3/27/12 TNR SUMMARY 58, WIND SE 18MPH

Dual reporting from The Bike Philanthropist and our team benefactor Steve and Webbcorp. Click Pictures to enlarge.

Click HERE for Strava file, check out each sprint and results, upload your files so Newell doesn't have all the glory.

Webbcorp - "Hot Damn Tamale Charlie, you forgot to put the lid on!" Tort Elvis, Dread Zeppelin. It's March right, wrong, these people know no season and will blow the lid off no matter what time of year it is. Normally the MSU boys are fit this time of year, no change. Working backward like Citizen Kane, Bradley Neogos took the Mason sprint in a 23 mph south crosswind against Cary, Craig, Jay, Doug and Wade, strong result, nice work. Just after the Caholic Church Sprint Webbcorp & Blaine busted away, well mostly Blaine really (he is riding strong), they got caught by Wade and Derrick Obrien to make a 4 man break. Webbcorp - nothing, Derrick - toast, Blaine hung on the longest but after a long break Wade was too strong and went solo and was never caught, it was close but he made it, mighty fine finish. Cary took the Annis Road sprint in a crosswind. It was an ultraviolet night my brothers (line stolen from Clockwork Orange) and no drugs, who needs them when you have what we have.

The Bike Philanthropist Steve - In the epic U-Boat thriller, Das Boot, there is a scene where a crippled, torpedoed freighter begins to slowly meet its demise. As it breaks up, grown men are heard groaning and screaming as their protective shelter disappears around them. That scene played out again and again this Tuesday evening. Four, maybe five times the strong cross wind slammed 32 TNR riders and slowly but surely the protective cover disappeared and the silent screams ensued. As spring continues with its strong winds we can expect more of this in the weeks to come.

Some fresh faces were there to witness, or cause the carnage. The long rumored Mason spring tour stop for Webbcorp finally materialized. The stop is smack dab in the middle of trips to Patagonia and Aspen. Cody came up from Atlanta for the night.

He was on his cross bike just to keep things even. Blaine Benson was there, fresh off his secret winter training routine provided by Brian Crosby, and it showed. AJ from MSU's hockey team made the ride. I am sure he would have rather been at Munn practicing for another shot at the Frozen Four.

As for the weather? Two years ago Tuesday after Tuesday we enjoyed stellar weather. This year is starting out the same.

until next week. sjs

WEATHER SHOULD BE CLEAR; 5:30 START FOR TNR ON MARCH 27, SEE YOU THEN

TNR Summary, week 2, March 20, 2012

83 degrees winds out of the South @ 10mph

Banke remembered a camera ( I think it was a camera) and snapped a picture of the 32 of us prior to the start. By the time we passed the golf course we picked up 3 more for an official count of 35. In that count was Brian Crosby, making his initial ride of any type in 2012. Steve Halstead also made the ride. Good to see the both of you. Missing from that count was Webbcorp. Despite rumors swirling that Elvis would be in the building, we could not even declare that “Elvis has left the building”, because as it turns out, Elvis was never in the building. Maybe next week.

The ride stayed fairly intact as we headed South into the wind, but that changed dramatically once we made the left turn and headed East to the first sprint. If you didn’t position yourself well in that cross wind, well, you were screwed. I didn’t see the results of that first sprint, but I did notice that both sides of the duplex on the corner are for rent.

Coming out of Leslie and heading East was the same story, strong cross wind had the back of the bunch fighting to stay out of the ditch on the left, while those leading the charge continued on with their evil grins.

We were able to pay proper homage to the Catholic Church road loop this week, and 5 hearty riders thought they would push for glory as we headed to sprint 5. Didn’t happen though as the group was quick to shut that down. Like Elvis, maybe next week.

82 degrees, sunny skies, in March, rolling the back roads of Michigan with 35 big kids. Enjoy these days, as it does not get much better. Until next week.

Preface:

2012 marks a transition for TNR. As most of you know, Craig Webb has retired and relocated to Traverse City. I will attempt to do the TNR blog justice be compiling a weekly report. In doing so, there will be the obligatory references to pain, suffering, heaven, hell, fire, brimstone, Rambo 4 and Bruce Lee. The plan is for me to distribute the summary to the CFT Team and then Craig will copy it to the TNR blog.

Also, everyone should be aware of a few matters; Remembering names and faces, Craig good, Steve bad. Accurately reporting what happens at sprints, Craig in the mix, Steve usually viewing from the backseat. So, that means one of two things. 1. I will need to quit my job to double my weekly mileage in an attempt to report the sprint results. Or, make shit up. Onward we go.

The ride, March 13, 2012

Temperature 61, Sunshine and Westerly winds 15-18mph.

Odd, is the initial word. It was odd not to have Webbcorp greeting new faces and odd not to be gathered together for a group photo. But, new leaders will emerge and someone will remember to bring a camera.

35, is the initial number. I may be one or two off, but that was the count I had when we rolled out. Amazing. Familiar faces, the Msu boys, Adam York, Cary, Zach, Wade, Dave Joos, Kevin Gamper, the list goes on. Some new faces, John Cisler and a few others. Noticeably absent other than Webbcorp, Cary’s trusty Blue steel steed. Replaced with some new fangled, space aged thing. This probably played a major factor on why things blew up right after we crossed Columbia Road. The surge left debris scattered for ¾ of a mile. It continued like that for most of the ride. Like Charleton Heston trying to control his Chariot, it is not going to happen when those horses want to run.

With two flats on the ride, light became a concern and the Catholic Church Road loop was left out. We should continue the 5:30 start at least through March and then make a decision on when to switch to a 6pm start. Until next week; sjs,,, Note, rumor has it there will be a Webbco sighting for next week’s ride.

Other stuff:

Spartan Speedway: I did get email confirmation last night from the owner that re-affirmed his permission to park there. His one request,, leave no trash, and if you see some, pick it up. He also indicated that there should be a porta-john out there soon that we can use.

Some notes regarding Barry Roubaix. CFT will have a tent and our team banner there, use that as a pre-ride gathering spot. Also, if I recall correctly, last years race had about 500 racers and there was a substantial line of traffic to enter the park. This year’s ride has 1500. Suggestion, get there early.

Here is a fun video about life and cycling, enjoy. Click HERE.