SHARKMAN
KILLS ON TOUR!
 |
| Wishbone returns to the Nation! Seen here with Builder Bob and Dot Dot Dash! |
STRYKER
GUY/COVER
GIRL RETURNS TO
ACCOLADES!
WISHBONE
BACK AT THE
KLUTCH!
SKITTLES
MAKES
NATION PROUD!
MINIONS
AT THE SHERMANATOR!
Belo
News
August
6, 2016
Shark
Cove, Mi. - As dawn broke bright over the Shark Cove, our intrepid
hero, the Sharkman could not be contained! Word had it that the
bridge at the Eaton Plant was back open and our hero had planned to
ride over and have Lava Girl pick him up at the Klutch for the return
trip!
 |
| OK, So Sharkman sucks at "Selfies!" |
Our
hero was also pleased that not only would Stryker Guy/Cover Girl be
returning to the peloton, but Dot Dot Dash reported that she would be
bringing Wishbone over for koffee! Could it get any better?
Yes,
it could! Due to the Shermanator, the Nation would be riding the
southern route, with full sight seeing tour and $.50 per site, so
Sharkman would be raking in the money! Is this a great country or
what?!?
The
only disappointment was the Mad Dog, Sharkman's long time wingman for
the ride over, would not be in action this week! Oh, the humanity!
Sharkman
took off from the Cove right on time and other than a minor run in
with a peacock (you heard that right, Bunkie. There is a family with
a pet peacock on Watkins Road and it jumped out in front of our hero
and the old Shark almost T-Boned him. Sharkman also learned that the
peacock could fly, as he took off to get out of our hero's way!), the
ride over was was uneventful.
At
the start there were a few new virgin Minions. A young Canadian
named AJ (who will now be known as The Canuck), who found out about the ride from Stryker Guy; a friend of Dragonfly's named Lance and a
friend of Brewman named Steve. Welcome to the mighty Minion Nation
gentlemen!
 |
| But Sharkman was there barking orders just like the old days! |
Also,
some Minions returned after being gone a while, like Buff and the ever
popular Peugeot Guy, and Tan Man making his season debut!
Welcome back, gentlemen!
As
start time approached, more riders continued to pour in, but no
Stryker Guy, who had assured our hero that he would be in attendance!
Sharkman
took some lousy photos of the start (selfies into the sun aren't
easy, Bunkie!) and it was then, that Stryker Guy made has grand
entrance to the start! (Taking a chapter out of the Gazelle Girl Book
on “How to Make an Entrance,”). To a huge round of applause, the
triumphant hero rode in to his adoring Nation to receive his well deserved slaps on
the back, hugs, and handshakes in a genuine show of admiration for his
accomplishment of riding across this great country!
Welcome
home, Stryker Guy! So good to have you back where you belong, in the
mighty Minion Nation!
 |
| Virgin Minion Lance! |
Sharkman
then announced the South Route, that A & B Group would need to
play nice together and slow the pace a bit, and that there was no
change for the $.50's for the wonderful sites he would be pointing
out.
The
count, which seemed to keep changing, was at 24 riders as the train left the
station and worked their way past the Klutch and up to the Qman Hill.
Sharkman was so busy pressing the flesh and working the crowd, he
forgot to reset his bike computer to measure the ride!
The
ride went very well, with Nikeboy playing sweeper at the back for the
first half of the ride before peeling off, where Bissell Boy took
over to watch the Lantern Rouge.
For the most part, the Nation
played nice and stayed together, waiting at Stop Signs to make sure
all were on.
With
Sharkman pointing out Waterfalls, Cemetery's, the Railroad House, the
Fairy Tree, Scotts Mill, Tall Corn (yes, you heard that right), to name just a few of the sites, the
meter was running and Sharkman was having a great time!
 |
| Virgin Minion AJ, now known as The Canuck! |
As
the Nation went through Scotts, and Sharkman pointed out the historic
Post Office, he was counting the receipts in his head! "$.50, take a good look! No change!" was heard over and over and over, .....well, you get the drift.
As
they made the turn on to the final leg of the ride, Dragonfly rode up to Sharkman
reporting a mechanical. Sharkman and Bissell Boy shouted out
“MECHANICAL” but the Nation was moving too fast to hear.
Dragonfly's
handlebars had come completely loose and Sharkman offered his “Alien
Tool” to fix it. It has been so long since our hero has done any
road repair, he noticed rust on the tool, and was reminded that he
has had it for almost 30 years and it may not have been out of it's
sleeve in almost as long! He also noticed it weights slightly less
than a small car......
After
tightening down the handlebars, Bissell Boy and Sharkman led
Dragonfly and Lance back to the Nation, that was not only dutifully
waiting at the ML Stop Sign but had sent back a search team for
group.
Sharkman
shouted out safety instruction as the Nation headed back down Qman
Hill, telling everyone to be careful on the fast down hill, then
proceeded to jump out front with Wildman who lead our hero down into
the Kalamazoo Valley!
 |
| Tan Man was back and took the tape! |
After
Sharkman rode Wildman's wheel for some time, he went out front but
was quickly passed by Tan Man, B-Rod and a cast of thousands who
wanted to take advantage of the massive descent to the finish!
As
it went down to the final meters, Tan Man pulled out the win with
B-Rod right on his wheel!
The
crowds went wild on the Champs le Galesburg with the tofosi offering
up loaves of bread, families holding up babies to be kissed and
Sharkman's imagination running completely out of control!
The
Klutch was rocking where Wishbone was waiting AND Easty and Katie,
had brought a cake to celebrate Stryker Guys great accomplishment and
also bought the koffee! Is this a great country or what?!?
Styker
Guy posed for photos and autographs and Easty even gave a corner
piece to the Sharkman! Oh, the humanity! Sharkman loves corner pieces
of cake! More frosting, of course!
Wishbone
shared his story with much of the Nation and it was so good to see
him up and around and being part of the Nation once again! The group
felt blessed to have him back and look forward to his return to the
peloton! Big thanks to Dot Dot Dash for bringing Wishbone over for
koffee and we hoping he can make regular appearances going forward!
The
riders hung around the Klutch, talking, laughing, eating cake and
drinking koffee for some time!
 |
| Mr. Style, Nikeboy with his orange kit! Man that guy can style! |
It
was a great day to be a Shark Minion!
You
won't want to miss this week's edition of the DD-TdG!
Saturday,
August 13, 2016
Bissell
Kit Day! That's right, we haven't had a Bissell Kit Day yet this year
so get your Bissell Kit out and dress up like our hero Bissell Boy!
Who knows, maybe our hero The Skipper will show up as we know he has Bissell Kit and we now have a B Group!
Oh, the humanity!
Launch
Time for both A & B Groups, 8:00 A.M. - SHARP!
Be
there!
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| Easty and Katie in matching kit! Thanks for the cake and koffee guys! |
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| Gazelle Girl and Boatman arrive! |
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| Stryker Guy awarded the cake from Katie and Easty! |
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| Virgin Minion Steve! |
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| The Klutch was rocking! |
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| The koffee was flowing! |
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| Andrew was sporting his Shark Minion kit! |
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| Peugeot Guy was back for his season debut! |
SKITTLES
MAKES NATION PROUD! THEN BREAKS HIS
RIBS!
Belo
News
 |
| Skittles on the podium! |
August
7, 2016
Rockford,
Mi. - This past weekend the USAC State Championships took place at
the Art Van Sports Complex on Merrell Trail in Rockford Michigan.
Our
own Skittles did the Nation proud by turning in a 3rd
place finish in the Expert Singlespeed Division of the State Finals!
Whoa, is this a great country or what!?! Nice job Skittles, you did
the nation proud.
However,
on a sad note, our young hero had some extra time and decided to try
out the trails at Luton Park for about 15 minutes. Unfortunately he
got into a tussle with a tree after going over the handlebars and the
tree won.
He fractured a couple of ribs in the action and is now home
healing up.
In an interview with Belo News he commented he can
hardly get out of his chair without major pain and the medical bills are
murder! He also commented it was a 15 minute ride and at least a 45
minute walk out!
Oh, the humanity!
Get
well soon, Skittles! The Nation will be holding a spot in the peloton
for you!
MINIONS
AT THE SHERMANATOR!
Belo
News
August
6, 2016
 |
| Ironman, Stroker, Dreamboat and Hoosier Boy! |
Augusta,
Mi. - The Nation was well represented at the year's Shermanator at
the Sherman Lake YMCA this past Saturday. Reporter, Hoosier Boy sent
in the attached photo, along with the results with Stroker taking the
Aqua Bike Division, and Hoosier Boy and Dreamboat winning the Tri Age
Group!
Mean while Ironman captured the "Volunteer of the Event" Award granted by
Hoosier Boy!
Reporter Stroker submitted a photo with his entourage of participants from the Battle Creek YMCA.
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| The names of the participants from the Battle Creek Y left to right are Rick Pattison, Earl Gaball, Randy Parker, Laura Stuchell, Karen Slack, Bill Greer, Kim Houtkooper, Cathy Hager, Deann Auton |
Nice
job to all the mighty Minions at this years Shermanator!
BANJOVI
BACK AT THE KLUTCH THIS FRIDAY!
Belo
News
August
10, 2016
Galesburg,
Mi. - Back by popular demand, those musicians of the peloton are
returning to where their music legend began! For those of you who've
been asking, the boy's return to the Koffee Klutch this Friday,
August 12, 2016 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.!
They've
got some new songs, including Sharkman's rendition of “Don't Pet
the Dog!” You won't want to miss that one!
Come
on out to OUR Koffee Klutch and enjoy the food, the friends and the
music!
Become
a Banjovi Witness!
Riders
joining the Minion rides acknowledge the inherent risk involved with
bicycle riding and by joining any Minion ride hold harmless any rider
involved.
