DRAFT Magazine

Photo from http://kcsprints.blogspot.com

What is there to do in Nebraska during the winter?

Have an indoor bike race, drink beer and occasionally make use of a puke bucket, if you’re one bar in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Recently Duffy’s Tavern hosted KC Sprints - a Kansas City-based bike racing series - pitting two stationary bikers onstage head-to-head for 500 meters.

I’m not surprised. I’ve biked through Lincoln, and it boasts an impressive cycling scene.

And this being a bar setting meant that beer, a puke bucket and a cheering crowd were also part of the festivities.

“It kind of started out as a drunken bar idea, and it evolved to getting sponsors and taking it on the road,” Ryan Jones, KC Sprints co-founder, recently told the Lincoln Journal Star.

So how are the races for the participants? The paper gave this account from Rhino Albeez, who drank  a bottle of beer before his sprint.

“That was a lot of fun,” he said post-race. “It’s a great workout, but, uh, it sucks at the same time.”

Al Thom photo by Jason Henry

The Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Al Thom: Well, Tim, my mother is British, my father is German, and I grew up just outside Milwaukee - so that explains the beer. I was always into dirt and bicycles, so I blended the two. Like so many others, we learn over time that there is craft involved in any true endeavor - be it bikes or beer - and one typically transcends Huffy’s and PBR’s to IF’s (Independent Fabrication) and IPA’s. As a mountain biker, you appreciate total freedom off road, and you throw friends into the equation and it leads to capping-off the ride with a well deserved refreshment - which often leads to discussions about both crafts.

BR: How did you start racing for Chicago’s Half Acre Beer?

AT: I did my first Cyclocross race last year and happened to park next to the Cuttin’ Cruiser - a “race prepped” bus under the command of the Chicago Cuttin’ Crew - a group of Chicago racers with roots in the bike messenger community. Hanging with these guys are a few of the Half Acre Cycling team. Julie from Half Acre is jonesing on my Indy-Fab and before you know it, a dozen or so of Chicago’s hardcore bicycle community are admiring my bike’s hand-craftiness, and most of them have a hand crafted Half Acre Beer! All these guys were super-cool to me for my first race, and offered me post-race refreshment and encouragement. I became hooked on ‘cross and I made the determination that I probably had to be on this Half Acre Team because everybody was so cool (and they had good beer).

BR: What’s your favorite Half Acre beer?

AT: The Lager is still my favorite at the moment, but I am really excited about the Big Hugs Imperial Stout coming out soon.

BR: What’s the best part of being a bike team sponsored by a beer company?

AT: Um…Duh! Seriously - although I had been racing mountain bike for a few years, I was never on a team. I often raced with a number of other guys on teams, but none of them ever said - dude, wanna join our team? I made up my mind that I would get serious for ‘09 and find a team and there were three criteria in my quest: 1) beer sponsor 2) nice looking kit 3) awesome people. Having met the fine folks from HAC I was able to tick all three boxes immediately. I’ve been part of the team for a year and I can tell you they are much more than a bike team with beer!

Half Acre Cycling team photo by Mike Campbell

BR: Which bike season has the most beer? Mountain? Cyclocross? Road?

AT: Although our team is made up of riders that compete in all four disciplines, and we sponsor (BEER) at least one race in each category, as a dirtbag, I can only speak for myself. I wish I could say that mountain season gets the nod, but we lack a MTB race series in the Chicago area, so we often travel to Wisconsin (WORS or WEMS), Indiana (DINO) or southern Illinois (PAMBA) for MTB events and often, the travel exceeds 3 hours, so hangin’ and kickin’ back a couple usually isn’t in the cards. However, the Chicago Cyclocross scene rivals any in the nation! The Chicago Cyclocross Cup is a sea of humanity that flows from community to community for 10 love-filled-family-friendly-incredibly-intense weeks of mud and cowbells - and yes - beer. It brings a tear to my eye that the season just ended.

BR: What kind of reputation do you have among your teammates? What kind of reputation does your team have among other racers?

AT: I am the FASTEST (old dude), or I’m just a bike-loving, beer-drinking dirtbag - not sure which. Team-wise, I think we are well respected as a fast growing team comprised of some real hardcore racers and people that give back to the bicycling community, and most importantly, we all recognize that riding bikes is supposed to be fun!

BR: What’s your most memorable race with your team?

AT: The Chequamegon Fat Tire 40 mile race in northern Wisconsin. Ten of us from the team entered, and eight of us rented a cabin. It was a good opportunity to get to know/party/hang with my teammates at one of the biggest Mountain Bike races in the country. Chris and Zach are two of my mates that race road and dirt, and our pre-ride warmup the day before was on the highway where they showed me proper paceline techniques. On race day, we figured we should attempt to stay together in a paceline. It worked surprisingly well - until my legs blew up on the firetower climb. We had a really good time racing, then heckling the finishers whilst enjoying our namesake brew. Also memorable was our teammate Jeremiah crashing at mile 15 and separating his shoulder. He made a sling out of a spare tube - and finished the freakin’ race in under 4 hours one-handed - in PAIN. That was memorable!

Al's son Jacob carries on the HAC tradition (photo by Luke Seeman)

BR: Anything else to add?

AT: Craft brewing and hand built bicycles have a LOT in common. Both crafts have necessary guidelines to follow that have been handed down for generations - certain standards that must be followed, yet both crafts encourage experimentation and individuality. I think that this shared commonality should be brought together. Wouldn’t it be heaven if the Hand Built Bicycle Show and the Craft Brewers Show were held together in the same city - same convention center at the same time!?!

Thanks to Jonathan for tipping me off to the HAC team

When you’ve helped design ball parks like Baltimore’s Camden Yards, the Wall Street Journal cares what you think.

Even if it’s just recounting your diet and exercise regiment in detailed, somewhat pedestrian fashion.

Best known for its financial-focused journalism, the WSJ also does a lifestyle feature about executives (and other important people) called What’s Your Workout. As part of this feature, the paper highlighted the biking and beer habits of Joe Spear, a senior principal at architecture firm Populous.

Apparently, Spear used to weigh 260 pounds, before he lost more than 60 pounds after starting to run, walk and bike. And he still enjoys his beer, which the WSJ called one of his “weaknesses.”

According to the story:

Mr. Spear will drink as many as five beers a week, especially after long rides during hot Missourian summers. But by biking as much as 80 miles weekly, he’s more willing to eat what he wants. “I just like beer,” he says. “So I have one when I feel like it.”

Thank you, Mr. Spear. That’s advice we can take to the bank.

Mark Lampe confirms what many non-runners often suspect about running.

Specifically, that it can’t be any fun.

“So many times I almost threw in the towel,”he says of training for his first marathon. “I realized I just don’t enjoy running that long.”

But he also adds: “I’m glad I did it!!!”

Lampe recently finished the Chicago Marathon in four hours and 10 minutes.

What kept him motivated through it all? The thought of crossing the finish line with his daughter. That, and beer.

Beer Runner: What are your beer runner credentials?

Mark Lampe: Years ago my friend Bryan worked at Sprecher Brewery giving tours. He loved to teach his friends the finer points of a good beer, and I guess he pointed me in the right direction and I’ve never looked back. I’ve also worked full or part time at a gym since I was in high school. I raced triathlons for a few years and have taught a spin class at the Wisconsin Athletic Club since 2000. I also bike to work whenever I don’t need my car for appointments.

BR: I saw that you read “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.” What did you think of it?

ML: That book is one of the final straws that made me sign up for the Chicago Marathon. With all the time I spent over the years training with multisport athletes, I always felt I needed to run a marathon at some point. And when I saw that Chicago landed on my daughter Madeline’s first birthday, I thought that would be something really cool for the family archives - first child’s 1st birthday, and dad’s first marathon.

BR: How was the training for your first marathon?

ML: Peaks and valleys. It really depended on which week you ask me. Some weeks I felt good. A couple weeks ago I was so tired of running I can’t even express it in words.

BR: What beer did you celebrate with after reaching milestone mileage?

ML: My wife bought me a membership to a “Beer of the Month” Club. After reaching 18 miles, I relaxed with one of that months selections, which was “Diamond Bear - Presidential IPA”

BR: You trained with a Fleet Feet running group. How did you like training with a group vs. running on your own?

ML: Once I started running over 10 miles, I knew I needed to run with a group. I have realized that I can ride my bike for hours alone and enjoy every minute of it; however, running for that long I tend to want to do anything but run!

BR: Before the marathon, what were some of your biggest athletic accomplishments to date?

ML: When I started racing triathlons, I never was a runner, so running a 10 minute mile was tough. After training with the team and a track coach for a year I was running 18 minute 5K’s. As a non runner, that was pretty huge for me.

BR: You still biked during marathon training. How do you balance the two?

ML: I get on the bike when ever I can fit it in; which unfortunately with family, an 11 month old baby, and work, is starting to be never. Running started to take over! If it weren’t for Jason Kayzar’s Midwest Cycling Network, I would barely have a 100 miles on the bike in the last few months.

And other highlights of a 24-hour bike race

What would motivate someone in their right mind to bike laps around a neighborhood for 24 straight hours?

The beer at the end.

Alright, maybe not exactly. But it does taste sweeter for the effort.

“Don’t know if I’ve ever worked harder for a beer,” said Joe Regan, who enjoyed a Fat Tire after completing the recent Riverwest 24 race through Milwaukee’s most eclectic neighborhood.

His only regret for the whole day? He didn’t have a neighborhood Lakefront Brewery brew.

“Without any disrespect to New Belgium, I should have had a Riverwest Stein!” he says. “Lakefront, can you ever forgive me?”

(Oh, and check out some awesome photos from the ride here and here.)

Why did you decide to enter the Riverwest 24?

I live in Riverwest and I’m a cyclist - on a recreational level - so I felt that I really needed to participate in a bike event happening in my own neighborhood, at least once.

How did you train for such an event?

Without planning on it, I was reasonably well prepared for the ride. I had done a couple of centuries earlier in the season and I had just come off of a 7-day, 500+ mile supported bike tour of Wisconsin called GRABAAWR which included a stop at the Stevens Point Brewery where free beer was available to riders. But one of the beauties of the event is that you can ride as much or as little as you like. In my case, I just wanted do a respectable number of laps and have fun doing them.

Was there much beer drinking either on the course or after the race?

You bet. There were block and house parties, picnics, people just hanging out watching the race. Riverhorse was right by the start/finish line too. Things didn’t seem to get too crazy, except maybe for the guy sleeping with a bottle of Jack Daniels by his head around 8am on Saturday. I had to behave myself since I was riding solo on no sleep, a beer would have finished me! I did get an offer of a Schaeffer from one of the checkpoint volunteers. It pained me to turn it down since that was my dad’s beer of choice when I was growing up. Also, Lakefront Brewery was near one of the checkpoints, and Lakefront Brewery owner Jim Klisch did a few laps himself. I’m sure there were some great parties after the race but I went home and crashed as you might expect after riding for 24 hours (with some breaks, naturally.)

What was the toughest part or biggest challenge of the ride for you?

Getting through the night was rough, but I was able to manage thanks to regular doses of caffeine. Pacing myself was difficult since I felt like everyone was passing me! I was dragging by late Saturday afternoon and the small rises on the course seemed to get bigger with each lap. Fighting the traffic - this wasn’t a closed course - was a challenge as well. At times, we had to signal to the cars to stop for us and they were nice enough to let us through.

What was the highlight of the race for you?

Too many to mention. Squeezing in the last couple laps, all the riders getting cheered at the finish, riding the whole race and doing it two weeks before my 45th birthday was a big accomplishment as well. And I’m not sure if it was a highlight but hearing someone say “I’m on your left…I’m naked” at 3am was memorable if nothing else.

Any other observations?

It was really great community event. Everyone just seemed to be having a blast. The organizers did a great job and the volunteers were fantastic, I think quite a few of them went 24 hours too.

Will you do it next year?

Pretty sure I will. Doubt I’ll do the full 24 hours again - I think I’ve got that out of my system! Take it a bit easier, get some sleep, do more of the bonus checkpoints…and maybe I’ll have a better chance of making some of the post-race festivities!

[Draftmag.com is on vacation this week, so enjoy this Beer Runner from the archives. I thought this was appropriate since Joe and I are planning a sequel to the Milwaukee-to-Chicago beer and bikes ride he talks about here. Enjoy.]

Joe Stephenson’s love of craft beer began as a Leinenkugel’s tour guide.

Later he realized he could mix in his newfound cycling hobby when he discovered beer-themed bike rides like the Tyranena Brewing’s Oktoberfest ride, the New Belgium Urban Assault, and Milwaukee’s Biketoberfest.

Here he talks to the Beer Runner about switching from Northern Wisconsin biking to urban Milwaukee biking, partying with tour-goers, and living the High Life.

What are your Beer Biker credentials?

Does biking to the bar whenever possible count?

How did you get into cycling?

In college I commuted around campus on a hybrid, but I didn’t really catch the road riding bug until after I graduated. It was partly thanks to a car with too many problems but mostly because of sheer boredom. I had just completed an internship and while looking for a “real” job and needed something to kill time.  My roommate had a Trek that he let me use and after a few loops around Eau Claire county roads, I was hooked.  The roadside views of fall in the Wisconsin Northwoods are pretty amazing. I had to adapt to urban riding, which I now embrace and love. The view of Lake Michigan heading down Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee is pretty amazing.

What did you learn during your four years as a brewery tour guide?

I learned that discounted 1/2 barrels, 6 guys in a college house and a kegerator can do some damage to a GPA. Leinie’s is also where I learned how cool and down to earth most beer people are. More than once, out-of-town Leinie’s visitors that were staying in Eau Claire ended up hanging out with us at the local pubs that night, hours after the tour ended. There was always plenty of beer talk… and consumption, of course. When I first started it was shocking how much some of the super fan people loved Leinie’s and how excited they were when they came to the brewery for the first time.  But after a few months of working there, I totally understood it and embraced it… and partied with a lot of them.

A few months ago you completed Biketoberfest. What’s the secret to lasting through 5+ hours of consuming beer and 9+ miles of pedal-powered barhopping?

Start with a good base.  The ride started at Cafe Centraal so there is always some sweet potato frites or a chicken curry pita to get you going.  Pair those with a nice, heady bottle of Chouffe Houblon and your set to roll — and stay warm at 9% alcohol. Staying with the pack is also advised…it’s not as fun if you fall behind.

You have a Pabst Blue Ribbon shirt to show your PBR pride. What’s your favorite riding gear?

When I’m doing the more urban or commuting riding, Outlier has some really nicely made and good looking stuff that can double as work wear. Chrome makes a really nice jacket that’s actually next on the wish list.  It has some really cool and functional design features like wind resistance and hidden pockets. When it comes to road biking, I love a beer logo jersey. Leinie’s comes out with one just about every season so I was able to accumulate a few while working there. I also found a cool jersey in the Czech Republic while touring Pilsner Urquell, which I later found out is the label for a non-alcoholic Czech pilsner. Oops. I was able to score a Swobo merino wool short sleeved jersey at the Urban Assault Ride… that guy gets quite a few miles in summer.

You biked from Milwaukee to Chicago not too long ago. How did you celebrate?

Almost any beer at the end of a ride is great but Miller High Life was an especially sweet reward. I didn’t pack anything besides my clothes, toiletries and a few tools, so there wasn’t room for beer. Luckily, two buddies met me at the mouth of the Lake Shore bike path just north of the city with a cooler in tow. They knew I was going to need more than a mere 12 oz to celebrate, so tall boys it was. We also tackled a 5L mini-keg of Bells Two Hearted later that night.

Anything else to add?

Let me know when the next ride to Denver is!

“This country is full of wonderful people that make up wonderful communities,” says Nathan Winters. “And good beer is a great way for us all to come together.”

If anyone, he should know.

Nathan started biking in Belfast, Maine and is meeting the locals across this country one craft beer at a time. So far he’s about 80 days and 1,600 miles into his journey to raise awareness for land and nature conservation.

Right now he’s in Milwaukee, where he’s crashing at our place (after staying with another cycling Tim) on his way to Seattle.

During his brief visit so far, we’ve certainly had our fair share of biking and beers. Ommegang, New Glarus, New Belgium, Bell’s, Capital Brewery and Guinness all come to mind.

So if you live in western Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho or Washington, shoot him an email at nathan@follownathan.org. I’m sure he’d be happy to roll into your town for a beer or three.

What’s your favorite beers that you’ve sampled so far on your trip?

Lucky Kat from Magic Hat in VT, Flower Power from Ithaca Brewing in Ithaca, NY, Burning River from Great Lakes in Cleveland, OH, Oberon from Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI, Scurvy IPA from Tyranena Brewing in Lake Mills, WI.

Have you biked hungover?

There has been an occasion or two. You meet good people and when you are leaving the next morning they want to show you a good time on your last night. In Ithaca I was invited to a night of brews and conversation that kept me up til 4 a.m. and one too many. Riding out of Ithaca for 50 miles climbing huge hills during heavy rains and winds was certainly not enjoyable. The good news is that once I arrived in Watkins Glen, I found the Rooster Fish Brewing and enjoyed a cold brew.

What do you make of Milwaukee’s bars and beers so far?

Absolutely phenomenal. What I enjoy most is the craftsmanship that goes into the beer you find here tied into a rich story of history and culture in the Milwaukee area. Not to mention great people that provide a loose and easy going atmosphere.

Tell us about your trip. What are your goals?

Nathan and I at Milwaukee's Urban Ecology Center

One of my biggest goals on this journey is to allow people from all over America and the world to follow, support and interact with me while I embark on this mission to raise support and awareness for land and nature conservation. With the help of Twitter I am able to accomplish these goals. I get to know America, and America gets to know me.

What has been your biggest biking challenges so far?

This might sound cheesy… but one of the biggest challenges is actually getting on the bike and leaving the good people you meet in a tremendous community. A range of sad and anxious emotions tend to overwhelm you as you set off. However, the thrill of what is around the corner is always a great motivation factor. Riding over mountain passes in Vermont during thunderstorms certainly presented challenges as well.

You were impressed with the zero waste initiatives from Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland. What do you think are a few key practices that other breweries could follow from their example?

GLBC operates a delivery truck and a shuttle bus called “The Fatty Wagon” that runs on straight restaurant vegetable oil, all packaging (including the unbleached “eco-carton” case of beer) consists of recycled content, they have a cooling system in the Brewery cooler that brings in cold air during winter months to cool the beer, and much, much more. I have a longer list here.

Since you’re also about sustainable and local food, what’s your favorite beer and food pairings?

A microbrew brewed in the building I am consuming my meal, a veggie panini filled with veggies from a local organic farmer, and some local and fresh cheese.

As you’ve said, you are very nomadic. What place that you’ve lived or visited has the best beer?

Wow… what a tough question to answer. But I am going to have to say Colorado.

Anything else to add?

Please follow me on Twitter @follownathan, and buy local!

Is it any coincidence that a Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale fits perfectly in a bottle cage?

Via Chezeblog and The MAD House

It’s been a problem for the ages.

How do you bike while carrying beer that doesn’t end up the temperature of your fetid, sweaty back?

Timbuk2 resolves this issue once and for all with the Dolores Chiller ($110).

It looks like a regular messenger bag. It acts like a regular messenger bag. But it’s fully equipped with insulated, waterproof liner for all your beer transportation needs. And it comes with a built-in bottle opener.

“There’s just no need for warm beer,” declares the official product description. “It’s a beautiful day in the park and you deserve to drink a cold one that’s actually cold.”

If this isn’t a case of engineering at its most stunningly utilitarian, I don’t know what is.

Via BeerCritics.com, Chow.com

Ryan Van Duzer believes that if he rides a three speed bike across America, “more people can ride to the grocery store.”

Duzer is currently riding a New Belgium cruiser from San Diego to DC, and the Colorado brewery is sponsoring his journey.

“New Belgium gave me a cruiser last year and I jokingly said that I’ll ride it across America, and they took me seriously,” he told elephant journal.  “This ride fits in perfectly with their eco-minded mission. Oh, and they make good beer.”

If that wasn’t a challenge enough, he’ll be hauling a keg of New Belgium along with him. Wow.

“I’ll be pulling a pony keg of Mothership Wit, a nice wheaty organic beer that has been proven to be more effective than any other energy drink on the market!” he told elephant journal.

If you see him on the road, the least you can do is buy him a pint. Just like his grandma did during his ride from Maine to Key West.

You can follow his journey here.