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| The mighty Shark Minion Nation ready to ride! |
WILDMAN RETURNS AND THE NATION REJOICES!
IRONMAN TAKES TAPE!
BOTTLE ROCKET LAUNCH?
ZYCKMAN WINS FOR MICHIGAN ON WRONG DAY!
OH, THE HUMANITY!
READ THE BLOG, MINIONS!
GAZELLE SPORT SHARK MINION NIGHT THIS THURSDAY!
RETIREE LUNCH ROCKS IT!
SAFETY TIPS FROM WILDMAN!
MESSAGE FROM HOOSIER BOY!
Belo News
September 23, 2017
Shark Cove, Mi. - As dawn broke sweltering and bright over the Shark Cove, our intrepid hero, the Sharkman, had no problem picking out his kit for the day. Something white to reflect the heat, was certainly in order!
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| Wildman returns to the Nation! |
After at least 6 weeks of wearing either arm warmers or a jacket or both for the KK-TdG, our hero was looking for something light and cool. The temps were predicted to hit the mid 90's, as they had the day before, and the old Shark wanted to make sure he kept his shark skin as cool as possible!
Only Reb had commented to the affirmative on riding on Friday, so the Shark was sure of only one thing.....that Mad Dog would not be there.
Where are you Mad Dog? Come back? All is forgiven?
As the shark garage door opened he saw 3 riders approach. It was none other than Nikeboy, fresh back from Italy, but suffering with a travel cold, X-Rod and Charles the Elder, who hadn't ridden with the Nation in at least a couple years! Welcome back, Charles the Elder!
As they began the ride over, they came across Reb and the four made quick work of the ride into Galesburg!
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| The "Sweetheart of the Peloton" arrives to a cheer of "Gazelle Girl!" |
At the start, there were actually a few riders, which hadn't been the case the past couple of weeks. 10-4 and Brewman were there as the riders started piling in. There were enough riders that the Editors did not need to remember everyone who rode!
But one rider that does need to be mentioned is Wildman! Yes, Wildman is off the DL list and riding sans cast on his arm. The legendary rider was back from his broken arm in record breaking time and rode like the stud he is! Welcome back Wildman, the Nation missed you!
The Sweetheart of the Peloton rode in to a huge shout out of "Gazelle Girl!" .....well, because there were a actually number of riders there AND they actually noticed her riding in!
Zyckmann returned wearing his Michigan Jersey and though he denied it, it was suspected he was a week or two behind in his Belo News reading and thought it was College Game Day! He was, however, informed the Michigan did not win on the day.......
10-4 was back in the mix after a long hiatus and Bull Dog had also returned.
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| 10-4 was back and kicked butt! |
Sharkman counted 17 as the Nation lined up at the start, but 2 dropped off as the Nation passed the Klutch and at least 3 joined on as the Nation headed north, like Hutch, PJ, Stingray and Ironman.
All in all, it seemed like a count of 21 excluding the two that would join the Nation in the Klutch post ride. More on that later!
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| Wrong week on the Michigan kit, Zyckmann! |
Andrew popped out of the Klutch for the count as the Nation went by and Shark mentioned there could be more ahead.
As they headed north, Rocket Man, Gazelle Girl and Ironman lead the diminutive hero, Sharkman, before Ironman took off to lead him to a 22.5 mph speed to take his honorary sprint.
Sharkman confirmed the count at 17 when the Nation crossed G Ave., but more riders jumped on!
After the col de Twin Lakes and the Yorkville Church, an informal pace line formed up and just as Sharkman heard someone shout "HOLE!? he hit it.
Sharkman's water bottle, the one on his seat post, shot straight up in the air, hitting him on the shoulder and flying back into the peloton.
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| Nikeboy back from his tour of Italy! |
Sharkman was afraid to slow because he was up front, as the bottle flew back into the peloton.
Luckily, no one was hit, but the Nation kept going as Sharkman went back to retrieve his errant bottle rocket.
After a while, he found it under leaves on the other side of the street! That was one honker pot hole! Actually, Sharkman commented that he heard voices coming from the pot hole and thought he saw a family in there holding up a sign asking for help to get out. However, at Sharkman's advanced age, he completely forgot about them by the time he got to the Klutch. But he did remember that only one rider waited for the ride leader and that was Reb!
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| Padre was also back! |
Thank you Reb! You are the man!
Not only did Reb wait, but he took the majority of the pulls to get Sharkman back to the peloton! After a while they caught on with Charles the Elder, who had gotten up at 5 a.m. to run 5 miles before riding over the the start with Sharkman, who then latched on as the three riders caught back on at the Rt. 43 sprint.
After Sharkman gave the Nation a dressing down for leaving their intrepid hero behind, the ride headed up the col de Norte and on to the holy rollers were Sharkman found himself near the front after the hill climb he loves to hate and hearing Reb telling him to go for it, he took off to get the Feed Zone sprint! Sharkman was feeling good!
The Nation moved on past the Digital Divide where a very nice, fast pace line formed up. Not like the previous week, this pace line moved along at between 22-24 mph and just kept rolling to get Gazelle Girl to her coveted GGG Spot Sprint! It was again, a victory for America!
As the Nation headed to the final sprint, the pace line picked up but at a slow pace until Reb made a a very early attack. Throwing himself on his sword, he went out early and took the pace up and stretched out the peloton! Thanks Reb!
The Nation let him go for a while, but then seemed to get a bit nervous and scrambled to track him down.
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| X-Rod was back in the mix! |
After reeling him in at the final ascent, the nation all went for it to the down hill finish.
Ironman and O.K.C. fought it out with Ironman taking the tape in a close one. 10-4 took the third spot on the stand which Belo News believes is his first podium finish! Congratulations to all three!
The Nation went wild on the Champs le Galesburg as the riders waved to their fans, the paparazzi and tofosi!
The Klutch was rocking as Skittles and Echo walked in. When asked where they were they reported that they had been at the start for an 8:00 a.m. launch! Sharkman reminded him that not only had the start time been moved up two weeks previously, but that he was featured in one of the Belo News editions, WHERE THE NEW START TIME WAS ANNOUNCED!
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| Charles the Elder was back! Welcome back!READ BELO NEWS, BUNKIES! |
But Sharkman, being the benevolent leader he is, forgave Skittles and then allowed him to pull his sorry dorsal back to the Cove! Thanks Skittles and Echo!
The season is winding down, but there is still a couple of weeks or rode riding left, so come on out and join the Nation!
This Saturday, another College Game Day!
Since so many missed the last one, get the college kit out and ride! Zyckmann, you can wear your UCLA Jersey!
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Launch Time - 8:30 a.m. - SHARP! (pay attention Skittles & Echo!)
Be there!
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| Zyckmann trying to convince Boatman and Brewman that Michigan won College Game Day..... Oh, the humanity! |
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| Wildman was BACK and all is well in the realm! |
SHARK MINION NIGHT AT GAZELLE SPORTS!
THIS THURSDAY NIGHT!
Belo News
September 28, 2017
Kalamazoo, Mi. - Have you put your RSVP in yet?
Well, if you haven't yet, just come on down!
Don't you want to be one of "the in people?"
As is usual for the Nation, we've had a lot of last minute RSVPs for this great event.
Do you like Gazelle Sports? Do you like getting a deal? Well this is for you, Bunkie!
Gazelle Sports is hosting the first, ever, Shark Minion Night this Thursday, September 28 from 5-8 at Gazelle Sports on Burdick in Kalamazoo.
There will be food and drink (beer, hard cider, wine, pop and some appetizers). Minions will receive a discount on anything they purchase that evening. Our own Nikeboy has been working with Gazelle Sports on the event and he will be inviting others.
There is a rumor that the Nation will migrate from Gazelle Sports some time around 7:30-8:00 p.m. down to Central City Tap House for a nightcap!
Right now the guest list is looking like the royals of Miniondom! Sharkman and Lava Girl, Mr. and Mrs. Yeti Boy, Gazelle Girl, Widlman, the list goes on!
Anyone who is anyone in the cycling world will be there! Be part of the "in" crowd! Well, as much as being a Minion can be "in" anyway!
Oh, the humanity! This is a great country!
RETIREE LUNCH ROCKS IT!
Belo News
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| Sharkman, Zyckmann, Brewman, Rocket Man & Gazelle Girl, ready to ride! |
September 26, 2017
Zyckmann Estate, Mi. - On a hot and sunny but beautiful day, the mighty Shark Minion Retired Nation met at the palatial Zyckmann Estate for what has become a bi-annual event. The Retiree's Lunch Ride was on and it also proved that you don't have to be retired to ride it! Actually, the only fully retired buy was Sharkman hizzelf! It is a job he is quite good at and who knew he would be so damn good at it?!? Is this a great country or what?!?
Gazelle Girl (who is still doing some graphic design), Zyckmann (still doctoring 3 or more days a week), Brewman (who is still fully employed with a lot of vacation days!) and new minion Rocket Man (who is fully, but self employed) joined for the ride.
Launching from the Zyckmann Estate at 10:05 a.m. - SHARP! the five riders ripped it and actually averaged 19 mph on the way up to Hastings and their goal, the Walldorf, for beer and lunch! This ride, which is usually more leisurely, but everyone was feeling so good and there was a slight tail wind, that they just had a great ride!
The Coban and Stout flowed like a river as the five sat and ordered their lunches. They had built up quite an appetite and the choices were great! So great, everyone but Sharkman and Zyckmann kept changing their minds on what they wanted!
As the riders left the Walldorf with wishes of luck on the ride home from their many fans sitting at the bar, the heat hit them like a wet rag to the face as they walked out the door!
Luckily, new Shark Minion Rocket Man had refrained from the Coban and Stout as a "designated driver" and did a massive pull for 10 miles that got the Nation half way back to the Zyckmann Estate!
Riders then took turns at the front and though the ride back was a bit slower (17.6 mph) the Nation had a fantastic time!
SAFETY TIPS FROM WILDMAN!
Belo News
September, 26, 2017
Galesburg, Mi. - As a veteran of one of the Nation's biggest crashes in many a year, Wildman offered to share a couple of observations after coming back from a broken arm. This is important, Minions, so listen up and learn!
Last Saturday, I had my first ride back from being on the DL for around 10 weeks. Man, was it great to be back on the bike and spending time with an awesome group of people! Despite being out of fighting form, I got a lot of encouragement from the Minions. So I want to say thanks to all for that.
I noticed Saturday a lot of riding three- and even four-abreast. I know we have skilled riders in our group, in fact I'd say some of the best there are. But riding more than two-abreast increases both the likelihood of bikes touching, and the impact should bikes touch (more people go down). I've also noticed that people aren't pointing out potholes like they used to. It just seems as if we've gotten a little lax.
Believe me, I don't want to be "THAT GUY," who's always ranting about safety during the rides, and I don't intend to start ranting during the rides. I'm not a perfect rider, and this is supposed to be fun, after all. I would like to see all of us looking out for each other by riding safely, and if each of us can occasionally take the initiative say something when we do notice unsafe practices, then none of us has to be "THAT GUY (or GIRL)." And we'll all be safe. I know I don't mind it when someone shouts out to the group for safety reasons. I think most feel the same. We all should feel confident that we'll return home in the same or better condition than that in which we arrived.
Thanks for listening, and all hail Sharkman and his Minion Nation!
MESSAGE FROM HOOSIER BOY!
Belo News
September 26, 2017
Portage Mi. - That legend of the peloton, Hoosier Boy, sent the following message to the Nation, so listen up!
Hoosier Boy has been hit and miss this year on Saturday mornings as I tried to figure out what was causing anemia (low iron levels) first diagnosed in February. Ultimately, my health issues impacted my ability to keep up with the B and C group so I have been on sabbatical for a month or so while the docs did more testing. Last week the docs finally discovered the cause of the anemia. I have b cell lymphoma in my small intestine. I’ll be starting a six month chemo regime in a week or so.
Prognosis is good so hope to be back on the bike (did anyone say D group) in the spring.
Get well soon, Hoosier Boy! The mighty Minion Nation awaits your return in the Spring and you are in our thoughts and prayers! Holding a place in the peloton for you!
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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