With the bicycling season upon us I neglected to
mention a valuable and historic element of the local bicycle culture; the velodrome in Kenosha’s Washington
Park.
Home to some 90 years of racing it is a local
treasure and is reopening after some rebuilding snafus. One story has that they
failed to budget the painting/resurfacing of the track, and we know that must be
a precision job.
Do not deny yourself the reality of bicycling is a
spectators sport. Particularly at the velodrome. Feel free to engage in some
spectation or even speculation over victors, perhaps adjusting your spectacles
in awe of spectacular lycra attire flaunting a wide spectrum of color.
Spectaculous!
Great timing for the velodrome as the Kenosha economy
is doing well. Thanks Illinois.
I put my hours in for The Bike Expo and met
plenty a wondrous crowd of folk. The electric bike seems not the craze it was.
Some pint sized seating options failed to create a crowd.
If you are interested in volunteering Check out Metro
Mountain Bikers for upcoming trail work days.
Not only will racing begin at the velodrome
in May, but so to shall racing begin Wednesday nights. Under the umbrella of
Wheel and Sprocket Metro Mountain Bikers shall begin holding Wednesday Night
Races soon at Minooka. The location shall change month by month. Odd Tuesday
Rides begin May 16th at Minooka, for those who want to learn the trails or
simply meet the ones who make it happen.
But I hear you all. What you really want to know is,
“Phillip, did you get your wife on April Fools Day?”
The trick is to keep it simple. If you create too
complicated a ruse the woman will see right through it. Simple, and they will
never see it coming. On the eve of April Fools Day my wife retired early. There
were three donuts in a box she had bought for breakfast. Simple. I hide two of
the donuts and the next day…
“You can make breakfast.” my wife pouts after our
morning prayer and study, “Pancakes, eggs.”
We go downstairs. My wife looks annoy. Then she
sneers, “You ate the donuts last night!”
“What! What donuts.” I feign innocents as I retreat
to where the donuts have been hidden.
Shock, awe, embarrassment, a direct hit as I retrieve
the items of contention and proclaim “April Fool!”
So sweet. …the donuts.
Then we are reviewing some of our security camera
footage. My wife notices our dog darting with incredible speed around the
yard.
“Wow!” she observes, “He’s so fast.
“I have it on 4X’s the speed.” I explain.
Then she laughs out loud, observing me on camera
working in the garden, “It looks like you’re moving at normal speed.”
The $153 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.
It is time for The Bike
Expo this coming weekend. That shining star
in the sky that says Spring is here; salvation has come.
I’ll be there, volunteering and looking for a few
essentials and deals. No new bike for me quite yet this year.
And if you are truly a fanatic you just cannot
wait for the Bike Fed’s Lobby Day, on April 13th. Then there
is the Spring Clean Up organized by the Milwaukee River
Keepers on April 22nd. A great opportunity to volunteer
in the upkeep of your community.
The Milwaukee Trails
Council will have a public meeting at the Domes on April 27th. Let your
opinion matter. It runs from 5:30-7:30pm. And the
Bike Fed will be holding
their Summit in Milwaukee at UWM on May 4th.
It is a time for activism but even more
importantly, it is a time for RACING. Some may call this a time for drinking,
namely beer, or Miller Time. This case was given to us by Miller Brewery when
they hosted a small neighborhood meeting. It went to my dad. I only drink the
non-alcoholic varieties.
WEMS, those endurance buffs of
questionable judgments (how many laps can you ride in 12 hours?) begins early,
on April 29th.
WORS has a
ten race season. Fewer races, better attendance has been the trend. Let us see
if that changes under a Trump administration. Did I mention I am almost down to
my racing weight. More on that in the future.
And never forget the La Crosse Omnium. It is
one of the most beautiful locations in our nation. It is a three day event, May
5-7, conflicting with the WORS opening race, but the Omnium is for road
racers.
And do not forget Emery's is having a competing sale during the Bike
Expo. It is time to prepare.
It was time to plant the potatoes, though the weather
outside may still have been a bit too cold. But I did plant them. And the
addition of the photo keeps your interest to the end.
Now it is time to do some seed starting. I am running a
bit behind.
The $152 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.
