Yes, some of the crazies on the team are actually racing their bikes. Opus is in full swing with ninja primes and cookies for everyone, not just the quitters. Sometimes we fall and go boom. The team had good turnouts for both the early season road races this year with representation at both Durrand and the Ken Woods Memorial Road Race. Only the toughest Of Cat 6 made the trip to Sogon Valley while most of us woke up and saw snow blowing sideways and decided to stay home, make yeasted waffles and watch the NFL Draft.

The Poet Laureate filed a fine race report in which we learn - think twice before we poke fun at those who rock a triple chain ring:

That was pretty brutal.

After a brief delay due to verb tense issues with Cuban, we were on our way down to the race. The skies were spitting ice pellets and the flags were being torn from their moorings the whole way down. And just when the blue skies would peek through, the car would slip sideways from a sudden gust, and the sleet would start up again. [Read more →]

Theme for this route:

1. Hard ass flanders style ride.
2. Every short steep hill we could find.
3. It might be raining.
4. We stay purposely near the city at all times for folks to jump on or bail out.
5. We include a hot lap around the State Fair Crit course.
6. Every time you see a weight icon… hill.
7. 41 miles.

Belgian style hills include:

D streetberg
Ohio Streetberg
Ramseyberg
Kellogg bridgeberg
Indian Moundsberg
Wheelock parkwayberg

Sunday at Noon — Boom Island

Top ten reasons you would not do this ride:

1. You’re trying to keep your bike clean for Opus.
2. You’re boycotting Flanders events until the French speaking southern region of Wallonia gets their own government!
3. You’ve spent all winter working on your Milky white skin tone. 20% chance of sun is too just risky.
4. You’re geared to peak at Black Dog 4. 7 steep climbs will blow your training program.
5. You totally have a man crush on Tom Boonen and you are afraid you’ll say something embarassing after a few Duvels.
6. The ebay auction for that fender ends on Monday. Don’t want to ruin that new white kit.
7. You grew a moustache in preparation and are pissed that you planned for the wrong ride.
8. I’m shaving my legs then.
9. You heard the Cat 6ers talk a lot of trash. You don’t feel you’ve committed enough “yo mama” comebacks to memory to be effective on the ride.
10. Rumors of a medical tent have been surfacing.