The Little 250 details

Sunday, April 29, 1:30 at the WC Miller running track - 250 laps/100 km’s.

This is an opportunity to cycle with others, challenge yourself, ride in a peloton and never get dropped (for long).  This is not a race  - cycle at any pace, do it all or split it up with a friend or two.  Kids can cycle The Lil 25 or join a Little 250 team.  A cycling computer or a good memory will be needed to keep track of your distance.

There will be hot dogs, pop, and french fries (WHAAAT?!).  I'll bring some frisbees, bocci balls, kites, and soccer balls for non-cycling fun.  Inclement weather may force us to eat elsewhere or reschedule.

Everything is free but please post a comment/register by Friday, April 27 so we get enough food.  Thanks, JS

ThNR Report

Albert, Ike, Curt, Rudy, Mike, Shaun, Duke, Gavin, and I met for a spin around town.  Duker was showing us that his new bike is faster than ever, Birthday boy Gavin was showing us how not to corner, Rudy showed us that he can ride for an hour without getting a flat and Mike shared how Curt likes to walk in circles in the woods.  It must have been too cold for Schiesse as his streak of ThNR’s has come to an end – it was fun while it lasted - see you next year?  Steven, Paul B and Bruiser joined us at the clubhouse where the minutes included: David has been in Winnipeg all week taking level 2 on how to make ice – Margaritas and slushies; next level – ice sculptures, Shaun wins the pot – and keeps it?!, future Southern Cross headquarters construction, Mike is a quitter for the win?, the hammering olympics, whatev’sies, the little 250, smut sauce with rape seed, The humpty-dance, Steven shared his thoughts on the Field of Nightmares, pizza is now considered a vegetables, Taco Bell Grade A biif, Vita is the armpit – Sprague is the Ahole, and for the first time in two years, Paul B took his bike to bike club.  Good times.

Paul cycled and Steven walked - weird

ThNR

My place at 9.

Alpha Dog

DSwat organized a deluxe poker tournement last weekend where 26 locals vied to take home the pot.  Chaz and I were the first two ABES eliminated - embarassing ourselves with a Shiesse-like finish.  Duke and David fared better finishing 15^th and 17^th respectively.  The big winner of the night was part time communist (unless he wins) and full time ABES stud, Shaun.  Shaun dog won $440.00 by combining skills, luck, bark and bite to take home the glory. 

Attaboy Shaun

ThNR Report

Curt, Albert, Shaun, Schiesse, Gavin, Jeff, Mike, Bruce, Dan, Ike, Evan, newbie Bruno and I (who am I missing?) met for our weekly bike jamboree.  Shaun was horny about life with his new fixed gear bike, Ike upgraded to a familiar Norco, Bruce rode a fixie from the bike shop, and Bruno is as keen as a teen for his new cross bike - he was less keen about getting two flats on the ride - an ugly initiation.  Mike had technical troubles with broken chain he suffered while  climbing the hill – fortunately he avoided any damage to the nuts on his bike.  Schiesse has now matched his ride total from last year with 4 consecutive rides – keep it up cowboy.  The ride itself had a good pace and had us going to the usual corners of town.  David missed the ride due to an unscheduled nap but joined us at the clubhouse, as did Paul W.  Minutes include: 50^th anniversaries are ruling Dan’s life, Shaun celebrated Yuri’s Night (the Russian, not Japanese version) with appropriate garb and drink, an arm wrestling match at the next table inspired ABES bar fight stories, Pole Vaulter’s NHL pool will make the lucky winner giddy with cash, Dan forgot about his dietary constraints and needed to flush out his system with medicine from the clubhouse, David said he’d organize an Ally-Cat, the karma shit sandwich, voluntary tourettes, SWiebo’s neighbourhood rave party with strobe lights, Steve upgraded his old Harley to a new Harley, and our May 16 ThNR could feature Rocktona lover and trials pro, Ryan Leech.  Good times.  JS

Ike's bike

Bruce's latest creation

Shaun's bike fleet grows

"Bruno"
Parental consent not acquired at press time

Mike snaps his chain from the force of his tree trunk legs

Prepping for Ally-Cat

Shaun-dog cheers Yurri with a glass of vodka and dons his USSR Space jersey

ThNR

Get off your A and on your B.

The Thursday Night Ride is on.  9 pm at my place.

ThNR Report

It was a good night for a ride. Shaun, Scheisse, Tom, Chaz, Mike, James, Ike, Gavin, Pole Vaulter, Albert, and I cycled to the all too familiar haunts.  Derrick was hauling A, there was a good push on the track and eventually it was time to retire to the clubhouse where we were joined by Duke and David.  Minutes included: Lovey's BBQ meaty goodness with a side of defibrillator, Pizza Roulette, Steven's back is F'd, NY/SF parking fees are more than MB mortgages, grass track races at the Ash park, gambling problems (the only addiction where you can win), Derrick is excited about Dead Snow (eins, zwei, die), 4 hour track-stand during olympic races - really?!, David rants about the latest town budget, Paris-Roubaix is this Sunday, and Stephen Hawking is funny.  Good times.

Scheisse approved

Upcoming cycling opportunity for all y'all:

The Little 250

Sunday, April 29, 1:30

250 laps at the WC Miller track (100 km's)

Cycle solo or make a Relay team of 2 or 4

Open to everybody.  Kids can ride the Lil 25

BBQ will be available

Thursday Night Ride

Bring it on brothers.  9 at my place.

Spring Break Bike Report

Last week I was in Minneapolis with David, Duke and our families.  Seeing as Minney is rated the #1 bike city in the US of A (and I kinda like cycling) I brought my bike and was able to spend a few hours exploring (getting lost) in the twin cities.  I was in two  bike shops - The Hub Bicycle Co-op (a shop Shaun would have liked because he's a bike loving commie), and One On One, a bike/coffee shop that screams hipster redneck.  I enjoyed cycling along the Mississippi river and appreciated the numerous bike paths and bike lanes that encourage cycling.  Here are a few of the pictures...

Biking/Walking path over the mighty Mississippi 

Paths under paths

Paths to the Twins new ball park

Redneck bike frame display at One On One

Basement at One On One

Coffee AND bike shop

Blocks of ice surround a rental bike.  Of course there are. 

This path goes under the street crossings

The Weisman Art Museum - cool

Minneapolis (actually Blaine but close enough) is home to the nearest velodrome.  An outdoor, wooden track that would be a hellafun road trip.  A definite bucket list item of mine.  JS 

ThNR Report

James, David, Curt, Derek, Albert, Myron, Shaun and I rode around town.  David had a flat, Duke floated in and out of the group, and we had trouble staying out of traffic - a clumsy ride overall.  When we arrived at the clubhouse where we were greeted by perennial good guy Jonny g and perennially chilly Paul B.  Minutes include: being a fairweather V seasonal cyclist, bad press in Altona, neckerchiefs, Hymn Sing and The Western Hour, Earl Scruggs died, David was in fine form and ranted about local kids baseball and hockey, Maroons are SEMHL champs, skate park theories, passing out on the railway tracks, tattoo nipples, the youtube, the new colplay app - para, para, para paraphrase, Jets?, go Bombers, Top 5 Rolling Stone songs - David always goes for the high notes - ANGIE!, Paul rocked the Ting Tongs on the jukebox, The Fighting Amish win rec league and David continues his rant, awesome INXS Kick memories, sucking balls in Mexico, and Empire State of Mind.  Good times.  JS

James donning his first pair of bike shoes and is enjoying climbing the hill.  

Curt is pimped in Back Alley blue

g adjusting his wig

Thursday Night ride

Same time, same place.  Hopefully the rains will cease.  But rain or shine the ride will be on.  And rumor has it we'll have a guest rider tonight.  Rumor also has it that this person is super sexy.  An ass that won't quit, rumor said.  But that's rumor for you.

ThNTT Report

The Spring Time Trials were held with more incidents than usual: Bruce skidded out turning in front of a car, jumped up, appreciatingly waved for not being run over, and raced away, David and Gavin both suffered flat tires, Myron finished with the exact same time as last year, Shaun impressed us all taking the bronze while wearing combat boots, army pants and riding knobby tires, good guy Tom stopped and retrieved my bike light (thanks), Dan won the single speed competition (and did not fall at any point in the race – good for you Dan), Derek forgot where to race, and Bruiser arrived lubricated and lazy and was nice enough to be the official timekeeper (thanks Steve).  This year, racers needed to finish a beer before their race time was finalized.  The finishing times were…

1 - Johnny – 31:28

2 - Bruce – 34:24

3 - Shaun – 34:42

4 - Mike – 36:00

5 - Albert – 37:02

6 - Curt – 37:41

7 - Tom – 38:33

8 - Myron – 40:40

9 - Phil – 40:46

10 - Ike – 42:54

11 - Dan – 44:39

David – DNF – flat tire

Gavin – DNF – flat tire

Derek – DNF – lost

 

James joined us at the clubhouse after his team won the B-side runner-up trophy for mens curling.  Minutes include: Duke sold his Devinci, Dan has biked over 1000 km’s this year, Race tips from Deanner – just give’r, Steve is selling his Harley, Bruce booked a 16’x7’ bike/gear trailer for the 2012 Road Trip, a best-chip debate started to get nasty, Bruce has a big new unicycle and what appeared to be half a mustache, and it was agreed by all that bacon is goood.  Good times.  JS

Vitamin R

I’ve been told that people have been meaning to organizing a race.  When they say this they usually avert their eyes and look for their dignity on the floor.  That’s OK - sometimes ideas need to properly incubate before they’re ready to hatch.  This void has not gone without its consequences - people are getting itchy to race.  So before this itch turns into a rash that turns into sleepless nights that turns into doing tricks for a hit of crack cocaine, we’ll race.  This week's ThNR will be the ABES Spring Time Trials v.3.0 – two big laps around town.  The finish line is at the bottom of a beer at the clubhouse.  Giddy-up.

See you Thursday at 9.  JS

ThNR Report

Tom, Steve, W, Albert, Chaz, Curt, Gavin, Steven, and I enjoyed an ice-free ride around Rocktona.  Tom was on his 29'er and working harder than anybody else, Paul rode his new Redline cross bike and was rolling like a pimp, and Curt finished off the ride by allowing us to try his new bike - a 48" penny farthing.  It was hard not to smile test riding it (and wish you had a bowler hat, tweed suit and waxed moustache).  We retired to the clubhouse where we were joined by Ike, Giles and Paul B.  Minutes included: John Prine writes songs like he's 200 years old, Curt suggested pioneer meat logo placement, Steve reminisced about tumblers of Moose Lake scotch, Steven shared his unpopular and reasonable views on Altona's spring cleaning, awkward conversations, David is away at a 3 day pool skimming conference, Kony V Kona, Winter Bike Festivus is cancelled due to lack of rollers and winter, Paul B is looking into living in an ice fishing shack this summer, pickled beets/kryptonite, pre-ride naps, shooting ticks with rifles, and butter churning injuries.  Good times.  JS

ThNR

Same place and time.  See you then.

Start wrapping your head around this plan, maaan...Saturday Morning Brunch Ride.  Gather at 9am and we'll cycle to Plum Coulee for some delicious homemade fixins at Annajo's Bistro.  We'll go via Rosetown and head back on the 201.  Let me know if you dig it.  

In addition to the sausage casings, I'll also put in another order for ABES jerseys if anybody missed out on the first round of beautification.

ABES Sausage Casing

Details about theses beauties here.

Who's in?

ThNR Report

Bored + new razor = beware

Cousin Thomas was joined by James, David, Ike, Curt, Duke, Mike, Shaun and myself for a little spinny spin around town.  Thomas must have been sharing his racing secrets to David and Duke as they easily topped the podium in the race to the clubhouse, beating the rest of the field by 30 minutes - impressive.  Curt was thrown off his bike twice as he tried to ride through drifts and Mike had issues with his shoelace wrapping around his pedal; otherwise a lovely ride with a fun tear down the North path.  The clubhouse minutes were minimal as we were all watching the Jets do their best to prevent riots in Vancouver.  Items I did note included: all my questions end in “errr...”, women getting gang-ogled, and saying the word cuss instead of actully cursing – cuss you!  Good times. 

 

The tentative date for the ABES Winter Bike Festivus is Saturday, March 31.  Details will be confirmed.  Save the date and get ready for more good times already yet one time.

ThNR

Sometimes you eat the bar.
and sometimes the bar eats you

I am happy to announce that 24 Hours of Bill Murray champion, Cousin Thomas is joining us for the Thursday Night Ride.  Hopefully he will shed some light on his unorthodox training regiment, race tactics and fashion stylings that took him to the top of the podium.  Don’t miss this once-in-a-several-months opportunity.  9 at my place.  

Bikey Goodness

Thursday Night Report - late edition

ABES were ready for a snowy ride.  James, Ben, Charles, Ike, Shaun, Jeff, Paul W, Steven, Tom, Duke, Albert, Curt, and I enjoyed a whisper quiet ride while big, wet flakes covered our fair town.  The snow, and our knockdowns did cause issues as some were crashing in spectacular fashion, especially Curt who found his way into a drift and came away looking like the Snuggles bear.  I crashed on the road but it was my favorite kind, one where you land on your feet running.  We also seperated the men from the mice crossing several snow covered soccer fields in a slog-fest that left most ready for hydration.  It was an odd night at the clubhouse where the music level was moderate, the tunes were unusual by Grumpy’s standards and there was not a salty kernel in sight.  They were still serving refreshments so it was all good.  Minutes include:  firing roman candles from a car, David was not present – Steven assumed he was practicing his fighting skills – aka - turtling, Myron shared hitchhiking stories that included a stolen truck, hitting churches up for gas money, 324-DUKE, and thumbing it from Manitoba to California to go for a swim, Road Trip meeting, building rockets and flying helicoptors, Jared bought a new cross bike, buying dynamite from MCC, Canadian cross-country ski legends, ABES Winter Bike Festivus is on – date to be determined, Charles has thought about organizing an alleycat race (insert slow, sarcastic applause here), redneck triathlons, the old/current Bomber stadium is a health hazard, and the Jets win with the flying W!  Good times.