Dec 31  With the news of the UltraMax Championship Series for 2004 (see daily update archive) being released on yesterday's update, a few emails have reached The SBRStL inbox inquiring about one race in particular, the US Half-Iron Triathlon Championship. In search of the usual 411, they wanted the basics, like what, when, where, etc?  With the final details being hammered out and an official announcement set for the near future, I can only give you the skinny in it's slimmest version.  The race will be another UltraMax Events production and will be in Missouri.  It will be a true national iron-distance qualifying championship.  (note: we did not say Ironman).  The qualifying standards for this event will adhere to USAT guidelines, that is, finish in the top 20% of your AG at selected qualifying events or finish any USAT sanctioned half or full iron-distance event within the established AG qualifying times.  SBRStL will have all of the details of this exciting race once they are finalized.

Dec 30  The UltraMax Championship Series launches in 2004.  It will be comprised of seven events.  Participants will be awarded points based on their finish time versus the overall amateur's finish time.  Much like USAT rankings, races in the Series will have a multiplier based on the specific event.  These multipliers will be used to determine each racer's final score.  Racers will be scored on their best scores in two of the seven series events.  For each race completed over two, the racer will receive 5 bonus points.  You will be ranked based on your age as of Dec 31st of that year.  Overall winners will receive free entries into all 2005 Ultramax Series Events - $600 Value.  Age-group winners will receive $100.00 (2X$50 certificates) off any Ultramax Championship Series event(s).

Dec 28-29  SBRStL received an interesting last minute Writing Contest entry.  This race narrative describes how we've all probably felt during a marathon, at one time or another.  Link in the right margin to read it.  Along the lines of reading material, if in the future anyone offers a training article, fictional work, or race narrative, etc. you'd like to share, I will publish it for you without the pressures of a contest.  I think there are many compelling experiences out there that would be worth sharing.  Don't worry so much about being grammatically perfect. The writing obviously doesn't have to be Hemmingway-quality or else this whole website would be blank.....  If you are considering a team entry in the MaxOMania event at Innsbrook, we suggest you get your deposit in pronto.  The event is nearly full.  Glossing over the entry list, SBRStL couldn't help but notice the formidable team of Mark Gowler and Sarah Haskins.  This duo should put up a remarkable time.....  Analyzing the SBRStL weekly usage report always seems to yield something interesting.  In the recent past it was learned that we have readership in Belgium and Australia.  This was both flattering and perplexing given the generally local nature of our content.  Today we learned that Canada and Argentina are now ranked second and third in visits, by country of origin.  Amazing.  SwimBikeRunBuenasAires has an exotic air to it.

Perspective  After four weeks, my grand training experiment still lives.  With 80 hours of aerobic training under my belt during that span, it still remains an evolving work-in-progress as I try to settle-in on just the right balance of stress and rest.  Oddly, the seven-day regimen leaves me fresher than a six days on/one day off schedule.  One thing I won't be doing anytime again soon is a five-day week.  Even with two days rest it was a tough nut.

While most triathletes perish at the thought of so much indoor training, let me offer that having a clear purpose helps the cause.  A defined goal can carry your effort beyond what you may have thought endurable.  Perspective is the other x-factor.  We all find inspiration in personal places.  I tend fall back on the three successive seasons when I had to look up at my orthopedic surgeon's masked face before I slipped into unconsciousness.  Being physically healthy is such a prime motivator.  Jeez, I'd gladly train exclusively indoors if I had no alternative.

There have been a couple of moments along the way that stand apart from the rest.  For example, a Christmas Day fifty-mile bike ride in virtually traffic-free urban roads was wondrous, though it did have a Stephen King-like overtone.  Another zenith was hearing the unsolicited comments at a family function regarding my newly slimmed self.  Vanity isn't my strong suit, but it was reassuring to hear such things in light of my hard work bringing me six pounds shy of my high school weight.

Before anyone reads the least bit of braggadocio into these passages, let me clear the air by saying that it is not my style to boast.  I would have remained perfectly content with the self-knowledge alone.  If in some way this serves to inspire someone to take upon him or herself a great new multisport challenge, then mission accomplished.  It's kinda like a t-shirt I saw in the gym that succinctly stated, "If you shoot for the moon and miss, you just might land on a star."

Dec 24-27  The SBRStL writing contest is entering the last few days.  Though I had no real expectations, the number of entries was surprisingly sparse.   Perhaps it was a combination of the Holidays and my overestimating how many literary wannabes like me were out there.....  SBRStL has unceremoniously dropped CarbBOOM from site sponsorship.  It was simply a matter of the gel maker not following through satisfactorily on its commitments to us.  Though SBRStL is a little fish in the sea of media advertising possibilities for them, we feel we still deserve better.  In another matter, our much anticipated discussion board hit a snag when the IkonBoard installer couldn't successfully get their product uploaded and running.  While we arm wrestle them for a refund, we'll look into other possibilities.  There is good news, however.  SBRStL's annual traffic is steadily approaching  six-figures.  Thanks to everyone who supports the site.....  The Third Annual Bicycle Swap Meet hosted by the St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation is slated for Sunday, February 15, 2003 from 12:00 - 3:30 p.m. at the Deer Creek Shopping Center, 3200 Laclede Station Road (the old K-Mart location).  Admission will be $3 (free to St. Louis Regional Bicycle Federation members), but early-birds pay $10 and get in at 11:00 a.m. You will receive a raffle ticket with your admission.  Individuals, bike shops, and non-profits will have booths with all sorts of bike related goods.  If you'd like a 12'x12' display space, individuals pay $20 for one square or $30 for 2 squares.  If you just have a bike and don't want to buy a vendor space, $5 will put it in the bike corral.  website....  USA Triathlon certified Level-2 coach Sara Rosenkranz is creating a national development triathlon team for athletes ages 18-30 designed to elevate up-and-coming triathletes to the next level of national and international competition.  The team will be based in Clermont, Florida and the deadline to apply is Jan. 9, 2004.  application pdf.

Dec 23  While many of us have visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads this holi-daze, an Ironman triathlete in Australia is going long.  40-year-old Andrew Stanfield will attempt to complete five Ironman triathlons in five consecutive days to raise funds for charity.  He begins his quest on March 28, 2004 and finishes at Ironman Australia.  His weekly training schedule of 25-36km swimming, 450-700km biking and 80-120km running has him geared up for a trial-run beginning this week when he will complete the half-iron distance on each of six consecutive days.  For an peek into Stanfield's psyche, read about his 10th place finish at the 2002 Ultraman.....  Amazing people part-two.....  Competitor Magazine published a story about two remarkable multisport athletes who overcame great personal hurdles.  If you require a little inspiration to kick that training program into gear, read their stories.....  SBRStL made it a point to cross the new Veterans Memorial Bridge and was sufficiently impressed with the 10-laned span's ability to accommodate cars.  Driving over it with a cyclist's mentality however, we couldn't help but notice that MoDot still needs to paint the bike lanes.....  In the Know  The Missouri statutes as they pertain to the rights and obligations of cyclists are state-wide laws of which every rider should be keenly aware.  Being in the right doesn't necessarily ensure your safety, but know your legal ground.

Dec 22   In the glass is half-full department, last evening was the longest night of the year, which means from now until the summer solstice, the days are getting longer.....  Touring Cyclist set the date of their annual biathlon in Fairview Heights for Sunday, July 18th.  The last two years have seen it coincide with the Ballwin Tri and consequently draw smaller fields.  Hopefully this year it will land between the South County YMCA and the Ballwin Triathlons thus allowing all to prosper.....  SBRStL multisport gifts.....  Nice work goes those locals who participated in the White Rock Marathon down in Texas.  Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the Dallas area shoe store who handled the timing chores.  A spokesman for Luke's Locker stated that the ChampionChips functioned flawlessly but that the software had glitches that mis-reported the finish times of every relay-team.  That constituted 2025 of the 8500 marathon participants, or an error factor of nearly 25%.  To further complicate matters, unconfirmed results were rushed to the Dallas Morning News for publication.  Few events are flawless, but better luck next year.

Dec 19-21   The National Bike Summit will take place March 3-5 in Washington, D.C.  This is an opportunity for the cycling community to meet with legislators and network with like-minded individuals form around the country.....  The ladies speak up.  Here are some quotes from a host of female pro riders which offer a variety of interesting insights into big-time bike racing....  Steve Larsen's retirement surprised most observers.  His two-decade career brought great success in both road and mountain bike racing.  He made the crossover into triathlon with a bang, and left an imprint as one of its fastest cyclists ever.....  Mountain bikers dismay over the bankruptcy filing of Trilife Sports, the producer of the 24 Hours of Adrenalin series.  NORBA must have seen the handwriting on the wall when it took away from Trilife the production of its own 24-hour races.  The Adrenaline Series was scheduled to hold events in 2004 as close to Missouri as Texas and Georgia, but its future is remains uncertain.....  The World Triathlon Corp. performed their patriotic duty by allowing local triathlete Tom Jackson to roll over his Ironman Worlds slot from 2003 to 2004.  Rather than spend last October in the Kona heat, he was sweating it out in Iraq.  Though Jackson has the talent to qualify again, the WCT did the right thing.....  Feel good stories of giving usually surface around this time of the year.  Here's a heart-warming letter from a kid with diabetes to George Hincapie after he had made the twelve-year old's day.

Dec 17  Congratulations to Amber Warren of Lutheran High School in St Charles who competed at the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships in San Diego's Balboa Park.  Her 18:32 was good enough for 23rd overall.....  Oops, the Bicycle Fun Club's web site has been suspended.  We're not certain if  that means the site is being redesigned, someone forgot to pay the bill, or the club is history.  Hopefully it's not the latter.

Perspective   Ever on the lookout for new adventure, what better time than the exciting month of December to launch a training  experiment?  Typically, I spend the final month of the year in rest-mode, topping off my fat cell stores.  A late November peek at the scale made me painfully aware of the ill-advised nature of that agenda.  Obviously my sisters and their evil Holiday cooking were at least partially responsible for the ten excessive lbs, but glumly facing the digital truth, I realized a change of plans was in order.

I've always been intrigued with the mystical nature of numbers, as they apply to life, and the scientific application they bring to training, representing miles, meters, hours, minutes, grams, or alas, pounds.  Take hours, for example.  Through the years my weekly training volume has usually peaked at around twelve-hours.  While standing atop that truth-baring scale, a lightning bolt of inspiration struck.  What if I pushed my weekly volume to twenty-hours and maintained it?  It would require an average 3:20 per day when factoring in an off day.  Was it possible without wearing or burning out?  What better time than the low-intensity/ high-volume base-building phase to take a run at it?

Fast forward to the present.  In the third week of this grand experiment now, I can report on some quick early findings.  Gravity's effect on me has lessened to the tune of 10 pounds, my sleep has deepened significantly, and I've managed to make several new friends at the gym as a result of my perpetual presence there.  Twenty-hours per week of pure aerobic-zone training is simultaneously easy and hard.  While not as immediately demanding as strength and power workouts, the energy drain is steady and subtle.  To this point, motivation hasn't been a problem and the sessions haven't become tedious.  Can this regimen survive the flu season?  Is 8-12 weeks of this a stretch? Will I simply make it through week-three?  The answers to these and other burning questions to follow.

Dec 16  The Dannon Duathlon Schedule for 2004 includes stops in Miami, Phoenix, Provo, Lake Stevens (WA), Alpharetta (GA), Naperville, Cincinnati, and Palm Springs (CA).  The final stop is a revival of the Desert Princess Duathlon of years ago.  This event will offer both long and short courses.  The long will serve as a USAT Long Course Worlds qualifier.  I've competed in this tough 10k-60k-10k race before and highly recommend it.  Complete information for all of the events can be found on the race website.....  The Ironman slot auction will return to eBay in April.  The 2004 version will offer a few new wrinkles, the essence of which is that there will be no age-groups specified.  The bidding war for each of the ten slots will be open to everyone..... 

Perspective  For those of you not familiar with web logs, or as they're more popularly known, blogs, they are sort of an online personal journal.  Their popularity and number has exploded across the internet.  These sites are typically updated daily and in many cases several times a day.  Having visited scores of these sites, I have experienced the full gamut from pretenders to the articulate.  Blogs are very often thematic and catalogued with others, much like discussion groups.  The blog author's personal interests or hobbies are most often its focal point.  I discovered a group of triathlon blogs and hoped they would offer more than "today I ran  5 miles, tomorrow I will swim."  I wanted well-phrased, sometimes witty, and insightful writing.  I wanted perspective and emotion.  Here is what I found.

Dec 15  SBRStL's web host was off-line for the better part of Saturday night and Sunday.  Those of you who tried to log on probably saw an error message.  Hopefully, the situation was effectively addressed and we can get back to business.....  The Page Avenue time-trial was up and running Saturday, as scheduled, in less than ideal weather conditions. The hard-core riders who showed up made the best of things.  The top time of the day was a dead heat between local triathlete Bernd Faust and roadie Brad Wadlow.  Both managed to complete the four-miler in 11:05.  Amy Strahan had the best time among the ladies in 12:25.....  Over on the east side, the Pere Marquette 7.5 Mile Endurance trail runners had fun in the snow too.  Out-of-towner Brian Lyons of Joplin, Mo. clocked a 50:50 and Judy Dorpinghaus of Villa Ridge ran it in 1:00:21 to take the respective men's and women's titles.....  A posting originally found on the Yahoo discussion group, Okinawa-multisport, reveals a female's frustration of trying to hang with the peloton.  It's a fun read, thank you Dana for passing it along.....  T2 Multisport Bags can now be purchased through Magonate's website and are priced at $110.....  The USAT has won their lawsuit against Proto Web for trademark infringement.  It now has ownership of the domain name usatriathlon.com as well as its long-held usatriathlon.org.

Dec 12  The Active Sports Marketing Group is seeking elite athletes for sponsorship in 2004.  If you are a top age-group runner, cyclist, mountain biker, triathlete, or adventure racer and are interested in receiving support, then maybe this program is for you.  As an sponsored athlete you will receive a years supply of nutrition, apparel, and gear.  There are also cash incentives for media exposure.  You must be 18 and meet the January 8th application deadline.  Good luck.....  The SBRStL message board system, barring any unforeseen complications, should be up and running some time next week.  I have settled on ikonboard and have ordered their installation service.  This will be a great addition to the website.  Ikonboard currently has over a million active boards across the internet and is a feature-rich system for both users and moderator.  We are certain you'll like it, so for now, we just have to hurry up and wait.....  In an alarming international development, the city of Shanghai, China will ban bicycles from all major roads in 2004.  Stiff fines will be assessed to violators.  It is part of a plan, officials say, to mitigate traffic congestion and accidents.  Hopefully this action won't filter to the west and inspire mimicking American cities.  Perhaps it could only take place in a political environment where the people have less voice.  In a city with 9 million bicycles, the time could be ripe for the largest critical mass protest in history.

Dec 11  The Balance Bar Grant applications deadline is January 15.  Grants of $500 to $10,000 are awarded to amateur athletes (both individuals and teams) who pursue sports or activities that integrate all aspects of the mind and body. They have generously provided over $200,000 in financial support to selected grantees to pursue their passions and push their personal limits. Learn more about the program.....  The entry lists are now available for both the 1/4Max and 1/2Max Triathlons slated for the weekend of June 18th.  Over two-hundred triathletes representing 19 states and DC have already committed.  If these early registrants are any indication, and when added to the MiniMax kids tri, this promises to be a massive weekend trifest that will eclipse any previous multisport event in the area.....  The next time MoDot builds a Page extension across the Missouri River, we hope they schedule completion for a summer month.  It unfortunately appears as if Saturday's bike time-trial could be tainted by winter weather.....  After posting a mostly positive review of the Ironman broadcast, it was interesting to see Duathlon.com's message board with notes lambasting NBC.  I guess opinions really are like uh, you know.  Everybody's got one....  New Products  Carbon fiber is making its way to virtually every  part of the bicycle.  The German craftsmen at AX Lightness have fabricated a bike techie's dream set of brake caliphers.  These carbon beauties are but one product in a rapidly expanding array of carbonized-components the company creates and markets.  Their carbon and Kevlar saddle weighs in at a miniscule 74 grams.  AX Lightness offers carbon fiber MTB bar ends as well as seat posts for both road and off-road setups.  The company put together a complete Storck carbon road bike that hit the scales under eleven lbs.

Dec 10  Perspective  Being the multisport-minded individual that I am, my annual anticipation for the Ironman broadcast runs high.  But my expectations for the 2003 broadcast were probably a little elevated.  I think the same could be said for most of us. True, we already knew who won and by how much, but we didn't tune in for the suspense.  NBC's video production unfailingly manages to evoke emotions from somewhere deep down between my glycogen stores and soul.  And after all, this was the 25th anniversary edition.  Four hours later, my overall impression was mixed.  When the show was good, it soared, and when it was flawed, it left a hollow feeling.

For reasons this writer can only begin to imagine, NBC took the curious approach of offering a two-hour show in one-hour segments, separated by a two-hour intermission.  Presumably it was a dinner-window for all of those Ironman viewing parties.  I can think of no other sensible reason.  Heck, I would have been like a kid glued to Saturday cartoons if it had been one four-hour show.  This disjointed approach didn't encourage continuity.  The production itself is typically top notch, but I do take exception with a few issues this year.  The film editors must have had too much caffeine while splicing footage for the first hour-segment.  If they intended to create a special effect, it had a special effect on me.  It was so choppy I had late-sixties flashbacks.  There were several film-sequence redundancies between the first and second hour.  Surely they realized that virtually everyone who viewed the first show would also watched the second.  The battle between Lori and Nina was underplayed.  The reality was that Lori made several attempts to pass her and encountered persistent Kraft surges. The viewers got no sense of that.  Lastly, the normally creative soundtrack oddly repeated a song from last years show.  While the song is a killer cut, it seemed stale.

So, what was good about the show?  Lots.  Witnessing a racer who at one point was unconscious on the roadside and then ultimately finish the race was amazing.  How could one follow the Mark Herremans saga with dry eyes?  Seeing Tim DeBoom writhing in pain in the ambulance was a real eye-opener.  Amusingly, Natascha had pointed out at the post- race press conference that she hoped NBC wouldn't show her getting ill on the run, but boy did they ever.  The interviews with the Hoyts, Julie Moss, Dave Scott and Mark Allen, the Collins', and Tim DeBoom were great.  And as always, seeing the age-groupers make the white line was inspirational.  And further, the script and voice-over were as solid.  While overall it was not the A+ telecast that I had hoped for, I think it earned a solid B.

Dec 9  Perspective  I found the new Snickers Marathon Bars at Walgreens and made it a point to sample one.  Priced at $1.49, it exceeded my very personal and highly subjective cost-threshold of one-dollar per bar, but in the name of chocolate-journalism I bucked up, as it were.  While the taste was great, like all creamy chocolate energy bars it definitely doesn't lend itself to a cycling jersey pocket on hot summer days.  We've all been down that messy road once.  Alright, I've pedaled that road more than once, but that's not the point here. However, I found that the same could be said for the opposite temperature extreme as well.  I inadvertently created a long-forgotten childhood treat, frozen candy bars, by leaving it in the car overnight.  On the drive to the gym, I found new meaning in the term "did a brick" and managed to consume the 273 calories without chipping any molars or fenders.  In summary, the experiment was clearly flawed and will be re-performed under rigidly controlled scientific conditions. This time I'm opening it at the check-out line.

Dec 8  The 15th annual Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run set for Saturday at 10am is now officially closed to registration as the event has reached its 550 field capacity.  The 7.5 mile run is one of the toughest in the metro area with runners confronting steep, single-track, trail pitches.  The race will go on regardless of mother nature....  Those runners who didn't manage to get their applications in on time for the trail run can still get out and stretch their legs come Saturday morning. The Veterans Memorial Bridge 4 Mile Run starts at 8am and will give athletes a chance to utilize the new road until it is opened to vehicular traffic later in the day.  Those wishing to do both the run and the bike time trial can actually pull it off.  The starting times for the remaining 125 cyclists, if registering now, would be 9am or later....  Tim Sandfort competed over the weekend in Queenstown, New Zealand at the ITU World Championships placing 55th in the world in M25-29 at 2:19:34.  Nice work on a venue that featured a leg-sapping bike course and an undulating run.....  Peter Robertson of Australia won his second Olympic distance ITU World Championship on perhaps the most difficult Worlds courses to date.  In a winning time that was 5 minutes slower than most ITU events for the men, his splits were remarkable given the degree of difficulty (17:56, 1:02:34, 33:44).  The women's division saw Emma Snowsill, also of Australia, take the title by a comfortable 1:23 margin.  Pre-race favorite and number one in the world, Barb Lindquist of the US, finished off the podium in fourth.....  The official announcement of the 2004 Ironman qualifiers came with a sad surprise for some.  Big Island citizens won't have it so easy any more.  The Keauhou Kona Triathlon, scheduled for, May 30, 2004, will not be allocated any Ironman slots. For many of their 22 years the KKT has had 55 slots, 30 of which were reserved for Big Island athletes.  The KKT will still be held with RD, Joe Ackles, determined to put on a safe and fun event.  The shuffled slots will be re-distributed among the newly created Florida Half-ironman and the South Africa Half-Ironman Triathlons.

Perspective  I love sorting through the e-mail, once I'm past the Nigerian bank scams, male enhancement products, and re-financing solicitations.  All sorts of interesting items can pop up, ranging from personal narratives to site suggestions and training questions.  It is often the simplest questions that are the most difficult to answer.  This short, straight forward inquiry made me pause and take stock. 

Question of the week:  Why are triathletes so concerned about where they place in their age group?  Who cares if you were 1st in your age group if you're 3, 4, 5, or 10 minutes behind the winner?  What's the point?  Thanks.  new2tri

Upon reflection, the answer seems fraught with complexity.  Taking the obvious tack, my knee-jerk response would be that it is a race after all, and the athletes in one's age-group are the principal players.  This, however, is only true to a limited extent.  How many athletes in any typical age-group bracket are actually capable of winning it?  Perhaps two-percent?  What then of the rest, why should they care?  Okay, so maybe they won't validate their training with a trophy, but seeing their relative placing within the AG allows for a measure of improvement.  Last year, I had such and such a time or finished this race in 10th, but this year I shaved 2 minutes or moved up three notches, so now I need to tweak my training with more speed work, bike miles, or pool time, etc.  They are competing with themselves and the clock, no one else.  There is also a large proportion of triathletes who are in the sport for the love of it and not for the competition at all.  In fact, this segment probably constitutes the vast majority of its participants.  Why should they care about who finishes where?  The answer is that they don't have to and shouldn't.  When you hearken back to the spirit of the first Ironman, the goal was simply to finish.  It was a journey of personal exploration, seeking new physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bounds.  For most of us, that's enough.

Dec 7  Sarah Haskins wins at Springfield Half Marathon.  Her 1:23:57 (6:25) was enough to provide a comfortable two-and-one-half minute margin over the second female finisher and place her 9th overall.  In the full marathon, Juan Torrealba of St Louis sped to a 2:47:52 finish and sixth place overall.....  Down in Memphis, a large group of locals went 26.2.  Congrats to Kimberly Parkinson for an AG win along with three other racers going top 5 age group......  The Page Avenue Time Trial, set for Dec. 13th, currently has 113 riders registered.  It seems that many potential participants may be biding their time to see what the weather will do.  In light of the snowstorm that caught the East Coast by surprise the last few days, obviously anything is possible.  The field will be capped at 250 cyclists.  Big Shark Bicycle Company is sponsoring the event and immediately following it will hold an open house at their new store facilities on Delmar, from 10am to 6pm.  They will provide complimentary liquid libations and special offers. All are invited to attend and check out their shiny new digs.....  I have received word that my favorite timing company (lol), Timberline Timing, has finally corrected the 1/2Max and 1/4Max results rankings on USAT's website.  Any long-time readers may remember my beef with them so I won't dredge up the past.....  Balance Bar is offering free shipping on orders through the month of December.....  SmartFUEL online holiday specials.

Dec 5  Some area folks don't have to get into the Christmas spirit each December because for them it's a mindset twelve months of the year...  BicycleWORKS is a 15-yr old program situated in the Shaw neighborhood that provides area kids a chance to earn a free bicycle and helmet.  The kids are given instruction in fundamental bike mechanics, maintenance, and safety.  When they complete the program, voila, they're rolling.  The program's central concept though is so much more than simply giving away two-wheelers.  The bicycles actually are a medium for instilling a sense of responsibility and creating positive conflict resolution in underprivileged youth.  Operating under the umbrella of BWorks, ByteWORKS was formed in 1996, joining BicycleWORKS in giving the community yet another opportunity for kids to learn and earn.  ByteWORKS collects and refurbishes used computers that are donated by area companies.  The kids attend free classes and upon successful completion can take home a computer.   Volunteers can assist either program in most any capacity.....  The St Louis Wheel Chair Athletic Association is a little known program that provides wheelchair sports to those with permanent physical disabilities.  Founded in 1989, the program enables physically challenged individuals with opportunities to  participate in basketball, track and field, road racing, tennis, and many other sports.  Prospective volunteers can find all of the necessary information on their website..... 

Perspective  I find myself these days spending hours in the club wearing out their stationary bikes.  My low-intensity, high-volume spinning provides me with albeit sweaty, but valuable reading time.  I usually bring my own, but one particular day I didn't.  Having devoured every magazine on their rack that even remotely promised an article of interest, I was facing a two hour ride without reading fodder, until I spied some fresh meat, Sports Illustrated.  But this was not just any SI.  It was their 50th anniversary edition, the "Covers Issue", all 2,548 of them.  After a brief stroll down memory lane gazing at covers I recalled from my childhood, I snapped back to reality and several realizations struck me.  I'm cool with fact that Michael Jordon has graced the cover 49 times because MJ sells.  Further, I understand completely why football, baseball, basketball, golf, boxing, hockey, and tennis comprise nearly half, or a total of 2,053 covers.  Ok, I thought, time to find the triathletes.  It was after all, a Sports Illustrated article that was instrumental in propelling triathlon's popularity back in the seminal days.  I started with 1978 and worked my way forward.  While I studied cover after blurry cover, I discovered many wonderful and exciting sports, illustrated.  They included bird watching, autumn walks, island hopping, gambling, night driving, chess, gold diving, vacations, dog shows, horse shows, and bridge.  Where were the Man, ST, the Grip, PNF, and the Terminator?  How about the modern day iron-champions?  Where was a cover shot of the stark beauty of the lava fields? Where was the visual spectacle of the mass swim start? What, no photo of an emotionally spent amateur athlete reaching the white line?  I suppose it's some consolation that Lance has five covers but he had to nearly die and then perform the unimaginably difficult task of winning five consecutive TDF's to get them.  After I digested most of what I had seen, I disconcertedly closed the magazine and tossed it to the floor.  Well, truth be told, I guess I really wasn't that surprised after all.

Dec 4  The latest UltraMax Events email update just went out and includes a couple of  noteworthy points.  First of all, any 2003 race fees you paid for their events have tax-deduction implications, so definitely be aware of that when you sit down with the taxman.  Secondly, they have issued an additional 25% discount on all merchandise just in time for Christmas.....  In need of a hangover remedy for January 1st?  How about a shot of fresh air?  The Wellbridge New Year's Day Run starts at 11 a.m. at Wellbridge Athletic Club & Spa, 998 Woods Mill Rd.  It benefits the AMC Cancer Research Center and post-race activities will include door prizes and refreshments.  Participants can use the club locker rooms, pool, sauna, steam room or whirlpool after the race. $16 minimum donation.  Registration info: 636-207-3000.....  Bicycle Retailer Magazine, reporting on Wal-Mart's $1.52 billion in sales on the Friday following Thanksgiving, notes that bike sales were not mentioned by the largest bicycle retailer in the United States.  Wal-Mart priced its loss-leader Huffy bikes for post-Turkey Day sales comparable with last year, around $24.  In SBRStL's opinion, nothing says love more than sending your precious progeny out peddling a two-wheeler that costs less than the entry fee to your last 5k race.  The questions that beg to be answered revolve around assembly  issues.  Are all of the required parts included in this sub-bargain basement bike, and what are all of these extra nuts and bolts for?  SBRStL may need to send its intrepid investigative reporter back into the field on this case.  Stay tuned....  Much is made of training at altitude, especially when race day alights anywhere near sea level.  Without delving into the cellular reasons why this is so,  a simple aerobic analogy may be along the lines of altitude-training making a wedge of oak feel more like a piece of balsa.  There is a segment of the endurance sport world that trains and races above 2000m.  The Federation for Sport at Altitude website is cyber-central for this incarnation of extreme sport.  Disciplines in the decidedly euro sport include our familiar friends running, biking, triathlon, duathlon, and adventure (raid), but at elevations of 6,560 feet or higher.  To fully explore their website however, you'll need to set-up a free password via email, but it's worth the effort.

Dec 2  Perhaps endurance athletes can't change the world, but they still project a shining lifestyle image that most Americans will never approximate.  Twenty-five percent of Americans still smoke, sixty-million meet the medical definition of obesity, and nearly half of the 250 million citizens suffer from some preventable chronic condition, many of which could be avoided by simple changes in behavior.  Those health problems account for 70 per cent of all deaths in the country and nearly 75 per cent of healthcare costs.  Reflecting on these brutal figures conjured up the "R" word.  As fitness enthusiasts, do we have a responsibility here or is it sufficient to simply mind our own business?  I believe that the least we should do as fitness-lifestyle advocates is affect our spheres of influence.  Whether by osmosis or persuasive methods,  the best holiday gifts we can offer our families, friends, and workmates are the means to longer and healthier lives.

Nov 30  The Chesterfield Turkey Trot 5k run on Thanksgiving day witnessed swimmer-runner-triathlete, Sarah Haskins, return to form in something more than a trot.  She is nearly fully recovered from injuries suffered in a late-summer bike/car confrontation, which is great for her but not such good news for her competition.  The former high school and collegiate runner won the women's division in 18:50 and was 27th overall in a huge field of 1,324.  Twenty-one year old Andrew Person of St Louis won the overall with a 5:04 pace and 15:41 finish....  The traveling road-show, aka the Trek Demo Tour, was  a popular spot on Saturday and Sunday at Castlewood park. It was predominantly attended by MTB'rs taking high end Trek mountain bikes to the trails.  Though Trek's website  indicated only having the 5200 road model to ride, fortunately they brought along a Madone as well.  I gave this super-light, top-of-the-line, five-grand, dream-machine a spin up the Ries Road hill from Castlewood and it made a very favorable impression on me.  Maybe I can trade my car in on one.....    Mike Farrell was back to his winning ways at the Great River Road 10 Miler on Saturday.  His 4:58 pace was simply too strong as he cruised to a four minute win over the rather large field of 979 racers.  The men's masters winner was 48-year old Les Myers of St Louis whose 58:48 gave him 7th position overall.  The women's division experienced double-trouble with 19 year olds, Maggie and Maureen Conley of Ballwin going one-two in 1:05:51 and 1:07:37 respectively.  The women's masters winner was triathlete Helen Alexander-Kratz of St Louis with a 1:08:13.  Despite the longish distance, this road race drew 64 teen-aged participants and 53 who were 60 years of age or older, nine of whom were in their seventies.  Great job by all.....  While much of the world will watch next weekend's ITU World Championship race in New Zealand on live television, the US broadcast rights will be distributed by BBC television to OLN for a taped version to be aired at a reasonably viewable hour.  Event organizers anticipate one billion viewers worldwide....  Final 2003 USAT rankings will be available after the first of the year, but in the meantime, you can easily compute your own score.  First, download your scores from all 2003 sanctioned races.  Next, simply average your three highest event scores.  Until the 2003 process is complete, you can pit your number against the 2002 rankings as a comparative basis.

Nov 29  The Trust for Public Land just announced that 162 acres of land at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers will be protected for public use through a combination of public ownership and conservation easements, as part of the Great River Greenway park district. The 162 acres are adjacent to the 4,300-acre Columbia Bottom Conservation Area.  TPL acquired the property and easement and conveyed both to GRG for stewardship. They lie within the Confluence Greenway, a 40-mile series of bi-state greenways, trails and cultural attractions along the Mississippi's confluences with both the Missouri and the Illinois rivers.... The St Louis Regional Bicycle Federation will hold its 3rd Annual Swap Meet on Feb 15.  This event provides a nice opportunity to vend or swap gear.  The location changes for 2004 to the K-Mart building at Big Bend and Marshall Roads....  Meyer Real Estate offices in St. Charles and Wentzville will collect bicycles as the company sponsors its 14th annual Great Bicycle Roundup for the needy.  Bicycles will be collected through Dec. 12 at the company offices at 2211 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles and 405 East Pearce Boulevard in Wentzville. They will be delivered to the Salvation Army as Christmas gifts to families. Monetary donations to purchase new bikes also will be accepted.  The biggest need is for tricycles and bikes for children 10 and younger.  The company requests no 10-speed bikes. Bicycles should be in working order, including the brakes, and should be turned in with tires inflated.  For more information, call 636-946-6330 or 636-332-1933.

Nov 28  Just when you thought there were too many energy bars on the market, another appears, but not from a source you'd expect.  Snickers has re-introduced the Marathon Bar.  Perhaps ahead of its time several years ago, it was once unsuccessfully rolled out to a dis-interested public.  Sensing a more receptive market, Snickers has reformulated and repackaged the product.  The 55 gm bars come in two flavors and pack 220 calories, 32 gm carbohydrates, 9 gm protein, and 8 gm of fat.  They are vitamin and mineral fortified, and taste great.....  What was the last, satisfying, bicycling film anyone remembers seeing?  If your answer includes the words "Kevin Kostner", you lose.  Breaking Away would probably be the most common response.  A new animated feature has been released by Sony Pictures that will surprise you.  The following is USA Today's review :

"Both a nostalgic throwback to the silent-picture era and an ultra-modern animated tale, the slyly humorous Triplets of Belleville is artful, engrossing and oddly touching. It manages this cinematic range with not a word of dialogue, only an evocative musical score, occasional dog barks and bursts of sound.  A boy whose only companions are his dog and his kindly grandmother grows up to be a bicycling champ. The skinny lad with the massive calves could be Lance Armstrong's French cousin: It's all about the bike for him. While competing in the Tour de France, he's kidnapped. His grandmother and pooch search doggedly for him deep into the striking metropolis of Belleville, where they meet eccentric singing triplets, the Gallic version of the Andrews Sisters.  Director Sylvain Chomet drew inspiration from eclectic sources: Tintin comic books, the work of British animator Nick Park and actor-director Jacques Tati. He cleverly pokes fun at French and American stereotypes, and his fusion of traditional and 3-D animation inventively illustrates this simple but captivating story. (Opens today in Los Angeles and New York; PG-13 for sensuality, violence and crude humor) "

Nov 27  Thanksgiving Day   Just a few personal thanks to give:

• For the growing number of metro area  triathlons, which only a few years ago could easily be counted on one hand

• For finally having a USAT-sanctioned triathlon in the area once again

• For Innsbrook Estates opening their private community to multisport and generously sharing their incredible natural resources with us

• For many of the local bike shops who have taken triathlon to heart and have supported the sport by carrying tri bikes and way more tri gear

• For all the retailers who financially back the hundreds of local  swimming, biking, running, and multisport races staged each year

• For all of the race directors who produce safe and challenging events

• For the many volunteers who give us nourishment, hydration, and encouragement

• For Ironkids Bread and the city of Clayton maintaining an event in St Louis

• For having an iron-distance triathlon in Missouri

• For MoDot erecting more and more share the road signs

• For those motorists who judiciously pass cyclists and runners

• For the City of Wildwood spending millions on road resurfacing projects

• For the increasing number of Greenways and bike trails being constructed by advocacy groups, local municipalities, and the state of Missouri

• For giving us two down-to-earth triathletes in 2003, one of whom is a World Champion and the other who is a National Champion

• For the American Airlines rep who bent a rule or two getting me to Kona at the very last minute this year

• For SBRStL's sponsors who had the faith and vision to back this endeavor

• For the amazing metro area support bestowed upon SBRStL

Nov 26  HealthFest 2003 takes place at the Science Center on Saturday, November 29 from 9:30am until 4:30pm.  Learn about the contributions of technology in our daily lives. Meet service providers and industry professionals to see the advancements in health. Explore interactive exhibits, poster displays from area school children, exhibit booths and health screenings highlighting how science improves health. The exhibits are complemented by 20-minute breakout presentations every hour by health industry individuals and research scientists. In addition, a blood drive and special family activities are available. Wolfgang Puck Catering and Events will present cooking demonstrations.  For information 314/286-4673....  Looking way down the road, all the way to May 8-9 of 2004, the St Louis Fitness Festival will take place at the Americas Center.  This large-scale health fair will also offer several competitions among which will be both 5k & 10k runs as well as a 20k bike race.

Nov 24  Thanks to Doug Wynd who sent me a disc of photos he snapped at Kona.  I'll sort through them and post selected shots tomorrow....  I haven't heard of any massive Ironman public viewing parties scheduled to take place locally.  Is that something that would interest enough people to actually justify setting up or do most folks prefer private in-home get-togethers?  Or maybe it a case for most of us of trying to set the recorder and watching it when possible?  Television  CBS sports will broadcast the Subaru Primal Quest Adventure Race on Saturday, January 10. The two-hour production is being touted as the first such airing on a major broadcast network.  CBS maintains that the 2pm CST airing will be wedged into the football divisional playoff schedule that day.  It will be interesting to see if the broadcast of another "fringe sport" is affected by the timing vagaries of televised football and /or the money machine called the NFL....  CBS will also air the Xterra World Championship on none other than Superbowl Saturday.  This is no accident as CBS is smart enough to realize that every TV in the country will be lit up all day....  NBC still holds the coveted crowned jewel of multisport television broadcasts though, with the Ironman World Championship.  For the first time ever, this year's production will land in prime time.  With its Saturday, Dec 6 evening exposure, we wonder how both the ratings and the sport will be impacted....   

Nov 23  The Trek Demo Days tour rolls into town for three days next weekend. They'll have Trek 5200's for road test rides and both Fuel and Liquid setups for the MTB crowd.  It is a very convenient opportunity to experience Trek's current iteration of production bikes in a real-world setting.  We hoped against hope that they'd include the  Madone model, but we'll attend none-the-less.....  The Mid-County YMCA will be the site of a Fall Short Course swim meet on Sunday, December 7.  Whether you are a four-stroke masters swimmer or a triathlete looking for a 1500m time trial, the pool is calling.....  In website news, SBRStL is shopping around for Discussion Forum software.  We strongly feel that it would help serve a vital function of this website by promoting the exchange of local multisport information.  We are searching for a user-friendly, feature-rich program and hope to have one installed in the very near future.  Moving along, SBRStL has crossed the 90,000 visitor plateau for the previous twelve-month period.  As last December's and January's monthly numbers phase out of the rolling count, the total will crest six digits.  We're still just a little fish by web standards, but the continued growth is gratifying.  Thanks everyone for your mouse clicks.....  

Perspective  Dear OLN:  Many thanks for all of the fantastic cycling, adventure racing, and multisport races you continue to air.  Until the Cycling Channel, Triathlon TV, or some other such devoted network springs up, you da man.   It is with our kindest interest that we ask, "Why did you create Beach Ambush?"  We inquire while suspecting the answer probably lies in the ratings potential of the contestant's scant swimwear (not that there's anything wrong with that) because it certainly isn't for the inane physical challenge segment of the show.  When last we checked, there already exists an MTV and they already produce an "Emmy-quality" spring-break beach blast.  Please, spare us the suffer-fest. 

The Coors Light commercial that wasn't.

I love swimming with my friends....lapping end to end....kicking with my fins,

and I love going for a spin....rides that never end....finding biker Zen,

and I love running to mile ten....hammering again....reeling rabbits in,

........and....and twins.

Nov 22  Congratulations go out to local tri-studette Sarah Haskins who was accepted into the USA Triathlon Emerging Athlete Program.  In June of 2004 she will relocate to Colorado Springs to live and breath triathlon at altitude.  She will reside at the Olympic Training Center and be under the tutelage of USAT's elite team staff.  We'll be looking for her to grace the cover of a tri magazine in the near future.....  Queensland, New Zealand is making last minute preparations for the 2003 ITU World Championships on Dec 6th.  Good luck to Tim Sandfort who is a member of Team USA.  During the course of this rather ordinary trip, he will make a 20+ hour flight, turn his night into day, his autumn into spring, see the Southern Cross, watch the bath water rotate counter-clockwise, and oh yeah, race against the finest age-group triathletes in the world.....

Nov 21  We fell upon the online anagram generator and had a little fun with it.  Here's a few of the better ones:  Triathlon (ran to hilt), Peter Reid (deeper tri), Lori Bowden (bolder, I won), Dave Scott ( vast Oct ed.), Heather Fuhr (Ha! Further eh?), Thomas Hellriegel (tri games hellhole), Spencer Smith (sprint scheme), Cameron Widoff (famed coif worn), Steve Larsen (Steve learns) or (events laser).

Nov 19  Ultramax Events issued its November update and with it came some interesting developments.  Max-o-Mania is 80% sold out after just two weeks.  This three-day, five-race team-event seems to have garnered interest from athletes all over the country looking for a triathlon retreat.  Item two, Ultramax Events tabled an intriguing offer to racers who are able to find sponsors willing to donate funds to MLERF.   If the athletes can meet a very moderate threshold, then they are eligible to race for free.  Additionally, even if they aren't able to secure sponsorship, a significant portion of their entry fee is a legitimate tax write-off.  Tax-deductible multisport is a deal where everyone wins.....  All of you Stairmaster mavens had the opportunity to put your technique to the test up in Chicago this past weekend at the Go Vertical - Ultimate Urban Challenge Stair Climb.  Over 600 climbers raced up 103 floors (2109 steps) to the observation deck of the Sears Tower.  The winning times, you ask?  Australian, Terence Purcell went 13:50 and Cindy Moll-Harris (four-time Empire State Building Stair Climb winner) managed 16:18. This charity-driven event raised more than $50,000 for cancer research.  Much in the vein of Max-o-Mania, the race offers an unusual format and a welcome change of pace from the look the same, feel the same race platter offered each season.  Kudos for creativity....  Thanks go out to Jeff Schroeder for turning me on to the comic strip Frazz by Jef Mallett who himself is an avid cyclist.  The strip below only seemed appropriate after yesterday's update about the ghost bikes.....  If you've got a couple of idle minutes on your web surfing hands, STLBIKING has posted a cool little online cycling jigsaw puzzle with which you can amuse yourself.

Nov 18  Cyclists throughout the Metro area should give thanks to Patrick Van Der Tuin.  He was recently featured on both local television and in newsprint for his unique method of increasing bicycle awareness in automobile drivers.  He painted fifteen mangled bicycles a ghostly white and placed them with "Cyclist Struck Here" placards at various appropriate intersections.  SBRStL, like Patrick, has been victimized by a careless motorist and was moved by his level of activism.  In an email to him, I applauded his efforts and suggested that this technique seems to be considerably more effective than all of the "share the road" signs put together.  SBRStL strongly encourages everyone to email Patrick a note of support as he strives to make the local cycling environment a much safer one for all of us.....  Not surprisingly, the Long Ride on Sunday was well attended.  This was no doubt a byproduct of some temperate November weather. We experienced no real confrontation with vehicles though, as the larger challenge was scaling the Wildwood hills.  After 45 miles lay behind us, it was all smiles, the consensus being that it hurt good....  Hats off to Jan DeWeer, not only on his Ironman Florida experience, but for battling through a tough year of health concerns.  It seems he wasn't alone though.  Without listing all of the affected local athletes, let's just say that this year there was way too much injury and illness going around.  Between constantly pushing the bounds of our physical limitations and dancing with vehicular traffic, it's a wonder more of us weren't infirmed.  Let's make this off-season one of full-recovery and renewed promise for next year.

Nov 17  Two long-standing and popular annual training-run series are set to commence once again in December.  Both offer a longish run as well as an alternative shorter distance.  The Frostbite Series is sponsored by the St Louis Track Club and will be based at the Forest Park field house.  The Saturday morning runs begin at 9am sharp and will extend from Dec 20 to Feb 7.   Entry form and complete information available in PDF or visit their website.  The Snowball Series is staged from and hosted by Marathon Sports in Chesterfield (314-434-9577).  Held on Sundays, it goes off a bit earlier than its counterpart with the starting horn sounding at 7:15am.  It will run from Dec 21 thru Feb 8.....  After the Thanksgiving holidays, runners turn their attention to the Metro East for two generally well-attended events.  The Great River Road 10-Mile Run and The Pere Marquette 7.5 Mile Trail Run are set for Nov 29 and Dec 13 respectively. 

Nov 16  When is it a good time to have the trots?  When they are the annual turkey trot runs that break out each November.  Six turkey-themed local runs, which began yesterday and extend thru Thanksgiving Day, will provide ample opportunity to work off the food fest......  The Manchester Bally's Club is indeed shutting its doors at the end of the year.  Gold's Gym is already poised to swoop in and utilize the building.  Members, like myself, can join Gold's at the same Bally's renewal rate plus a nominal signup fee.....  The League of American Bicyclists is having an online auction November 19-21, hosted by eBay.  The items up for grabs include bikes, gear, a trip, training packages, and a collectible....  If the 2004 Tour De France is in your travel plans, there is a web  you should check out that is devoted to Americans heading over the pond.  This resource site includes spectator names, towns, messages, tips, and links..... 

Nov 14  Congratulations to both of the winners of what seemed like the year-long SBRStL Triathlon Trivia contest.  First place goes to Lou DiGuiseppe who correctly answered 138/143 questions to win a $130 Rudy Project merchandise certificate.  Jim Massuci was runner-up, just three behind at 135 correct responses.  He will take home a nutritional product package from the good folks who sponsor this website.  Scott Varwig won third at 126.  He will receive a hearty handshake,  pat on the back, and the home version of our game.  Anyway, we figure he won big getting to race at Kona this year.  Thanks to all for playing.....  National Public Radio aired a piece this summer about the Springfield Ironhorse Triathlon.  If you can look past the fact that their website incorrectly termed it an Ironman Triathlon, it may be worth a listen.....   So maybe Raynard Tissink wore them at IM Florida, and maybe he has some cred by virtue of his win at IM Canada, but please assure me that these $180 Oakley OverTheTop glasses aren't the future of sport eyewear.  The picture, at least, looks eerily like some kind of Madonna-inspired bra..... The Page extension opening ceremonies will create non-vehicular presence on the four-mile strip of concrete from Bennington to the Missouri River.  Assuming the weather is relatively decent, the crowd could be massive given the Fun Run and an open invitation to all to "Play on Page" for a couple of hours.  My concern is for the cyclists who will be simultaneously sharing the pavement with walkers, runners, skaters, and bladers while they themselves are time-trialing at 25+ mph.   It could get nasty if any players are inattentive.

Nov 13  The city of Wildwood has been immersed in a road paving project this year that is rapidly transforming it into a cyclists dream.  The latest stage is the Pond Road project comprising two new bridges and fresh asphalt from Hwy 100 to Hwy BA.  This will be finished by the end of the year.....  The Wildwood Greenway Trail is scheduled for completion by the Fall of 2004.  Trails will be constructed on both sides of Hwy 100, between Hwy 109 and Westglen Farms Road, as well as along Hwy 109, between Hwy 100 and Hwy BA.  MoDot will repave both shoulders of Hwy BA from Hwy 109 down to Babler Park.....  SBRStL has scrubbed the Links page clean of all dead-end hyperlinks with those annoying 404 error messages.  Still not satisfied after that chore, it was time to make a stand.  Every hyperlink that led to a website designed to disable my browser's back-button, was eliminated.  This may be a personal fetish, but any webmaster who locks me onto his site, gets the satisfaction just once.  Surprisingly, this purging included such webs as Polar, Mavic, Diadora, Extran, GT Bikes, Runners World, American Tri, and the Runners Web.....  Product News  De Soto Sports designed a low-cut tri short for ladies.  These hip-huggers are nearly 2 inches lower than conventional padded shorts and have both an elastic waist band and draw string to keep them fashionably in place.  Show off that navel jewelry in style.....  CarbBOOM has introduced a great new flavor.  If you like chocolate covered cherries need I say more?  Packets with the newly designed narrow mouth for safety and easy open end are available online.  Click the CarbBOOM logo on the right border for a 15% discount on your next order.....

Nov 10  SBRStL's apologies to John Conners for omitting his name in IMF results yesterday.  Great race JC.....  Speaking of IMF, it's not surprising that 2000 athletes have already signed up for the 2004 race.  In the IM racing game, he who hesitates stays home..... Thanks to the group who showed for the Long Ride on Sunday.  Despite the weatherman's inaccuracy, when it was said and done, I think we were all glad we got out.  We'll continue to ride through the winter as much as is feasible.  Look for postings by each mid-week.....  Results  The Quivering Quads Trail Runs drew a total of almost 500 runners for the three events.  QQ managed to draw a surprising number of out-of-state runners but locals still captured four of the six titles. 

Nov 8-9  Perspective  One Friday afternoon each October in Kailua-Kona, triathletes gather at the pre-race bike check-in with various high-end rides adorned with cutting-edge componentry.  While the race is most commonly understood to be towards the finish line, there is a more subtle competition to the starting line.  This is not an officially sanctioned contest, in fact, few if any would acknowledge that it even exists.  The winner of this event very casually makes his way through the crowd at check-in, walking the costliest, techiest, wildest bike to the racks.  Competitors, volunteers, and spectators alike take notice, some more coolly than others with Oakleys and Rudys effectively masking their ogling and male bike envy. Their internal calculators whirring away, the onlookers mentally undress the bikes and quickly appraise them.  Nonchalance, whether actual or feigned, is the biker's key ingredient of success.  It's not good enough to simply have the meanest machine.  It's not good enough to own the trickest bike and not realize it.  You have to escort the absolute baddest-ass bike, and you know it, they know it, and you know they know it, but you don't show it.  Sadly, four-thousand dollar Kestrels, Cervelos, and QR's deliver stifled yawns while exotic monocoques  like Corima or a Cat Cheetah with X-bars evoke smiles and approving nods.  Such is evolution.  Before anyone misreads my tone, don't get me wrong.  I have nothing against this form of blatant, excessive consumerism.  The fact of the matter is, I love it.  If only I could keep up. 

Equipment  A topic of interest at the post-race press conference in Kona was indeed the Cat Cheetah frame upon which Lori won this year and with which Natascha has previously dominated the event.  Manufactured in Switzerland by Rudi Kurth, they are among the most innovative bikes in production.  Every Cheetah is made-to-measure according to a personal measurement sheet and is therefore suitable for riders of most every size (45-64cm).  Composed of carbon fiber and Kevlar, the frame and fork exhibit high torsional strength and aerodynamics.  The frame houses internally routed hydraulic brake lines and the "Oasis" drinking system.   An entirely new kind of front fork/handlebar unit called X-Fork was developed whereby the fork blades pass the fork bridge up to handlebar height and make a conventional stem and handlebar unnecessary.  Other interesting "twists" are the 9-speed Grip Shift shifters and optional Twist Grip braking system used by Badmann that further cleans up the aerodynamics by eliminating brake levers.  In a thoughtful design touch, the front brake pads are located behind the headset rather than out front.  A complete  set-up with 650cm Cat three-spoke carbon wheels weighs less than 18.5 lbs and fetches 8500 Swiss francs, or $6200 US. 

Nov 7  While most of us are taking stock of our cold-weather workout gear this weekend, a forward-thinking cadre of local triathletes will be awaiting the starting horn tomorrow at Ironman Florida.  Panama City Beach will warm into the upper 70's Saturday which will give our tourist-athletes an early November taste of summer racing.  Those with bigger appetites hope to scarf one of the one-hundred Ironman slots up for grabs in this first qualifier for the 2004 World Championship.   Allison Larkins and Ed Wolfgram have already earned their Kona berths, but who appears likely to join them?  With an incredibly large field creating some male age-groups decidedly larger than many local races, it will no doubt require a peak performance.  The table below displays the approximate class sizes and slot breakdown.  Products   Clydesdale racers need strong racing wheels.  The new Zipp Pave' Cross rim supports over 500 pounds in the vertical plane, even without spokes.   The wheels also exhibit lateral stiffness more than double that of a traditional rim.  The company claims these beauties contain new material and undergo laminate sequencing that improves impact resistance.   The wheels are designed to track well over rough surfaces, thus the name Pave'.  Pave'-Cross rims are available in tubulars  only.  All feature an advanced version of ZIPP's exclusive Silica Ceramic braking surface.  These wheels are so new, they're not even on Zipp's website yet. 

Nov 6  With the anniversary of Lewis and Clark's journey upon us, modern day explorers of sorts, are using it as a springboard for their own epic journeys.  While these three intrepid travelers retraced the route in different fashions, the commonality that threads them together is the adventurous spirit they share with those two original explorers.  In September, Dave Tullier from Baton Rouge, Louisiana pedaled 870 miles from St Charles to South Dakota retracing Lewis and Clark's exploration trail.  Neil Rosenbland of Montpelier, Vermont took a different approach by using his arms instead of his legs.  He broke out his his kayak and paddled the route.  Marcus Eriksen got inspired and then imaginatively combined the two modes of transportation by configuring a paddle-wheel raft using old bike parts and 232 plastic soda jugs, then pedaled his way along the river.....   The writing contest must have spurred some interest.  I've gotten a few emails inquiring about its various aspects and ground rules.  We also received the first entry, a nearly 4000 word introspection of iron-distance racing and faith.  I've created a more or less permanent link on the right border to the contest page.....   Bike Repair Tip   When mounting clincher tires, strive to orient them on the rims exactly the same way each time.  Align the tire label with the valve stem and position it on the right side of wheel.  Keep the quick release levers to the left.  The rationale is that when you flat from a glass shard, wire fragment, thorn, or any other small sharp embedded object, you can more easily locate the section of tire that corresponds to the hole in the tube.  After partially inflating the extracted tube to find the hole, retain the left/right tube orientation and place it next to the tire.  It's a potentially less painful method than running a finger along the inside of the tire.  If additional incentive is required to align the tire labels, well, it looks cool too..... 

Nov 5  SBRStL Weekly Long Ride will emerge from temporary hibernation this weekend.  We plan to leave at high noon from Big Shark Athletic in Chesterfield.  Saturday's forecast looks drier, but we could go Sunday.  If you're in, email your day preference.  We'll post the day of choice on Thursday's update.....  Our marathon listing page has been updated.  To check out any major US marathon through June 19, 2004, click the Quick Resource link below......  The Quivering Quads Trail Runs should have ideal skies for Saturday.  Event registration is now closed for the 10k and 13.1mile runs, however, if you've got 50k in your legs, you can still enter the long one.....  In the pre-spinning-class and workout-video days, Euro pro cyclists trained in the winter using fixed gear bikes then switched to derailleur-geared mounts in the spring. The fixed gear bike is not unlike those used for track racing.  This minimalist machine is composed of a single-speed with no freewheel and a single (front) brake.  The lack of a freewheel creates the need to constantly pedal, thus flat or gently rolling terrains are better suited for fixed gear workouts.  Getting accustomed to fixed gear riding is reminiscent of becoming comfortable with clipless pedals.  It's a new skill.  Starting up can be easy and relatively cheap by converting an old beater bike to a fixed gear ride, or a complete bike can be purchased.  Selecting a comfortable gear is important and may require a ride or two to get dialed in, but try starting with something like a 42/19 combo.  If you choose to do the conversion rather than letting the bike shop handle it, there may be a few technical issues with which to wrestle.  Here is a useful link with some detailed mechanical information.  The benefits of fixed gear riding are many.  Bike handling skills and road feel can be enhanced.  Approaching intersections and turning require due diligence.  Additionally, each hour of fixed riding can equate to nearly ninety minutes of conventional riding.

Nov 4  The November issue of Self Magazine ranked  200 US cities seeking the most healthful city for women.  Burlington, VT earned the top distinction.  In 200th position was, you guessed it, St Louis.  The study focused directly on health related issues by examining rates of death and disease, health care, environment and community, lifestyle, and women's living situations.  In the opinion of SBRStL, one glaring oversight in their study was consideration of local websites devoted to health and fitness.....  Any triathletes looking for a substantive resource on the sport need look no further than "Going Long - Training For Iron Distance Triathlons."  Written by Gordon Byrn and Joe Friel, the book delivers 300 pages of thorough and understandable planning for completing or competing in the 140.6 miles.  Retail is $18.95.....  Triathletes wanting a spring iron-event should consider the recently announced inaugural CaliforniaMan Triathlon.  Set for May 22, this non-qualifier event will be staged from Lake Folsom situated in Folsom, CA, the 2nd most bike-friendly city in the country.   In a dream-move, race producers will have the roads completely closed to automobile traffic. The course offers a calm swim, a ride through moderate rolling hills on very smooth pavement, and a flat run.  Athletes can opt for 1/2CaliMan.

Nov 3  Just when you thought we had finally settled on a new look, that wacky crew in SBRStL's web design department does it again.  However, the added graphics may slow download time for dial-up users.  If you feel this page loads too slowly, please let us know.  Thanks....  The Metro area loses its grip on femathlete, Annie Moskoff.  A career-move sends this 2003 USAT Nationals qualifier to Fort Collins, Colorado.  Good luck, make the 4984 feet work for you, and of course you can keep tabs on your old training ground right here.....   The Trek National Demo Tour has been traversing the country all year and will wheel into the St Louis area Nov 29-Dec1.  They will set up in Castlewood Park from 9am to 3pm and you can ride the 5200 series road bikes and the Fuel & Liquid mountain frames, weather permitting.....    A quick check on the IMAX website still shows "Brain Power" in production.  This much anticipated film studies Tyler Hamilton's amazing effort through the 2003 TDF.....  Good luck to all the local triathletes heading down to Panama City for Ironman Florida this weekend...

Nov 1-2  The SBRStL web usage report for October indicated continued growth in visits, page-views and hits.  Your consistent and growing support is appreciated.  It will produce stronger relationships with our sponsors, the end result of which is a trickle-down to the athletes.  This will take the form of more series awards, contest prizes, and freebies during our training sessions.  Thanks again for your mouse clicks.....  Registration opened yesterday for all eight of the 2004 UltraMax events.  You can use the banner link below to go to their website....  The O'Fallon YMCA in St Charles county has recently launched a masters swim group.  Coach Kevin Mabie has swimmers doing laps Mon-Wed-Fri early morning and Tue-Thu evenings.  Kevin also coaches Fort Zumwalt and is a successful triathlete.  You are in good hands.....  As localites know, the population of O'Fallon, Missouri has nearly grown exponentially.  Word is that Ballys Fitness will open a location there in 2004.  This makes perfect business sense and is a wonder that it didn't occur sooner.  There is also talk that the Manchester club will be shuttered January 1, if a new lease agreement isn't reached....  There's nothing quite like viewing the Ironman World Championship live and in person.  SBRStL was blessed to do that this year.  But the next best thing must certainly be the webcast.  More than 1.5 million people logged onto Ironmanlive's Dell servers during the Oct. 18th weekend, making it the largest single-day sporting event ever streamed over the Internet.....  Gaining entry into the event has become a formidable challenge.  The old-fashioned method of qualifying doesn't extend to everyone, the lottery rewards the supremely lucky, and the e-Bay auction targeted the rich and famous.  There is a little-known fourth method, fund-raising.  This weekend's San Diego Triathlon Challenge will still go forward as planned despite the circumstances in Southern California.  It will reward the top three fund-raisers over $15,000 with 2004 Kona slots.  Proceeds benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.  Last year's top dog, Bobby Bostic, raised $54,172.....  There are timeless rivalries all around us, man vs. dog, man vs. machine, the battle of the sexes, etc.  None strikes fear into the heart of SBRStL more than bike vs. car.   The League of American Bicyclists honored thirteen communities with its Bicycle Friendly Community designation.  Factors considered include the physical environment for bicycling, education to promote sharing the road, initiatives to persuade people to ride more often, enforcement of traffic laws for motorists and bicyclists and plans to improve conditions.  Portland, Oregon won a gold award. The city has extensive bike parking, trails and bike lanes.  It boasts the nation's second largest community bike ride and has a "Create a Commuter" program that gives those interested in commuting a free bike, light, locks, fenders, toolkits, pump, raingear and a bike rack along with a five-hour safety class.  Bicycle trips have increase in Portland by 130 percent over the last ten years.  In Folsom, California, which won a silver award, 95 percent of arterial streets have bikes lanes or paved shoulders.  The city's bike to work day event is well attended and creates competition among employers to be designated the most bicycle friendly employer for the year.  Children in Folsom sign a bicycle contract stating they understand and will follow all safety rules and municipal laws related to bicycling.  Law enforcement officers help to reinforce this safety effort by paying special attention to bicyclists' behavior at the start of the school year.  The rest of the list includes Arlington-Virginia, Bloomington-Indiana, Boca Raton-Florida, Brentwood-California, Brunswick-Maine, Chattanooga-Tennessee, College Station-Texas, Gilbert-Arizona, Mesa-Arizona, Miami Beach-Florida, Washington-D.C.....

Oct 30  On December 5th & 6th Maplewood Bicycle will host the "Science Behind Speed" seminar to be held at the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton.  Steve Hed (HED Wheels), Dan Empfield (QuintanaRoo), and Cristopher Kautz (P.K. Racing) will be speaking.  Attendance is limited to 100 and the fee is $50.00.  Questions, contact Stewart Munson at 314-781-9566 or go to the Maplewood Bicycle website.....  When would St Louis be a preferred location to train outdoors than the temperate tri-mecca of San Diego?  Tragically, right now.   Emergency and urgent care centers there are seeing an alarming upswing in the number of patients with respiratory distress caused by smoke and ash from the wildfires.  The Scripps Memorial Hospitals in Chula Vista, Encinitas, La Jolla and Scripps Mercy Hospital, were at or near capacity.  Most of those patients were being treated for smoke-related respiratory distress.  We wish them well.... Outside Magazine recently published a story entitled Drug Test,  which is a fascinating first-person account by Stuart Stevens of his "research foray" into the world of performance-enhancing drugs.  This middle-aged cyclist hooked up with a cooperative physician who administered a controlled concoction of steroids, testosterone, and EPO.   All of this was done in conjunction with the author's training, leading up to his ultimate performance-litmus-test, the 750-mile Paris-Brest-Paris ride

Oct 29  Complete event information for 1/2Max and 1/4Max is now posted on the UltraMaxTri website..... Good Luck to St Louisans Robert Millstone and Michael Roach who are registered for the Treasure Island Triathlon in San Francisco this weekend....  The Electronic Bike Racing Association division (EBRA) of RacerMate, Inc., is pleased to announce the introduction of CompuTrainer Indoor Time Trials starting in March, 2004.  EBRA is offering to assist interested cycling and triathlon clubs and other organizations to stage a I0K indoor time trial on matched CompuTrainers. Special software will allow up to eight riders to race using a single PC.  Clubs in the U.S., Canada, U.K, and Australia are planning to participate.....  Runners not making the trip to New York for the marathon can race this weekend a little closer to home.  On this Saturday November 1,  Kansas City will play host to the Humana River Crown Plaza Marathon, Half, and 5k.  Registration and complete event information can be accessed on their website.....

Oct 28  St Louis Metro area runners can glance at the race calendar and rub their hands in glee with several great runs on the horizon.  A taste of what lies ahead includes: Quivering Quads Trail Runs, World Run Day-St Louis, St Charles Runners Club 5K Cross Country Run, Chesterfield Turkey Trot, Great River Road Run, and the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run.  New treads may be on the Christmas gift list.....  With the King K parking lot swept clean and Alii drive properly policed, the final vestiges of the race have disappeared.  While most of Kona may have put the event out-of-mind until next year, athletes wishing to grace that leeward shoreline in ' 04 with body markings seldom stop thinking about it.  One entryway is the U.S. lottery process, currently open until February 28th.  $35 will get your name in the hat from which 50 are selected.  Another $50 puts you in the Passport Club drawing of 100.  Realistically, spending the extra coin increases the likelihood of one's name being drawn from microscopic to miniscule, but for most of us at least, it raises the odds from zero to a positive integer.  more lottery info.....  The city of O'Fallon has set Sunday, August 15 as the date for the 2004 Alligators Creek Triathlon.  No further details have been released to this point....  Lake St Louis Triathlon registration is scheduled to open by late January.  There was considerable discontent expressed this year regarding the hefty entry fee.  It will be interesting to observe what, if any, alterations are made to it or the racer perks.....  The word on the street is that another local pool swim triathlon will make its debut next season.  No complaints mind you, but the metro area may soon be vying for the title of chlorinated-tri capitol of the world.....  Several triathletes have mentioned to me their intention to focus 2004 on the local races.  This is good news for the SBRStL Metro Tri Series but better news for the athletes.  Work has already begun to deepen the age-group awards and positively tweak the scoring format.  For now, SBRStL can only offer next year's players a solitary off-season mantra, "keep building that base, baby."

Oct 27  SBRStL will post additional pics, but Chris Arnold of the St Louis Track Club has posted some very nice photographs of the Ironman World Championship for your viewing pleasure.....  After a relatively quiet metro area weekend, events in the local scene spike again with a turn of the calendar.  November is ushered in by a couple of 5k runs, a trail run, an adventure race, a cyclocross event, and perhaps most interestingly, a workout weekend getaway.  The Camp Mihaska 100  is a two-day event in the Ozarks near Bourbon, Missouri.  Arrive Friday night, settle in, and then on both Saturday and Sunday you can choose to cycle 25 to 50 miles, hike, or canoe.  A very reasonable $49 per person includes sag support, two breakfasts, a dinner, and a cabin with 3-6 beds.  Add $10 for a private or subtract $10 if you bring a tent.  314-406-2359.....  Eighty-five metro area runners will comprise but a small fraction of the 30,000 participants following the painted blue line in the New York City Marathon on Sunday.  The group will traverse the historic route through New York’s five boroughs (Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan), passing more than 2 million spectators along the way.  Good luck to all.....  The U.S. House of Representatives cast a critical vote for bicycling September 4.  By a vote of 327 to 90, the House passed a bipartisan amendment to restore funding for the transportation enhancements program for fiscal year 2004. The amendment, sponsored by Congressmen Tom Petri (R-WI) and John Olver (D-MA), enjoyed strong bipartisan support thanks to the diligent efforts of bicyclists across the nation.  In the future, Missouri cyclists in the 2nd, 7th, and 8th wards can go to the ballot box armed with the knowledge that the bill was given nay votes by Todd Akin, Roy Blunt, and Jo Ann Emerson.  Pro-cyclist legislators with aye votes included William Clay, Kenny Hulshof, and Karen McCarthy.  The two Missouri non-voters were Ike Skelton and Richard Gephardt.....

Oct 26  The 2003 edition of Ironman Wisconsin was recently aired on OLN and local triathlete Mary Blandford got a mention and some quick screen time as she exited T1.  Being first out of the water has its perks.....  The 2004 Tour de France route was announced last week.  If you thought last July's 100th year anniversary race held intrigue, just wait until next year when U.S. Postal and Lance will attempt an unprecedented 6th consecutive win.  With that, the number of Americans making the trip should reach epic proportions.  SBRStL encourages persons interested in TDF travel packages to check out Marty Jemison Tours.  After spending two days riding, chatting, and breaking bread with him, I'm convinced you won't find a better insider's track to Le Tour.....