Notes and Stories

2011 Clothing Order

IC3 Jersey It is time to order your comfortable, great-looking IC3 cycling clothing. Since we have some local sponsors who have put up some serious cash to be a part of this ministry, please honor them by purchasing the local version of the team kit instead of the national one. We have made this very easy -- just click here to go instructions and a direct link to the on-line ordering system. Please contact me (click here) if you are going to race for the team or plan to do three or more public events in the club kit. This will get you in on a discount program that we are working out the details on for those who represent us in the community.

Speaking of clothing, don't forget to go to the IC3 site to renew or begin your IC3 membership. You need to be an IC3 member in good standing to wear the IC3 clothing. In addition to the $30 individual/$40 family annual membership fee to be part of the IC3, we ask an additional $20 donation for our local Twin Cities Spoke to help cover our 'Jersey Program' and other expenses that come up throughout the year.

FFL this week

Join us THIS Friday for First Friday Lunch for some great fellowship, fabulous food and witty banter. Oh, yeah, we might cover some club business too. What is FFL? It is our monthly club meeting at Chez Daniel Bistro in Bloomington.

FFL starts PROMPTLY at noon so that some can get back to work at a decent hour.

Wednesday Bible Study Winter Session

bible2 The Winter Bible Study is starting up again at Wooddale on January 12th. I will publish the first lesson material on the website soon for those who want to get a head-start on the 'Solomon's Wisdom', which will be the focus of the winter session. We will start in Proverbs then move to Ecclesiastes and Song Of Songs.

I look forward to studying with you this winter.

Spin sessions kick off

Yes, it is finally here -- the 2011 riding season! Well, sort of. We are riding as a club, but it is indoors at Wooddale on Saturdays starting January 8th until it is nice enough to ride outside. Bring your bike, your trainer, water-bottle or two, towels and anything else you need to spin indoors. If you have a favorite training DVD, bring it along and we will vote on what we want to watch from what is brought that day. Show up to Wooddale's Door #5 early enough to be set up and ready to ride by 8:30am.

New features on the website

website_screenshot If you have not checked out the new website, what are you waiting for? If you have not seen it since before Christmas, you might want to check it out since we are adding new things everyday. Besides, there is no lack of motivation to get on the trainer or on the skis or to the gym to prepare for the 2011 riding season.

We have a new 'Rider Blogs' page that features IC3 riders who keep a blog -- if you keep a blog, send me a link to the RSS feed and I will add it; if you are looking for a place to blog, let me know and I can set you up to blog on our site.
The training log is going. Get in on the "ground floor" for 2011. But you have to be logged in to get to this feature, so if you don't have a log-in, go ahead and sign up. There is no cost, you don't have to be a paying member of the IC3 (although we encourage that) -- you don't even have to be a Christian (although we encourage that too).
We are adding rides, races and events to our calendar all the time. Pick out an event that you want to train for or let us know about something you have going on.
Our forum is very active. Log-in and react to what others are doing or share your thoughts on a variety of topics.
A link to our new FaceBook page. If you have not "Liked" us yet, please do.
A community page is available to those who log-in. This has a roster of others who have registered on the site and has several ways to connect and communicate with them. Log-in, find an old riding buddy and start catching up today.
and more is coming...

Spin Videos Available

opus_video_screenshot Last summer we did some "filming" with my on-bike-camera and I have taken those and put a couple of them together for what I think is a fairly motivating and entertaining training DVD. The two that I have taken the time to edit and put a little polish on feature the Opus Crit course -- 9 laps with the usual sprint every third lap 9about 19 minutes) -- and the first half an hour of the Greenwood Wisport race (until I get dropped). I have set both to upbeat and encouraging Contemporary Christian music, but if you don't like my taste, you can turn the audio off and listen to your own favorite hits. Please contact me (click here) if you are interested in obtaining a copy. I also can get you some "raw footage" but it will need a lot of editing and work to get it ready for use.

Congrats to the Stensruds

Kirk Stensrud and family Wendy's husband, Kirk, was just sworn in as the Minnesota State House Representatives for District 42a. I was a little disappointed that Wendy didn't opt for the TC.IC3 jersey for the formal pictures, but I guess she made a good choice.

It was fun watching Kirk's campaign because nearly every picture of volunteers that I saw had a Twin Cities Spoker in it.

The Encourager

By Don Callander
The scene: Spring 2010, the Sibley County Road race consisting of 54 miles with a 1.5 mile uphill slog to the finish. The course was 18 miles, which means we had to do that long uphill three times. The day was cold, windy, with off and on rain showers. At mile's six there was a tremendous surge off the front and I unfortunately was off the back. I was now looking at a solo 48 mile individual time trial in miserable conditions.

I was just about at the top of the hill at mile 18 already cold, tired and discouraged. When out of the blue, I heard a very encouraging voice say, "that a boy Don", "you can do it!", "Go get them." That encouraging voice? None other than our own Steve Gerber. What an example Steve has been this year. Racing infrequently, but showing up consistently in the worst of conditions; handing up water bottles and offering words of encouragement.

Immediately upon hearing his voice, I could feel a surge of energy in my body, and I responded with being able to get out of the saddle and simply dance on those pedals (okay, dance, maybe a little strong, but I did feel an increasing energy.) Others in our club come to mind as well: Aaron and Carissa Wiens often come to races to watch, encourage and in Aaron's case take numerous photographs as is well documented in the photographs of our new website. And speaking of our website who other than our own Tim Turnquist, who is the king at always giving uplifting, encouraging words. My hats off to all of you, thank you.

You see, they are following the biblical pattern that we find in I Thessalonians 5:14 "and we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone." Our spiritual walk can often be one that is depressing and discouraging. And just like the shouts of encouragement in a bike race, sweet words of encouragement to one another can lift us out of that depressed state and give us a new sense of commitment and energy. The author of Hebrews says in Hebrews chapter 12, "therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." It hard for me to imagine this great cloud of witnesses is just sitting on the sideline watching. I truly believe they're standing up jumping up and down and cheering for each one of us. And the thought of that should cause us to jump off the saddles of life and begin to dance on the pedals!

Are you ready to put this into action? Then don't let your spouse leave this morning on their way to work, school, or to run errands without a tender word of encouragement and a big hug. (Okay, plant a long wet one on their lips while you're at it). Say a kind word and a word of encouragement to your children, your parents and your coworkers this very day, and just watch as they begin to dance on those pedals.

Since school is back in session. How about a homework assignment? Think back to someone who's had a positive impact on your life and who has been an encouragement to you. Encourage that person today by sending a note, calling on the phone or sending them an e-mail. He or she may just be wondering if they have ever influenced anyone. What a great way of encouraging an encourager.