Tibbs was a lot of things to a lot of people. Often funny, sometimes annoying, more often in more pain than we realized. He is also a kind caring individual that had a wonderful idea. Team Secondhand Racing.
This is an expensive sport, none of us doubt that. Most of the ST community is better off than the average american. Some of us aren’t. We all share the same love of the sport and the willingness to do what it takes to get there. It doesn’t take a $4,000 bike to race tri. At your next local sprint take a look around the transition area for the dept store mt bike. There will be one or it’s equivalent some where there. That guy is racing the same race you are. Same hills, same wind, but he will be on course longer than you.
Tibbs had a great idea, TSR. As people get their equipment together this year take a look in the garage or your closet, see what you have that might help the guy on the Huffy enjoy his next race a little more. If the money you would get on ebay is worth it to you ,then by all means. But if that old set of pedals or the outdated computer or worn shoes won’t bring much, pass it on. An old cycling jersey will help out the guy in the t-shirt. Take a minute, dig around, your SO will appreciate some of the bike junk disappearing. Make someones day.
Stuff I have TSRed
Old cycling computer
2 old steel frame schwinns (one to a guy for his first race, one to a guy who needed a bike just to get around)
A helmet
Toe strap pedals
A jersey that I hated the color of.
Stuff I have recieved TSR
Total immersion book
cyclocross tires (4, 27 inch)
a set of road pedals
I didn’t name names as I don’t know if the givers want to be mentioned, but I will take a minute to thank them again.
outgoing:
a pair of Carnac tri shoes
carbon disc wheel cover
flite saddle
ATAC pedals
some truly cool Canadian things (secret Santa)
an old pair of Profile GTs
incoming:
excellent gloves and some excellent salsa (secret santa).
tubular wheels, 700c. freewheel, one with Sachs 11-21 8 speed ( I was going to put them on ebay for a couple of bucks but I will donate for shipping costs if claimed soon)
Bianchi Wannabee to my ex-boyfriend, who wants to start tri’ing
Recieved:
Garmin Forerunner 201 - the best gift ever, from someone anonymous here. I love this thing, I use it hiking and running all the time, and never could have afforded one right now.
I would like to talk about the TSR website. I’ll move it to another thread.
Stuff I’ve been given via TSR:
Assortment of bike shorts / tops / clothing
Speedplay pedals (I love them)
Shipping for a bike
Giant OCR2 Bike
I’ve not been able to give back yet, as we still are struggling each month, though things are starting to pick up with my new $200 pr site website prices I have. Hopefully that’ll kick into high gear once people know about it.
I would like to talk about building up the TSR website to where it’s a community of people helping other people. Bunnyman started some great work with some interviews and I thought Jonathan was going to come and work on it, but I understand now why that hasn’t happened.
Anyhoo, I’ll post a thread later today or tomorrow about the TSR site and try and get ideas from you guys about what we should do with it.
Me and the guys from my crew are always swapping stuff in the true TSR spirit.
Someone always needs a stem in order to be better fitted. Or maybe it’s rims or brakes or whatever. My QR tri-bike is maybe 75% from TSR. The rims I ride are TSR as well. It’s a great spirit
Anyone want an Xlab Saddlewing? A few nicks on the paint but still very functional. Does not work with my current saddle and I am fine with the frame mount. Free if you cover the shipping, my zip code is 34104 if you want to estimate shipping cost.
Edit: Saddlewing has been claimed. Will be on it’s way to new home soon.
NCSH–misread your post–thought the look pedals were up for TSR–my bad. anyway, i ahve a bunch of SMALL jerseys available for you guys/gals that just can’t find stuff in that size. i’ve acquired a few new ones so i’m lookin’ to send these to a new home. all but one are clean (no huge stink clinging to them) and spotless (one was involved in a crash, scraped up a little–still works fine).
Best post I have read in a long time. While it was not from a Slowtwitcher I was given a computrainer from the wife of a friend who passed away last Christmas. I have given whatever I can to some friends who are starting triathlon in my town. Don’t have anything right now but I will take a look and see what I can come up with. Best of all I look at triathlon in a whole new way with all the giving that has gone on.
Got my start in road racing ~14 years ago with a lot of help from TSR. A combination of outright gifts with “deals” so generous that they might as well have been free was the only way a 14yr old kid whose parents didn’t care about sports could ever get into it.
