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| Hey, where are the Shark Minion Jerseys? |
IRONMAN BIDS FAREWELL TO THE NATION AND BUYS KOFFEE!
IRONMAN, HOSSMAN & BOATMAN FALL ON SWORDS AT SAME TIME!
GAZELLE GIRL & ENTOURAGE ROCKS BARRY-ROUBAIX!
ANNIVERSARY KIT DAY THIS SATURDAY!!!
SHARKMAN'S BIRTHDAY RIDE!
Belo News
September 29, 2018
Shark Cove, Mi. - As dawn was just thinking about breaking over the Shark Cove, Sharkman was thinking about how cold it was in the Cove. Though sharks are cold blooded, he was doubling up his Shark Bathrobe around his dorsal, fighting not to turn the furnace on. Sharkman hates to turn on the furnace before October 1 and though there was a film of ice on the commodes, he was not going to give in! Hey, it's not being cheap, it's being frugal!
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| Who is that guy with the beard? Our own Brewman! |
As he got dressed in his Shark Locker Room in the basement where it actually seemed warmer, he debated leg warmers. But since it was 39 degrees and well below his 45 degree limit, he chose tights and a thermal long sleeve under his Minion kit. He also wore his Bissell wind jacket instead of his rain/parachute safety jacket.
Though Yeti Boy had committed to ride, he had hosted the famous "Bread Lovers Party" the previous evening and Sharkman wasn't sure he would make the early call. But right at 7:30 a.m. - SHARP! Yeti was there, thankful for the extra half an hour of sleep.
They both commented on how amazing a half hour made on the daylight. And what a dawn it was! Small patches of mist in the fields, the sun breaking over I-94 as the two crossed over on Renton Road, and the lack of any wind was just drop dead fantastic! Even though it was 39 degrees, the two felt blessed to be riding!
Just as Sharkman mentioned to Yeti Boy that he had been stopped by the train on Renton Road several times over the previous weeks training, they heard the whistle of an oncoming freight train!
In the 30 years of riding that road in the morning, Sharkman thought it was the first time he had been stopped by a train on the way to the ride!
They had no alternative than to wait and they guestimated the train to have been over a mile long!
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| Hossman was back in the fold! |
They had been riding slow so as to not build up a sweat before arriving at the start, but now they were under the gun to get to the start on time! Oh, the humanity!
As they rode into town, they noticed Boatman riding in, as well as a number of Minions already at the start. It should be mentioned that Boatman was the only rider in shorts!
What a stud!
Brewman was back, sporting a beard, and High Yield, Rocketman, Hossman where unloading their steeds and asking how cold Sharkman's toes were on the ride over. Actually, though Sharkman was concerned he had over dressed, he felt pretty comfortable. The lack of wind really made a difference.
Gazelle Girl rode in to cheers of "Gazelle Girl" while Toesetter arrived a bit later with an unbraided beard. The veteran rider commented that after the "Bread Lovers Party" and getting home late, he just did not have the time to "do his beard."
Zyckmann rode in wearing his wool Molteni Jersey (Sharkman loves that jersey) having not read Belo News......again! But he did comment it was a warmer jersey than his Shark Minion Kit! Maid Marian filled out the field of 11 riders.
After the Official Start Photo and a warning about walnuts (it was actually the one year anniversary of the now infamous "walnut crash!") Sharkman clicked in and the Nation headed into town.
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| Zyckmann holding court in the cool morning air! |
Just as the Nation pulled out of the station, Ironman rode up IN HIS SHARK MINION KIT, making an even 12 on the cold but clear morning! It was less than the fact Ironman didn't read the blog than it was his last Minion Road Ride........Oh, the humanity!
The train was stopped by the light as the Early Morning Koffee Group waved at them while the barista took a count.
Sharkman and High Yield led the Nation north on 36th Street before Gazelle Girl and Maid Marian came forward to pull. It was an early indicator of what would come at the finish!
Sharkman, feeling a bit sluggish, took the first sprint at only about 20.5 mph, but took it none the less.
The Nation seemed to settle in to a steady, even pace as they cleared the col de Twin Lakes and on past the Yorkville Church. As has become custom, the Nation picked up speed in the Kountry Klub section and after a brief "sit up" after the turn to the sprint, the Nation came back together as Zyckmann made his now "patented" move to the outside to break up the sprinters! The riders could hear Zyckmann's squeaking woody as he torqued the pedals and termites fell like just so much rabble on the road. As the finish loomed, Zyckman reigned in the woody as the peloton caught and passed the breakaway rider as he splintered from the pack.
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| Boatman sans leg warmers or tights! What a stud! |
The group continued on up the col de Norte and into the Holy Rollers, past the feed stop and into the Inlet where a number of fans were walking their dogs and waving to the peloton. Sharkman thanked all of them for coming out to see the Nation!
After the Digital Divide, which seems to get harder to cross each week with all the traffic, Yeti, whose shoe cleat was coming loose, and Sharkman tried to get the Nation into a pace line.
Though not perfect, and a bit "yo-yoey" the Nation began to form up at around 21-23 mph as they bore down on the coveted GGG Spot Sprint.
Learning Moment - remember, the idea of a pace line it to keep all the riders on. As a rider comes to the front, they should maintain a steady speed and not bolt out of the pace line. A lead rider can take the pace up SLOWLY, but blasting out of the pace line only blows riders off the back. Easy peasy lemon squeasy!
Gazelle Girl settled in about 4 or 5 riders back and then timed her finishing sprint perfectly as she took, yet another, GGG Spot Sprint! It was a victory for America.
Sharkman took the Nation up 37th Street and was quickly joined by Yeti Boy, and Hossman who moved to the front.
It was good to have Hossman, the perennial rabbit, back in the peloton to break up the crowd!
Shortly after, Ironman, again throwing himself on his sword, came up from the back and took the lead and a very long pull.
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| Toesetter with an unbraided beard! |
As the Nation made the final ascent before the finish, Boatman took a flyer, or he too was throwing himself on his sword, and made a huge break to the front that few could respond to.
The Nation began to reel the leaders in as they gassed out and High Yield went to the front with Boatman, Sharkman and Rocketman on her wheel but losing ground.
Just as the finished loomed ahead, Maid Marian shot off of Sharkman's wheel and barreled down to take the final sprint at the tape, ahead of High Yield, who took second, with Rocketman in third!
The woman ruled the Nation on this day!
It was a victory for America!
The Nation zipped up their jersey's as they headed down the Champs le Galesburg as the paparazzi and tofosi cheered their hero's on!
When the Nation arrived at the Klutch, Sharkman had to help Yeti Boy out of his right shoe, as the cleat had come so lose, he could not clip out. It was then that they realized that the shoe cleat had lost 2 of the 3 bolts and could not be removed. Yeti would have to finish the ride with a loose cleat......and he did!
Since this was Ironman's last Minion road ride before moving out to Provo, Utah, he bought the koffee! Is this a great country or what?!?
The Nation will miss their Ironman who was a perennial winner in more ways than just taking the final sprint. Ironman has always put the Nation first and that is what being a Minion is all about! Thanks Ironman for being a great Minion!
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| A toast to Ironman! You will be missed! |
The koffee flowed as Gazelle Girl passed out the 30th Anniversary Kit!
Minions won't want to miss this Saturday's ride as the new 30th Anniversary Kit is debuted!
And let us not forget all the design work that went into this stunning jersey and shorts! Big thanks to Gazelle Girl and Zyckmann for all their efforts and a special shout out to Gazelle Girl for coordinating all of this! Never an easy task when you have Minions in the mix, but she makes it look so darn easy! Thanks!
And it will also be Sharkman's Birthday! Who doesn't remember Sharkman's 60th Birthday ride and how about the "Sharkman goes on Medicare!" Ride just 4 years ago! Oh, the humanity!
This isn't the big one yet, but the old Shark is getting close!
So come on out! The Koffee will be on the Sharkman and that doesn't happen often! Oh, the humanity!
Saturday, October 6, 2018!
30th Anniversary Kit and Sharkman Birthday Ride!
Launch Time - 8:30 a.m. - SHARP!
BE THERE!
GAZELLE GIRL & ENTOURAGE ROCKS BARRY-ROUBAIX!
Belo News
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| Gazelle Girls Entourage! Nut Job, Toesetter and Padre! |
Hastings, Mi. - Gazelle Girl, Toesetter, Padre and Lansing-based Minion, Nut Job, converged on the damp gravel roads of Barry County on a gray Sunday to ride the famed Barry-Roubaix course. Stryker guy was a go, then a no go, as he wound up with family coming in for a visit.
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| Turkey Vulture! |
Other than a stand off with two HUGE turkey vultures that didn't want to leave sight of their rotting ground hog in the middle of the road, Gazelle Girl's ride was pleasant and uneventful. The scenery out there sure is pretty when one has time to look around.
The best thing about the Barry-Roubaix is its proximity to The Walldorff. The men finished up just as a warm, dry and face-washed GG was draining her first beer. Perfect timing. Is this a great country or what?
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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