SHARKMAN
BACK FROM PLAYING HOOKY!
WISHBONE
PRESENTED WITH MINION JERSEY!
CRASH
IN THE PELOTON!
 |
Wishbone sporting his new jersey,
with matching(?) Crocs! |
DOT
DOT DASH DOING WELL
AFTER CRASH!
CAN
THIS WEATHER BE MORE
BEAUTIFUL?!?
WHAT'S
COMING UP!?!
Belo
News
October
12, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - It has been a “wild and crazy” couple of weeks!
The
Editors at Belo News again, apologize for not getting your news to you
last week, but this weather has just been to nice to be sitting at a
computer, looking out the window, trying to write up a blog!
But
we digress.....
A
lot has happened the past two weeks!
 |
| The Nation was ready to rock! |
First,
two weeks ago, on an overcast morning that looked like rain could
begin any moment, 20 riders showed up to ride and to head over to
Wishbones house to surprise him with a Shark Minion Jersey.
Because
the weather was predicted to be wet, the event Sharkman was suppose
to attend with Lava Girl got cancelled and he was able to show up for
the ride! Is this a great country or what?!?
The
roads were wet, but the rain held off! Sharkman, Mad Dog, Reb and
Nikeboy all rode over and this week, Dragonfly was on time! Squeaky
was back in his “Squeak” style clothes with gloves that actually
matched and his winter hat!
Looking more like he was heading to the Arctic Circle than a bike ride, the Squeak
Man was ready to rock.
 |
Dragonfly was early this week
and ready to rock it! |
The
riders were anxious as Greyhound had come up with the idea to get a
Shark Minion Jersey for Wishbone and surprise him with it. Gazelle
Girl and Dot Dot Dash had worked with Wishbones wife to make sure he
was home but the mission needed to be accomplished before 9:30 a.m.
when his kids played had an activity they needed to be at.
As
the Nation headed north out of town, Squeaky had a flat on his front
wheel. Now, to be honest, the only resemblance to it being an actual tire was that it
was round, and at one point was made of rubber! It was so bad a dollar bill had
to be used to buck up the tube in what has now gone down as the
longest flat tire fix in recorded Minion history.
With
a whiff of CO2 and the snap of the wheel skewer, the Nation was off again!
After
the col de Twin Lakes, a discussion ensued on how to get to Wishbones
house and after some give and take, the Nation decided to cut through
the Gull Lake High School Parking Lot. After traversing the entire
parking lot, the gate to exit on the west side of the school was
locked and the Nation had to double back! Oh, the humanity!
This was lucky for Zyckmann, as he joined on the riders as they exited the school and as the Nation headed into Richland!
 |
Squeaky was "styl'in" again with
matching gloves! |
Just
as planned, Wishbones wife had him out on the front porch when the
Nation pulled up! Wishbone seemed truly surprised
as Gazelle Girl and Greyhound presented him with a card and the
coveted Shark Minion Jersey!
Wishbone
was putting on his inner “Style Guy” with his orange Crocs!
Living the Minion credo that “if you can't be good, look good!”
After
a few speeches and photo ops, the Nation headed back to their “Field
of Dreams” known as the KK-TdG!
As
the Nation got to the Digital Divide, a small group of Sharkman,
Gazelle Girl, Mad Dog, Dreamboat and Ironman went to the front and opened up a gap, before Gazelle Girl moved to the front to take her beloved GGG
Spot Sprint.
As
the 5 riders waited for the peloton, they began to get concerned that
the Nation was not pulling up and as they began to think there must
have been a mechanical. As they discussed doubling back, Bissell Boy and his lovely wife Denise pulled up and
informed them that a rider had crashed in the peloton! Bissell Boy
was on his way to the Michigan Football game and did not know who had
crashed as he was unable to stop as others had stopped to help.
 |
| Wishbone reads his card...... |
Gazelle Girl decided to ride back to the crash scene, arriving just as folks were getting back on their bikes. And strangely, the whole time she was riding she reported that she had a foreboding feeling is wasn't a mechanical that was holding up the group. Gazelle Girl? Clairvoyant? Who knew?
As
the 4 riders began to head back, they were met by the Nation and
informed that Dot Dot Dash had touched wheels with a rider in front
of her and gone down. Luckily, Zyckmann was there to assist.
In a twist of irony, as Zyckmann was helping Dot Dot Dash with her injury she
stated, “What, are you a Doctor or something?” to which Zyckmann
responded, “Well, actually I am!”
A
very kind motorist in a large Suburban assisted and volunteered to
take Dot Dot Dash and her bike home. Though there were concerns that
Dot Dot Dash may have broken her leg she later reported later that
day that she was home and nothing was broken. Later in the week, she
reported to Belo News that her final statement was...... “I'm doing
well, sore in a few places but mostly grateful for Zyckmann and the
others who stopped to assist me. I've finally had my first road bike
crash and I am happy nothing is broken. I'm stuck on desk duty at
work for a while and have been told I'm 3 weeks off the bike...my
stubborn side is planning to challenge that!”
You
go, girl! The Nation awaits your triumphant return and we hold a spot
in the peloton till that return!
 |
Greyhound, Gazelle Girl and the Nation listen
to Wishbone as he thanks the Nation! |
With
sadness after the crash, the Nation headed south to the finish and on
to the Klutch were bike safety, riding in a group, and how great the
koffee tastes after a wet ride!
Sharkman
did dread the ride home, as it was the first time since surgery he
was doing the ride both ways, and they were heading into an east
wind! Oh, the humanity, but they made it back and Sharkman
immediately reached out to Dot Dot Dash and felt so much better when
she reported that although sore, she had not broken anything.
This
past Saturday, the weather, though cool, could not have been better!
Sharkman
and Mad Dog made the trek over, with Nikeboy and Reb following.
13
riders made the call, though some came on late and some left early.
 |
| Wishbone, with his jersey, thanks the Nation! |
As
the Nation headed to the A Group Split, Sharkman shouted out the A group and property owners move to the right. Reb
and Nikeboy were heading back, but Reb wanted to show Nikeboy the new
property he bought on the A Group route and across the road from the Triple
Nasty Ranchero.
In
addition to Reb and Nikeboy, 5 A Group riders made the turn, while 7 B Group riders moved ahead.
The B Group ride was extremely mellow (17.6 mph avg.), but fairly swift, on this beautiful fall
morning. Though a bit cool, the sun was bright and warm as the small
peloton moved through the col de Twin Lakes, the Kountry Klub
Section, up the col de Norte and on to the Digital Divide.
At
the Digital Divide, the A Group caught the B Group, where Sharkman
latched on to some of the faster A Group riders like a hair on a grilled cheese sandwich. As the velocity got up to warp speed, Sharkman dropped
off to watch Mad Dog, Ironman, Zyckmann and Wildman barreling down on the sprint. Gazelle Girl mention to no one in particular "(sigh) They're going to take it from me again!" To which her hero - Dreamboat - asked, "Ready to go?" So off they went, working very hard to catch on to the lead group. Just as the duo was catching on and with a few yards to go, Ironman stood up and poured on the speed!
What the....?
Too close to let his one go to someone else, but without the power to overtake the big, strong man, Gazelle Girl shouted in her best "Disciplinary Mom Voice," "Shawn Busby!" Which definitely got the nearly victorious riders's attention and he sat back down, easing off his speed a bit. But, just like a typical defiant toddler, as Gazelle Girl came astride Ironman he increased his speed and challenged her all the way to the end, letting an exhausted Gazelle Girl win by mere inches!
 |
Gazelle Girl holding court while Yeti Boy tries
to read the Birthday Card Gazelle Girl
gave to Sharkman |
As
the Nation crossed over G to head to the finish, Sharkman was wasted from his
effort and has no idea of who won the final sprint, but took pride in
how well the ride had gone on this beautiful morning and knew that he
would have the wind at his back and Mad Dog in front to pull him
home.
Dreamboat
bought the koffee (thanks Dreamboat) and also handed out Kashi cents
off coupons!
Is this a great country or what?!?
The
crowd in the Klutch was wild as the koffee flowed and no one wanted
to see the season end.
 |
| Has Hoosier Boy had too much koffee! Never! |
 |
Hoosier Boy's water bottle cage loaded
up with Starbucks. We think they
gave him a special bike cup! |
 |
Reb giving instruction before this past
Saturday's ride, which he left before the
first sprint to show off his "property." |
 |
| Reb was also the only guy in shorts Saturday. |
 |
Nikeboy sporting his Rafa Jersey!
Looking good, Nikeboy! |
 |
Sharkman doing his best Bissell
Boy impersonation! |
 |
Dreamboat bought the koffee!
Is this a great country or what?!? |
But
there are a few weeks left there will be more in upcoming editions of Belo News, but here is the schedule!
Saturday,
October 15, 2016
Launch
Time – 8:30 A.M. - SHARP!
Saturday,
October 22, 2016
Last
Road Ride of the Season – Shark Minion Jersey Day!
Launch
Time – 8:30 A.M. - SHARP!
Saturday,
October 29, 2016 – Barry-Roubaix/Waldorf Lunch Ride
In
preparation for those doing Iceman, the Nation will ride
Barry-Roubaix. The Nation will meet at the K-Mart Parking lot to
launch at 9 a.m. with lunch at the Waldorf after!
Saturday,
November 5, 2016
In
Lieu of Iceman Party! Yes, like last year, the Nation will meet at
the Trail Head at the Fort for a 2 p.m. Launch. After a riding the
Fort and perhaps enjoying at BYO beverage of choice in the parking
lot, we will head over to Players in Augusta to meet non mountain
biking riding Minions and significant others and anyone else who
wants to join in our season ending party, for dinner and drinks!
So
mark you calendars and see everyone on Saturday!
Riders
joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with
bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any rider
involved.
