The Saris Gala is this
coming Friday and if that isn’t scary enough just check out some of the premium
bicycle packages you could win in
auction. Perfect for all you beer guzzling bicycle nuts looking to get
away from it all in a preplanned, work it into your schedule future
arranged event.
Ike knows. Ike our dog knows it is Halloween. That
pumpkin head pull toy has been in his bucket of toys all year. It is only from
the week before Halloween that he ever takes interest in it. No joke. He starts
playing with his stuffed football as soon as preseason begins. He knows. Just
ask him. Ask him anything.
The demon fleas have been bothering Ike and after a
three week battle we had to revert to using Frontline, which had him flea free
in under three days. My wife says the flea combs at the Bark and Scratch have
been flying from the displays. I suspect the weather has had something to do
with it.
It is like the movie Apocalypse Now” where
the main character hunts down the crazy colonel, whom we shall not name. The
colonel, his headquarters decorated with the heads of the enemy impaled
upon pikes (much like the Tower of London must have looked days gone by) in
reflection says those infamous words over his plight; “The humidity, …the
humidity.” It has just been a plain wet year, even if Summer rainfalls were low.
And now we all suffer from the demon fleas.
Just think of all the moisture in the ground now, as
it just keeps raining week upon week, and then the big freeze. Worst Winter in a
long time the Farmer’s Almanac claims.
Just think pot holes, and be afraid… very
afraid. Then there will be the Santa
Rampage.
Yes, we are still getting tomatoes and raspberries
from our garden. Those tomatoes come up themselves every year all over our yard
and garden. They are sweet and tasty, but this time of year the skin gets hard
and splits.
The $143 question: What were my three most favorite
WORS
races? Keeping the same question. Check out
the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the
amount.
Or rather; MAKEMESKINNY, in all caps no spaces is the
code for a discount online registration to the entire Hugh Jass Fat Bike Series. For a mere $100 you
can be registered online for every race. All the better if you plan to attend,
or even participate. Their first race is this coming weekend October 15th;
Sweetest Day. It is more fun in the snow.
I saw fat bikes for less than $300 at Farm and Fleet.
Otherwise they can run into the thousands of dollars. I saw them on display at
Johnson’s Bikes on good old North Avenue. I believe that is where our dad took
us for our first bikes some forty years ago. My older brother got a brand new
bike and I got a dinged up used bike. The good old days when the eldest son was
king and the only thing worse was an only child.
Levi Trow Mound
and Silver Lake are some of the trails I heard may be groomed for fat bikes this
Winter. Which is good since Ray’s Indoor
Mountain Bike Park has closed in Milwaukee. Not sure why, but I would say,
“It’s the economy stupid.” That would be a political line from days gone past
which would be completely valid for this election if a republican were in
office.
So you can go to Cleveland for indoor mountain biking
or go
underground in Kentucky.
WORS is continuing to
downsize, not necessarily by choice. After 23 years the Sheboygan event will be no more.
A great race that all enjoyed but difficulties working with Parks and a lack of
volunteers has made it too difficult to perpetrate. You can find some videos
from those races on my YouTube site. As it looks now WORS and WEMS will each have nine races next
year.
Truly the bit more worry, the bit more stress, being
at times strapped for cash has turned peoples minds away from recreation
submersion. They are looking for a few events rather than a Summertime
commitment. Fewer races may well translate into higher participation numbers
however. It will also ease the decision making process as fewer events will
overlap. Mountain Biking is as strong as ever, it is just not the same as it
used to be.
There will be more trail work days yet this year if
you are interested in volunteering with Metro
Mountain Bikers; a local IMBA
Chapter. The Fall Social Ride is October 22
and there is talk of a Winter Social Ride.
The $142 question: What were my three most favorite
WORS
races? Keeping the same question. Check out
the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the
amount.
