Let’s get ready for the 2021 Team Evesham Riding Season!

It’s time for the annual Team Evesham  membership renewal. While rides happen year around, the official Team Evesham 2021 season starts April 1st so make sure you don’t miss a beat and get that renewal done. To renew or join, visit www.teamevesham.org, select the “Login” menu and choose “Join/Renew” (Or follow this renewal link).

Team Evesham is an all volunteer, non-profit organization that works hard every year to provide a range of benefits to our members and this year will be no exception. As always, membership includes some great offers and incentives from our sponsors (Who are Team Evesham’s sponsors?).

Membership gives you access to an ever growing range of ride opportunities, all led by trained ride leaders, access to team Ride w/GPS routes, and special events and rides throughout the year.

We are hopeful that 2021 will return some normalcy to everyone’s lives and look forward to some terrific riding opportunities. So don’t miss out, sign up or renew today!

Happy and safe riding to all!
The Team Evesham Board

Unfortunately COVID-19 remains a factor in NJ so the TE Board of Trustees continues to ask all riders to sign an electronic release prior to joining a ride. As the virus is likely to be with us at least for the immediate future, we’re asking riders to download a QR scanner onto their phones to make sign-ins easier. For late-model phone OSs, iPhone 11 (2017) and Android 9 & 10, you can simply use the phone’s camera to sign in. For earlier models you can download a QR app from your app store.

The weekend had a somber start as Team Members attended the Memorial Service for David Bennis on Saturday. Family members shared many fond memories and we got to hear about Dave’s pre-Team Evesham days. His memory will live with Team Evesham for years to come as he was such a big part of our organization and the local cycling community. This coming Sunday, we will have a special route planned starting from TAUNTON FORGE SHOPPING CENTER at 9:00am and ride past The Bennis House to show support for the family.

This past Sunday proved to be another one of those weather days… Scott D, Lisa and myself conversed many times about the ever-changing radar, if we would be able to ride, and if we should shorten the route we had planned. We took a gamble and decided to do the long route as rain wasn’t expected until after 1pm. As usual the weather apps were WRONG, and we got the trifecta – cold, wind, and rain – with about 3 miles left in our route….

We took that gamble because we wanted to remember another member of the cycling community, Ian Cameron. He was taken from the earth too young due to cancer. He was an employee at D&Q and a huge supporter of Team Evesham and local cycling. Each year Team Evesham has put together a Memorial ride in Ian’s memory along with Cynergy Cycling and Summit Cycling.

So join your Teammates this coming Sunday at 9:00am from Taunton Forge Shopping Center as we embark past The Bennis House and on to our ride.

As I walked out of my house kicking myself for not warming up the car on this frigid Sunday morning, all I could think was, “It’s too cold for this.” I sat in the Rastelli’s parking lot with the seat warmer and heat on and I looked at the temperature…37 degrees. “It’s too cold for this.” More and more teammates showed up and I got out of my warm car donned in numerous layers. “It’s too cold for this.”

We had a smaller group than in the past few weeks; many probably had the same thoughts I did. But once we got going and started chatting with our friends, laughing and smiling, the cold didn’t matter anymore. I’m glad I didn’t give into my creature comforts. Scott Downie once again gave us two awesome, scenic routes and we had a great ride. The lessons I learned today? Go anyway. Don’t let the cold get to you. The connections you’ll make with your friends will always be worth it.

In life, it’s not where you go, but who you ride with.

This Saturday, join us at the memorial service for our friend, Dave Bennis to celebrate his life. It will be held at the Marlton Field House from 2-4pm. [NOTE: Please be considerate to the health and safety of those around you when you attend. It is imperative that we all wear masks and maintain a social distance of 6 feet or more.]

Sunday, Oct 25th, we will host the Ian Cameron Memorial Ride to remember another friend who touched so many lives. We’ve invited our fellow cyclists from Summit and Cynergy to ride with us that morning. Please join us at Rastelli’s.

See you next week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks,
Lisa

This past week Team Evesham suffered a great loss when Dave Bennis passed away suddenly at his home. Dave was 78 years old and had enjoyed a Team Evesham Ride earlier that day with Teammates and coffee with friends afterwards.

Dave was an integral part of Team Evesham for many years. He was not only a ride leader, he was a Founding Board Member, past Vice President and a team mentor to so many cyclists in the club. His internal and behind the scene work for Team Evesham will never be forgotten.

Dave’s Cycling Advocacy stretched well beyond Team Evesham. He sat on the board of the American Cancer Society Ride and helped to better that event to what it is today. Besides that ride Dave was also a board member for the Move For Mental Health Ride, The Urban Promise Ride and The Bike For Bancroft Ride.

Dave helped mentor many youth in cycling. He was a mentor to Team Evesham Member Sami Sorid and helped her with cycling and to develop and promote her own charity ride the Move For Mental Health. He also worked with Teammate Kurt Comber to earn his cycling merit badge in Boy Scouts to help him Achieve Eagle Scout. Dave also worked with youth in Urban Promise.

This past Sunday, we had over 45 Teammates join us to ride, along with several team members and friends that attended solely to honor our departed friend and teammate, Dave Bennis. Team President Scott Santos offered some words of remembrance for Dave followed by a moment of silence in his honor. Following the moment of silence teammate Dave Dilks played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes for friends, family and teammates.

On a final note, a common thought among teammates even in our stunned and saddened state of learning of Dave’s passing was that we all found some solace in the fact that on the last morning of Dave Bennis’ life he was able to do something he really enjoyed, ride his bike. Rich Bernstein and Ross Polinow led the Friday ride that morning and will tell you first hand that Dave rode strong like the inspirational 78 year old that we all knew and admired.

Dave will always be in our hearts and never forgotten!

More about Dave

David Henry Bennis, 78, of Medford, NJ, died at home on Friday, October 9, 2020.

Dave grew up in Point Pleasant and started his professional career at 15 years old when he worked at Jenkinson’s on the boardwalk. He graduated from Monmouth College in 1965 with a BS in mathematics and went on to work for Reliance Insurance Co. in Philadelphia while residing in Cherry Hill.

He was subsequently hired by RCA as a computer programmer and worked there for 17 years. He was part of the team responsible for the 1976 Presidential election coverage produced by NBC television. This was the first time tv stations televised election results on the large color coded maps.

While living in Medford, he was then recruited by North American Philips to run their U.S. Data Center, commuting by bus every day to their headquarters in New York City. Finishing his career at DecisionOne in Malvern, PA, retiring in 2010.

Dave rode into retirement when he joined the Team Evesham cycling club reviving his passion for riding. As a team member he donated his time on their Board, served on charity bike ride committees, led rides, provided route maps, welcomed and mentored all newcomers to the club and sport. He became their ambassador for safe cycling at the local and state levels, including advocating for bike lanes and cycling information in driving manuals. The new NJ driver’s manuals now include instructions for driving safely past cyclists.

Throughout his life his interests ranged from amateur photography, including a basement darkroom, woodworking in his garage shop, skiing, watching tennis, the Eagles and 76ers, sailing on the Chesapeake, and listening to music. Warren Zevon was for putting lights on the Christmas tree, of course, Arlo Guthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant for Thanksgiving and Coltrane or Brubeck were his choices when cooking dinner.

Being well informed, each morning he read two newspapers and checked the news online. He enjoyed reading about history and science fiction, though he enjoyed gourmet food and fine wine, his favorite dinners were pairing beer with either pizza or Doritos and he loved desserts. His love for his family was never hidden, spending any time he could with his grandkids riding waves in the ocean or just talking and he treated everyone he met with dignity and respect.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judith DiBiase Bennis, their daughters, Jill, of Germantown, MD, and Donna of Hockessin, DE., his sister, Diane Biel Kupisioski of Cream Ridge, NJ, and by the four grandchildren who called him Papa/Johnson, Alex, Elias, Hunter and Chelsea, along with his nieces and nephew.

A party to celebrate Dave and his life will be held soon. Contributions in Dave’s memory can be made to Move for Mental Health (moveformentalhealth.org) or Team Foster (teamfoster.org).

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Mathis Funeral Home in Medford, NJ.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of David H. Bennis, please visit our Tribute Store.

Hey Team Evesham!

This past Labor Day Weekend we had some beautiful weather for cycling. As the days get shorter and the end of summer gets close (by my dismay) the weather is becoming ideal for cycling. We had another new route created by Scott Downie that took us on some familiar roads with a different path to get there. We hope that you had some time to rest this labor day, and of course do a lot of cycling!

This weekend also marked the start of the virtual Foster 100. Some riders have already gotten their mileage in and are complete! Don’t forget our Team Evesham organized Foster event will be this coming weekend September 13th, or possible the 12th depending on weather. Please keep an eye on our website, emails, and Facebook for last minute adjustments. As of now Saturday looks to be a better day! We have a fantastic route planned for you that is just about complete and will be posted by Friday. This multi-loop route will bring us back by the start for those that have already gotten some of the mileage in. We will be starting from Ott’s Greentop in Berlin where we can enjoy some hard earned social activities after our ride! We thank everyone that is participating in the Foster 100 and making this such a fantastic event. Don’t forget your new Foster 100 Jersey!

We will still be holding our regular team ride from Rastelli’s on Sunday, weather permitting. Check our website for last minute updates.

Looking forward to seeing you all on the road this weekend for the Foster 100 event!

We have not done a ride recap in a while… I can’t give a good reason why, just life and cycling this year have been different. We know why this is, (The C Word) and it has affected everything we do. We have been riding in smaller groups, “socially distancing.” Meeting in different zones of the parking lot, not having a mass start with announcements, etc. Heck there really hasn’t been too much to talk about other than COVID and cancelling charity rides, and Team Evesham events like the Grill and Chill and Welcome Back events. Heck, I really miss the good ole days when we had announcements and everyone got to see everyone else at the start, and we talked about upcoming events. Hopefully in time to come things will clear up and we can go back to that.

Today was different and it sparked my desire to write a quick recap (or not so quick) about our ride. Route master Scott Downie plotted a course for us to the north… starting from Lumberton to get us further into the Columbus area and some different roads. I forgot that we didn’t have start zones set up there. Also with the need to make a few quick announcements about the route, well, we had to gather at a distance again like the good ole days! What a feeling it was to be together with all of our pace groups. I know, not the safest thing, but we kept our distance. Being so used to not having announcements I failed to give a shout out to Nick Liermann and the upcoming Foster 100! Sorry Nick… and by the way, we are still planning a Team Evesham Joint Ride for the Foster 100 on September 13. We have had some route challenges, but it’s coming. So, we made some quick announcements and off we went towards Columbus!

What a great route it was, new roads, some hills, long straightaways and some new riders that had recently joined to spice things up in the A Group.

I want to thank the Ride Leaders that stepped up to lead today, they did an awesome job today. Mark Thornton lead our A Group, Scott Downie led our B+, Maurice Finnerty and Michael Gibbs led the Long B, Brad Davis and Carrie Salsbery led the Short B, Ross Polinow and Dennis Dahms lead our C+ group, and Jimmy Sweet and Chris Seip lead our C group. Yes that is correct and not a typo, Jimmy Sweet is back from an injury and led our C group, I’m sure Chris kept him in check.

If you are planning on riding the Foster 100 with us keep an eye on the website, email and Facebook for details for September 13, with a possible rain date of Sept 12. Details to follow as we finalize the route. We are planning to leave from Ott’s Greentop in Berlin and have a double loop route, one approximately 65-70 miles and the second the remainder of the 100 to complete the Foster ride requirement.

Thanks for joining us and we look forward to many more rides this year, socially distanced starts or otherwise!

– Scott