CFT Cycling Team Tuesday Night Ride

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Last night I was reminded of a story I heard on "The Moth", if you ever get the chance, check it out. In short, guy goes to Pamplona Spain with his bros for the running of the bulls. He was struck by the fact that in Spain if you want to Run with the Bulls 'all you do is jump over the f--king fence,' but in the US you need to sign a 5 page release form to do a 5K walk for cancer! The 22 of you that came to TNR last night got a dose of that first hand. Uptight, pissed off America. No pun intended. Well, I guess you might react the same if somoene pissed on your crib in your backyard, bygones.

So, Spartan Speedway here we come. The bike Philanthropist, Steve Smith, got us access to track parking. So next Tuesday, parallel park at Spartan Speedway just south of Cedar on College. We have permission! And keep your privates in your trou men.

Mike Williams was on the attack from the gun last night, he was as angry as the good Doctor at the SOS. He made the selection on Annis road although Webbcorp, Doug, Nikita, Wade, and Craig could not close down Brian's attack for the sprint.

We saw many quality attacks last night, some stuck, others... not. Bo was in the mix, Tim Pollack, Doug... but special attention had to be paid to Wade as he was pulling with the power of a black hole.

Well my band of brothers we did not spread good will this week, but next week we will be back on the right track, ready to go to battle, push and challenge ourselves and have more fun than should be legal. Good luck at Frankenmuth this weekend. Kevin, welcome to the ride! John, you were attacking like a bull last night too, nice work.

"Meyrueis, Lozere, June 26, 1977. Hot and overcast. I take my gear out of the car and put my bike together. Tourists and locals are watching from sidewalk cafes. Non Racers. The emptiness of those lives shocks me."

Cary "The Bike Professor" shared this book with me at last night's ride. Thanks. Wasn't long, six sentences, and I was struck by this statement, 'The emptiness of those lives shocks me.' The hours of investment we make just to suffer like animals, to subject ourselves to the level of pain few outside of our sport can imagine. But how does this equate to a sense that those not in our sport live empty lives? I'm not sure, what's your take?

Last night despite another bleak landscape the quality of the ride was the best of the season to date. Everyone is getting more fit and experimenting with different tactics, trying new things. More wind always = more difficult, a pattern so far that is sticking with us. It has got to change soon... right?

Until next week men.

Don't forget the Farm Daze Ride this Sunday! Register at msutriathlon.com.

We've been tiptoeing around the weather all Spring and last night was no different. We did pull off the ride and it was warm but the impending storm meant the numbers were low for this time of year, only fourteen. Oberle did a triple Salchow on Saturday going thirty and decided to use this as an excuse to not ride… Nancy, really? Oh well. A lot of the MSU boys were MIA too, I heard some nonsense about internships and other lame excuses. For those who were there it was really not a bad night, the pace was brutal and the attacks kept coming. Brett Gideon from Sacramento California joined our ride for the first time, he is in town supporting his wife who is going to graduate school at MSU. Brett, you did not see our kinder and gentler side last night so we hope you come back. Cary got a few excellent attacks in last night and was at or near the front of all the sprints it seems. Craig took a sprint too and of course our resident track bodynazi Brian got his punches in. Robin is riding really strong and bridged a 300 meter gap on Ewers Road. All in all a good but not great night at TNR. Good luck at Tour of Wastenaw this weekend men.

If you’re the curious type, the average temperature for TNR so far has been 51 degrees. For the same period last year it was 63 degrees. Also, all year last year we had to reschedule 3 rides due to weather but cancelled none. So far this year we have already rescheduled two rides and cancelled two rides, ouch, depressed yet?

As for last Wednesday, the temperature was about 60 and we had 15 riders. Fast Freddie Anderson had the choice between The Bloomer Velodrome, Waterford and TNR and picked TNR. It paid off with a sprint win on #5. Alan went out hard from the front and got away with 600 meters to go, I think I was the only one to see this and jumped with Fred in tow, I could not close Alan down, but Fred finished the deal for a fine win. Alan did get his however, he had a great night. Jeff took the first sprint, he is fit. And Craig took the final prize with a strong finish coming into Mason despite Bradley Legris (on his last TNR after graduating with a Engineering Degree and on his way to Ann Arbor to work for Toyota) having a great head of steam. Terry Huntley who lived most recently in Flagstaff Arizona and prior to that Pocatello Idaho was in town and joined his first TNR. Terry will be attending graduate school this Fall and is a USA Cycling official.

Tomorrow’s forecast is warm, but like the past few weeks we have a threat of rain, but at 70+ we are riding barring lightning, so come on.

No talk of contests so far as all the attention has been on dodging the weather, but you know us, we are always thinking of ways to beat the hell out of each other and this year should be no different. Stay tuned.