Thursdays fun and a visit with our past

So today was fun the usual worker bees were at the front most of the ride and I even took a few pulls to validate my participation. We were joined by an old friend today in the form of One Tough Texan, Senior CroZzy. Always good to see him out there. Anyhow lets pick up on the sprint stretch and then get into some other stuff. So we hit the smooth side for our sprint leg and CroZzy pegged it. We were rolling a strong 30mph and went into the sweeping Right hander before the second Murr. Well that right hander was a little tricky for the bunch at 30 and it caused a bit of a break I had the good fortune of staying on the Tabinator's wheel and getting back on the back of The Count, Thomas the Train, and CroZzy. Well CroZzy pulled off and left a group of about 5 of us to go it alone in the sprint. I believe after a short rest CroZzy took Thomas the Train and Fred at the line. Good ride and safer today.

We have a great privilege today to be joined by some old friends of the Tuesday Thursday Crowd in a round table discussion. Enclosed is the transcript of that dialogue. I was the moderator.

Moderator: Good Morning Gentlemen. How are you all.
Randy Tinney: Things are good here in Sunny Cali but Diiaamnnnn its early.
Frank Voight: Hey take it easy on us old guys now!!
Phill Kroll: Hey Ni%%#&'S Screw you all.
Joe Patronite: Hold on I think I am going to throw up... Ok, I am alright.

Moderator: So how has life changed for each of you since the Tuesday/Thursday rides.
RT: Well I think the Lapped Riders should always go to the Back.
FV: I like golf.....
PK: You Arseholds can have that ride. I have left the postal service and gone on to Messenger service
JP: Its hot hear in AZ

Moderator: What can be done to improve the competitive nature of the T/T rides
RT: I think all of you should move to Cali. No Wait don't move here I don't want anyone to realize how your turds don't actually stink here.
FV: Hey take it easy on us old guys.
PK: Attacking into oncoming traffic would be great, and you should get a time bonus if you cuss another rider out in front of a family in Lakewood!!
JP: I just think you don't ride hard enough unless you puke a bit in your own mouth.

Moderator: What about safety.
RT: Its just do diiammn early, and you jokers who skip the hills should get to the back niiowww yahere.
FV: Golf is a lot harder, but take it easy on us old guys.
PK: Safety My Arse You Nogga
JP: uh oh, I think I am going to puke again.

Moderator: You guys sure are missed. See you soon
RT: Naw Dim Daammn darnnet..........
FV: Four..... I think I just hit an old guy.
PK: Later Ni^^#%'!
JP: Huuuuuuuuuuuhhhhgg!

I farted... I mean Flatted

Alright. Today's post will be simply this. Short. We got some hitters out this morning and the hitters tend to elevate the game of everyone else so that's good. Well we had a quite quick smooth side and the fun appeared to be starting headed into the back side. FreakonatureFawley hit the front with the Tabinator at the top of the bathhouse hill and the fun appeared to be beginning. The count pulled back the break attempt and we settled down some although FoN Fawley kept the pace at the front quite high. I have been wanting to try and make a breakaway attempt but looking at your computer and seeing 25 mph on it is a hard motivator to think about taking off. We hit the hills and I apprehensively hit the front hoping to create a break and take off for a bit. FoNFawley was moving up the right and I was on the left and I was getting excited about the prospect of gettin gone. Well as fate would have it my tire decided it wanted to quit on me and I got to spend some relaxing time at the top of Loving fixing a flat. I did however get a front row seat as FoNFawley powered Thomas the Train to the finish. I got it on film so this should be fun to watch. Lester TBM incidentally that seat you tried out..... They make a white Alliante. I will defintely have a post up of the video so keep checking back before the end of the day tomorrow.

Fast Fashion Forward

Well, it had dawned on me that Thursdays rides really don't offer a ton of great material so we are going to take a bit of a left turn with the Thursday posts and although the ride will be a point of reference, a quick chasing of rabbits might be in store. Also offers have been extended to others to post a slightly different perspective of the ride (Flyer Shirer) but those offers were left unfulfilled. As a result a complete essay detailing why you should be considered to post in the future must be submitted. The individuals that care will vote on the validity of said essay and we will see where we go from there.

Today. Basically after some slicing and dicing Greg the bike breaker almost pulled off a major upset but Pretty boy Boyd took it at the line. More on him later but here is our rabbit, lets run..... Today offered some interesting risks and what not. The gentleman in the red and white with the Fujiyama bike was certainly a clever rider/ although I saw myself leaving a ton of skin at the lake today in my mind but somehow he managed to save it, almost like he does that a lot. I am all for our rides being inclusive, but when you risk me wrecking you are not welcome. Borrow my rollers Red and we will see you next summer. Jordan. Deciding to skip the hills from the inside left was cute. Thank goodness I ride a dirt bike too. Finally the guy who I believe went to UT. Taking a hard right from the bunch at the bridge is totally cool. Just let the rest of us know. Another swerve and dive and off we go.

Now for the fashion fast forward stuff. Red had on yellow socks and touring shoes. Boooo. Now Shirer flyer on the other hand had some new white shoes that he even tap danced in on Tuesday. Literally. But his shoes and pedals cost more than his entire fixed gear bike. I am not sure what to think about that. After UT football fan almost sent me into the lake today I rolled up next to Pretty boy Boyd on his new Orca bicycle. I happened to look over and noticed these kickin glasses on his face. I simply said "hey nice glasses". He looked at me with a stone faced look and in a nasal loud voice shouted out a "HHeeeeyyyyyy, I am Harry Carry". I laughed so hard I pee'd my pants a little bit. The most interesting new Fashion icon winner is Lester the Bike Molester. I spent a better part of the smooth side discussion some of his most recent decisions and we all should take note, because the overall point is really not how fast you are, but how fast you look!! So Lester went with a new Bar and Stem. But the bar is now wrapped in white bar tape, with white brake hoods on his campy record shifters. Very nice. Also added to the kit were a new white seat and also new white shoes. Its the subtleties that caught my eye. The Arundle bottle cages with white labels to match the white on the frame were a classy touch. Kind of like a chick wearing sexy undies. No one else knows but her,.... but she knows. Don't get me wrong I am not saying Lester tbm wears women's undies or that he is slow; I am saying he looks good regardless of how much pain he is inflicting. Now The Count on the other hand gives us the utilitarian look which is also good. Christian is still hiding his footwear which is ok. It is his shtick and I get that.

Let me establish a modest goal for those of us who are constantly out there scaring the crap out of walkers and families on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In these tough economic times lets start small. Lets work on getting the socks to match! That way when people jump off the trail in utter fear that will at least say, "darn those guys look good." Ride hard with the rubber side on the ground and we will see you soon.

Getcha Some

Alright first and foremost. Shirer intentionally sent me a pic of him in ridiculously short shorts in order that it would wind up on the blog so we must oblige. Blur Baker although wounded was wondering so lets end the speculation now, it is not Parks and Recreation.

So, Rumor has it the Blur is as good as can be expected after a violent fight with a rock Saturday. On to today's fried fish. The ride started briskly today as the Tabinator kept cracking the whip/hitting the front with the intent to cross some eyes. Matt was active in either going with or pulling back the Tabinator. The Slaughter was also in and on form helping keep the tempo high. Lester the Bike Molester showed up on his fancy bike to give it a go, and go he did. also we were graced by the resident expert on pace lines Leo Von Trapp, dancing with his MP3 player and all. so the pace was high but the challenge had been mentioned that we needed a kayak to get done Lakeshore blvd. Alternative routes were discussed but Senior Richardson suggested the best alternative was to divert ourselves right into the water. For some this will cause a bike cleaning for others (Parks, Robodobro) this WAS a bike cleaning!! Anyway we all made it though with out Menchoving and onto the second lap with Tabinator, Matt, The Count, Thomas the Train, and Lester the Bike Molester mixing up the stew pot at the front for the most part. I was sitting in saving my matches after taking two or three very brief pulls. Onto the spillway we went and I was planning on uncorking the Mojo after we hit the road. I played nice and waited for everyone else to make it onto the road and I started to wind it up. As my speed started to get down right nasty, the Count offered some strong caution as we did not know which way we were kayaking through the hills. Well needless to say I was so there and was going to destroy all with my power and dragon slaying manor up the climbs!, but hey sometimes you gotta be cool. Well on the climbs the bunch went hard but hardly went so we all wound up gambling that Jose was going to jack knife a 5th wheel trailer in the road on us. Needless to mention the roads were kind and Lester TBM and Leo VT hit the front in a one two punch and got the pace quite high heading into our sprint. They both came off and left The Count on the front. With a Flip of his cape and he put his head into the wind and trudged on at a quite high rate of speed. I decided in second wheel that coming out of the corner I needed to come on around or I was going to get boxed. I came and went and noticed my sprint needs some work. Greg the bike breaker gets the Bronze bike chamois this week!!!!!!

Honorable mentions for the day. 1st. Lester TBM. that bike sure is perty. Jordan for quitting!! Leo VT for playing nice with the ball and bat. Richardson for passing out the water wings as he guided us down the safer route. Finally Greg the Bike Breaker for sprinting like he meant it!!

I had the camera, had it on, and for whatever reason could not get the buttons right. I am still learning. Patience.

I got an idea.

I had and idea. Shirer brought up some pretty good points about the safety of the lake right now so I will see if we can roll this out later.

In the mean time check this one out as it was sent to me I am sure with only one hope that it would make it on this blog.

RickM

Dopper in the Thursday bunch (not like that though)

Alright we will get to the doping later but first lets dive right into today's affairs at the lake. As we (the Park Cities folk) jumped into the rather large group things were motoring nicely. I saw that a large group of individuals were working so I was shuffled to the back quickly. I moved to the front to do my share on this Thursday "tempo" ride and I noticed something unusual. The Count and Thomas the Train were not doing there every other person pull technique. It was as if the 20 percent decided they were done being taxed for the rest of us and the rotation was a little, shall we say, strange. But the show was continuing. Robodobro with the bionic hip and all, was starting to make some rotations and is showing signs of a full recovery. Greg the Bike breaker was back and had wiped away the Daytona blues and is starting in on his work load. so things were right in this world. Well almost. So we get through the hills on the first lap and things were settling quite nicely when out of no where Parks and Recreation takes a flyer off the front!! It appeared as if the dudes on the front were having some difficulty bringing him back, but.... Along came Jose Macho in his over sized green truck with the Jeg's sticker on the window (if you are wanting to learn more about Jeg's then go to www.jegs.com or to a nascar event and ask the first person you see with a beer in his hand and wife beater on. ) So Dave gets brought/stopped back in and we settled down a bit as we rolled, so much so that Jeep was hanging on the back on his 2-9er which is a record breaking 22 pounds!! Now this is when the dope came into play. The Booyiiid, Tabinator, and myself were having a nice conversation on the back of the bunch about how to fix the oil pricing when were were entering the barricades at the parks office. out of know where this dope takes a hard left into our bunch. Thankfully Booyiiiiiiid hit the brakes hard and did not do a cartwheel into the water and the Tabinator basically pulled the plug on our fun. Instantly a 50 yard gap was opened and we got to chase hard. Well needless to say we got back on in time to do some hill ridden. As like last Thursday we hit the smooth side heading for the sprint when the Moore Honeywagon was trolling for outhouses. At least the guy turned off the blower and uses his mirrors as he was trying to keep the pace high. About that time Blur was at the front, and this chick starts doing yoga on the street and the honeywagon dude jams the brakes in order to not turn this chick into road pizza. My guess is she was listening to John Tesh or David Hasselhof to loud but anyway she got buzzed and looked up at the driver as if to say Whhhaaattttt. I think I can offer some better advice than to get mad. Get off the darn road to stick your head between your ankles. Anyway I think that really sucked the life out of the bunch because Bike Breaker was the only one to sprint and I tried to come around him and might have as he was sitting up out of boredom.

Honorable mentions. Parks and Recreation for representing AARP with a flyer today. Shirer Flyer gets the (I have a bat and ball but you are not allowed to play with it) award. Blair gets the Boy of Summer award for his recent fitness, and I get the mightta coulda woulda did win the bronze chamois award for hitting our imaginary finish line first. We need to do some stealth painting of that. Fred take a spray can next time you are out there all night and spray us a line would you!!!!

Snoop Doggy Days of Summer

So it appears that the summer slump has taken root in our morning rides. Everyone seams tired and content to let the good times roll.... especially me! I would like to start today's update with a very important and sober note. Geoff Rogers is a great advocate for our sport (Dorba Mainstay) and was hit by a truck Sunday morning. He has the normal bumps, broken bones, and bruises, but the main problem that is concerning is a clot on his brain. The reports are that a full recovery should be expected though. Say a Prayer for Geoff and be thankful our cycling community has folks like him.

This mornings ride started with a few of the regulars back and a few still missing. Blur was home from his trip to beantown/Boston and was back to his ragin usual after finding his summer legs. Brain was there sporting the Serotta name fully. Lester the Carbon Molester was out in full force. Biken Mike Beerown was there for the second lap. "Lapped Riders To The Back". Parks and Recreation was out in full effect after a thorough show of force on the MTB Saturday. Jeep was there after a near death experience and after hugging a bridge Saturday. The Boy Walruss was done hugging the porcelain and came out with both six shooters pulled. We were also graced by Greg the bike breaker, back from some time sitting on the tailgate of a big truck on the beach in Daytona. So off we go at 7:00. No one really started throwing any darts as we rolled out just the usual Taxpayer model of Thomas the train, The Count, and Mad Matt doing the work for all of the rest of us hanger oners. We really held it tightly together with no attacks for the first lap and I got to watch everyone working hard to keep the pace steady from the back. The second lap saw the Tabinator move to the front with a look of angst but he simply took a pull or two to do his part. I noticed him moving up and I went with him to try and go with him when he went, which incidently he did go but it was by the boat houses, and The count threw it in overdrive to bring him back. Well onto the spillway and in a most legit but unusual move the Count attacked and put down some MTB handling style to get a small gap in a technical section of the path. I noticed this from my perch in the back and decided it was time to pay attention. Flyer Shirer was also casting some consternation and went to the front. As we went into the hills The Count was pinning his ears back and going after some glory points. I thought to myself, hey that looks like fun lets see if we can join him, so I went on the far left avoiding the landscaping truck that was trying to knock us all the way through Texas and back to Mexico. Debent and Russ-Tic came with me but actually had more gas on Westshore and between the four of us we started to look like we might have something. I noticed on lakewood blvd though that the wolves were breathing down our necks so it was time to back it off and ride it out to the sprint which was a full rager this morning but I was not close enough to see who won..... so someone won.

I did not have the batteries charged for the helmet cam so we will get some footage next week.

Honorable mention. Martin for putting the screws to us on Saturday (and showing on his MTB today). Check out his roid rager arms next time you see him. The Count and Tom for always being willing to make sure our pain threshold is high enough to weed out the HHH trainers. And most importantly Austin Bikes sent one Von Schweddy to Dallas to show us boys how to climb these short hills and only train 2 days a week. Quite impressive and always good to keep Tuesdays weird when great friends come in from Austin!! Thanks again for my slightly late birthday breakfast by the way. Keep it rubber side down out there, and live to tell about it, but make it sound better than it was.

Spaulding You'll get nothing and like it!!

No real good reason for the title but simply to pay homage to a great movie. Today was a rather uneventful Thursday. The one real surprise was the size of the bunch at 6 am. Where have all of you people been hiding. One thing is for sure is that Yorkshire Pudding was a new and fast face to the bunch. I do want to give a special shout out to all of you for slowing a bit to let Brandnew and I catch on when we turned around. Onto a couple of points of interest. Flyer Shirer is going to get some serious blog time here. His ride instruction and choice was like a order at Starbucks this morning. No Whip, Extra Foam, Semi Sweet Latte please. He was skipping hills taking pulls and riding backwards to keep his power meter under 200.00. Also we have taken special interest in not running folks over on the east side of the lake, which is a good thing. That being said this morning Flyer was basically doing the YMCA in order to point out the pedestrians. Don't be surprised to see Flyer show up with an Indian head dress and tool belt next Tuesday. As a tribute to the Village people we can then call him the Village idiot!

Onto the sprint today. I have noticed with all the Barricades, that being close to the front without hitting the front is really a tough task. That being said I came into the sprint with a small hope of putting in a last chance flyer prior to the sprint, which also requires staying at the front. So we hit the smooth side and the Tabinator took a rager of a pull only to swing off and get swept to the back. Then Yorkshire Pudding hit the front and it was wide open for a long time. At that point I was thinking "How do you launch a flyer when the bunch is doing 30?" So back to the drawing board. When you are sitting 3rd wheel with a mile to go your sprint is pretty much off. That being the case I decided to take a grinder pull and at least keep the pace high for a bit. So I did. The Count came around on the last left hander and The Tabonator and I rode across the line talking about the battles for position in the sprints. Good clean fun for the day. I then got to my office only to notice some idiot tried ducking the dart rail arm on his motorbike as it was coming down and hit a bump sending himself bouncing down the street like a golf ball on the cart path. The guy was 6'8" and was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Road Rash time!! Fox 4 was interviewing his helmet which was quoted as saying "I sure was glad I was wearing that guy for protection of this could have been a lot worse." Well thanks for checking in and lets keep it rubber side down out there.

Its July on two wheels and you know what time that is!!

Well I think Shirer might be adding his own post shortly with his account of today but let me first say the video link is below of today's ride. Let me also say that I want to give some background as to why this blog was started in the first place. First, I like to write creatively, Second I was tired of the media talking about Dopers and the crap that surrounds pro cycling. I figured we have drama and action every Tuesday and Thursday for that Matter. And for the most part the characters are the same. Third. I like the regulars that show up for Tuesday and Thursday rides. Riding with all of you makes my week better so I want to try and give something back. Although small for sure.

To the point. Its July. The tour is on tv and I really could not tell you what is happening with the lab rats in Europe. What I can tell you is that the cars/outhouse trucks(honey wagons)/tractors etc. need to stop busting up our sprint. Today was for the most part a controlled ride with Fred, Tom, and Matt doing a lions share of the work. Flyer shirer was back from raking his Feng Schwing Garden. Jordan was with us for one lap but was worried his efforts would tire him for his dance recital coming up Saturday. We did have a guest appearance from The Tin Man who showed us how to Off Road it some. Basically I will be brief today but I wanted to make something clear and apologize for something. Today I sat in a great deal and decided to attack on two or three separate occasions. I think in some circles that would be construed as negative tactics. I was not trying to ride negatively, I was trying to start throwing sand in the sand box. That being said if my riding was viewed as negative in approach then forgive me for not doing some work with the attacking. Finally what the heck happened to the dude by the sprint, and who knocked him over. You guys rock!! Bill lets have it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QhMh1RMfaQ

Thursday but really Friday!!!!!!

With the 4th tomorrow and a long hard spring/early summer I decided to make sure Robodobro kept it safe out there and went easy this morning, so not new updates for today. Be sure to log back into Tuesdays info and find our video link. Jordan was kind enough to ride with us though and discuss the greatness of skiing in Wisconsin. Incidentally if you ever have the chance to see the movie "step into liquid" you get to see old fat guys surf on the lake in green bay. Lets keep the rubber side down this weekend, and make sure the Count does not drink to much while piloting his cigarette boat around lake Lewisville. We don't want to see Shirer inundated with Clients.

Oh I need the 4th

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw7X3RyKFxs

Our ride is public. Only problem is Youtube really reduces the quality. I gotta find a better source.

So the story goes. Flyer Shirer was at home doing yoga and raking his zen garden, (I can see him now in his silk robe with a neck tie tied around his head and a rake in hand working on his fang schway). Anyhow Russ-Tic must be on vacation with the kids in Big Bend or some other place where the heat does not effect skinny people. Greg the Bike Breaker is actually here but he broke his bike again just looking at it last night. All that to say we were missing some heavy hitters/workers today so the ride was interesting. Downtown Brown was out there as was Lestaria, trying to figure out how to get the sand from Padre out of his bike shorts. Parks and Recreation was on full gas. Mattman was on the front raging as was Tabonator. So off we go easy sit in trying to anticipate the camera turn on and then we got to the other side of the lake. I went to the front to try and do some dirty work and we started stomping on the top of the Bath House hill. Coming to the stop sign I started to cramp and felt like someone was pouring Concrete in my legs. Never a good sign. Well we got to the hills and JeeP went to the whip on his Felt and off we went. I did some Olympic gate crashing at the top of loving and we were rolling good down Westshore. Well on Lakewood BLVD The Count went for blood and a new world was starting to settle in. About this time a break got up the road. Well Blurr Baker, Mattman and Tabonator chased down whoever it was up the road. I was cross eyed so I don't remember. Anyhow The Count took a stab at it, going into the Mockingbird bridge and took Mattman with him. I sat up a bit realizing today was not a good day for me. Anyhow it started to turn into a Tom/Fred vs. Matt-Tabonator grudge match with the rest of us left to suffer it out together in the middle. I think it important to note I skipped the hills on the second lap to get my camera working going into the sprint. That being said I hear that Debent went up the road on the hills in a signature move and was way off the front with Tom and Tabonator chasing and then the pack huffing along behind. Well the stop sign played its part and it quickly all came back together. I started pulling to try and give some of the dudes a break and help keep it smooth heading into the sprint. I can now understand why Stein sprints every time. I felt great all the sudden but like a true sporting gentleman I swung off to let the participants give a go at it. Browny Brown hit the front in his 53-11 and I think Tom or Fred won. I am still tired and am looking forward to a restful night!!

Honorable mention. Robodobro. That hip is starting to come around. Debent for attacking after a long hospital stay. All you losers who stayed home!!!!!! The rest of us had to take up your slack. I hope your holiday slumber is quickly squelched by kids with buckets of water.