PERFECT
WEATHER FOR ILOI RIDE/PARTY!
 |
| The mighty Minion Nation ready to rock! |
END
OF RIDING SEASON?
MAYBE NOT!
MINIONS
ROCK ICEMAN!
YETI
BOY FRACTURES HIP IN FREAK CRASH!
Belo
News
November
5, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - As dawn broke slowly, yet bright over the Shark Cove, our
intrepid hero, the Sharkman rolled over, hit the snooze bar and went
back to sleep! He would not be doing an early call on this fine
morning, as it was the last day of the Minion Nation season known as
In Lieu of Iceman Ride/Party and Sharkman was sleeping in after
rocking the house at Bowman's the previous evening with Banjovi!
 |
| Sharkman attempts another "selfie" and cuts out several Minions...... |
Sharkman
could not believe the weather for this now annual event and was
excited to get out to the Fort after getting his front tire back in
working order and adjusting all his gears.
As
he pulled into the Trail Head he spotted that legend of the peloton,
Tow Truck, riding to the start, sporting that now famous beard as the
sun beat down on him.
Minions
were getting their steeds ready for the ride as Sharkman pulled in.
In addition to Tow Truck, Gazelle Girl, Ranger Rick, Easty,
Greyhound, Rainman, Stringray, and a late Dreamboat, Celebrity rider
Mike Needam, one of the founding fathers (along with Gazelle Girl and daughter, MC Hammer) of the SWMMBA, now Southwest Chapter of MMBA, was joining the group as a virgin
Minion! Gazelle Girl knows him as Daryl, so that is now his Minion
name! Welcome to the mighty Minion Nation Daryl!Rainman
and Dreamboat wanted to stretch it out so they headed out on their
own while Sharkman led the group on a Red to Blue to Red route.
 |
| Celebrity Virgin Minion, Daryl! Welcome to the mighty Minion Nation Daryl! |
The
weather could not have been more beautiful with temps around 70
degrees, no wind and color everywhere.
The
group hung together through the first part of the Red before heading
over to the Blue. When the group completed the Blue, Ranger Rick led
the group on an “illegal” return to the red for no other reason
than he wanted to and the group was off again while Easty, who had
something going later in the evening headed back to the Trail Head.
As the Nation got to the Amusement Park, Ranger Rick stated he was going to do a lap of the Green and would meet everyone at Players.
A quick buzz through the Amusement Park and a stop to hear how it got named by Gazelle Girl (Yes, you heard that right and Daryl confirmed it!) before the group headed into the final segment, the Crazy Beaver!
Tow Truck, Greyhound, Daryl and Stingray all had other engagements, so it was just Gazelle Girl and Sharkman enjoying a Bells and an Arcadia product before heading over to Players.
 |
| From Ranger Ricks Strava! |
Sharkman, Lava Girl, Gazelle Girl, Toesetter, Dreamboat, Rainman, Ranger Rick and guest, Elizabeth, all made it to Players and Hossman and Mrs. Hossman also joined the group!
Sharkman was into the fun and after one 16 oz and then a 22 oz Pumpkin Ale, he was feeling no pain. He was quoted as saying..."Is thith a great country or whath?!?"
It was a fitting end to a fantastic Minion Season!
So, what's next, you ask?
Sharkman will be riding at the Ft. after Deer Season and until the snow gets too deep, then it he will be skiing! So watch for an occasional email on a Saturday ride. He will also be riding during the week so if you are retired, drop him an email and he will put you on the distribution for weekday rides.
 |
| The nation on the Red! |
Have a great winter and a big thanks to the mighty Minion Nation for another fantastic season!
 |
| Pumpkin Ale? I'll have two! |
 |
| Great dinner! |
 |
| Did you say Pumpkin Ale? |
MINIONS
ROCK ICEMAN!
Belo
News
 |
| Reb at the finish! |
November
5, 2016
Traverse
City, MI. - In what can only be described as a beautiful day to go
riding, more than a few Minions and friends of the Nation had a great
time at the 26th
Annual Iceman Cometh Mountain Bike Race. The weather, the track, and
the Bell’s Porter were all perfect. With the start being shortened
by a mile, and another hill deleted because of logging activity, most
riders set personal best on a very fast course.
One
minion was overheard saying that it was so nice that Nikeboy might
even risk getting one of those fancy kits dirty, only to have another
member of the Nation wonder if the Cornhusker had the “des
pierres”, as the French say, to handle the Strava-verified downhill
speeds of over 37mph while dealing with trees, fellow competitors,
and the obligatory sand pits at the bottom of many of these
challenges.
But
for those who endured and survived the risks, it was a fairy tale day
as many Minions and the friends of the Minions mingled through the
campground, “borrowing” beverages from people who were more than
happy to support the nation and keep the party going. While the
phrase what “happens at Iceman, stays at Iceman,” is a good rule,
it should be reported that the last bike to leave the bike corral,
which at one point held thousands of carbon-fiber and alloy racing
machines, belonged to a minion. Not only did Yeti Boy compete with
the passion of a thousand suns, he celebrated equally as strong.
Nice
job, Minions! You did the Nation proud!
YETI
BOY FRACTURES HIP IN FREAK CRASH!
Belo
News
November
7, 2016
 |
| Yeti Boy ready for surgery! |
Battle
Creek, Mi. - In a cool down ride on Monday, Minion legend Yeti Boy
was involved in a freak crash on his bike, causing him to fracture
his hip bone!
On
a beautiful fall day, Sharkman and Yeti Boy took off on their regular
25 mile training ride. Yeti Boy had just returned from Iceman where
he turned in a phenomenal 2:02 time! He also had just returned from a
10 day mission trip to Guatemala where he was on a team that put 60
stoves into homes in Mayan villages. At the end of the ride, Sharkman
split off to head back to the Cove and Yeti Boy had less than a half
a mile to his house.
As he turned into his driveway, he skidded on some wet leaves and went down heavy on his right hip. He described the pain as “excrutiating” and could not get up. He actually had to call his wife on his cell phone to get help.
His wife immediately him to the emergency room were X-Rays indicated a fracture in his right hip.
The good news was that because he is in such great shape, he could have a plate and screws put in.
Belo News is pleased to report that he did fine in surgery and should be out of the hospital by this Friday. But it will be a long recovery. Let's all wish Yeti Boy a speedy recovery so he can get back into the peloton in the Spring!
Riders
joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with
bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any rider
involved.
-->
