4th of July Twin Bill Huge Success!

Rainman wins!

Sharkman edged off podium in opener!

Cloud Girl loses chain, Tardette fixes it!

Bianchi Boy – Celebrity Rider – Single Speed Wonder!

Belo News
Galesburg, MI
July 3 , 2009

Galesburg, Mi. – Belo News – It was a 4th of July weekend Twin Bill last weekend with 22 Minion riders on Friday and 16 on Saturday! In what will be remembered as two perfect days of cycling in a row, the Minion Nation ruled on the roads of Galesburg this Holiday.

Proving he will do anything to get his name in the Update, Stingray was waiting in the driveway of the Shark Cove as the Sharkman opened his garage door at 6:50 A.M. The ride over to scenic Galesburg was just plain drop dead gorgeous on this unusual Friday morning ride.

The Sharkman was thinking it would be great to have 10 riders on this fine morning and was shocked to see 22 Minions take part in the opener of a two day set.

Of special interest, Jeff Webster, AKA Bianchi Boy and past long serving Minion, was in the Nation for the ride. Bianchi Boy is the former CEO of Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) (Coach to Lance Armstrong) and was riding on a single speed Bianchi Track Bike! Talk about style. A second Celebrity Rider for the day was Jerrod from Vail Colorado! The son of the famous Pirate was home for the holiday and wanted to join in on the festivities! Welcome Bianchi Boy and Jerrod, son of the Pirate!

Also joining the intrepid Minions was the now famous Peugeot Guy, with, you guessed it, a new personally fabricated seat post. In our last edition we commented that this classic rider had broken his seat post and the bike was so old they stopped making them in a 22mm size (we think they stopped around 1899). So he built one himself and he showed no sign of being out of shape after his absence. A true legend of the Peleton! (You can’t make this stuff up!)

Even the long absent WolfKing had returned to the Peleton! What a morning!

The Skipper was on hand to get things rolling and Luann waved to the Minion Nation as they passed the Klutch, chattering like a bunch of Minions on a holiday, clad in their best red, white and blue!

Falcon attempted to contest the opening sprint, but was shaken off by the Sharkman’s evasive maneuvers.

In a major mechanical, Cloud Girl threw here chain and Tardette assisted her in fixing it. (Editors note – we at the Update realize this is not really a major mechanical, but we like to piss off Stingray by giving the females of the peleton a lot of ink!)

Danimal also had a major breakdown when his front hub started to come apart. (Editors note – now this is truly a major mechanical!) Falcon gave him the keys to his truck so he was able to get to Falcon’s house and drive back to the start to get his truck.

Knute, last weeks Celebrity Rider who is now an official Minion, joined the group somewhere near the 89 crossing. With a name like Knute, you don’t need a nickname!

The Minions again picked up the pace going into the Country Club section in the run up to Rt. 43 and on through the cul de Norte.

The Minions snaked their way through the Bible Conference Hills, past Frona’s, through the Inlet sprint and on to the 89 crossing where the pace line formed up.

After crossing G Ave., Bissell Boy made a move to spread out the peleton before the finishing sprint. Though this seemed to spread the peleton out in small groups, they began to come together again at the foot of the ascent to the finish. Falcon, throwing himself on his sword, made an early move that finally did spread out the field. Minions were all over the road on the descent to the finish. In a dramatic kick, Rainman came out of no where to squeeze out Ironman with Dr. Dave taking third, who edged our intrepid hero, The Sharkman hisself of the podium!

Amazingly, Bianchi Boy, our celebrity rider for the day, contested the sprint on his single speed track bike!

The crowds were thick on the Champs le Galesburg as the Minion Nation waved to their fans and zipped up their jerseys for the sponsors. Almost the entire Minion Nation stopped at the Klutch for Koffee and Luann herself was there to pour out the great brew. Every seat was taken in the Klutch and the crowds gathered to get Cloud Girl and Tardette’s autographs.

WolfKing, wanting to insure his name was included in the Update, bought koffee for the Sharkman AND Bianchi Boy.

However, this was just a prelude to the night cap the next day!


Knute Takes the Tape!

QMan Returns to the Peleton!

The Hammer Returns!

Airman edged off the podium!

Belo News
Galesburg, MI
July 4 , 2009

Galesburg, Mi. – Belo News – In the night cap of this 4th of July twin bill, our intrepid hero, the Sharkman, was attending a wedding in Detroit and was not in attendance. But that didn’t stop 16 Minions from the start Saturday morning.

Back for a second day was former Celebrity Rider Bianchi Boy (you can’t be a celebrity rider two day’s in a row) and his single speed, along with his son and former Minion and today’s Celebrity Rider, Aaron the Hammer Webster riding Sharkman’s Cyclocross bike with WolfKing race wheels!

The returning Qman was another 4th of July Celebrity Rider! (Can this Holiday pack any more excitement in? We don’t think so.) Qman, one of the original Minions, was visiting from the great North for the weekend! Welcome back Qman and Hammer!

Reports of the race are sketchy, though it has been reported that the average speed for the day was a brisk 19.2.

Reports also indicate that Knute won the finish sprint on a classic steel bike with down tube shifters! What a stud!

Dr. Dave finished second and Falcon took the third spot on the podium, edging out Airman who actually got the day off from work!

In keeping with our policy concerning reporting the female Minions participation and our enjoyment in driving Stingray crazy, we would like to report that Cloud Girl and Tardette were not in attendance on the 4th, however Sheila, herein known as Sheira, who rode with the Minion Nation a couple of weeks ago, was in attendance.

Reports indicate that the Minions were all in a hurry to get to their 4th of July activities and did not stop at the Klutch, which was reported to the Commissioner for possible fines for not attending the post race press conference.

Who will be there next week?

Will there be any celebrity riders?

Has Boffo returned from L.A. with that white glove?

Does Boffo now have two gloves? And do they match?

Will anyone be riding a single speed track bike?

Will Stingray figure out another way to get his name in the Update?

You won’t want to miss next weeks ride to find out the answer to these and other important cycling questions!


Saturday - Launch Time – 8:00 A.M. – SHARP!