About

The Origins of Team Eddie

Sean at the base of Zugspitze on the German-Austrian Border 1995-96

Team Eddie started in our Rochester, NY garage in the late 1980′s as the name for the small group of family and friends that we rode with.  My Father Terry Edward Casey received the nickname “Eddie” from Dan’s buddy Jim Barnash on a winter skiing trip and the name stuck…my dad (endearingly) became Eddie to Dan and I, and some years later it was only logical that he was Grandpa Eddie to Liam and Ethan.  In the “old days” we would ride the single-track of Durand Eastman Park, Bristol Mountain, Victor and anywhere else we could find it.  Family rideswere around Irondequoit and the surrounding area.

Dad "Eddie" and Dan at a Cycling Event in the early 1990's

Dan went on to become a Category-I road racer,  won numerous Empire State Games Gold Medals, attended the Olympic Training Center at Lake Placid, and was an Olympic hopeful.  I continue blown-away by Dan skills on two-wheels! While Dan’s accomplishments on a bike far outstrip my own, my status as an enthusiast is definitely attributable to those first family rides with Team Eddie.  While stationed in Germany when I was in the U.S. Army, I spent many weekends riding through Germany, Czech Republic and Austria.

In 2007 Liam entered the Brownwood Bike Rally, a kids fun-ride in nearby East Atlanta.  We jokingly made “Go Team Eddie” signs and e-mailed them to Grandpa…the next generation had been born!  We all had a good laugh, but

Liam at BRAG spring tune-up 2010

the sentiment that started out lightheartedly became very real when Eddie was diagnosed with Stage III Lung cancer later that year. Liam participated in his 3rd Brownwood Rally again in 2010, taking the podium for Team Eddie with a 2nd place finish! Liam also participated with me in the 2010 Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) spring tune-up and did the Tahoe warm up ride with our Team-In-Training!

                                                             In 2011 Ethan formally joined the Team,

BRAG 2011: Ethan settling in for the flats along the mustard feilds- mile 27 near Rutledge, GA

debuting at the BRAG spring tune-up at the age of 8 years old.  Intrue Team spirit, Ethan came out of the gate in style- putting in for a 32 mile pull!  He would total over 60 miles thatweekend and would appear that in Liam and Ethan the legacy of the spirit that founded the team carries forward.  Ethan has Asperger’s Syndrome and is hoping to continue discovering new freedoms and     outward focus through his riding!  Good job boys.

Team Eddie Lives

In January 2010 I committed to completing a 100-mile Century ride around Lake Tahoe as a member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training program and in honor of my father who at that point was no longer able to ride due to his condition.  I had suffered a debilitating chainsaw injury to my knee and had long given up on pursuing form of exercise- including biking.  As part of Team in Training I was able to rediscover the freedom and joy I experienced on my bike and was proud to ride in my father’s name.

On March 25th 2010, after what can only be termed an epic 3-year battle with cancer, our father passed away from the disease, and he did not get to see me ride in Tahoe as he had wanted.  In his passing, the Tahoe ride became a cathartic undertaking to both honor my father and grieve his death.  Dan joined me in Tahoe and we finished the ride together as brothers.

Grandpa Eddie with Liam and Ethan, on March 21st 3 days before he passed away.