Ironclad Cycling

Or, as Electric Six’s song goes, “I got something to put in you.” Try to get that song out of your head…anyway, all jokes about insertions aside, it sure is some glorious weather out there, ain’t it?

For those of us who repeatedly destroy our training advances with blocks of travel and debauchery, the form comes slower than most. But rest assured most of the ranks are cranking out the miles and at this juncture we look fairly well positioned to start where we left off last year. And we’re starting in mere weeks with Cherry Pie and of course the Jack Frost TT. Let’s hope the good weather patterns stick around, but knowing our luck it’ll be bueno until race day, when an ice storm will no doubt decimate the roads. *sigh* Sometimes, I feel the need to ask Mother Nature just what she means:

Not sure what you call the Pancake Race other than crazy nutty. And syrupy. We sent Ace, Anona, Brie, Cristina, and Clark-i-tack into battle held by the new Sizzle Pie/Veloforma team, whereby teams compete in mass consumption games and bike riding. Our girls valiantly consumed the cakes, and drank the booze, and rode single speeds in Forest Park and beyond. In the end, in some sort of one-on-one showdown, our tiny little Anona Whitley chugged two bottles of syrup to take a prize. We’re not sure about winners or losers, or placing of any sort, but our ‘lil Bit performed quite the sugary feat in the downing of two full bottles of syrup. Wow. A few pictures right here. But here’s the squad, slightly sauced, overly syruped, right after battle:

Yesterday evening a few team representatives went to the launch/fundraiser for the new West Coast Women’s Cycling team, as well as the BTA. This new team looks to give the women’s pelotons a run for their money in 2012, so that means better racing! Welcome to the new formation!

The next day saw Anona in the fetal position due to syrup overload, so in her honor the rest of us went and attempted a team ride on a day that started out with windy snow squalls and ice in low elevations, coupled with blasts of bright sunshine. Being the morons we are, we went out anyway. There was a flat. There was a train. There was another flat. There were lots of Meerkat moments, checking the horizon for danger:

All quiet on the Western front

So given limited options and waning motivation, the motion was passed to head to Leisure Bar in St. John’s, a wonderful little pub with great eats. So we went. But it took a while to get there because we had a flat and had to tell a few jokes, but eventually we made it and assembled our ponies with a quickness.

stay! good dogs.

I suppose we’ll try that climbing sort of stuff next weekend. Today was a day for some team bonding over beers and food. The longest 25 mile ride in history!

Good day one and all, and again, Happy New Year! We know you have a choice when surfing the web to look at content concerning idiots on bicycles, so we appreciate you stopping by.

2012 had it’s first official team ride on Sunday, where 22 riders made it out to the island for our traditional opening easy spin whereupon we compare fatness, sloth-ness, and added lbs from the holidays. We’ve got a long way to go to get back to last year’s lethal nature….so, don’t worry about us, we’re just gonna be in the salt mines for a little while. No one’s been riding, not one bit. No base miles, no nothing.

We did have that New Year’s Day ride, or so we’re told, but no one can remember it.  So, this was the first actual ride for the entire squad, and boy howdy it was a good one.

Walter Payton, risen from the dead as he has (beat Jesus to the punch!) and manifesting his new self as a 1997 Ford Econoline van, surprised the squad on the far end of the island, replete with coolers full of drinks, and tables full of veggies and tasty bits. A million thanks to Carrie and Vanessa for piloting ol’ Walter out there.

We also trotted out some of the new recruits for our 2012 roster. We hired slowly and poorly – again. We got about 6 new riders and we managed to barter some chewing gum, some old OUI magazines, and radial tire to procure the rights to these new poor souls. They’ll soon learn the error of their ways for wading into the free agent pool of PDX based cyclists.

‘Suppose that’s about it for now. Oh, wait, we forgot to mention we were actually exiting the island on the bridge when we managed to witness the sun going super nova. Holy shit, that was cool. I guess the apocalypse comes early in ’12! Check it out:

guess the upcoming season won’t matter too much when the Earth burns to a crisp

All good times, and all good rides.

Couldn’t ask too much more on this wonderful 1st day of 2012. Sun, friends, beer, German Style pornography, and a bunch of easy, slow miles. Add all that up and you have yourself a good time.

Pedals got turned and off we went

steady, eddie

And of course, no ride in January is complete until a hot toddy and a cyclist meet. Or a bunch of both have head-on collisions.

Since half of the earth was closed, we found a fair spot in the Nite Hawk. More imagery here, but you might just get by with the following image.

We wish you all a very Happy New Year!