Welcome to the Team CARVE official website. We hope that you'll come train and race with us as we try to realize our athletic potential through cycling and its many related disciplines. While hanging out here, it's important to know that we are committed to growing the sports we are passionate about. More importantly, we are committed to offering support to athletes of all levels through our training sessions, races and encouragement.
Usually one thinks of the highest caliber competitors when visiting any site that uses team in its description; however, here you'll find folks just like you, whether it's in the present, the past or even your imagination. For us, it's all about the unique challenges that athletics present that allow us to continue to grow as we move through life. There is very little in our adult lives that afford such drama, pain and joy as the pursuit of a voluntary physical and mental challenge through sport.
Don't make the mistake of preparing to begin. Do this, and you will likely never start. Check your pride, set your goals, and just commit to something challenging, yet attainable. We've got your back.
Sound good? Ready when you are.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who are you people?
Team CARVE is a locally organized group of athletes that specialize in different areas including road racing, distance riding, mountain bike racing, endurance events and traditional multi-sport competition. Chances are you'll find someone with similar interests, goals, and training regimens. With deep roots in competitive road cycling, Team CARVE has evolved into a very diverse group of athletes that span every sport that involves cycling in some form.
Do I have to race?
No. Funny, but at some point most everyone has to step back some or entirely. However, a lot of these same athletes are hard-wired to be competitive and will throw down for the local city limit sign, a length at the pool, down the sidewalk or up a granny gear climb as if it were their job. Bottom line: if you like to train as if you might toe the line someday, then you'll find a sense of community with us. At times, the chemistry of a workout might favor the more fit among us, but we try very hard to let folks know what to expect when they show up for one of our posted workouts. Still, we do have a lot of members that just have to race to want to train at all. They will inflict pain on everyone around them whenever they can. We try to let them know the temper of our workouts in advance too so that they don't feel like they are having to hold back too much. It's this type of mentality that often awakes in athletes once they've been on some group-training event, and it is certainly a benefit to be in our club when you want to test your limits against others on the road, in the dirt, in the water or all of the above.
What does it cost and why?
Our members pay roughly $50 annually (prorated later in the season) to be in our club. It is also required that everyone buy a jersey and wear it when they compete. This doesn't mean that our members don't join or even race for other clubs, but it does mean that we ask that you wear our colors when competing - but, one can always race for another club and forgo any of the other benefits our members enjoy. We have a full kit that is priced very competitively, or members can pick and choose. See our menu here on the site. Chainwheel in Little Rock is our hub. It serves as a sponsor, a supplier and a club house - kind of the hub of Team CARVE. Members get 10% off of parts and accessories, annual pro nights, club-only specials, prompt bike maintenance and other benefits. The Chainwheel crew will also help new members network with the right people and training. Chainwheel can also help outfit and even do diagnostic testing for aspiring competitors.
Finally, if members complete (no DNF's) the required number of events, they are eligible for some reimbursement at the end of the season. This requirement is open to all disciplines and allows members to test themselves in any competitive area - or cross compete to get their required events in. Currently, we ask for 8 finishes and offer a $20 stipend for a maximum of $10.
Do I have to be fit?
Many of our members are lifetime athletes and have found renewed fire by becoming involved in these disciplines. Several of us work in highly competitive and stressful professional areas and choose sport to help offset the toll that jobs often take on our mental and physical well being. You'll also find woefully out of shape, my-job-my- kids-my-life-my-lack-of-desire couch potatoes who've had enough and are ready to be challenged again. These and countless other profiles make up Team CARVE. The common thread in all of our members is the desire to get better at something while challenging ourselves and others. It might be frustrating to find yourself trying to keep up with the fleet and more fit, but we hope that's kind of why you might be considering joining anyway. Oh, and you'll get more fit. That's a promise.
Can I just come train with you guys?
Unless we post a date as members-only - which we do at times for insurance reasons - all of our sessions are open to the public. If you have the desire to get a preview of what it's like to train or even compete with us, please contact any of our captains for more specific information on a date and workout and then show up. Please wear a helmet if the workout involves cycling or don't bother. We will do our best to rate the intensity you can expect, and depending on how race- focussed the group is, we will try to warn you away from the killer sessions if you don't want to throw the hammer down. Mind you, we are certainly not trying to dictate to anyone how to ride, run or swim; however, we are often the catalyst and organize some great training sessions, so please respect our efforts and stay with us even when we're asking you to throttle back, ride sensibly or anything else that is better for the group dynamic. We want to grow participation here and sincerely hope you'll help us by being part of Team CARVE.
Do you guys actually compete or what?
Well, there's a lot of "or what" that we mentioned above; however, we field a very diverse group of competitors in all fields. Of late, a lot of our charter road racing members stepped back from competition. Many of them had been racing for over 12 seasons and it was time for many of them to take a break. Still, we have a lot of new blood and hope to develop this area back to its previous strength. Our biggest strength has been in the mountain bike categories lately with back-to- back Best Team in our state series - in spite of being really small in comparison to other teams. For 2008, we look to have a strong Masters and CAT 4 presence as we try to rebuild at the top end. Our multi- sport athletes look to exceed our expectations in ability and numbers in our first official season. Many of us like to go long and will do as many as 8 centuries later in the season. We have a few young guns that we hope to help further develop as well. Our Mountain Corps will no doubt vie for individual and team glory again this season.
How do I join?
Come by Chainwheel - 10300 N Rodney Parham / Little Rock, AR 72227 / 501-224-7651 and get lined out.
Who are your captains?
Road Captains
Ernie Lechuga and Sid Degarmo
Mountain Corp Captain
Scott Penrod
Multi-Sport Captain
Gary Taylor
Womens Auxilliary/ Adventure Racing (co-ed)
Sarah Miller
Distance Road Riding
Steve Tilley
Team CARVE Web Jockey
Christopher Stashuk
Team CARVE Director
Patrick Barron