need something designed? Talk to Marcus, a DVR racer and creative force at Twisted Brazz Studio. He can Photoshop the heck out of you to make you look totally pro.

Inward Out Designs: Not very creative? Need a website designed? Talk to Chas, a DVR racer and creative force at Inward Out Designs. Like this website? He designed it. Don’t like it? Well, you have no sense of taste and need Chas to correct you.

Thank you for making this season possible, guys. We’re still working out the kinks of our victory celebrations (you know, pointing at our jerseys or yelling as we cross the line, “The Farm at Sunnyside made this all possible!”), but by next season we promise to have ‘em down. And if you all pony up just a little more money for the team, we’ll even get your logos tattooed on someone’s back.