United by Design - Bike MS

United By Design Running

2011-10-31T12:49:00.004-05:00

United By Design Running will be another great way for the design community, and friends of the design community, to come together just as we have done with for the Bike MS charity ride. We will be doing group runs twice a week and then at least three races between now and April; the Kirkwood Turkey Trot, the St. Patrick's Day Run, and St. Louis Go Races. Feel free to share this with all of your runner friends!

Team Training

We will be meeting up every Sunday morning for a 9 am start time for Team Training Runs. Much like the training rides, we will change up the locations, but we will get an e-mail out plenty ahead of time so you know where to meet up and if there is a time change. Starting out we will meet in Tower Grove Park at the intersection of Central Cross Dr & Southwest Ave Dr. There will be a few mileage options for all skill levels. We plan on having water on hand after every run.

We will also be meeting one weekday evening at 6:00 pm for a group run. Please e-mail me what day works best for you - Tuesday or Wednesday by 11/3. Which ever night gets the most votes wins. Our week night runs will meet at Francis Park at the intersection of Nottingham & Donovan Ave. It will be dark at this time of night, but it is a safe well lit one mile loop. We will have route options that go outside of the park, but the surrounding areas are safe as well.

Our weekday runs will typically be shorter routes than Sundays and we will vary the training with speed workouts, stretching sessions, etc.

Our first official team meet up with be either Tuesday the 8th or Wednesday the 9th at 5:30. I will let you know for sure when I have all of the votes back. We will then meet the following Sunday.

Team Races

Our first team race will be the Kirkwood/Webster Turkey Run on Thanksgiving Morning (11/24). It has a 3 mile & 6 mile option. If you are a new runner and think that it is to far to run, it is a walker friendly race and I encourage you to walk it at the very least. It is fun and inspiring to be apart of a race. It will be a great motivation for your training! http://www.kirkwoodmo.org/content/City-Departments/2339/turkey-day-run.aspx

Our second race will be the St. Patrick's Day run March 17th. It is a five mile race that goes through downtown. People dress up for the holiday and last year there were 13,000 runners. http://www.irishparade.org/site/run/

Our third race will be Go St. Louis April 15th. There is a 5K option, a marathon rely, a 1/2 marathon, and a full marathon. There is already a group interested in running the 1/2, so our group runs will have routes that follow the a training schedule to complete it come race day. http://www.gostlouis.org/marathon-weekend.html

We may add more races after the Go - we will know more as the season gets going.

The Details

United By Design Running will work a little differently than United By Design BikeMS. When you join the team you will get a long sleeve UbD running shirt, entry fee paid into the Turkey Run with registration taken care of, and water at the team training runs. To cover these costs, we are asking $50 to join the team. If you cannot run in the Turkey Day run, the amount ($17.50) will be applied to either the St. Patrick Run or Go St. Louis. Let me know if you have any questions on this part as I know it is different than our BikeMS team.

We will be working to get sponsors who can put their logo on our jerseys & website to help cover more costs, like race fees, team dinners & happy hours. I am also looking into getting a gym at a local community center or church to reserve for our weeknight workouts in case of bad weather which will be a team cost if we pursue that option. If you have a company who would be interested in sponsoring us, please let me know so I may reach out to them.

The Deadline

We will need to know by Nov. 14th if you would like to join the team for the deadline of the Turkey Day run. We will be putting in the running shirt order in on the 15th so we have them before race day. If we have more runners added to the team after that deadline, we will put in a second order as needed. Checks can be made out to me, Jessica Bahr, and sent to my address below. Money will be due Nov. 20th and you will not get your jersey unless you have paid. If you order a jersey, but then decide not to join and we cannot give your jersey to someone else, you will be responsible for the amount to cover the jersey.

I will not keep sending out mass e-mails after this one, only if you reply will you get e-mails on UbD running. If you were forwarded this e-mail, please contact me so I can add you to my list.

We look forward to running with you and please e-mail me at jessica@vervecolor.com if you have any questions!

Jessie Bahr

2011 Wrap up, 10/25 Happy Hour, & UbD Running

2011-10-12T14:16:00.001-05:00

Tom and I wanted to say thank you again for making United by Design so successful this year! Can you believe it has already been a month since the BikeMS weekend? I hope you have had time to rest, recover, and maybe work on your fundraising goal! If you aren't interested in the numbers, skip down to the details of the team Happy Hour Tom and I are planning for October 25th at Llywelyn's in Webster.

This Friday, October 14th, is the deadline for you minimum goal of $250. Just a friendly reminder that if you do not raise that amount, you will not be able to sign up for next year's event without first paying 2011's $250.

At the moment, as a team we have raised just over $11,000 - good job team!

Sheila Miranda is our fundraising champion with $2,110 raised to date! Way to go Sheila!

I have tallied up all the funds we raised at the Breakfast, the Triumph Happy Hour, and all of the money left over from our sponsorships. The numbers work out so that everyone will get money towards there fundraising goal even if you could not make the Breakfast or the Happy Hour. I will be making a donation to the MS Society and they will be splitting up the funds to everyone. Here is the break down of what you will be getting towards your fundraising goal:

Just for being part of UbD: $21

If you attended the Happy Hour: $49

If you helped out with the Breakfast: $60

12 people will be getting $130 towards their goal for attending all of the UbD events! Thank you all for your time and effort to raise money for the MS Society!

Once that donation is in, we will have raised close to $14,000!!

If you are not sure how much your will get, feel free to e-mail me and I will let you know what you will be getting. I hope it can help a lot of the 19 people who have yet to raise the $250. If you need more help, please let Tom or I know as we have had people volunteer to share their portion with people who need help to raise the funds. Fundraising is a team effort!

10/25 Happy Hour

To end the 2011 season properly, Tom and I would like to plan one more Team Happy Hour. Tuesday October 25th we will all meet up at Llywelyn's in Webster starting at 5:30. We will reminisce about the 2011 season and then start talking about how great 2012 will be for UbD! Tom will be sending out an Evite shortly, but mark it on your calendars.

UbD Running

One last note - United by Design has been so successful as a Cycling Club that we are branching out into a Running Club starting November! We will be looking for 5K's, half marathons, and full marathons to run in for different charities. If you are a runner or are thinking of becoming a runner, please e-mail me back and I will add you to the list. Greg Frankenfeld briefly offered to help "coach" us into shape and I will be working with him to work out more details - so stay tuned! I will only e-mail the people interested in running though, so be sure to e-mail me back if you are interested!

See you all Tuesday October 25th!

Jessie

Last 2011 Saturday Training Ride - 9/3/2011

2011-09-02T11:17:00.003-05:00

United by Design will be having its last Saturday morning team training ride of the 2011 Bike MS season on Saturday, September 3, 2011 (weather permitting).

We are meeting in Forest Park at the Visitors Center parking lot, South by the tennis courts, and will leave at 7:00am. We will be riding East into Downtown onto the Riverfront Trail and then across the McKinley Bridge connecting to the Madison County Transit Trails (MCT) in Madison County, IL, again. The MCT trails are fairly flat and are good for getting in some extra miles. We are going to go for 50+ miles (round trip). There are numerous other connecting trails for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

Forest Park Visitors Center
5595 Grand Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63112

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com). If raining, we will not ride.

We hope you can join us and look forward to riding with you!

2011 Breakfast Fundraiser - 9/7/2011

2011-08-26T17:23:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group - 9/7/2011 - 8:00am to 10:00am

Lawrence Group will be holding its annual Bike MS Fund-raising Breakfast on Wednesday, September 7th, 2011, to support the riders of the United by Design Bike MS Team. The team is riding in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2011 charity ride in Columbia, MO, on September 10th & 11th.

Come and enjoy some of your breakfast favorites prepared by United by Design team members and volunteers. You can also participate in our raffle where we will draw for fantastic prizes. All money raised will be donated to the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society towards the team's fundraising goal. Feel free to bring your friends, family, and co-workers!

What:
Breakfast Fundraiser for the United by Design bike MS Team

When:
Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
8:00am - 10:00am

Where:
Lawrence Group
319 North 4th Street - 3rd Floor Atrium
Saint Louis, MO 63102
*Parking is available at the adjacent Quik Park & Mansion House garages or surrounding meters.

Cost:
$10 All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet w/ 1 Raffle Ticket*
Raffle Tickets - 3 for $5, 7 for $10*
*Cast, check or charge. Checks can be made out to the National MS Society. Credit is accepted via on-line team donation here.

RSVP:
Please RSVP by 9/2 to Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com)

2011 Tour de Wildwood - 8/28/2011

2011-08-26T17:18:00.003-05:00

2011 Tour de Wildwood

Come join us the United by Design Bike MS team this Sunday morning for Trailnet's Tour de Wildwood. The ride starts and stops at Lafayette High School. The tour includes a scenic pedal through hilly West St. Louis County and has 9, 22, 36 and 45mile ride options. Helmets are required on this ride, which is recommended for experienced cyclists. The 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway ride is coming up fast so make sure you get as much training in as you can!

Lafayette High School
17050 Clayton Road
Wildwood, MO 63011

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Weekend Training Ride - 8/27/2011

2011-08-26T17:14:00.003-05:00

Come join us this Saturday morning for another training ride from the HUB bike shop in Webster Groves, MO. We will leave the bike shop around 7:00am and will target about 10 more miles than the long route (30 miles) at a moderate pace. Below is an image of the 30 mile route map. Only 14 more days until the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway ride!

The Hub Bike Shop
40 West Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
http://www.thehubbicyclecompany.com/

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Niche is joining the fight against MS!

2011-08-19T13:54:00.003-05:00

Niche, one of United by Design’s team sponsors, is donating a portion of its sales through September 13^th, 2011, to the United by Design Bike MS team’s fundraising goal. Stop by their store in downtown St. Louis or visit them online to check out their great selection of furniture and accessories!

www.nichestl.com

Raffle Winners - Happy Hour Fundraiser 8/18/2011

2011-08-19T12:24:00.005-05:00

We want to personally thank everyone who was able to come out to Triumph Grill last night to our 2^nd annual happy hour fundraiser for the United by Design Bike MS team. We hope everyone enjoyed themselves. We also want to thank everyone who was not able to come out to Triumph but supported us in spirit and with financial donations. To see pictures from last night, visit our Facebook Page.

We are riding in the Bike MS charity ride to raise awareness and funds for the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society to help move towards a world free of multiple sclerosis. With your help, we raised over $900 last night towards our team’s fundraising goal with raffle and tee shirt sales. Thank you! We also want to thank Triumph Grill, our 2011 team sponsors and everyone who donated items for the raffle. We could not have done it without everyone’s contributions and support.

Raffle!

Congratulations to all of our Raffle Winners last night! There were a lot of prizes that were unclaimed as many people had to leave early or purchased tickets in advance. Below are the prizes and winning ticket numbers that have yet to be claimed. If you won, please hold on to the ticket for proof that you won. E-mail Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) within one (1) week so we can arrange pick up of the items. If prizes go unclaimed after 1 week, they will be drawn for again so keep your tickets!

Ticket: Prize:

341602 Cardinals Tickets – 9.23.11 vs. Cubs (from Summit Signs & Graphics)

341603 Cardinals Tickets – 9.5.11 vs. Brewers (from Summit Signs & Graphics)

341455 $50 MDP Restaurants GC (from Lighting Associates)

341526 $25 Triumph Grill GC (from Triumph Grill)

341606 $50 Sitting Fee (from CS Photography)

341508 $100 Metro Lighting GC (from Lighting Associates)

341609 $50 to Trattoria Marcella (from Lighting Associates)

341591 $100 for Arbonne (from Carrie Heckstetter)

341436 Trek CycleOps Magneto Bike Trainer (from Lawrence Group)

341570 Magnavox DVD Player (from Lighting Associates)

341525 2006 Bike MS Prize Jersey (size L)

341477 2010 United by Design Tee Shirt

341565 2010 United by Design Tee Shirt

341574 2011 United by Design Tee Shirt

If you didn’t get to pick up a tee shirt, they are still on sale for $15 (new) and $5 (old).

Join Us!

If you are a cyclist and would like to ride with us, please let me know as we are always looking for more riders to join our team! If you are not a cyclist, don’t worry – you can still help! United by Design is open to silent riders joining who can donate their time and/or funds to support the team. Visit our team website for more information.

Have a great weekend and thank you again for your support of United by Design!

Happy Hour Fundraiser for Bike MS - 8/18/2011

2011-08-09T10:59:00.006-05:00

Triumph Grill - 8/18/2011 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm

The United by Design Bike MS Team is hosting its annual Happy Hour fundraiser at Triumph Grill on Thursday, August 18th, 2011. To raise money, we will be raffling off excellent prizes again from some great local businesses. Raffle tickets are 1/$5 or 3/$10 and can be purchased at the door, in advance from team members or from Tom Bahr: 314.809.3570 - Cash or checks only, checks can be made out to the National MS Society.

The proceeds from the Happy Hour raffle will go towards the team’s fundraising goal for the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway (MS 150). Your donation goes directly to the National MS Society and helps fund cutting edge research, professional education, fundraising, and local programming to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.

To find out more information about the team, the Bike MS ride, how to sponsor us, and how to get involved, please visit the websites below. We look forward to your support!

Triumph Grill
3419 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO
http://www.triumphgrill.com/

United by Design Bike MS Team Page
http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=15951&team_id=219489

Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society
http://www.gatewaymssociety.org/

CORE10 Architecture - 2011 UbD Team Sponsor

2011-08-09T10:56:00.005-05:00

CORE10 Architecture has joined the United by Design Bike MS team for its 2nd year to ride and as an official sponsor for the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway on September 10th & 11th in Columbia, MO. CORE10 Architecture is an urban architecture specialist that has been designing specialized projects for challenging city sites for over 10 years.

For more information on the services CORE10 Architecture provides, please visit their website: www.core10architecture.com.

United by Design - 2011 Team Jersey Design

2011-08-05T10:45:00.006-05:00

The design for the United by Design 2011 Bike MS team jersey and short is finished! This is the artwork we submitted to Champion System, the jersey company we are using. We hope you enjoy it - let us know what you think! Click on the picture above for a larger view.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their contributions towards the jersey and our fundraising efforts. Also, a special thanks goes out to Troy Guzman (Arcturis) for his work on the jersey and short design. If you would like more information on sponsoring, joining, or donating to the team, please see the pages above.

Lupus Wolfride GranFondo 2011 - 8/6/2011

2011-08-05T09:20:00.003-05:00

http://www.wolfride.com/

Check out the Lupus Wolfride GranFondo ride this Saturday, August 6th, 2011, if you're interested in another great fundraiser!

Weekend Training Ride - 8/7/2011

2011-08-04T15:46:00.003-05:00

If you can't make it this Saturday, join us this Sunday morning (8/7) for a 44 or 64 mile training ride starting and ending in Kirkwood, MO.

This week we meet at Kirkwood Park for a ride out to Babler Park via Clayton and back Conway. Below is a map for each proposed route. The 64 mile ride will also stop in Babler but will skip the St. Albans stop since no facilities are available. To beat the heat, this train starts at 7 AM SHARP!

Directions to Kirkwood Park as follows:

From US40/I-64 exit Lindbergh south. Lindbergh becomes Kirkwood Road at Manchester. Proceed south and turn right on West Adams to Kirkwood Park. Parking lot is ¼ mile west of Adams and Geyer, turn left at Playground Rd, veer left to large parking lot between the ballfields. Restroom and water available.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Ludwig (CLudwig@stlouisco.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

44 Mile Map

64 Mile Map

Weekend Training Ride - 8/6/2011

2011-08-04T10:24:00.002-05:00

United by Design will be having another weekend training ride on Saturday, 8/6/2011, at 7:00am (weather permitting). For the first time this year, we will be joining Team Christner for their "Wildwood Ride". Click here for a link to their team page for more information on their Bike MS team and their training rides.

We will meet at Windsor Crossing Community Church in Chesterfield, MO, at 7:00am. Below is a Google Map of the church's location to get directions as well as a map of the Wildwood Ride showing the routes & mileage. Some people will be riding the main "red" route. It is about 34 miles with some decent hills. There are other connecting routes for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

If you have any questions, please contact Allan Gober (apgober@att.net).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Location of Windsor Crossing Community Church - Chesterfield, MO

View Larger Map

Map of Team Christner Wildwood Ride

Weekend Training Ride - 7/23/2011

2011-07-22T17:31:00.004-05:00

Come join us this Saturday morning for another training ride from the HUB bike shop in Webster Groves, MO. We will leave the bike shop around 7:30am and will target the long route (30 miles) at a moderate pace. Below is an image of the route map. We had about 10 riders last week, so hopefully we can get a few more out this week. Only 49 more days until the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway ride!

The Hub Bike Shop
40 West Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
http://www.thehubbicyclecompany.com/

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Weekday Training Ride - 7/12/2011

2011-07-12T16:12:00.001-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & heat permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center at 5:30pm. We will leave shortly after. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you have any questions. Below are links to Google maps for the meeting place.

We will continue to hold weekday and weekend training rides throughout the summer until the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway on September 10th-11th. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for more information.

Google Map at Trailhead
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Biddle+St.+and+Lewis+St.,+63102

Link to St. Louis Riverfront Trail Page - Trailnet.org
http://www.trailnet.org/trail_details.php?ID=76

Looking forward to riding with you!

Weekend Training Ride - 7/9/2011

2011-07-08T14:23:00.004-05:00

This Saturday we are planning another ride from the HUB bike shop in Webster Groves, MO. We will leave the bike shop around 7:30 and target the long route (30 miles) at a moderate pace. We had about 10 riders last week, so hopefully we can get a few more out this week. Only 62 more days until the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway ride!

The Hub Bike Shop
40 West Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
http://www.thehubbicyclecompany.com/

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Weekday Training Rides Begin! - 6/28/2011

2011-06-28T10:33:00.005-05:00

Lawrence Group, one of United by Design's official sponsors, is starting its weekday training rides for the United by Design Bike MS team today, Tuesday, June 28th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & heat permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the MLK Bridge. We will leave at 5:30pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you have any questions. Below are links to Google maps for the meeting place.

We will continue to hold weekday and weekend training rides throughout the summer until the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2011 on September 10th-11th. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for more information.

Google Map at Trailhead
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Biddle+St.+and+Lewis+St.,+63102

Link to St. Louis Riverfront Trail Page - Trailnet.org
http://www.trailnet.org/trail_details.php?ID=76

Looking forward to riding with you!

2011 Team Training Ride Kick-Off!

2011-06-16T15:35:00.008-05:00

If you are like many of us, it has been either too hot or too rainy to ride your bike. With only 85 days left until the 2011 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway Ride, we decided now is a better time than any to begin our team training rides!

We are blowing the cobwebs out of our spokes this Saturday and meeting at The HUB bike shop in Webster Groves, MO, at 8:00AM. There are two distance options: 18 miles and a longer 30 mile loop. Please join us for our first team ride of the year and see what we're all about!

The Hub Bike Shop
40 West Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
http://www.thehubbicyclecompany.com/

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to seeing you there!

United By Design - Season 2011!

2011-04-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

Are you ready? After a fantastic first season of raising over $13,000 to help find a cure for MS, United by Design is gearing up for the 2011 Season! We are having a kickoff meeting tonight so stay tuned to see how this year of cycling for a cause pans out!

Team Jersey & Rider Packet Pick-Up - 9/2/2010

2010-08-27T12:47:00.006-05:00

Come meet the team and join us for a drink as we hand out the 2010 United by Design team jersey and Bike MS rider packets. We will be getting the jerseys earlier that day and we are excited for everyone to see them! Thanks again to all of our sponsors for helping us fund the jerseys and for their support of our team. We will have some snacks and soft drinks but please bring your own adult beverages if you would like to drink. Feel free to bring a dish to share too!

Where:
Lawrence Group
319 North 4th Street
9th Floor Patio
St. Louis, MO 63102
*Parking is available at the adjacent Quik Park Garage ($2/1st hr., $1/2nd hr.) or street meters ($1/hr.)

When:
5:30pm - 7:00pm
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

Haven't signed up for the 2010 Bike MS ride yet?
Use the discount code "august" to register this week for just $15 (50% off)! Click on the "Join" tab above and follow the instructions to join the United by Design team.

Silent Auction
We still have 5 great items up for auction to help raise money for the team! We will have the items out for you to look at and bid on. The auction will continue until the fund-raising breakfast on 9/8/2010.

Team T-Shirts
We have plenty of United by Design t-shirts left if you would like one! They are only $15 and are available in many different sizes.

If you have any questions or are planning on attending, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com). Looking forward to seeing you there!

Fund-raising Breakfast at Lawrence Group!

2010-08-23T17:13:00.013-05:00

Lawrence Group will be holding its annual Bike MS Fund-raising Breakfast on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010, to support the riders of the United by Design Bike MS Team. The team is riding in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 in Columbia, MO, on September 11th & 12th.

Come and enjoy some of your breakfast favorites prepared by United by Design team members and volunteers. You can also participate in our silent auction and raffle where we will draw for fantastic prizes from great local hotels, restaurants, and other venues. All money raised will be donated to the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society towards the team's fund-raising goal. Feel free to bring your friends, family, and co-workers! Attached is the event flyer. As you can see, we like bacon, but not as much as we like supporting the MS Society!

What:
Fund-raising Breakfast for the United by Design bike MS Team

When:
Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
8:00am - 10:00am

Where:
Lawrence Group
319 North 4th Street - 3rd Floor Atrium
Saint Louis, MO 63102
*Parking is available at the adjacent Quik Park & Mansion House garages or meters.

Cost:
$10 All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast Buffet w/ 1 Raffle Ticket*
Raffle Tickets - 3 for $5, 7 for $10*
*Cast or check only. Checks can be made out to Jessica Roberts.

RSVP:
Please RSVP by 9/3 to Melinda Starkey (melinda.starkey@thelawrencegroup.com).

Weekend Training Ride - 8/28/2010

2010-08-23T11:05:00.001-05:00

United by Design will be having another weekend training ride on Saturday, 8/28/2010, at 7:00am (weather permitting). We will be joining Team Christner again for their "Wildwood Ride". Click here for a link to their team page for more information on their Bike MS team and their training rides.

We will meet at Windsor Crossing Community Church in Chesterfield, MO, at 7:00am. Below is a Google Map of the church's location to get directions as well as a map of the Wildwood Ride showing the routes & mileage. Some people will be riding the main "red" route. It is about 34 miles with some decent hills. There are other connecting routes for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Location of Windsor Crossing Community Church - Chesterfield, MO

View Larger Map

Map of Team Christner Wildwood Ride

Weekday Training Ride - 8/25/2010

2010-08-22T17:28:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, August 25th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & heat permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center at 5:15pm. We will leave at 5:30pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend. Below are links to Google maps for the meeting place.

We will continue to hold weekday and weekend training rides throughout the summer until the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th-12th. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for more information.

Google Map at Trailhead
http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Biddle+St.+and+Lewis+St.,+63102

Link to St. Louis Riverfront Trail Page - Trailnet.org
http://www.trailnet.org/trail_details.php?ID=76

Looking forward to riding with you!

Weekend Training Ride - 8/21/2010

2010-08-19T15:06:00.006-05:00

United by Design will be having another weekend training ride on Saturday, 8/21/2010 (weather permitting).

We will be riding a few Madison County Transit Trails in Madison County, IL, again. We will meet at the Metro East Park & Recreation District Office at 7:30am. "Click Here" for the link to its location on Google Maps where you can get directions. The trails are fairly flat and are good for getting in some extra miles. All together, the ride will be about 29 miles round trip. There are numerous other connecting trails for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

Metro East Park & Recreation District Office

104 United Drive
Collinsville, IL 62234

"Click here" for a Google Map link of the route.

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com). If raining, we will not ride.

We hope you can join us and look forward to riding with you!

STL Architecture Bike Tours

2010-08-19T14:41:00.004-05:00

Enjoy architecture and bike riding? Take an architecture bike tour with Harold Karabell and learn more about different parts of St. Louis: http://www.stlbikefed.org/.

STLStyle Trivia Winners!

2010-08-19T14:11:00.003-05:00

A few United by Design team members and friends went to the City to River City+Arch+River design competition review night at Schlafly's Tap Room and participated in the STLStyle Trivia. "Team United by Design" tied for 1st place and won a $100 cash prize that will be put towards the team's fund-raising goal for the 2010 Bike MS Gateway Getaway ride. Great job to everyone on the team for their help answering some great St. Louis trivia questions! It was a fun event with a great turn out. We're exited to see the results of the arch grounds design competition. It will be great for the city and the region as well.

We look forward to seeing you at future United by Design events!

City to River Arch Design Concepts & STLStyle Trivia

2010-08-16T10:19:00.006-05:00

Join us for a team outing at the Schlafly Tap Room for the City to River Arch Design Concepts Review & STLStyle Trivia night this Wednesday night at 7:30pm. There you can review & comment on your favorite design for the arch grounds competition, which will be released on Tuesday, and participate in STL trivia for prizes. It should be a great time! If you have any questions or plan on attending, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Schlafly Tap Room
2100 Locust St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 241-BEER
www.schlafly.com

Hope to see you there!

Weekday Training Ride - 8/17/2010

2010-08-16T10:18:00.006-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, August 17th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & heat permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the old President Casino (RIP) at 5:30pm. We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend. Below are links to Google maps for the meeting place.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Weekend Training Ride - 8/14/2010

2010-08-12T11:03:00.005-05:00

Only 30 days left until the 2010 Bike MS ride!
Have you started training yet? If not, join us on our next training ride!

United by Design and Team Arcturis are going to be riding Big Shark's Saturday morning 36 mile shop ride on August 14th, 2010 (weather permitting). It's going to be a HOT one so bring lot's of fluids!

We will meet at Big Shark Bicycle Co. at 7:45am and leave at 8:00am. There are usually people who do a shorter and longer ride for anyone who is interested.

Big Shark Bicycle Co.
6133 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63112
(314) 862-1188

Here is a link to the 36 mile route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/mo/-st.-louis/210124693170821898.

Here is a link to turn-by-turn directions from Big Shark's website for the 36 mile route:
http://bigshark.com/articles/sharktoberfest-rides-16-37-56-mile-loops-pg465.htm.

If you have any questions or plan on attending, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com or 314.242.1305).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Weekday Training Ride - 8/11/2010

2010-08-11T14:33:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, August 11th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & heat permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the old President Casino (RIP) at 5:30pm. We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend. Below are links to Google maps for the meeting place.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Happy Hour Raffle Winners! 8/10/2010

2010-08-11T11:10:00.010-05:00

Thank You!

United by Design would like to sincerely thank each and every person who came out to Triumph Grill last night to support our team's efforts for the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 charity ride. We'd also like to thank all of our team sponsors, our raffle item donors, and Triumph Grill who hosted our event: www.triumphgrill.com.

We are riding in the Bike MS to raise awareness and funds for the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society to help move towards a world free of multiple sclerosis. Your support last night means we are just that much closer to our goal. Over 90 people attended and we raised just over $1,000 last night. Thank you!

Below are items we raffled off and the winning ticket numbers.

#340896: Red-Orange Maharam Pillow donated by Ivi Reinold.

#340874: Black Maharam Pillow donated by Ivi Reinold.

#340915: YMCA Gift Bag donated by the Downtown-Marquette YMCA.

#340873: Starbucks Gift Box donated by Starbucks on Chippewa.

#341066: AIA Photo 2011 Calendar donated by AIA St. Louis.

#341106: 2 Framed AIA Competition Photos donated by AIA St. Louis.

#340937: One Night Stay at the Crown Plaza Hotel Clayton w/ Breakfast donated by Crown Plaza Hotel.

#340889: $25 gift card to Big Shark donated by H&G Sales (Bob Kusterer).

#340877: $100 Syberg’s Gift Basket donated by Syberg's on Market.

#340900: $20 gift card to Noodles & Co. donated by Noodles & Co. on Hampton & Chippewa.

#340910: $75 gift card to Trattoria Marcella donated by Lighting Associates.

#341029: $12 gift card to St. Louis Bread Co. donated by STL Bread Co. downtown.

Congratulations to all of our Raffle Winners! If you won, please hold on to the ticket for proof that you won. E-mail Jessica Roberts (jessica.roberts@thelawrencegroup.com) as soon as possible so we can arrange delivery/pick up of items.

In addition to the raffle, we had a silent auction for 6 items. The highest valued item (4 Diamond Box Tickets to the Sunday, August 22nd, 1:15pm Cardinals game Vs. the San Francisco Giants w/ parking pass - $480 total value) is still up for grabs! We will continue bidding for this item until Friday, August 20th. Bidding starts at $100 - if you would like to make a bid, please contact Jessica Roberts. The other 5 items in the silent auction will be continued through our next event, a fundraising breakfast, on Tuesday September 8^th at the Lawrence Group. More information to follow on the breakfast and the auction items.

Lastly, if you did not purchase a team t-shirt, they are still on sale for $15 each; all proceeds go to the National MS Society.

Thanks again for your support of United by Design!

Fundraising Happy Hour Tonight!

2010-08-10T10:47:00.003-05:00

United by Design is holding a Fundraising Happy Hour tonight at Triumph Grill in St. Louis, MO, from 5:00 - 8:00pm. Come out and join our team for some excellent food & drinks! There is a $10 all-you-can-eat appetizer buffet; drinks not included. Also, we will also be having a raffle & silent auction with some amazing prizes! In addition, we will be selling team T-Shirts for $15 each. We will accept cash or check only. Credit Cards can be used for drinks at the bar. All proceeds from the event will benefit The National MS Society. Below is a flyer for the happy hour and the T-Shirt design. Hope to see you tonight!

Weekend Training Ride - 8/7/2010

2010-08-06T13:54:00.006-05:00

Only 36 days remaining until the Bike MS ride. Have you started training yet???

United by Design will be joining Team Arcturis on their morning training ride on Saturday, August 7th. The ride will start in Columbia, MO. We will be meeting at 7:45am in the Columbia Center strip mall parking lot in front of the Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant. After our ride, we can enjoy some food & margaritas!

Tequila’s
Columbia Center (IL Route 3)
850 Columbia Center
Columbia, IL 62236

The ride is fairly flat with a few hills and rolling hills. You can make it as long or short (20, 30, 45+), or as flat or hilly as you want to. Below is a map of the 45+ mile route.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/il/columbia/242128069146952549"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;08/01/2010 Route&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/find-ride/united-states/il/columbia"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Find more Bike Rides in Columbia, Illinois&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
http://www.mapmyride.com/view_route?r=242128069146952549

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Troy Guzman, Arcturis Team Captain (tguzman@arcturis.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Fundraising Happy Hour @ Triumph Grill

2010-07-23T13:38:00.006-05:00

The United by Design Bike MS Team is hosting a Happy Hour at Triumph Grill on August 10th, 2010. The proceeds from the Happy Hour will go towards the team’s fundraising goal for the 2010 Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway (MS 150). Tell all of your friends, family, and colleagues to join in the fun!

A $10 donation will include all you can eat appetizers. All beverages will be on your own. There will also be a raffle with great prizes. Tickets will be 1 for $2, 3 for $5, and 7 for $10. Tickets for the Happy Hour can be purchased at the door, from UbD Team Members, and from Jessica Roberts (jessica.roberts@thelawrencegroup.com or 314.242.1557). Cash or checks only – checks should be made out to Jessica Roberts.

To find out more information about the team, the Bike MS ride, how to sponsor us, and how to get involved, please click on the tabs above. We look forward to your support and hope to see you there!

Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society
http://www.gatewaymssociety.org/

Triumph Grill
http://www.triumphgrill.com/

Weekend Training Ride - 7/24/2010

2010-07-22T22:37:00.001-05:00

United by Design will be having another weekend training ride on Saturday, 7/24/2010, at 7:00am (weather permitting). We will be joining Team Christner again for their "Wildwood Ride". Click here for a link to their team page for more information on their Bike MS team and their training rides.

We will meet at Windsor Crossing Community Church in Chesterfield, MO, at 7:00am. Below is a Google Map of the church's location to get directions as well as a map of the Wildwood Ride showing the routes & mileage. Some people will be riding the main "red" route. It is about 34 miles with some decent hills. There are other connecting routes for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Location of Windsor Crossing Community Church - Chesterfield, MO

View Larger Map

Map of Team Christner Wildwood Ride

TransAm Adventure 2010

2010-07-20T10:56:00.004-05:00

On July 10th, Tom Bahr and Jessica Roberts (Lawrence Group), riders from the United by Design Bike MS Team, randomly ran into four young men who are riding their bikes across the country this summer on their break from college. They were all eating & escaping the hot weather at a local Qdoba Mexican Grill in Creve Coeur, MO. Tom and Jessica were excited about the trip the men were taking and wanted to share their story with everyone. The men "believe in seizing life and embracing the infinite potential of each waking hour." Something we all should live by! Below are links to the website/blog for their ride as well as their Facebook page. We hope you enjoy their story as much as we did.

TransAm Adventure 2010 - Website
http://www.transamadventure.com/

TransAm Adventure 2010 - Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-TransAm-Adventure/129278276605?ref=sgm

United by Design Featured On St. Louis CNR Website!

2010-07-20T10:21:00.010-05:00

The United by Design Bike MS Team was recently featured in an article on the St. Louis Construction News And Real Estate (CNR) website! To view the article, follow this link: http://www.stlouiscnr.com/features/article/united_by_design_gets_rolling_toward_a_cure/. Hope you enjoy!

Team Outing: Missouri Botanical Gardens - 7/21/2010

2010-07-19T17:10:00.008-05:00

Since we've been having such a great turnout for our team training rides and putting in a lot of miles, we thought it would be a good idea to take a break, relax, and get to know everyone on the team more!

Join us at the Missouri Botanical Gardens for a United by Design team outing this Wednesday, 7/21, for the Whitaker Music Festival. The gardens are open to the public every Wednesday evening through 8/4 to listen to live music. This week, Peter Mayer will be performing. Bring your friends, family, food & drink! Also, please bring your own chairs & blankets if desired. We will be meeting at the top of the amphitheater area, West of the Children's Garden, at 6:00pm and will decide where to set up camp. Below are links to the garden's website for more information on parking and the event. If you are planning on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) so we can keep an eye out for you. If it rains/storms, we will try it again next week.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Whitaker Music Festival - Missouri Botanical Gardens
http://www.mobot.org/events/Whitaker/default.asp

Peter Mayer
http://www.petermayer.com/

Festival Hours and Admission
Free admission after 5 p.m.
Music begins at 7:30 p.m.
Last entry at 9 p.m.
The Children’s Garden remains open with free admission from 5 to 7 p.m.

Weekday Training Ride - 7/20/2010

2010-07-19T17:00:00.005-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, July 20th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & river level permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the old President Casino. We will leave at 5:30pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Weekday Training Ride - 7/13/2010

2010-07-12T21:36:00.002-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, July 13th, at 5:30pm.

Looking forward to riding with you!

UbD Weedend Training Ride Pictures - 7/10/2010

2010-07-11T19:58:00.010-05:00

The United by Design Bike MS team joined Team Christner, a United by Design affiliate, for their Saturday morning Wildwood training ride on 7/10/2010. Below are a few pictures from the ride. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for information on our next training rides. Looking forward to riding with you!

Some riders from United by Design and Team Arcturis towards the beginning of the ride.

Rob Forney (United by Design, Lawrence Group) taking a break before heading back out.

Custom Blueprint & Supply, Inc. Joins United by Design!

2010-07-11T19:23:00.001-05:00

Custom Blueprint & Supply, Inc., a locally owned and operated printing company in St. Louis, MO, has joined the United by Design Bike MS Team as an official sponsor. Custom Blueprint has been serving the St. Louis area for more than 25 years providing printing for many of the local architecture & design firms.

To find out more information about Custom Blueprint & Supply, Inc. and the services they provide, please visit their website: www.customblueprint-supply.com.

CORE 10 Architecture Joins United by Design!

2010-07-11T19:18:00.001-05:00

CORE10 Architecture has joined the United by Design Bike MS team to ride and as an official sponsor for the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. CORE10 Architecture is an urban architecture specialist that has been designing specialized projects for challenging city sites for over 10 years.

For more information on the services CORE10 Architecture provides, please visit their website: www.core10architecture.com.

Cambria Joins United by Design!

2010-07-11T18:24:00.000-05:00

Cambria, an industry leader in quartz countertops, has joined the United by Design Bike MS team as an official sponsor for the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th &12th in Columbia, MO. Cambria is a privately held, family-owned company and is the only producer of natural quartz surfaces in the United States.

For more information on the services Cambria provides, please visit their website: www.cambriausa.com.

Helmkamp Construction Co. Joins United by Design!

2010-07-11T17:41:00.004-05:00

Helmkamp Construction Co., a full service General Contractor with Construction Management and Design Build experience, has joined the United by Design Bike MS team to ride and as an official sponsor for the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th &12th in Columbia, MO. Helmkamp has been serving the St. Louis and Metro East construction markets for over 70 years.

For more information on the services Helmkamp provides, please visit their website: www.helmkamp.com.

United by Design - 2010 Team Jersey Design

2010-07-11T14:40:00.014-05:00

The design for the United by Design 2010 Bike MS team jersey is finished! This is the artwork we submitted to Champion System, the jersey company we are using. We hope you enjoy it - let us know what you think! Click on the picture above for a larger view.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors for their contributions towards the jersey and our fundraising efforts. Also, a special thanks goes out to Derek Prior (HOK), Tom Bahr (Lawrence Group), Jim Walker (Lawrence Group), and Alex Duenwald (Lawrence Group) for their work on the jersey design. If you would like more information on sponsoring, joining, or donating to the team, please see the pages above.

New United by Design Logo!

2010-07-09T17:03:00.008-05:00

James Walker, Associate Graphic Designer with Lawrence Group, has donated his time to help create a new modified version of the main United by Design logo to use on our team jerseys for this year's Bike MS: Express Script Gateway Getaway. We hope you enjoy this revised logo. The jersey design has just been completed and we will post the images to the blog very soon! Keep following the United by Design blog to stay up-to-date on all the team news and to see images of the new jersey design. Have a great weekend!

UbD Weekday Training Ride Pictures - 7/7/2010

2010-07-08T12:34:00.017-05:00

Lawrence Group held another training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010. Riders from Team Arcturis, a United by Design affiliate, joined us again. We rode the St. Louis Riverfront Trail and went past the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge into Illinois for a total of 28 miles round trip. Below are a few pictures from the ride. More pictures can be found on our Photobucket page - follow the link on the right side bar. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for information on our next training rides. Looking forward to riding with you!

Trail artwork on one of the many flood walls near the trail head. It is sad people ruin the nice work with graffiti.

The group cruising on top of one of the levees North of downtown St. Louis, MO.

Weekend Training Ride - 7/10/2010

2010-07-07T23:24:00.010-05:00

United by Design will be having its 3rd weekend training ride on Saturday, 7/10/2010, at 7:00am (weather permitting). We will be joining Team Christner for their "Wildwood Ride". Click here for a link to their team page for more information on their Bike MS team and their training rides.

We will meet at Windsor Crossing Community Church in Chesterfield, MO, at 7:00am. Below is a Google Map of the church's location to get directions as well as a map of the Wildwood Ride showing the routes & mileage. We will be riding the main "red" route. It is about 34 miles with some decent hills. There are other connecting routes for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com). We hope you can join us for a nice morning of riding.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Location of Windsor Crossing Community Church - Chesterfield, MO

View Larger Map

Map of Team Christner Wildwood Ride

UbD Weekend Training Ride Pictures - 7/3/2010

2010-07-06T09:04:00.017-05:00

The United by Design Bike MS team held its 2nd weekend training ride on Saturday, July 3rd, 2010. Two riders from Team Arcturis and two riders from Team Christner, United by Design affiliates, joined us. The team rode a few of the Madison County Transit Trails in Illinois for about 28 miles. The trails were very flat and the scenery was great making the ride easy and enjoyable. We will definitely be riding those trails again and adding additional miles. Below are a few pictures from the ride. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for information on our next training rides. Looking forward to riding with you!

Getting started on the MCT Schoolhouse Trail.

Members of the United by Design Team, Team Arcturis, and Team Christner posing for a picture at our first stop.

One of the many bridges along the MCT Nature Trail. There were also a few tunnels that went under roads.

Jessica Roberts, 2010 Team Treasurer, and the rest of the team finishing up the last leg of the day's ride.

Weekday Training Ride - 7/7/2010

2010-07-06T09:03:00.005-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, July 7th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & river level permitting). We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the old President Casino (R.I.P.). We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Niche Joins United by Design!

2010-06-29T15:34:00.007-05:00

Niche, a distinctive home furnishings & interior design services store located in St. Louis’ central business district, has joined the United by Design Bike MS team as a sponsor for the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. Niche has sponsored Lawrence Group's Dream Cycles Bike MS team in the past and we are excited to have them as one of our sponsors this year.

For more information on the services Niche provides, please contact David Blakely, Store Manager (david.blakely@thelawrencegroup.com), or visit their website: www.nichestl.com.

Weekend Training Ride - 7/3/2010

2010-06-28T11:15:00.009-05:00

United by Design will be having its 2nd weekend training ride on Saturday, 7/3/2010, at 7:30am (weather permitting).

We will be riding a few Madison County Transit Trails: the MCT Schoolhouse, MCT Goshen, & MCT Nature Trails in Madison County, IL. We will meet at the Metro East Park & Recreation District Office in Collinsville, IL, at 7:30am. "Click Here" for the link to the location on Google Maps where you can get directions. The Schoolhouse Trail (15.8m) connects to the Goshen Trail (7m). The Goshen connects to the Nature Trail (12.7m) which returns towards the beginning of the Schoolhouse Trail. All together, the ride will be about 38 miles round-trip. There are numerous other connecting trails for those who want to add or subtract mileage.

If you plan on attending or have any questions, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com). We hope you can join us for a nice morning or riding.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Meet the Team & Jersey Design Unveiling - 7/6/2010

2010-06-28T09:57:00.014-05:00

United by Design team members and representatives from the Gateway Area Chapter of the National MS Society will be available to answer any questions you have about United by Design and the Bike MS Gateway Getaway ride. We will also be unveiling our new team jersey design and taking orders for it. Our jerseys will be from Champion System this year and will only cost $30 for team members. Jerseys will cost $60 for non-team members. The last day to order is July 9th, so make sure you don't miss this event! If you miss the deadline, the price goes up significantly. Lunch will be provided for all those who RSVP in advance. If you have any questions or would like to RSVP, please contact Tom Bahr below. We look forward to seeing you there!

Where:
Lawrence Group
319 N 4th Street - 3rd Floor
St. Louis, MO 63102
*Parking is available at the adjacent Quik Park Garage

When:
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010
12:00pm

RSVP (by July 2nd):
Tom Bahr
tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com

Weekday Training Ride - 6/30/2010

2010-06-27T19:17:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, June 30th, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather & river level permitting). We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to riding with you!

UbD Weekday Training Ride Pictures - 6/22/2010

2010-06-22T23:16:00.025-05:00

Lawrence Group held its 3rd weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010. Three riders from Team Arcturis, a United by Design affiliate, joined us. We rode the St. Louis Riverfront Trail again but went past the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge into Illinois for a total of 28 miles round trip. It was a hot evening and the Mississippi River was a lot higher, flooding one portion of the trail. We didn't let that keep us from having a good time though! Below are a few pictures from the ride. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for information on our next training rides. Looking forward to riding with you!

Troy, Benjamin, and Chris from Team Arcturis cruising along the St. Louis Riverfront Trail.

Dan Kennedy (Lawrence Group).

One of the creeks that feeds into the Mississippi River was swollen and flooded the trail below a rail bridge.

Troy with Team Arcturis hiking around the flooded bike trail.

It took a little while but we all made it around the water. The only bad thing was we had to do it again on the way back.

Weeday Training Ride - 6/22/2010

2010-06-22T15:02:00.002-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Tuesday, June 22nd, at 5:30pm.

We will be riding in downtown St. Louis again on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail (weather permitting). It is a very nice, easy 22 mile ride to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and back. The trail continues into Illinois for those who want to ride further. We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the President Casino. We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com) if you plan to attend so we can keep an eye out for you.

Looking forward to riding with you!

UbD Weekday Training Ride Pictures - 6/16/2010

2010-06-18T17:33:00.013-05:00

Lawrence Group held the 2nd weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, June 16th, 2010. We rode the St. Louis Riverfront Trail again to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and back. Below are a few pictures from the ride. We hope to see you on our upcoming training rides!

Trail sign on one of the flood walls.

Rob Forney (Lawrence Group) crusing near the Merchant's Bridge.

Jessica Roberts (Lawrence Group) enjoying the ride.

Tom Bahr (Lawrence Group) taking a break on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Weekday Training Ride - 6/16/2010

2010-06-14T14:56:00.003-05:00

Lawrence Group is holding another weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, June 16th, at 5:30pm.

Looking forward to riding with you!

Saturday Training Ride Photos - 6/12/2010

2010-06-14T14:41:00.006-05:00

Tom Bahr and Dan Kennedy from the Lawrence Group joined Team Christner for their Saturday morning ride at Windsor Crossing Community Church in Chesterfield, MO. It was a beautiful day but hot! There are various route options allowing you to do as little or as many miles as you'd like. There were some pretty killer hills but well worth the climb as there were some great views. Below are a few pictures from the ride. We hope you can join us on future training rides. Make sure to follow United by Design to stay up-to-date on all that is happening!

Entrance to Windsor Crossing Community Church, the start & finish of of the ride.

An old stone house on Wildhorse Creek Rd., northwest of Babler State Park.

An old school house (?) North of Babler State Park.

Having Fun with the United by Design Logo

2010-06-14T14:24:00.003-05:00

Derek Prior (HOK) has kindly donated his time to help design the United by Design logo. He is also working on the team's jersey for this year's Bike MS: Express Script Gateway Getaway. Here is a modified version of our main logo. Hope you enjoy!

Lawrence Group Joins United by Design!

2010-06-10T17:04:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group, a multi-disciplined international design firm headquartered in St. Louis, MO, has joined the United by Design team as a sponsor and to ride in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. Lawrence Group has participated in the Bike MS "MS 150" ride the last 4 years with their Dream Cycles team and has had great support. Lawrence Group co-founded United by Design along with HOK, Lighting Associates, and Atlas Carpet Mills. For more information on the services Lawrence Group provides, please visit their website or contact Donna Gamache, Director of Communications (donna.gamache@thelawrencegroup.com).

If you or your company is interested in sponsoring or joining United by Design, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

HOK Joins United by Design!

2010-06-10T17:02:00.003-05:00

HOK, a global provider of planning, design and delivery solutions for the built environment headquartered in St. Louis, MO, has joined the United by Design team as a sponsor and to ride in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. HOK co-founded United by Design along with Lawrence Group, Lighting Associates, and Atlas Carpet Mills. For more information on the services HOK provides, please visit their website or contact Ryan Favier (ryan.favier@hok.com).

If you or your company is interested in sponsoring or joining United by Design, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Lighting Associates Joins United by Design!

2010-06-10T17:01:00.002-05:00

Lighting Associates, one of the foremost lighting manufacturer's representative in the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois area, has joined the United by Design team as a sponsor and to ride in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. Lighting Associates co-founded United by Design along with Lawrence Group, HOK, and Atlas Carpet Mills. For more information on the services Lighting Associates provides, please visit their website or contact Tony Randazzo (trandazzo@laiweb.net).

If you or your company is interested in sponsoring or joining United by Design, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

Atlas Carpet Mills Joins United by Design!

2010-06-10T17:00:00.007-05:00

Atlas Carpet Mills has joined the United by Design team as a sponsor and to ride in the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 11th & 12th in Columbia, MO. Atlas Carpet Mills co-founded United by Design along with Lawrence Group, HOK, and Lighting Associates. For more information on the services Atlas Carpet Mills provides, please visit their website or contact Carrie Heckstetter (checkstetter@atlascarpetmills.com).

If you or your company is interested in sponsoring or joining United by Design, please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com).

Looking forward to riding with you!

UbD Weekday Training Ride Pictures - 6/9/2010

2010-06-10T17:00:00.004-05:00

Lawrence Group held the first weekday training ride for the United by Design Bike MS team on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010. It was a beautiful evening for a ride! We rode the St. Louis Riverfront Trail again to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and back for a total of 22 miles. There were great views of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis from the bridge. Below are a few pictures from the ride. We hope you can join us on our upcoming training rides!

View of downtown St. Louis looking South from the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Jessica Roberts and Rob Forney (Lawrence Group) taking a break over the Mississippi River on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. A bit of trivia: what 1980's movie featured the bridge and other St. Louis sites during shooting???

1st UbD Training Ride Pictures!

2010-06-09T17:20:00.002-05:00

We had a great 1st United by Design team ride this past Saturday on the St. Louis Riverfront Trail! The sky was a bit overcast but we didn't complain because it helped to cool things down. Below are a few pictures from the ride. We hope you can join us on our upcoming training rides!

Jessica Roberts, Rob Forney, and Dan Kennedy (Lawrence Group) taking a break on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.

View looking South at the two water intake towers. Downtown St. Louis can barely be seen to the left.

Jessica Roberts and Rob Forney (Lawrence Group) cruising South on the Riverfront Trail.

Weekly Training Rides Begin!

2010-06-08T12:07:00.001-05:00

Lawrence Group will begin holding weekly training rides for the United by Design Bike MS team beginning Wednesday, June 9th, at 5:30pm

We will be riding downtown on the St. Louis River Front Trail (weather permitting). The trail was designed by Austin Tao Associates and was completed about 3 years ago. It is a very nice, easy 22 mile ride to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge and back. The trail continues into Illinois for those who want to ride further.

We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center, North of the President Casino. We will leave at 5:45pm SHARP. Please contact Tom Bahr (tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup) if you plan to attend so we can keep an eye out for you.

We will continue to hold weekday training rides every week throughout the summer until the Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010 on September 9th-12th. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog for more information on future training rides!

-UbD

Register to ride: Go to the United by Design team page and click on “Join Team”.

1st Team Ride - 6/5/2010!

2010-06-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

United by Design will be having its first team ride this Saturday, June 5th, 2010. All are welcome to come! We will be riding in downtown St. Louis on the River Front Trail (weather permitting). It is a fairly easy 12 mile ride (each way, 24 mi. total) to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The trail continues into Illinois for those who want to ride further. We will meet at the trailhead next to the Laclede Power Center and will head out at 8:15am sharp. Follow this link for more information on the trail: http://www.trailnet.org/trail_details.php?ID=76.

Please contact Tom Bahr at tom.bahr@thelawrencegroup.com if you plan on attending. Make sure to follow the United by Design blog to stay up-to-date on future United by Design news!

Looking forward to riding with you!

United by Design

2010-05-14T11:33:00.001-05:00

In an effort to bring the St. Louis design community together for a cause, we have set out to create a Bike MS riding team like none other that is United by Design. We are coming together to raise awareness and funds to help move towards a world free of multiple sclerosis.

United by Design is open to anyone related to the design industry be it architects, interior designers, planners, engineers, contractors, or sales representatives. Individuals as well as companies are welcome to join. If your company joins the team, we will provide recognition via links on the team blog and a banner at the team tent on race weekend. The team is also open to all skill levels and ages. To find more out about Bike MS and this great cause please follow this link: Bike MS: Express Scripts Gateway Getaway 2010. Don’t worry, if you are not a rider you can still help! Please join us as a silent rider and donate to support the team members riding.

If you are interested in joining our team, sponsoring us, or have questions, please e-mail Ryan Favier at (ryan.favier@hok.com). More information will follow with regards to team events such as: group training rides, team fundraising events, and a pre-race team BBQ. Make sure to follow United by Design to stay up-to-date on all that is happening.

Looking forward to riding with you!