Thursday Night Ride Report

David, Lorne, Tom, Gavin and I braved the gales. We saw the first days work of Hiebzky's addition in the darp. We toured the town and raced for speed on the strip. David has the stats about the ride and took a few pictures. Myron, Steve and Paul joined us at the clubhouse. There were no sandwiches or popcorn this week but Myron and Paul unloaded the vending machine of a variety of Old Dutch products. Conversation topics included wind farms, hotel renovations and bookings, anthem runners, upcoming rides, Teemu Selanne, ABES shirts for sale, Buck Pierce, religion in the classroom, land barons, and the movie Identity - It was the baby! Good times. Terrible movie. JS

Check it out...and be inspired for next winter!

Thursday Night Ride

Bring it on! Rumble starts at 9:00.

JS

Nobody messes with the Softride

Bike magazine has an awesome series called The Sh*t Bike Challenge. They take a softride bike (my bike is a softride) and give it to pro bikers to do various riding (cyclocross, trials, endurance races, downhill, etc.). In the last issue, the intent was to destroy the bike by setting it ablaze and flinging it with a trebuchet (catapult). Check out the results.


Sh*tbike Destroys Trebuchet from Bike Magazine on Vimeo.

Super Sunday Singletrack

 Lorne, pre-ride.

Gavin and Johnny - pre-ride

Lorne cruising down the path to the Minnewasta Golf and Country Club.  No bikes allowed!

Cruising through the aforementioned MG+CC.  Johnny and Gavin plan their lines.

Lorne and David discuss metaphysics.

Lorne conquers the first big climb.  Lorne-style.

Tragedy befalls Gavin and his crank.  Lorne cheers him up by showing off his killer abs.

The busted crank.

Johnny and Lorne cruise down the path towards the Trans Canada Trail.

The sweet descent to the creek.

Johnny (aka The Fonz) jumps the creek.


Sunday was a fantastic day for a ride.  Perfect temps, sunny, and the trails we rode out at Lake Minnewasta in Morden, MB were awesome.  After starting out strong we ran into a bit of trouble when Gavin's crank broke and he lost a pedal.  He had to turn back but Johnny, Lorne and David forged on.  We ran the sweet single track around the Lake then headed up to reconnect with the Trans Canada Trail and enjoy a bunch more awesomness.  Good times boys!  Soon to be done again.  Very soon.

ThNRR

Albert, Shaun, Bruce, Mike, Steve, Charles, Dan, David, Gavin, Jeff, Lorne, and I went on a zippy ride around town.  Mike set a fast pace for the ride and it was great.  He made it look effortless.  I did not.  Bruce was sporting his new yellow deep V rims – they look pretty sweet on his blue Sekini road bike.  I got a flat tire on the last stretch of the ride.  Even my bike knew it was time for a beer.  Fortunately I was only two blocks away from home.  Steve had the highlight of the night.  He made fun of a couple of girls in the clubhouse parking lot, and then forgot he was clipped-in and fell on the cement.  The girls laughed their A’s off - everybody did, including Steve.  Classic.  Duke and Paul B joined us at the clubhouse where we were offered complimentary hero sandwiches instead of our usual servings of popcorn - nice.  Conversations at my end of the table roamed between retirement plans, getting punched in the face, back-country camping, the incredible NCAA basketball finals, and biking around Lake Minnewasta this weekend.  Congratulations to Gavin and Joanne who are expecting baby number two in September(?).  Gavin will be joining the full-time work force in fall – party’s over Faurschou. 

Good times.  JS 

These are the ride statistics form tonight. Enjoy. Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 0 m Location: Gretna, Canada, Elev. Gain: +0 m Date: 04/08/10 Up/Downhill: [+0/-0] Time: 09:47 PM Difficulty: 0 / 5.0   Weather: N/A   -15 C temp; 70% humidity   -15 C heat index; winds SE 16 kph Performance Distance: 13.87 km Time: 0:36:06 Speed: 23.0 kph Pace: 2' 37 /km Calories: 523 Map   Speed (kph)   Splits Km Pace (min/km) Speed (kph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 2' 42 +0' 05 22.2 -0.8 -- m 2 2' 29 -0' 07 24.0 +1.0 -- m 3 2' 10 -0' 26 27.6 +4.6 -- m 4 1' 43 -0' 53 34.9 +11.9 -- m 5 2' 15 -0' 21 26.6 +3.6 -- m 6 2' 49 +0' 12 21.3 -1.7 -- m 7 4' 04 +1' 27 14.7 -8.3 -- m 8 2' 28 -0' 08 24.2 +1.2 -- m 9 2' 29 -0' 07 24.1 +1.1 -- m 10 2' 47 +0' 10 21.5 -1.5 -- m 11 2' 23 -0' 13 25.1 +2.1 -- m 12 2' 29 -0' 07 24.2 +1.2 -- m 13 2' 35 -0' 01 23.2 +0.2 -- m end 3' 07 +0' 30 19.2 -3.8 -- m Versus average of 23.0 kph

Posted from bimactive.com

Thursday Night Ride

Thursday night ride is on (like Donkey Kong).

I received these stop-watches in the mail yesterday. They are Dollar Store cheap and I'll be happy if they last a summer but at least we'll be able to time our races at the track.

Speaking of riding bike and looking forward to awesome times...here is a preview of some of the upcoming bike goodness in 2010: Alleycats, Track races at Miller, Krahn Barn Kermesse - D.B., M.S. race – Bruuuce, Spring ride - May 28 – 30, Back 40 mountain bike race - June 6 - Morden, 24 hour race - July 24 – Falcon Lake, Dirty Double Crosser – August 22 – Moto X Park, Southern Cross - October 18 - Rocktona, Road rides, Short track sprints at the MotoX Park, Mountain bike trail rides - Morden/Tinker Creek, and hanging out with good people. It's good to be an ABE.

See you mo-fo's Thursday. JS

"SPRING HAS SPRUNG" ALLEYCAT/THURSDAY NIGHT RIDE REPORT

The ABES (pre-race) checking out cousin Tom's sweet garage sale bike purchase.

 Johnny and Tom eating their ice cream (i.e. checkpoint #1 in the alleycat.)  At this point they have already won the race since no one else knew how to read.

Lorne and the Duker arrive at the Hut to down their cones.  Lorne's rainsuit prepared him adequately for the rain.  A mild drizzle...Lorne takes it to "The Perfect Storm" level.

This was the puke we discovered near our rides after leaving the bar.  There were more

Johnny models his awesome ABES shirt.  The winner got the shirt and Johnny beat Tom in a coin toss.  Better luck next time cousin Tom.

The ABES "Spring Has Sprung" alleycat kicked off the 2010 season in fine form.  The rain may have dwindled our numbers but the true spirit of the ABES was alive and well.

Six racers participated in three teams of two racers.  Apparently ABES is not known for its comprehension prowess....even after repeated warnings (READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!) the ABES managed to misinterpret the instructions and mayhem ensued.  Johnny and Tom figured things out first and built and insurmountable lead early on.  Lorne and the Duker also figured things out but to no avail...a silver medal finish.  Shaun and Jeff seemingly wandered aimlessly.  And finished a respectable third of three.  Good times.

The teams finished off at the bar and the prizes were handed out. Johnny and Tom took the gold with some cold hard cash and a prized ABES V-neck as their spoils.  Duker and Lorne took the silver money while Shaun and Jeff got third. 

Many beers were consumed.  As were rum and cokes.  And Amaretto and coke.  Small mistake.  Evan (part time ABES member) made a brief appearance and the pre-Easter crowd was looking to party.  As were we.  Just not to the point of barfing like the younger folk.  ABES knows how to hold their liquor.

ALLEYCAT!!! (YES/MAYBE/PROBABLY)

The weather seems to be holding off but the forecast calls for the drizzle to begin around 7 PM tonight and run straight through all of tomorrow.  Dreary.  But as for now the race is on!  Check back around 6 or 7 PM and we'll make the call.  It might even end up a game time decision.  So come on down to Johhny's anyways for some fun.  Race or not.

EP

Alleycat...we hope!

As of this evening the forecast for tomorrow's "Spring Has Sprung" Alleycat seems bleak at best.  Downright rainy in fact.  So we'll be making the call sometime tomorrow afternoon on whether or not its a go.  Check here.

ALLEYCAT!!!

Date:  This Thursday, April 1st
Place:  The usual (Johnny's place)
Time:  Also the usual....9 PM sharp!
Entry fee:  $5.00 CDN or $6.00 USD


Winter seems to have passed us by and we're all geared up for Spring riding.  Lots of riders at last Thursday's ride so hopefully we can have a decent turnout for the first Alleycat of the 2010 Alleycat season (not to forget the awesome AWBF alleycat Duke and D'shaun but that was a separate entity).

Thursday night ride report

We pushed a good pace last night, sprinted when the mood struck, and made sure our legs and lungs took note. Whether it was the guilt of missing last weeks ride or the milder weather, the ABES was out in full force last night. Attendance included: James, Lorne, David, Charles, Curt F, Curt T, Paul, Steve, Shaun, Jeff, Mike and Dan (who did I miss?). It was agreed that we rode about 17 miles. Local firefighter, bike shop owner and ABE Curt T left the ride early to take a call at the fire hall – he later joined us to say all was safe and sound. We lost Curt F during the ride sometime after the hill – I guess we’re just too fast for him or he got a call from his lady friend and lost his senses. Myron joined us at the clubhouse. Conversation at my end of the table included restaurant lifestyle choices (The Tiawana Yacht Club, Moxie's = Hooters, and Strawberries), bubble gum machine bankruptcy, David’s seven beer bike race warm-up, Paul moving to Alberta to explore his alternative lifestyle choices - beef, and upcoming bike events. The first alleycat of the year may start next week. The Maroons were the bridesmaids for the third time in the last four years loosing to the Warren Mercs in the SEMHL finals, and Sweet Action lost and are finally done for the season. The popcorn was salty, free and devoured. Bikes are awesome. JS

Thursday Night Ride

Sure its cold outside, but don't give up now. You biked in ice and slush and you kicked winter right in the snowballs. Continue to ride and show winter who's the boss (as if there's any doubt).

Don't be an Angela. Ride your bike. JS

Lorne saves the day

If not for Lorne I would have been forlorn. ABES would have had it's first Thursday Night Ride shut-out. Lorne could not be deterred by little (a lot) of wind and the lure of the couch. Lorne is my hero. We howled at, and laughed with, the fierce prairie winds. 7 miles of spinning before we rolled into the clubhouse to be later joined by Paul and Duke. Conversation included poker night, wasabi and sushi, March madness, and the embarrassing situations of acid reflux. Paul B reported that the Maroons beat the Warren Mercs 7-3 to tie the SEMHL Championship series 1-1. Sweet Actions B side curling playoff game is postponed until next week.

In ABES related news...Plans are in the works for an August bicycle race at the Altona Moto X Park: The ABES Dirty Double Crosser. An unsanctioned cyclcross race that MAY feature hand-ups, hand-downs, a soak zone, tequila shortcut, paintball shortcut, dodgeball, time trials, kids races, and a canteen serving bbq-goodness. Its going to be hellafun. JS

ROLLER RACING VIDEOS

Just a few video highlights from last night's roller racing finale at the Belgian Club in beautiful downtown Winnipeg, MB. More pics and reminiscing to follow...

Late edition: The ABES took our dog and pony show to the Belgian Club last night for a St Patrick's day roller racing party. The 500m race had 20 riders and was dominated by alpha male Dave P. who outspun Don S. The featured (and funnest) race of the night was the 1000m team relay. Curt was recuited by one of the three FGBC teams and helped them tie for the gold with RRR. The ABES trio of David (ride slow, drink fast), Bruce and I were proud to receive the bronze. Bruce won the door prize of two (which turned into four) seats in a luxury suite for a Manitoba Moose game. Good times. JS

Let's roll

DSwat, Bruce and I are going to the roller races at the Belgian club on St. Paddy's day. Anybody interested in catching a ride with us should contact Bruce. His vehicle seats 7. It would be nice to have 2 ABES relay teams representing the 324. JS

Thursday night ride

...is ON.

ABES is a not-for-profit club. This means we may take some calories off during the ride, but somehow by the time we get home, we're lucky to break even.

The weather has been encouraging. We still have a month or two where we could see a blizzard, but so far, so good. Skinny tires and road bikes are making their way out of the basements and onto the roads. Maybe we'll see fair-weather Tom this week? JS

Southern Cross slideshow

Better late than never?

I did it! JS

Thursday night ride report

Plastic bags: anti-theft device AND rear fender. James Doell is a genius.

Blogmaster Faurschou came to show me how to put up a slideshow – Thanks Gavin. Shaun, Jeff, James, Paul, Ben joined us. Chips were consumed. We rode a bunch. Tom, Duke, David and Lorne joined us at the clubhouse. Chips were consumed. The Maroons won. Sweet Action won. Ben is going to Thailand/Burmese (Myanmar). Lorne loves musicals. Grad ‘88 is going to Vegas. It was agreed that the AWBF was awesome, probably the best ever. Conversations rambled on.

Agenda items…

St. Patrick’s Day Roller Races – can we put together an ABES relay race? Let me know who’s interested in going. It would be a nice way of showing our appreciation to Tim/Erick for their help at the AWBF.

Alleycat race coordinators are needed for the upcoming months. That’s how the ABES collective works. Volunteer now, book your month and plan a race. Weekend day races were proposed; sounds good. David said he has something special planned for his next alleycat. I hope special is not another word for being shot at or shived.

Spring ride weekend. May 28 – 30. Mark your calendar, plant the seeds and start earning brownie points now. This weekend is a definite highlight of the year. We will be camping at the Falcon Lake chalet (which should be awesome). The spring ride is always a good time.