The good times keep on rolling in ABE town

Canada Day Eve X Ride

If you haven’t ridden at the Altona Moto Park X, you should.  I’m leaving ABES HQ tonight at 6:45 sharp with a warm-up lap through the ditches and borders of town before making my way to enjoy the thrills and challenges of the track.  Join me for a ride if you’re free.  I’d recommend knobby tires. 

Thursday Night Ride - Canada Day Edition

Join the ABES birthday party as we celebrate Canada’s 143^rd birthday in style.  Meet at 8:00 for pre-hydration therapy.  

For those who like to turn up the intensity and fun to 11, check out The Back 40 Mountain Bike Race - Sunday, July 4 at Lake Minnewasta

Birch Race Report

From the desk of Bruce...

Rory's race was a 3 km-ish lap.  We showed up really early and did his pre-ride.  His course had some descent climbs and seemed way easy compared to Falcon Lake.  When we registered we found out that he was only doing one lap.  It seemed a little unfair, only because it was so dreamy, compared to Falcon Lake.  There were no mosquitoes and the temperature was a little humid, but nothing like Falcon Lake...

Unofficially, Rory placed fourth.  We forgot to check out his standings and that's just what I think.

In between the kids race and our's the weather turned.  It rained for 10 minutes, just before the start.  Like dozens of new experiences I've had this season, I was sitting under the back door of our van watching the rain, thinking thoughts like, "this would feel good during a race, but I'm glad I'm dry".  Or, "Wow, there sure are a lot of guys changing their tires."  

It only occurred to me half way through my first lap why rain is bad.  I was trailing a pack of fast guys and I wondered to myself, why they were getting off of their bikes...too late.  The trail was bike grease and with brakes locked up feet down on the ground, an arm extended trying to grab a tree to slow me down, my bike flipped over me and my chain ring came to rest on my calf.  This all happened way faster.  By the time you read "calf" I was already back on my bike and slipping up the trail.

During the hour and a bit that I was out there I can only recall things like;  

Huge climbs.  Step, step, step...trying to keep myself ahead of whoever was behind me.

Nursing my only water bottle...stupid, stupid, stupid, should have brought more.

I am way too tired to clip in.  I'll only be getting off soon anyway.  

I hope lightning strikes before I finish my first lap.

Birch is a course that would be very comparable to the trails at Tinker.  But do they ever make you climb!  It's probably good that I didn't really know what to expect.  I just knew that I wanted to beat the guy in front of me.

It's tough to beat finishing a race knowing you gave 100%.  And I'll have a great scar to boot.

...and in my world, I am KING!  I got sixth!!!!!

Bruce.

In case you hadn’t heard…

There is a bike race taking place in July that is as impressive as it is ridiculous.  The Hot Pursuit is a race that pits teams that will be relay racing against each other and one super-freak Arvid Loewen (among other impressive feats, he won his age group (50-59) in the Race Across America with a time of 8 days, 6 hours, 34 minutes).  The Hot Pursuit race starts on the left coast in White Rock B.C. and ends at the forks in the Peg.  Arvid get a one day lead before the teams start chasing.  Each team is raising money for various charities with the winners charity getting some bonus cash.  One group racing Arvid is Team CMU (Canadian Mennonite University) comprised of Dr. Divisive, aka, Chris Huebner, g, aka Jon Guenter, Cricket, aka Craig Penner, KK aka Kevin Kilbrei, and Sandles aka John Brubacher, raising money for international student aide.  See Team CMU race details, twitter posts, videos and donation options here. Good luck boys.  JS

Still cleaning my eyes

David put on a fine alley cat that tested our ability to ride, know a little somthing-something about Lorne, and my ultimate downfall - reading comprehension.  DSwat will provide the race report and pictures.  the clubhouse conversations at my third of the table included:  the dukes cement pad panic, Lorne being driven OVER by a car when he was 2, the mobile-home-school delivery system, "the photo mistaken identity and getting caught naked golfing (the photo was mercifully taken off the blog), complimentary compost pick-up, sunken chests, the incredible job of the public works department, big-boned ABES (twss), XXL helmets, Wang, 2-day hangovers, the 2 watermelon a week diet, underwear fittings, Paul looking for work in Alberta, DB showed us how to cross "the line" by sniffing a helmet (crotch), folk festivities, and the Joe Cocker/Tom Petty concert.  Paul knows that it ain't no party without chips - copious amounts of chips - thanks for stepping up with big bags of the Old Dutch goodness.  The fine folks at Back Alley Cycle gifted Lorne with a new helmet that actually fits his beautiful bald head.  We shut down the bar.  Good times.  We'll miss you buddy.  JS



ALL ABOUT LORNE ALLEYCAT RACE REPORT 


A beautiful June evening for a bit of racing!  17 riders showed up for the race and 16 actually finished.  Derrick gets the DNF.  Nice work my friend.  It was a quick little race for many reason: the course was simple, the conditions were fast, the weather was iffy (as per usual on race days) and the throng looked eager to partake of post-ride refreshments.  Copiously.  



The race itself was centered around Lorne, his life, his experiences, etc. etc..  So Lorne had the upper hand going in.  Results were as follows:


1. Lorne and Mark - 10:00 (29m bomus, no penalties)
2. Gavin and Steven - 18:02 (19m bonus and 2m penalties)
3. James - 19:10 (25m bonus and 1m penalty)
4. Tom - 19:33 (20m bonus and 2m penalties)
5. Charles and Curt - 29:39 (18m bonus and 1m penalty)
6. Duker and Shaun - 32:47 (18m bonus and 2m penalties)
7. Bruce and Justin - 37:19 (14m bonus and 5m penalties)
8. Paul K. and Phil - 39:36 (15m bonus and 3m penalty)
9.  Johnny and Paul B. - DQ


For their efforts Paul K and Phil picked up an Allrn key tool for their Dead Fucking Last performance.  Steven and Gavin snapped up a 1Kg tin of GoodHost iced tea mix each and our victors, Lorne and Mark, each received a delicious black t-shirt depicting Lorne's 1985 grad photo and the ubiquitous ABES logo on the back.


Nice work gentlemen and thanks for coming out.


DS

The riders read up and take off

Paul B. moving so fast even his long-sleeved plaid shirt ruffles slightly in the wake

Bruce and Justin on the route

Johnny storming his way off the Hildebrand farm yard on his way to a very fast DQ

Tom peruses his manifest after guzzling a tall glass of Goodhost

Steven and Gavin prepare to drink

Shaun and the Duker speed off of Railway

Paul K. and Phil head north

The after party at Grumpy's

Lorne gets his new helmet courtesy of Back Alley Cycle.  Classy move boys!

Lorne's own brew

Paul B. relaxes after lulling his bro-in-law Mark to sleep

In a perfect world these two nectars could somehow be consumed together, and taste good.  unfortunately they cannot.

Remnants of the PB supplied chipfest

Johnny.  kickin' it old school.  or is that just old.

Steve B.'s infamous injury.  Slo-pitch.  A game for suckers

Lorne proudly displaying his 1st place prize

The pocket pal twins

Violent outburst aftermath

You know you haven't really rocked the Altona Bar until garbageman Gary gives you the finger.  Unfortunately he wasn't speaking cat last night.

We closed the place down with one last latecomer - Giles makes a rare, but appreciated showing

I think I need new eyes

The last post was more than a little disturbing.  So many questions.  So gross.  Maybe Farrah can make it all better.


See you homies tonight.  8:30.
JS

ALL ABOUT LORNE ALLEYCAT FINAL UPDATE

Scroll down for all the pertinent info gentlemen and remember.  Lorne needs you.  He'll be crushed if you (yes, look in the mirror, YOU!) don't show up tomorrow.  We validate him.  Justify his existence.  Or something like that.

ALL ABOUT LORNE ALLEYCAT - UPDATE #1

RACE TIME :  8:30PM SHARP!
DATE : THURSDAY JUNE 24TH
PLACE : JOHNNY'S HOUSE
BRING : BIKE, PEN, ATTITUDE FOR SHEER AWESOMENESS, KNOWLEDGE OF LORNE

Rain or shine the race is on ABES!  It's Lorne's last night with the ABES crew and he's kickin' ass and taking names.  Don't show up?  No Xmas card this year and a burning bag of shit on your doorstep for eternity.  How ya' like that!

So bone up on the Lorenzo know-how and show up on Thursday...

ALL ABOUT LORNE ALLEYCAT

LET'S NOT KID OURSELVES BOYS...SINCE HE STARTED SHOWING UP HE'S BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ABES.  AND THIS THURSDAY WILL BE HIS LAST RIDE WITH US.  FOR NOW.  UNTIL HE MOVES BACK.

SO IN HIS HONOUR I PRESENT THE "ALL ABOOUT LORNE" ALLEYCAT.  THATS RIGHT.  ITS ALL LORNE, ALL THE TIME.  CALL HIM THIS WEEK.  ASK HIM QUESTIONS.  BONE UP ON YOUR LORNE FACTOIDS.  YOU MIGHT NEED THEM.

RACE TIME WILL BE 8:30 PM AT JOHNNY'S PLACE.  BRING A PEN.