MAD DOG
RETURNS, GETS JERSEY!
WISHBONE
ON FIRE!
 |
| Ironman presents Mad Dog with a "Mad Dog Cycle" jersey! |
SQUEAKY
WITH NEW HANDLEBAR TAPE?
RAINMAN
UPDATE!
DON'T
FORGET TO REGISTER FOR THE TOUR DE TAYLOR!
Belo
News
April
29, 2017
Shark
Cove, Mi. - As another cool dawn broke over the Shark Cove, our
intrepid hero bound from his Shark Bed to check the weather. Rain had
been forecasted, and the old Shark wanted to make sure he was on top
of things!
 |
| The Nation was ready to ride! |
As
he clicked on the Shark Radar and settled in with his coffee, he
notice a large green/rain area to the south but it didn't seem to be
moving very quickly! YES! Game on!
The
problem know was figuring out what to wear on the day. The Sharkman's
code seems to be if the temp is over 45 degrees, he does not wear
tights. So he decided on shorts, a long sleeve jersey and his rain
jacket just in case.
7:25
a.m. - SHARP, Yeti Boy was in the drive waiting and was wearing
tights. Then Nikeboy and Mad Dog rode up, wearing nickers. Sharkman
didn't check, but apparently the temp was 48 but the “feels like”
temp was 41! Too late. Time to launch and they were off.
As
the group hit Watkins Lane, Reb joined on and then there were 5!
 |
| Sharkman photo bombs himself! |
The
start was jumping with Minions!
Ironman,
Gazelle Girl, Sasquatch, Squeaky, Wildman, Skittles, PJ, and Brewman
were all lining up!
Making
their season debuts were Tan Man and Hoosier Boy! Welcome back,
Minions!
Dreamboat
brought a virgin Minion with him by the name of Gena, who may need to
be named Classic Gena as she had a classic Tommasini bike with Campy
Record components! Pretty sweet ride!
Squeaky,
always “stylin,” was sporting his usual Nordic gear, complete
with winter gloves. In addition, the Squeakmiester had added some red
and white tape to his handlebar for
reasons yet unknown, but Belo
News is sure everyone will be looking to get some of that tape for
their handlebars! The man cannot help himself!
 |
| Tan Man made his season debut! |
Just
before the start, Ironman presented a very special jersey to Mad Dog!
Not because he had been gone, but Ironman, who will be leaving us to
take a job transfer to Provo, Utah, had found a bike shop named Mad
Dog Cycles and just had to get the jersey for our own Mad Dog! Is
this a great country or what?!?
Let
the bromance begin! Oh, the humanity!
Sharkman
led the train out of the station to the sweet sound of pedals
clicking in and the smell of spring in the air.
As
the Nation pulled up to the light by the Klutch, Jamie, our former
Barista who had served the Nation for so long but had moved away, was
at the Klutch for a visit and came out to wave at everyone!
 |
| Ironman was back after a brief hiatus. |
Hello
Jamie!
Nikeboy
and Reb pulled off at that point as they need to get back to the
Creek.
As
the Nation headed north, there was still some uncertainty if there
would be an A Group, but as the turn off loomed, the A Group started
to form. At the split, 6 riders cut off for the A route, while the
remaining 11 headed north.
Wildman
led our hero out before Squeaky came up, red and white tape flapping
off the left side of his handlebar, to take over. As the first sprint
loomed, the old Shark broke from Squeaky's well, and with a brief
slap in the face from the red and white tape, he was off to take his
honorary finish!
After
crossing G Ave. Kid Doster arrived and said he was going back to the
A Group.
 |
| Squeaky dressed for a blizzard! |
The
B group continues through the col de Twin Lakes, across Rt. 89, past
the Yorkville Church, through Kellogg Korner (where in the world is
the Skipper?), flew by the Kountry Klub and as they approached the
Rt. 43 Stop Ahead Sprint, Sharkman made a dramatic move to the front,
but just before the finish, Wishbone flew by to take him at the tape!
What the ….......who was that rider!
Wishbone
was on fire and was first up the col de Norte and went on to take the
Holy Rollers Stop Ahead at the Feed Zone! Whoa, way to go Wishbone!
With
no stragglers in the peloton this week, the Nation was moving at a
good clip and had still not seen the A Group as they crossed the
Digital Divide and again, formed up a fairly nice, yet informal pace
line.
The
train was moving when everyone starting shouting “Gazelle Girl,
Gazelle Girl”
wondering when she was going to make her move on the
coveted GGG Spot Sprint!
 |
| Squeaky can't seem to ride without handlebar tape hanging from his bars! |
Like
a fine tuned watch, Gazelle Girl began ramping up the speed from the
back and led out by a cast of thousands, the “Sweetheart of the
Peloton” took the tape going away! It was a victory for America!
As
the leaders waiting at G Ave. Ironman showed up from the A Group.
Gazelle Girl asked where the rest of the riders were and Ironman,
right behind me but sort of broken up. Gazelle Girl responded, “then
it is just an A Group ride and not a “Miniion Ride!”
Way
to go, Gazelle Girl!
 |
| Hoosier Boy was making his season debut! |
As
the Nation headed into the final sprint, Sharkman, for reasons
unknown, went to the front and the sadistic Nation let him lead all
the way to the final ascent to the finish! Sharkman was gassed as
Wildman, Tan Man, Ironman, Mad Dog, Brewman and what seemed like,
everyone else went by him!
Our
hero did get a second wind and was able to claw his way back to
finish 7th in the Nation. So our hero was happy with that
comeback!
Belo
News will begin reporting the finishing sprint now that May has
arrived!
The
finish was really spread out and the Sharkman would like to remind
everyone that after crossing the railroad tracks across from the
finish, riders should “sit up” and wait for the other finishers.
The Paparazzi and Tofosi on the Champs le Galesburg want to see all
the riders come in together!
Average
speed for the B Group was 17.5 mph.
 |
| Virgin Minion Gena! Welcome Gena! |
The
crowds were huge along the Champs le Galesburg and a pretty good
group of riders stopped for Koffee and the Press Conference at the
Klutch.
Andrew
was wearing his Shark Minion Kit, and Ironman bought the koffee!
Whoa, wait? Jersey for Mad Dog AND bought koffee!?
Thanks
Ironman!
That
is when he informed the Nation he was headed to Provo, Utah for
Duncan Aviation.
The
Nation will miss Ironman, who only has a few rides left before he
leaves.
The
press wanted a photo of Mad Dog in the new jersey and he was more
than willing to model the red Mad Dog Cycles kit for the paparazzi!
 |
| Gena's very cool Tommasini with Campy Record components! |
Gazelle
Girl brought a get well card for Rainman, who has been put on the
Disabled List due to an infection from needing stitches on his knee
after a crash out in California that didn't get cleaned out well
enough at the med-center. More on that in the next report.
After
their fill of Bottomless Koffee, Mad Dog, Yeti Boy and Sharkman
limped home into the wind!
You
won't want to miss this weeks edition of the KK-TdG!
The
weather will still be cool, to launch time will stay the same. There
is a “chance” of rain, so look for an email and/or an update on
the blog if the weather is in question.
Saturday,
May 6, 2017
Launch
Time – 8:30 a.m. - SHARP!
Be
there
 |
| Ironman, who bought the koffee! YES! |
 |
| Wildman signing Rainman's card! |
 |
| The Klutch was rocking! |
 |
 |
| Mad Dog in his Mad Dog kit! |
RAINMAN UPDATE!
Belo
News
 |
| Rainman (file photo) |
May
3, 2017
Shark
Cove, Mi. - Last week we reported that Rainman had been put on the
Disabled List due to an infection that occurred after he had 11
stitches in his knee after a mountain bike crash out in Santa Cruz,
California. Sharkman reported on Saturday, that Rainman had reported
that there was a good possibility that he would need to have the
stitches re-opened and the wound cleaned out the next week, as the
infection was not responding well to antibiotics.
However,
Belo News is pleased to report that the doctors examined the wound on
Monday, May 1, 2017 and have determined that the antibiotics have
kicked in and Rainman will not need to have the wound re-opened!
Great news!
Both
Rainman and Stryker Guy also want to thank the Nation for their Get
Well Cards from the mighty Minion Nation and are looking forward to
getting back as soon as they can!
TOUR
DE TAYLOR IS SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2017!
Belo
News
April
19, 2017
Mattawan,
Mi. - The date for the Tour de Taylor 2017 has been announced and
here is the information you will need to enter. This has been a great
annual event for the Nation and helps our Team Taylor Minions earn
even more dollars for their Make A Wish ride in July! So let's all
get entered to ride! Here are the details:
Hey
Tour de Taylor Riders!
Saturday,
June 10th.
As
always, we're working hard on creating an even better event this
year. With your feedback and support, we've been able improve on an
already great event. With your help, ALL
net
proceeds will be donated.
Below
are highlights and details.
- Free Lunch catered by Latitude 42
- Soft tee's with new design for 2017
- Beautiful routes with aid stations, including water, Gatorade, snacks and the best volunteers in the area
- Maple Hill Tent City
- Music
Details
Date:
Saturday June 10th, 2017
Location:
Mattawan
Middle School
56720
Murray St Mattawan, MI 49071
Soft
T-Shirts: Free
with registration.
You
must be registered by May 28th
to guarantee a Tour de Taylor 2017 Soft T-Shirt.
Please
refer to link for more event details and updated information.
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Riders
joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with
bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any
rider involved.
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