WNR Report

A boatload of us showed up for the ThNRWE - 23 to be exact.  Our second biggest rally ever.  David tells me that Dan’s allecat holds the record at 24.  It must have been the beautiful spring weather that brought so many cyclist out.  That, and we knew Ryan Leech was interested in sipping from the ABES green kool-aid.  In true ABES form he was 15 minutes late.  Bruce gave him his cross bike and we showed him what we do in these parts – cycle around town then go to the clubhouse for giggles.  It was a beautiful sight to see so many cyclists taking part in a ride.  A small part of me was sorry Ryan didn’t do his trials riding - not many people do what he does, but mostly I was glad he was on a road bike spinning and visiting like the rest of us.  It would have felt weird making him work for our amusement – dance, monkey, dance!  I’ll report what everybody says – He’s a really nice guy, full of smiles, stories, warmth, but not punctual.  The reviews from his school shows have been top-notch.

Everybody of age (even Mike) joined us at the clubhouse where we rehydrated and gushed over our guest.  The minutes included: Blue is the McDonald’s of beer, who is the creepy old man on the farthing, DB wants to lay on top of Dennis for Ryans high jump, big drops on road bikes, yoga, yoga, yoga, the prestige of the half marathon, the penny farthing and 52” unicycle fundraiser ride from Rocktona to Stinkler, the popcorn machine only works on Thursdays, Curt’s sweet chops, Bruiser’s garage contents are worth more than his house, BAC bought Ryans bike – Gavin was nominated to ride it, our cycling bibs should be here for Road Ride 2012, Ryan teaching pastor near-beer and DB to bunnyhop, and David was rallying the troops around his time trial / alleycat race next week.  Good times.  JS

Upcoming events:

• ThNR – I’ll ride if you do – my place at 8:00
• Mountain bike ride – Saturday is looking rainy – Sunday looks better if the trails are rideable – details TBA
• Family Bike Club – Sunday at 6:30 – postponed one week.  Next week: scavenger hunt
• Monday Road Ride –  Dan wants to ride the cement and gravel near Manitou/La Riviere – details TBA

A flurry of activites to report…

ABES wannabe Ryan Leech is scheduled to audition for club affiliation at the ThNR – Wednesday Edition.  Meet at ABES headquarters Wednesday at 8:00 for the hazing ritual.  The Leechmeister will ride whatever bike he wants - we might be giggling like schoolgirls if he rides his trials bike, visit if he takes a road bike or laugh if he chooses the penny farthing.  The evening is as loose as a goose. 

 

When things were looking bleak on the local alleycat scene, race coordinator extraordinaire DSwank announced he is planning a race that promises to be super-happy-fun for next Thursday - sweet.

 

Families and members of the dark side are coming to visit Rocktona.  A ride to the hills of Tinker/Morden this weekend are being planned.

The Family Bike Club takes place on Sunday, 6:30 at the SawKoopsky’s house.

 

Dan is planning a Victoria Day road ride that will include cement, gravel, hills, burgers and fries.

 

Ryder Hesjedal became the first Canadian to capture the pink jersey as overall leader of the Giro Italia, the world's second most prestigious annual cycling race after the Tour de France.  Beauty eh.

 

Will the weather cooperate for all this goodness?  It better or we'll get Bruiser to give it a punch in the throat!  JS

Thursday Night Ride – Special Wednesday Edition

We will ride on Wednesday this week to accommodate guest bicycle enthusiast/yoga sage/pretty boy - Ryan Leech.  He is in the greater Rocktona area and wanted to do two things after his performances: sleep in a barn (check) and cycle with a gaggle of awkward yokels (double check).  Plans are being made so stay tuned.

Remember alleycat races?  They were fun right?  We should do that again.  Charles is still thinking (clap), David has made promises (ALLYcat), and many have been coasting since I don't know when.  It seems like something should happen soon.  Volunteers appreciated.  Shunning is an option – just look at what’s happening to Pastor near-beer.

Jeff Krahn reports...

I've been asked if any of the ABES would like to volunteer for the Walk/Run to Remember. So far Dan and myself are in, and they were hoping to get at leaset two more of us. It would be a support role where the riders lead/follow the runners. Can check out the info here.  It would be awesome to get at least two more.  Oh yeah, volunteers get free food and a beverage at the end.  The date is May 26 and the race starts at 9am (runners register starting at 8).

ThNR Report

A bunch of dudes rode bike around town - you know who you are.  We had trouble staying together.  The warm weather was nice - until it wasn't.  You should have been there.  David brought a bag of free pizza.  Dan drinks near beer - HA.  Good times.

Saturday Morning Breakfast Ride - meet at 8:30.  Sweet CK will be there if we can find childcare.  JS

Upcoming Super Happy Fun Times!

Thursday Night Ride – Sunshiny hours are in effect – 8:00 pm start - it will be good.

 

Saturday Breakfast Ride – 8:30.  Bikes and bacon - also good.

 

Sunday at 6:30 - Family Bike Club - parents and kids are invited to cycle together, socialize, develop cycling skills and promote the awesomeness of bikes (have fun).  Feel free to invite any families that likes good times.  We’ll gather at the SawKoopsky`s house (31-2^nd St. SE) every Sunday in May and June and we’ll figure it out as we go along.  Sound good?

 

ABES Cycling Gear

If anybody wants to order an ABES jersey, now is the time.  

Additional cycling costume options found here.

The order goes in Saturday.

ThNR Report

Steven, David, Gavin, Schiesse, Rudy, Albert, Paul W, Curt, Mike, Steve, Ike and I headed out for a nice spin around town.  Duke found us, and we escorted Chaz and Ben through the village as they were returning from Gretna.  David was sporting the new bike club technology – a video camera to document events  - too bad it wasn’t on for the penny farthing endo.  Steven and Gavin made sure we had a healthy pace and most followed – some needed extra time preparing at the clubhouse and headed in early.  Minutes include: old folks home V. new folks home, Las Vegas youth retreat, brave Segway riders, Formula One Team Hyundai, Gavin is getting a new carbon mtb frame on warranty, upcoming housewarming events, hot goalies win playoff games, Shamwad Sawatzky, Schiesse was evasive about commiting to the breakfast ride, flapjacks and melons, “Why is there grass in your helmet?”, fat bastard theatre (the Burt), and Duke lost his bike computer - again.

Memory card instructions are hard  

Sweet Cheryl Koop and I are riding to Letellier for the Saturday Morning Breakfast Ride – meet us here at 8:30 if you'd like to join us.

ThNR

This is the last week to sample the bib sizes and place your order.  Get your orders in this weekend, this weekend, this weekend or you'll be out of luck.


See you at 9.  


Anybody interested in a Saturday breakfast ride?

The Little 250 Report

Well done team

Highlights:

- Kids riding bike, playing with mallets, and hiding in our car to get out of the wind

- DSwank and Duker fixin all the fixins

- Athena goddesses kicked ass

- Cool gales kept things memorable at best, but did promote less sitting and more riding

- Grade 3 super kid Thomas Wiebe rode 42 laps like a boss

- Riding bike with good people 

- Being able to slow down to catch up

- County Cycle's Peter and James representing the best of the 325

- 2 year old Leo's one lap was the best showing for the Dyck-Thiessen family 

- Shaun, Albert and I finished our 250 laps in the rain with a double rainbow (what does that mean?)

- Lowlight - not seeing Cindy fall gently in her clip-less pedals and David endoing in the sand pit on a penny farthing

These are the good-old days.  JS

ThNR Report

Steve, James, David, Jeff, Shaun, Albert, Tom, Duke, Steven, Bruno, Ben and I met for the ThnNR.  Steven’s back was good enough to cycle again and he took the opportunity to take his new Jamis Pro out on its maiden voyage.  The ride was fractured as Steven forgot a spacer and had to return home for repairs, Duke snapped a cable and found himself in a spinny gear, the group got split up several times and it all fell apart when half the group abandoned the effort to cycle down the highway for a few laps around the cemetery - to be reminded about the circle of life.  It’s also the future sight of the Little 1000. We mostly rejoined before retiring to the clubhouse where the minutes included: Steve's donationg of a pack of smokes that he bought in a moment of weakness, James is going to Alabama for some southern comfort, the back of our bibs will now read “Juicy”, Common body house/brothels in Ontario, David discussed lucid dreaming, dead mouse in the Coffee Mate, BBQ/Blues fest (the bbq sounds good), Steven still has a size 30” waist - like a jerk, accordions and bandoneons, what you really mean when you say “I’ll take it under advisement” and the beauty of “I should let you go now”, the Bombers players/retirement/stadium/logo, and Albert is older and faster.  Good times.

Steven, Jeff, and James ooh, ahh and adjust the brakes

Albert defends his choice of suspenders, belt and jean shorts

David insists on using Bunge oil for his french fries,
the official oil sponsor of the Little 250.

Confirmed for the Little 250:

JS - 4

David - 4

Giesbro's - 2

DB - 2

Ben - 5

Steven - 4

Albert, Shaun, Jeff
Maybe Myron and Curt,

Tom for the food

Anybody else?

ThNR

Thursday Night Ride – 9pm.   

8pm start next week?  We`ll discuss.

Fashion Files…

The sausage casing samples are here.  You can try on different sizes before the ThNR this week or next, see them at The Little 250, or make an appointment at ABES HQ.  Orders need to be confirmed by May 5.  Let me know the size and if you want the regular chamois (included) or the endurance chamois ($10 extra).  Bib details are found here.

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