ORIGINAL SHARK MINION JERSEY DAY DRAWS CROWD!

SKITTLES RETURNS FOR VICTORY!!

The mighty Shark Minion Nation ready to rock the roads!!!

CELEBRITY RIDER, THE DURANGO KID!!!

DURANGO KID IN HIS WIFE'S JERSEY?!?

OH, THE HUMANITY!!!

BLOODY 'ELL 'UNDRED THIS SATURDAY!!!

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT!?!

Belo New

August 14, 2021

Sharkman HAD to get in a photo!!!
(still shoots lousy selfies!!!)

Shark Cove, Mi. - As dawn broke cool and clear over the Shark Cove, our intrepid hero, the Sharkman, was mumbling something about having to wear arm warmers again! In a summer that may go down in history as the hotest on record, it seemed that he had been wearing his arm warmers and inordinate number of times for his Saturday rides!

Be that as it may, our hero was pretty excited because the President of the Mountian Chapter of the Shark Minion Nation, the Durango Kid was in town and would be riding with the Shark Minion Nation on the day! Additionally, he would be in his original Shark Minion Jersey, though after unpacking realized he had packed his wife Toni's jersey and would need to be wearing it instead of his own. The Durango Kid did want it officially recorded that he does not normally wear his wife's clothing, but when he does, it is always a Shark Minion Jersey!!!

Right on time, Yeti Boy with the Durango Kid in tow, pulled up to the Shark Cove and the three took off to met Reb and Fire on the way.

Celebrity Rider, the Durango Kid!
Decked out in Toni's Jersey!!!

They also picked up Rule 24 Guy as they approached the Eaton Plant and before heading down the hill to that thriving Metropolis know as Galesburg.

As they rode past the Klutch, they noticed Wishbone at the window, waving to them, espresso in hand, indicating he would be joining on soon!

The Nation started to pour in at the start and for the first time in a while, the number, after picking up some riders after the start, got to 19 Shark Minions.

Two riders showed up after the start photo! Snow White and Sasquatsh arrived late, adding to the numbers.

Many of the Nation were in their Orginal Shark Minion kit, giving the crowd a festive atmosphere as riders got ready for the start. 

After introducing the Celebrity Rider, the Durango Kid and the ensueing standing ovation, followed by several photos with fans and autographs, the Nation was ready to rock and the mighty Shark Minion Nation pulled out of the Station and headed downtown on the bike path.

As they passed the Klutch, the Hermster jumped on and the crowd moved ahead like a fine Swiss watch.

Reb in a T shirt, but did
have Shark Minion Bibs!!!

Skittles, Sasquatsh and Fire surrounded our intrepid hero and kept him safe at the front of the peloton until he bolted from the pack to open a pretty good gap to take his honorary first sprint in style!

After the first G Ave. crossing, the Nation got down to business and the pace picked up.

With the larger crowd, the climb up the col de Twin Lakes was very interesting. Some of the better climbers had trouble getting around the peloton to attack, giving some of the less accomplished climbers to hang on longer!

After the Rt. 89 crossing, the pace picked up with Skittles and Wildman doing most of the pulling. Riders took turns riding their wheels as the fast moving train traversed the Yorkville Church, Kellogg Korner, the Kountry Klub and on to the Rt. 43 sprint. In the Kountry Klub section, an impatient driver began to pass, crossing the line into on coming Shark Minion Nation and Yeti Boy shared that he had to dodge the errand vehicle as it crossed the yellow lines. 

Up the col de Norte and on to the Holly Rollers, Skittles was still doing alot of the pulling and the Nation was hanging on as the pace continued to rise.

Rule 24 Guy was back!!!

In the Holy Rollers, as the Nation began to climb the first hill, a heavey set, older male driver in a huge Lexus wagon with Georgia Plates got on his horn and wouldn't let up. He tried to pass, then began to pull into the peloton as riders had to scurry to the side of the road to avoid being hit while yelling for him to slow down and move over. After the hills were cleared, he took off immediatly and was not seen after. None the less, a bit scary and in Sharkman's 30+ years of Saturday rides, it was a first. 

The Nation was grateful no one got hurt and the Shark Minion Nation is to be commended for acting so responsively during the incident.

Of course, this ruined any attempt at the Food Stop Sprint and after a quick stop with a lot of "did you see that" and "what is wrong with people" comments, the ride continued. 

After a full stop at the Inlet the Shark Minion train moved on to the Digital Divide and actually was able to accomplish a very quick, safe crossing.

As the Nation circled the lake, some of the Shark Minions needed to drop off. Bissell Boy and Luke Skywalker had to drop off to head home and advised accordingly.

Brewman with his Shark
Minion kit!!!

Sharkman went up front with Gazelle Girl and they got the pace line going. This has become one of Sharkman's favorite parts of the ride. Particulary this year, where the Shark Minion Nation has done so well with the pace line. Sharkman describes the experience of beign in the pace line like "flying" when the Nation cranks up the speed in unison.

After Sharkman pulled off, Gazelle Girl and Skittles took over as the speed gradually began to climb. With the "Sweetheart of the Peloton" up front, there was no doubt of the outcome of this sprint.

Gazelle Girl broke from the front and went on to take her coveted GGG Spot Sprint to the cheers from her adoring fans! 

It was a victory for America!!!

Another fast crossing at the GGG Spot as the mighty Shark Minion Nation headed for the final assault for the crown!

Wildman and Sharkman went to the front with Sharkman hoping Wildman would take the speed up to spread out the group. However, Hermster came blowing by with a huge surge and that seemed to wake up the sleeping giant, Skittles, as he moved to cover the growing gap Hermster had created with a cast of thousands on their wheels.

The "Sweetheart of the Peloton"
showing off her kit!!!

Skittles had Rapture with him as he went ahead with a bunch of Minions in pursuit. 

As the fast moving Nation crested the final ascent and began the push to the finish, Reb shouted out to Sharkman to jump on and then promptly slowed down. Sharkman went around him as the peloton began to bunch up a bit as Skittles made his move to the front just behind Wildman and Rapture.

Skittles then made his move and  passed them to bore down the hill to open a large gap and take the finish. That is when Sharkman saw blood in the wate!

Sharkman watched as both Wildman and Rapture slumped as Skittle went by them and so the old Shark attacked, passing both to capture the second spot on the podium with Wildman retaining the third spot. Like a good Shark, who is getting a bit long in the tooth (shark tooth), our intrepid hero will take any win, any way, that he can!!!

It was a victory for America as the Shark Minions rode down the Champs le Galesburg to the cheers of all the tofosi, paparazzi, with woman and children throwing bouquets of flowers, wine and cheese before them!

Wait.....what?

Wildman was back in the Nation
and riding strong after a brief hiatus!!

Rule 24 Guy wanted to buy koffee and had asked Reb about it. Reb told him he had to race to the Klutch to be first to buy koffee! He also mentioned that is why so many of the Nation ride slowly to the Klutch!!!

But it was not to be this day as Yeti Boy took the sprint to the Klutch to throw down his credit card!

Thanks Yeti Boy and thanks for bringing the Durango Kid! It was great to have the Durango Kid back in the Nation after the year of Covid!!!

Is this a great country or what!!!

The Klutch was rocking, pictures were taken, autographs were obtained. The koffee continued to flow as the press interviewed the riders and the paparzzi shot photos.

It was another fantastic day in the Kingdom!

This week, the mighty Shark Minion Nation takes a break from the KK- TdG to ride the Bloody 'Ell 'Undred. 

Belo News will be there to report all that happens!! Oh, the humanty!!

Be there!!!

Snow White got a photo, as she 
missed the Start Photo!!

The joint was jumping!!!

Stroker was back in his 
Shark Minion Kit!

Skittles took the final sprint
AND fixed Sharkman's
bike!

Bissell Boy in his Shark
Minion Kit!

Wishbone after his morning
espresso!!!

Hoosier Boy was back and 
a week early on the Bloody
'Ell 'Undred Jersey!!

Riders joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any rider involved.