Thursday Night Ride

We’ve just had the best summer conditions that I can remember.  An early spring, minimal skeeters, dry, hot weather and perfect fall conditions.  But to be fair my memory is porous and tends to bend the facts to protect my ego - but that’s how I sees it.  Unfortunately this glorious weather is coming to an end.  It’s not the freeze your teets off cold yet, but it’s cooled off.  One of the most important aspects of cycling in cold weather is proper clothing.  This usually means wearing waaay less than I think I’ll need as I stand in my toasty-warm house and lament the prospect of going out to the cold, dark, windy, and altogether depressing weather.  I need to fight the urge to be warm right away (stupid brain).  I need to remember I’m not going for a stroll or standing around – I’m vigorousy exercising.  As I bike I’ll warm up significantly, so if I start riding and I’m immediately warm, I’ve overdressed and will be sweating in no time.  That’s not good.  I like to start out cool and give myself 5-10 minutes to warm-up.  During the ride I may open my jacket vents to regulate my temperature (and If I’m too cold I just go home and put on more clothes - it’s not like we bike that far away from home anyway).  Key words to remember regarding cold weather clothing: layering, wicking, wool, venting, windproofing, and facial hair (not for me, but for those that can).  Biking in winter also makes you sound bad-ass.

See ya'll at 9 at the usual place, for the usual ride and the usual good times.  JS

Farm Cross Report

The first (of many?) Farm Cross was held on a beautiful day at the Wiebe farmyard. Steven and Gavin put together a great cyclocross race that included riding on trails in the woods, a tall grass maze, a pumpkin lined garden ride, hay bale barriers, riding through two buildings, an apple grove and bumpy trails galore - it all made for a fun course.  At the end of the races we were treated to dogs, chips, cinnamon buns and chili cooked up in a cool looking wood-fire/boiler contraption.  Thanks to the Wiebes who housed and fed us and to Steven and Gavin for organizing a great race.

RESULTS...

Kids
1 lappers:
Marcus
Nelson
Kate

2 lappers:
Jonah
Mia
Thomas
Lacey
William
Jacob

Adults
3 laps - dudes:
Steve - 21:20
James - 23:06
Curt - 23:42

3 laps - dudettes:
Sandra - 21:22
Cindy - 24:32
Joanne - 24:43
Julia - 27:14
Taylor - 27:21
Sandra - 27:30 2 laps plus 1 rest lap

6 laps - dudes:
Chris - 32:51
Johnny - 34:56
Charles - 36:18
Gavin - 36:18
Albert - 39:24
Steven - 40:02

6 laps - dudettes:
Cheryl - 40:39

Quote of the day: Your pain isn't special - Sandra Doell.  Good times.  JS

Thursday Night Ride Report

Steven, Giles, Duke, Albert, Shaun, James, Gavin, Mike and I went for a spin around town.  Steven and Gavin must be gearing up for Farmcross because they set a zippy pace - pushing into the wind and cruising nicely with the wind at our backs.  We returned to the clubhouse where minutes included: Giles celebrated his 33rd birthday - the good news is he always has a day off after his birthday - the bad news is that he was robbed at university, Steven also celebrated his birthday - with Elliot Brood and an incredible, big, drunk, hairy energizer bunny who rocked his bass drum onstage to the delight of the crowd and band, David "baby-bunter, ball-biter" Sawatzky, Chip and Pepper wet wear, Giles tended bar like a rock star, my daughter Kate (3.5 yrs) is riding bike, FGBC urinal pucks?, the clubhouse beautification project (stay tuned!), the age of renting VCR's, "David turtled - Steven won", rememories, "may cause anal leakage", pedophile moustache, saving people v killing people, the mood at the clubhouse turned from Thursday night casual to Friday night party and there was suddenly one too many Steve's at the table and the evening shut down.  Paul B showed up as we were leaving so he and Giles joined me at ABES headquarters for a final beer and some additional late night BS.  Good times. 

Fort Garry Boo brew (or is it B.O. beer) 

The robber was in the next bathroom stall? 

day 19 of 10

depressing

thanks Paul - I feel better now

Farmcross is this afternoon.  Race coordinators said the course would include building ride throughs, a garden, a maze with 6' tall grass, twisty tree sections, hay and fence hurdles, and general good fun with family and friends.  I'm pumped.  Curt might bring BAC's rollers - I assume hilarity will ensue.  See you at the Wiebe farm.  JS

Kate was beaming on her first bike ride this week (so was I) 

Thursday Night Ride

It might be getting cold out there but our upper lips will be toasty warm.  See you at my place at 9.  


Reminder - don't forget about Farmcross this Friday afternoon. Gavin and Steven have lined up some country goodness for anybody that likes good times.  JS

You deserve a break!

So sit back and relax, escape life for about 6ish minutes or so.  Everything is better when its not happening to you! (lots of bike mishaps so I deemed it appropriate)

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/dc6d7c3bcc/best-fails-of-2009

MB X Report

For the second straight year, the ABES racing team has claimed a provincial cyclocross title.  In "fact", there were three winner: Cheryl was the fastest female citizen in Manitoba, Mia was the fastest Under 9 female, and Kate is the provincial pushbike champion!  Well done family.  Mia also had a good time ringing the school bell for the bell lap.  I sat this race out with a sore knee (boo-urns) and focussed on yelling at people for fun.  I did - and it was fun.  Albert finished strong but had a wipe out - it was after the race, he was riding .01 km/h and he couldn't unclip - classic.  Paul could have won a medal but there were a bunch of people faster than him, so...maybe next year.  It all finished off with a nice community supper in St. Malo and the first bits of snow fell for the ride home.  This has been an exceptional year for cross.  Here are some pics of the latest good times...

FARMCROSS - Nov. 11, 2011 - 1 pm

Come out to FARMCROSS on Friday Nov 11.

We set out a course today and have recruited Reeve Don Wiebe to make chilli in the big outdoor pot.  We will be providing chilli and hotdogs for kids and soft drinks. BYOB.  It could be a cold day but there is plenty of room in the barn to warm up by the fire.

ThNR Report

Steven, Shaun, Pole Vaulter, Gavin, James, Curt, Steve and I arrived for our weekly ride.  Gavin shaved for the first time in 8 years, Shaun was 12 days into a 3 day contest – rules are hard, and most of us had a dusting of hair.  Reminder: no beards – moustaches only.  We cycled to the usual haunts, Curt had a flat tire at the furthest point away from his house but close enough to James’s house to attempt some repairs.  Running a bike shop does not necessarily mean you can fix flat tires – it means you hire people to fix flat tires.  We also saw James’s ingenuity, creativity and cheap nature with his Cheerios box bike fender-extender and DIY truck cab pulley system.  And speaking of cheap – we saw that that David sold James a bike with a BAC tester saddle – classy move.  We eventually made it to the clubhouse where we were joined by David, Thomas, and Chaz.  Minutes included: shooting rifles with grandpa on a riding mower, homemade wine and corkage fees at McDonalds?, BYOB at bars?, Pitcher and Lyle hurdelling the X mega-log, In Deanna Jones, the piano-guitar, pacifists hate the Jets logo, ‘Mo Myron shaved (but not his face), the sweet new FGBC wool jersey, why girls have trouble getting it up (front tires), “I’m alive – I guess”, Blondie’s 9 lb. burger, Phineas and Ferb, race at the Wiebe barn(?), David dropped the ball on the Grand Prix vs I need a better attitude, and the Movember cycling kit.  Good times.  JS

Welcome to ABES

Day 12 of 4?

My stache (and mullet) is coming along nicely.

Thursday Night Ride

Stand back everybody, I'm growing a moustache!  See you at 9:00.

Happy Movember!

It's finally here!  The hotly anticipated month where upper lips are freed from the oppression of shaving!  And we here at ABES HQ are gearing up for a spectacular month of fun.  How will it be MORE spectacular than other months you ask?  Well, we'll be growing 'staches, that's how!

So to kick off Movember I'd like to introduce you to the unofficial ABES spokesperson...Moe Mantha. 

 
Ex-Jet with an awesome 'stache and his name is Moe.  How much better can it get!  And if we had an ABE who could lead us through this month?  I nominate Myron "MO" Dyck.  That's right, Maurice.  Shortened to Mo for the month of course.  Let's see if he manages to 'stache it up.

So bring out your furry faces for a ride Thursday night!

Don't Miss Out

All lip hair must be shaved clean today.  All lip hair must be shaved clean TODAY.  TODAY.  JS

Halloween Cross Report

Finding a new space for Halloween cross was a real treat (see what I did there).  Camp Assiniboia was a venue that had a lot of nice features and the RRR entourage found some nice/fun/hard/ridiculous lines, stairs, a log barrier on steroids, and brought some whoops (?) for good measure.  There were a lot of people dressed in costumes, good times had encouraging (yelling) at people and memorable moments such as Graham passing Chris twice to the delight of the crowd but Chris had the last laugh even after riding into the stakes/tape, KK gave the people what they wanted - a spectacular zombie crash, I heard Brad tried to tackle Pitcher with little effect, a couple of awesome boys raced on a tandem bike as "the happy couple" and smashing pumpkins.  The ABES race team did our thing and had a good time doing it.  Videos and pictures are sure to float around the usual sites.  Here are some of our pics, including a few from Albert...

This cross season has set the bar pretty high.  I think I said that last year.  Good times.  JS

ThNR Report

Dan, Tom, Steve, David, Myron, Steven, Giles, James, Derrick, Mike, Gavin, Tony (welcome Tony) and I headed out for a soggy spin.  The rain must hate ABES because it started and stopped the same time our ride did.  The rain can be a stupid jerk sometimes.  Accident prone Giles was given’r along a boulevard when he was raked by a branch just below his eye – it was not good but could have been worse, Dan made his long overdue return to Thursdays and Tony worked harder than anybody keeping up with the skinny tire crowd on his mountain bike.  We eventually decided to head for solace at the clubhouse where we were joined by D’Shaun.  Minutes included: the Movember challenge should be ugly/awesome “let peer pressure be your guide”, Dan gets a new wheel thanks to his son riding into a parked car, Camp Assinaboia Cross race this weekend, wallet varieties (from minimalist to Castnaza), having a bike crush, dapper Dan the preacher man sermonized his fixie philosophy, Jets coach Claude Noel looks like any Sutter – grumpy, Shaun has saved $200 in 40 days thanks to smoking less but now has bouts of insanity, Cross racing and MCA license options, Mike kicked himself for not racing at Southern Cross - took the SC pact, Jets win 9 – 8!, Tom the Jerky King provided sweet, meaty treats for everybody (thanks Tommy), Giles’s kids like his cheese too much to share with ABES (aged, stinky cheese was promised for future consumption), smuggling your wife into Canada, Steve B was whipped home early again, ABES hazing, Remembrance day bike race with a post race wrestling - DSwat Vs. SWiebo battling it out in a long overdue grudge match.  Good times.  JS

Thursday Night ride

Same time, same place and yes, we'll ride around.  At least for a little while.  And then retreat to warm both our bodies and our souls.  Join us.

One topic of discussion will be Movember.  Time to amp things up a bit this year.  Stay tuned.

We can all aspire to greatness like former Jet Paul MacLean.  Awesome 'stache.  Only problem is that this isn't him.  Its Larry Hopkins.  Oops.  I have this card.  Banking on it for my retirement.

I fell on my bum

Karlee Gendron recorded a couple laps of Crosstastic.  Pitcher almost crushes Oliver into dust at 1:52 and I get to take a rest at 7:10.  Thanks for the heads-up on the video Mark.

Crosstastic Report

Crosstastic was pretty sweet.  There was a mud/clay/swamp section that got everybody crossed-up in all the right ways.  It was so bad it was great.  There was also Gary's uphill barriers, downhill run, uphill barriers section.  It was so bad it was aweful.  My 90 year old knees hate running, let alone running up and down hills toting a bike - that's why I bike!?!  I loved the swooping hilly grass sections - very fun.  My most/least memorable moment was being taken out by Luc "wild thing" Antaya on the first lap.  A breathalyzer test might be in order.  I heard (hope) there might be video.  The crash set me back and thoughts of not being able to finish my first lap at this race (again) occurred to me - but since me and my bike (and Luc) were ok, we continued.  I managed to track down enough riders to finish top 10 (ok, 10th).  I was pleased.  Luc finished ahead of me.  I was not pleased.  Cheryl was 3rd but lost a spot when she was overtaken on the final straightaway by Kim in C.  Albert kicked A and continues to impress me and Paul K was cheered on by his family and continues to be exactly who he is.  Thanks Gary, fun race - I can't wait for the results (or will I).

Cheryl took some pictures.  I didn't realize we had our camera so they're mostly of me (sorry) and one of the ladies from the colony at the clubhouse (have you EVER seen that?).  I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures from the mud pit.  Good times.  JS

ThNR Report

Tom, Gavin, Steven, Giles, Chaz, Curt, Albert, James, Steve, Mike and I rode a healthy pace around town.  It was good.  Myron met us at the bar where Minutes included: Southern Cross... Tom winning the coveted Pioneer Meat jacket, Fat Craig impressing and shaming, ¾ Pact approved, the incredible pictures (esp ostrich cross) and video, races within the race, front page coverage in The Echo, and good times in general.  We also discussed an ABES spring retreat, creepy single-guy christmas card pictures, the little chihuahua campground, a Remembrance Day race at the Wiebe barn, Movember is ON, Fatbike Cross, Duke was looking at a “Largo” (italian for slow) bike, two colony cuties stunned us, local cop pepper sprayed a rubber rat, burning the grass on the hill on earth day, strong coffee v weak people, young or old – if you wear a diaper you can say whatever you like, working O.T. for J.C., ABES to sponsor Jeff Stoughton, killing cats, and the Southern Cross spanking machine.  Good times.  

Next week: Homemade jerky and homemade cheese!  So nice.

Chaz took some pictures at Southern Cross too.  Here is one of my favorites. 

3/4 of the cross pact - a "sore back" kept the Duker from living the dream 

The rest can be seen here.

JS

Thursday Night Ride

Let's ride our bike around town like a bunch of dudes.  See you at 9.

The Hipster knows how to take pretty pictures.  Check out his report here.

Southern Cross Goodness Continued

More Southern Cross pictures are popping up.  The following "ostrich cross" picture and more from Sierra Blake can be found here.

Nice picture Sierra!

Woodcock Cycles pictures and a video to boot!

Not too many items in the Lost and Found bin this year.

LOL

Do any of these items look familiar?  Let us know, or pick them up in 2 weeks at the local MCC thrift store.  JS

Southern Cross Memories

Thanks to all that helped make Southern Cross 2011 one of the finest races we've ever put on.  A great community effort!


Memorable moments from Southern Cross 2011:
- the whirl aka spiral of death
- the wind (boo) and the sun (yaa)
- smiling faces crossing the finish line
- the narrow A race finish
- the Athena goddesses
- spectacular crossings and spills in the sandpit
- the sea of ABES at the start of the Open race
- the support from the Town dudes (permission, Steven, David, Mayor McSausage burger, Gator, stakes, pylons, barriers, etc)
- reusable, plastic stakes - thank you and more please
- people helping take down the course (some without being asked)
- Sandra Carr looked great in her first race
- throwing up before the race
- Dwight throwing up during the race
- Colin Antaya being funny, generous and surly as usual
- registration is stupid, volunteers are awesome
- Brad being extra happy and talkative
- Luc rolling down the hill
- Clydesdale wins
- beer, chips and chocolate milk
- Unger won my Brooks saddle (like a jerk)
- race results posted in 4 hours - nicely done Gavin
- 157 158 registered riders - really!  Not the biggest of the year but the biggest for Rocktona

Here is my photo collection of the day...

More photos available on the previous post and if you look for them around the interwebs.

Good times.  JS

Clydesdale Shaun Dyck submitted this report for validity...

Evidence of my fatness should be attached.
Of course it was another fucking awesome Cross race.
From a fat man who is less fat and smoking less because of ABES (but drinking more beer)
Many Thanks.
Shaun