It was 1988, I couldn’t have been any older than 16 when I met Tom Brinker at a Saint Louis Cycling Club monthly meeting. He had just come back from Belgium, having raced for the National Team at the World Championships. For me, it was my initiation into the Club, and one that certainly was going to leave a lasting impression. I was introduced as a pledging new member, having won a few junior races around town. I sat up a little straighter as Jim Murray read off my “list of accomplishments”, even though it may have only been 2 or 3 races. I was welcomed with a light round of applause.
With the “new business” of the club completed, they dove into the real accomplishments of the club. Jim Murray, the club president, began speaking about individual riders and their recent race results. It became quickly apparent that my list of total accomplishments didn’t exactly stack up to the monthly results of some of the club members, it was eye opening to say the least. Rider after rider, and more accomplishments highlighted, that seemed loftier than I could ever have imagined for myself. Jim however, saved the 2 best for last. Jeff Rasch, who I was already familiar with, as he was a Lindbergh kid, and there weren’t too many of us that rode bikes. Jeff had just returned from a Spring/Summer campaign racing in Belgium, the true proving ground for riders seeking to make it into the pro ranks. After the meeting, Jeff wandered over, introduced himself and demanded that I come to the house to be properly fit on my bike, and given real-world training and nutrition advice. It made an impression.
Equally impressive was when Jim mentioned Tom Brinker, standing off to the side, he lightly raised his hand when Jim mentioned his name, and that he had just returned from Belgium as well, having just raced on the track in the World Championships. He stood tall, with strikingly blond hair and a dark tan that only comes from hours and hours spent on the bike. After the meeting, I wandered over to introduce myself. As I approached, I noticed that he was wearing shorts and that his legs looked more like something sculpted out of marble, they looked like a road map, not an ounce of fat to hide the veins from being visible at the surface. It stopped me in my tracks, I retreated to a safer distance and watched, perhaps marveled in how Tom was received by the other club members, and how Tom seemed to take it all in stride. Jeff and Tom created a pathway for me, showing me that someone from St. Louis could do bigger and better things in cycling than just racing locally. Tom continued his trajectory on the track and raced all over the country. He’d occasionally show up at a local crit or mountain bike race, and he’d kick our ass there too. I’m still unsure if I was fortunate or unfortunate to not have had to race against Tom all that much, but I was always inspired by that initial introduction to Tom.
Tom went on to own one of the coolest shops around in CycleXtreme in Columbia, Missouri, and again, he unknowingly inspired me to do the same. From time to time, our paths cross and I think of that day in 1988 and how much someone can have an effect on you, without them hardly knowing at all. I recently found these amazing photos taken by Sandra Wright Sutherland, and all of those memories of Tom came flooding back in. Tom racing in the Club Colors and looking fierce. When I asked the photographer for permission to use the photo, she spent more time telling me about how Tom had raced several heats at that event….he clearly left an impression. It’s amazing that the Club has so much depth and history, that we need to keep building on. Tom will always be a major cornerstone of the club for me, his accomplishments were the result of his talent and determination, and those results help build a foundation for the club’s future.
