OPENING
DAY 2016!
OH,
THE HUMANITY!
WAIT,
WHAT? ANOTHER “SOFT OPENING!”
STATEMENT FROM OUR HERO?
Belo
News
March
30, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - The texts and emails began coming in on Wednesday last
week to the Shark Cove. Wildman decided to get another ride together
for Saturday, in preparation for the Official Opening Day scheduled
for April 2, 2016. The only problem was that he was starting the
ride at 8:00 a.m. from the Klutch!
Our
intrepid hero immediately checked the Shark Weather Station and it
was showing a start temperature for the proposed time at 32 degrees!
However, it was Wildman's ride and the old Shark didn't want to take
over and thought he'd wait to see if any of the others on the
distribution would respond.
First
up was Gazelle Girl, who stated she had it on her “dance card”
but was questioning the early, cold start. The second email response
was from Rainman and even though there was no rain in the forecast,
stated it was way to early on a day that would be much more conducive
to riding in later in the afternoon! And so it went, but Wildman did
not seem to be budging on the call for the early start.
The Nation enjoying their Bottomless Kups! |
On
Friday, our intrepid hero again checked the weather while waiting for
an email from Wildman stating he was moving the time back, and found
that now the Shark Weather Station was reporting temps of 28 degrees
at launch time! Oh, the humanity!
Sharkman
sent an email to Wildman asking who was riding, to which he responded
it was just the two of them, plus Gazelle Girl and Mad Dog. Wildman
stated it really wouldn't be any warmer by 9 a.m. and Sharkman
agreed.
As
dawn broke over the Shark Cove, our intrepid hero literally jumped
from the bed, chomping at the bit to ride! He had decided to drive
over (fearing he might not even make it around the lake!) and after
loading up his steed in the Sharkvibemobile, he headed to the Klutch.
As
he walked in to the Klutch, he was greeted by the Early Morning
Koffee Group with a big hello and following him in the door was
Gazelle Girl. Mad Dog rode up after making the trek from the Creek
and Wildman, who was in charge of the ride, drove up last.
There
was a brief discussion on whether to ride the regular KK-TdG route or
head south and fortunately, the group decided to head out on the
KK-TdG course, as Ironman jumped on as they headed north out of
Galesburg! Ironman was a bit upset as he heard out hero remark, “Who
do we have here?”
Ironman
was upset that there was no “Ironman!” or “The other guy!”
shouted out as he arrived and Sharkman apologized for the gaff.
Wildman took the first sprint, as it took Sharkman a few miles for
his legs to kick in and it wasn't actually and “official” Minion
ride......
It
was a beautiful morning with little wind, bright, warming, sunshine
and an easy pace!
Sharkman
took all the sprints (well, in his mind anyway) until the GGG Spot
Sprint where the Nation got Gazelle Girl into position for her first
major effort of the young season! As she motored ahead, and feeling
the love, she made her final thrust and actually blew away the stop
ahead sign! Whoa,....... what? Yes, after buzzing by, the Stop Ahead
Sign (see photo) could not be found and it could only be assumed she
blew it away! Wow!
Gazelle Girl blows away the Stop Ahead sign as she takes the GGG Spot Sprint! |
After
what seemed like forever to take a photo, the Nation headed south to
the final sprint, that no one contested, and the mighty Minion Nation
ended the ride with an anemic pace of 16.4 mph. But it was a
fantastic ride!
Surprisingly,
the Champs le Galesburg was packed with at least two tofosi cheering
our hero's on as they zipped up their jerseys for the sponsors and
crowds and rode into the Klutch.
Gazelle
Girl, appreciative of Mad Dog's pacing during the ride, bought him
his sissy espresso drink, though her generosity ran out at $4.00 as
that is all she had with her, and the Nation celebrated the great
morning of sun, bikes and koffee!
But
the real thing starts this Saturday!
See next story, Bunkie!
OPENING
DAY THIS SATURDAY!
Belo
News
March
30, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - The day the Nation has been awaiting during this long,
cold, snowy winter (well, actually, it was a pretty mild winter, but
it sounds WAY more dramatic written this way) has finally arrived!
Opening Day, 2016 is here!
This
Saturday, April 2, 2016!
Launch
Time – 9:00 A.M. - SHARP!
You
won't want to miss this special day, though there is a concern that
with Spring Break AND predicted cold temps, the turnout could be low,
this is it Minions! The big day and come on, if those European guys
can ride in cold, wet weather, so can the MIGHTY Minion Nation! So be
there!
Belo
News
March
30, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - As some of the Nation is already aware, our intrepid hero
was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early January. Since that time
he has been talking to doctors and others who have been through the
process, determining his course of treatment.
Fortunately
for the Sharkman, the cancer is limited to the prostate and is a slow
moving cancer. However, it was extensive and so our hero has decided
to have a Radical Prostectomy.
Sharkman
will be going to the University of Michigan (which isn't easy for a
Badger) on May 2, 2016 for surgery and the good news is that he
should be up and around within a week. The bad news is that he will
have to be off the bike for 2 months.
However,
our intrepid hero will continue to organize the ride, he will be over
for koffee when he can, and he will be putting out Belo News, albeit
it may be more brief, which is something he has contemplated for some
time. After over 300 editions, it has been difficult to keep things fresh
and new.
So
it is all good and Sharkman is at peace with his decision and only
wants to get this behind him as soon as possible (no pun intended!).
For
those of you who have more questions about this (as he has learned, may cyclists do), Sharkman will be
happy to explain everything on the ride this Saturday and on any
Saturday until May 2!
Viva
Bikes!