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.