SHARKMAN
BACK IN THE NATION!
 |
| Tony the Tiger Jersey Day! |
INVESTIGATION
LAUNCHED INTO A
GROUP SHORTCUT!
SHARK
MINION JERSEY
DAY THIS SATURDAY!
HOOSIER
BOY
ANNOUNCES
RETIREMENT PARTY!
HOOSIER
BOY AND MIGHTY MONK ROCK “DANCES
WITH DIRT!”
NEW
LAUNCH TIME! - NEW LAUNCH TIME!
Belo
News
September
24, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - As dawn broke slowly over the Shark Cove, our intrepid
hero, the Sharkman, launched from his Shark bed and quickly looked
out the window!
No
Rain! YES!
 |
| Nikeboy was "Stylin" in his M-22 glow in the dark kit! Oh, the humanity! |
The
old Shark was just downright giddy to be getting back to his beloved
Nation and was excited as he donned his Tony the Tiger jersey and
added arm warmers to his kit on this cool Fall morning.
In
fact, the Sharkman was so excited that he was ready to roll a couple
of minutes early and after putting the light on the front of his bike
and clicking his helmet light on, he was off in the dark to meet Mad
Dog.
True
to form and at 7:00 A.M. SHARP, Mad Dog met Sharkman as he was
exiting the Cove, lights flashing and reflecting off Mad Dog's
shining eyes! It was good to be back in the Nation!
As
the two riders headed down Watkins, they saw a bike light
approaching, which can only mean Reb was making the trek to the
start. As he came up on the two riders he asked if they had seen
Nikeboy, who was supposed to be in the mix on this fine morning.
After stating they had left a couple of minutes early, the three
headed back in search of the “Style Guy” of the peloton.
 |
| Please note the matching accessories. Those shoes rocked it! |
The
three made it back to the entrance to the Shark Cove, but no Nikeboy.
Reb volunteered to continue to look for Nikeboy while Sharkman and
Mad Dog headed west to the start.
Within
a few miles, the two riders caught back on and true to form, Nikeboy
was living the creed that if you can't be good, look good! Though
Nikeboy is a great rider, there is no way he could be as good as he
looked! Decked out in his new M-22 kit with “glow in the dark”
rear pockets, this rider was “stylin” like no other rider!
As
the four riders pulled into the parking lot, the Nation stared in awe
at the Nikeboy kit!
 |
| Mad Dog and Reb stand in awe of Nikeboy's kit! |
He had certainly out done himself this time and
this morning would go down in Nation history as one for the “Style”
Record Book! Is this a great country or what?!? Easty and Brewman
gawked at the Style Guy as the got their bikes ready.
Riders
started to pour in! All wondering who would be on the rumored new
ride with Sram eTap!
Soon
Gazelle Girl rode in to shouts of “Gazelle Girl,” along with Tow
Truck, coming back after being gone so long he had grown a beard!
 |
| Gazelle Girl arrives to shouts, with Tow Truck, well, in tow! |
However,
right after Gazelle Girls arrival, a huge entourage behind Bissell
Boy, slowly approached the start.
It
the Bissell Boy on his new, jet black, Trek Domine, complete with
Sram eTap! The paparazzi went wild along with the entire Nation! The
Nation gathered around the totally awesome bike, staring at the Sram
eTap, as well as the disc brakes and sleek design. Yet another great
Minion living the code!
Sharkman
got a quick photo of those wearing Tony the Tiger jersey's.... at
least those that you could actually see because some riders had
jackets and/or vest on due to the cool morning.....plus Leslie in her
Tri Kat Jersey.
As
the Nation began to “toe the line.” Dragonfly arrived late!
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| Bissell Boy on his new Trek Domine! We think there is a Tony Jersey under that jacket! |
With
heckling from the Nation, Dragonfly got his gear together and the
Nation, 18 strong, headed down the main drag into downtown Galesburg.
Andrew
came out of the Klutch in his MSU sweatshirt, as the early morning
koffee group waved to their hero's in the Nation! Andrew got his
count as the train rambled by, waving to the adoring paparazzi and
tofosi! Mean while, Reb had to get back for soccer and broke off,
leaving 17 riders on the day. However, that would change soon......
Sharkman
worked the crowd and new Minion, Roger, rode up and asked if he was
new to the ride? Ha ha, Sharkman thought, though nervous he might be
serious. Gazelle Girl was there at the time and mentioned that Roger
should be named 10-4! Get it, Roger? Roger and out? 10-4? Therefore,
Roger will now be known as 10-4!
As
the Nation headed north, Sharkman shouted out that the A Group should
move right as the B Group stayed left for the split. It was then that
Sharkman overheard Mad Dog giving a different route direction to
Hossman as they turned right followed by Leslie and Ironman.
 |
| Close up look at the Sram eTap! |
Sharkman
was working the crowd and completely forgot the first sprint, but
quickly sprinted (well, as quickly as Sharkman is capable of) to the
front and may have been a bit late, but was giving the first sprint
going away!
Shortly
after the first sprint, more riders began to jump on like Falcon,
Boatman and Zyckmann. Zyckmann complained about not wanting to ride
in the dark and waited for the sun to come out. Speaking of darkness,
Sharkman commented that so many riders are now riding with flashing
lights on the back of their bikes/helmet's that from the rear looks
like a landing strip and he is worried that they are going to have a
747 land on the road behind them!
Sharkman
only had to remind the B Group that they were the B Group a couple of
times and the Nation was able to stay together, though the Kountry
Klub section was a bit fast.
 |
| Bissell Boy had trouble keeping the Nation at bay! |
However,
not fast enough to stay ahead of the A Group! As the Nation pulled up
to wait at the Rt. 43 sprint, all of a sudden the A Group was back
with the B Group! What the …....
An
investigation was immediately demanded to determine how they had
caught back on so quickly and they way they attempted to just “blend
into the crowd.” As they pulled up, they quickly dispersed and said
things like, “hey, great ride, eh?”
The
A/B Group climbed the col de norte, headed through the Holy Rollers
and gathered up at Frona's, where all the riders, now 20 strong, were
back on.
As
the Nation went through the Inlet, they thought all rides were on but
when they got to the Digital Divide there was no Dragonfly!
 |
| Leslie was back and had read Belo News! Is this a great country or what?!? |
Bissell
Boy and Nikeboy went back to try to find him, but to no avail!
Sharkman hates when the Nation loses a Minion and leaves one behind!
It was later learned that when the Nation had turned down 37th,
north of the Digital Divide, Dragonfly went straight, got lost and
didn't get back to the Klutch until everyone had left. He reported
having a great ride and Sharkman apologized profusely for the
oversight!
As
the Nation headed south, some of the A Group went to the front and
pushed the pace. Gazelle Girl, riding on Zyckmann's wheel with
Sharkman in tow, realized that there was no way to get the GGG Spot
Sprint, but Sharkman declared that this small group was battling it
out as the B Group riders and immediately went to the front and with
Easty and Zyckmann, pulled Gazelle Girl to the Sprint win! Sharkman
declared it a victory for America and the hell with the A Group!
As
the Nation lined up for the final assault on the finish, the pack
began to come apart and Sharkman wasn't anywhere near the front to
determine who took the final sprint, but suffice it to say, it was a
spirited run to the line!
 |
| Riders arriving at the start! |
The
riders headed into Galesburg on M-89 and the Editors would like to
remind the Nation that it is important to ride well to the right and
on the right side of the white fog line and no more than two abreast
until the Nation can get back to the Champ le Galesburg!
The
Klutch was rocking as the Nation pulled in for Koffee! All concluded
it was a great day for a ride and with so few Saturday's left in the
season, the Nation revelled in yet another great day in the saddle.
You
won't want to miss this Saturday's ride, though Sharkman will yet
again, be gone! Oh, the humanity!.
 |
| Zyckmann in his "Pops" Jersey. |
But
to honor his absence, it has been declared “Shark Minion Jersey
Day!” With all the new jerseys out there, there are Minions waiting
to wear them in pride.
With
the darker, cooler mornings, the ride will begin to move back later
as Fall goes on!
This
Saturday! Shark Minion Jersey Day!
Launch
Time – For both A & B Groups – 8:30 A.M. - SHARP!
PLEASE
NOTE TIME CHANGE! 8:30 A.M. - SHARP!
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| The koffee was flowing! |
 |
HOOSIER
BOY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PARTY!
Belo
News
September
28, 2016
 |
| Hoosier Boy rides off into Lucky Ones Division! |
Battle
Creek, Mi. - Hoosier Boy has announced that after 28 dedicated years
at Kellogg Company, he will be retiring, changing his status from
working Minion to “Lucky One” Minion! Congratulations and well
deserved, Hoosier Boy!
Yes, that bike riding, mud running, coffee swilling, legend of the peloton is moving to the Lucky Ones Division!
Hoosier
Boy also would like to invite the Nation to help him celebrate at a gathering for him on
October 6, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. To 6:00 p.m. at the Cricket Club in
Battle Creek. As Sharkman says, "Be there!"
Come
on over and help Hoosier Boy celebrate this special status change in
his life!
HOOSIER
BOY AND MIGHTY MONK ROCK "DANCES
WITH DIRT!"
 |
| The mighty Dirt Dogs! |
Belo
News
September
24, 2016
Chelsea,
Mi. - Both Hoosier Boy and Mighty Monk were making the Nation proud
this past weekend as they competed with the Dirt Dogs (Sharkman was a
member of the first 5 seasons the Dirt Dogs did this event) at the
Dances with Dirt competition in the Pinkney State Park area north of
Chelsea.
As
many in the Nation are aware, this is a 65 mile, 5 person relay race
through woods, rocks, mud, barbed wire, hills and generally gnarly
“stuff.”
Hard
to believe they did so well when you look at how clean they are in
the attached photo!
Congratulations
Dirt Dogs Hoosier Boy and Mighty Monk and Team Dirt Dogs!
Riders
joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with
bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any rider
involved.
