Metromint Cycling values the Esprit de Corps (ess-pree d'kor) [n : the spirit of a group that makes the members want the group to succeed] of its members.
Each month the team recognizes individuals who volunteer their efforts to help their teammates, contribute to the team's operations, or otherwise benefit the cycling community.
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2009 Award Recipients
September
 Paul Taylor |
Paul Taylor the man who ran the Giro. Tireless, patient, calm...the ideal leader we so badly need for this daunting task each year. From coordinating volunteers, to working with Velo Promo on logistics, to getting Metromint everything they wanted for this important promotional event, Paul excelled behind the curtains. The race went off without a single hitch and Metromint was thrilled with the result. Great work Paul! And despite making it look so easy, we know how much effort it took you and are forever in your debt because of it.
August
 Travis T |
Travis is the man. He smiles and laughs a lot. His jokes are excellent. He is one of the few of us who really sits down and thinks about who should get the next esprit de corps award. He has nominated someone every single time (it would take some time to figure out how good he was at picking, but my guess is he got 'em all). He sends out random emails praising teammates and the team generally. He helps us all out at the Hayes Street Freewheel. The man is a positive force to be reckoned with, and we are thrilled to give him August's esprit de corps award.
July
 Allison Krasnow |  Melissa Frost |
July's award went to Ali and Melissa for their outstanding work on women's recruiting. From handling the many interested racers, to organizing meet and greet coffees and rides, to crafting new policies on race minimums for new cat 4 recruits, Ali and Melissa have done both a measurable service to the team in bringing on new and promising women riders, and an immeasurable service to the team in bringing vision and shape to women's recruiting and membership.
June
 Evan Pickett |
Evan received June's award for his hard work in organizing the big trip to Elkhorn Classic Stage Race in Baker City, Oregon. Evan not only spearheaded registration for 11 Metromint riders by securing a team discount, but also booked hotel rooms for everyone and organized the carpool. The number of people in gleeful attendance, and the number of top finishes the team racked up, Evan's included, are both clear signs that Evan's efforts were truly inspiring. Thank you Evan!
May
Andrea Laue |  Elis Bradshaw |
Andrea and Elis received May's award for their awesome work with Bay Area Women's Cycling. BAWC's mission is to improve the health and well-being of women and girls through physical fitness, focusing on cycling in particular, of course. They do this by putting on clinics and rides, and organizing a women's racing series. It is an outstanding organization which you can learn more about here. In their hard work with BAWC, Andrea and Elis have found novel ways to extend Metromint Cycling's positive spirit beyond the team and to the greater community, and we owe them a big thanks for doing so.
April
 Molly Van Houweling |
Molly and her husband Rob are time trial geniuses. They decided to share their wisdom on the topic, as well as their wisdom on hosting a cocktail party, with the team, and it was an enormous hit. Not only did everyone in attendance learn a ton, but it also brought the time trialing enthusiasts among us together in a way that seldom happens, and got all of them riding even faster. Thanks to Molly for this outstanding team building activity!
March
 Yukie Nakamura |
Yukie has been an extremely enthusiastic and supportive new teammate. She has been racing like a maniac; she has been getting others to race like maniacs with her; she has been feeding, cheering, wrenching when she could be chilling out at home. Dots and bikes are on this woman's mind, and in a big, positive way that has an all out contribution to what it means to be a Mint.
February
 John Cheetham |
Johnny Cheetham deserves an esprit de corps award for just being Johnny Cheetham. If he keeps doing that, it'll be hard not to give him one every month. This one is connected to his hard work on the all team camp in Cloverdale. The spot was incredible, the accommodations exceedingly comfortable, the rides spectacular, the food and drink superb, the general organization seamless, and he somehow got nature on the line to give us some of the best winter weather ever. You'd think he'd sweat a little while he was making all this happen - nope: same easygoing, smiling Johnny Cheetham the whole time. Where did this guy come from and how do we get more of them?