No photographic evidence exists from last night's ride so here's a glimpse into some of the people that joined our ride. But first a recap. We had 26 riders last night, a good number considering the modest temperatures and high west winds. The disparity in fitness was apparent as is usual for April and on the road south the winds accentuated that fact. Or stated in the positive we had a paceline stretching through two counties. Alan, Adam and Brian finished 1,2,3 in the first sprint, cream rises to the top. The winds never subsided and we ended up heading into Mason but being shoved by the wind back to Detroit.
Doug Derdowski has been rolling TNR for years now, he's been riding for ten. Doug likes the long distances and in 2010 rode 411.4 miles, 5th overall and 1st place amongst the Michigan Brotherhood in the National 24 Hour Challenge, get out of town! Doug's an MSU grad and has a masters from Grand Valley. He is a consultant for students with autism and works across the State. He currently races for Human Kind along with Wade and others from TNR.
Steve "The Bike Philanthropist" Smith has been on TNR for years, he upped his involvement last year by sponsoring the August Sprint Series along with his Company Capital Fund Title. Steve calls himself 'a part time cage fighter and wannabe bike racer.' Mission accomplished my friend, cage fighting and bike racing are exactly the same. Steve studied at Eastern Michigan.
Brian Crosby came to MSU in 2010 to work on a PhD in computational astrophysics. At 14 Brian's dad gave him a bike & he went from riding around Minnesota to qualifying for elite nationals. He's participated in juniors world cup races and raced 6 day races in Europe. One year he raced in track junior nationals, collegiate nationals and elite nationals in about 6 weeks time. He has won track, road and criterium championships in the North Central Collegiate Conference. When I was young you were either a jock or a 'brain', Brian is clearly both.
Rick Oberle's been spinning TNR since the time of the AMC Gremlim, and as much as times have changed the art of man racing a simple machine has not. Rick started Geo Insights which specializes in market and public policy analysis among many other things. Rick and his brother were the real racing deal back in the day, here is a picture of Rick racing which I believe was taken just just after the cival war had ended and think he still makes the TNR, he is born again hard.
So... I noticed a new face. Ok, this guy made the ride, it was a hard ride, this guy has a story, what is it? Turns out it was A.J. Sturges who plays hockey for MSU. Well that explains it, he played for the USA National Devo Team, won a silver medal in the U18 World Championships and comes from MSU hockey stock, both his older brother and dad played for MSU. Thanks for coming A.J., bring the team next time.
Then there was Alan Antonuk who studied at MSU but now lives in Ann Arbor. Alan works at U of M in medical physics, which is the study of treating cancer with radiation. In addition to being smart Alan has become a fine cyclist. He recently placed 11th overall at Hillsboro Roubaix which is a proving ground race for anyone in the Midwest trying to become a professional cyclist. Alan races for The Cleveland Clinic (rgfsports.com).
Another face on the ride was MSU Professor Cary Roseth. Cary is a professor of educational psychology who studied at the University of Minnesota, hmmm... does Brian Crosby know that? Cary has been racing bikes a long time, we're happy to have him. He packs a mighty sprint.
Dave Joos joined our ride for the first time this year. Dave retired as CEO of Consumers Energy and is now the Chairman of the Board. Dave can you help me with my gas bill? Dave went to college at Iowa State where he studied nuclear science & engineering, he has been cycling for about 5 years and has done Waterford, the Black Bear and Fisk Knob. Dave got turned on to TNR by Mike "Doogie Howser" Williams, Mustapha and Eric Anderson, thank you my brothers... Dave rolls strong.
Well, another fine ride, another fine night in the life of TNR, until next week men.
It was a night for the strong willed, yes the temperatures were high for April and the sun shined, but it could have very well been different and everyone knew it, hail and tornadoes were dancing all around us, but we seemed to stay locked into a protected cocoon of warmth and sun. Not to say it was all good, the winds were brutal and relentless it seemed in all directions but true north. 
As we entered Mason to see a funnel cloud to the west everyone was thankful for great weather and satisfied having made a tough ride. "The Professor", Cary Roseth had his switch and keep hitting everyone on the knuckles, ouch. Jeff and Wade were not far behind, fit and ready to put it in the air. Cary, Jeff, Loren, Wade, Banky and Nikita were at the front of nearly every sprint.
Well, another night at TNR, some day we will look back, but it won't be the racing or the training or the suffering for hours on end on our own that we will miss, it will be the few simple hours we spent among friends with a mutual sense of brotherhood and suffering we will miss.
