Damn it Feels Good to be a Gangster!

Jrad got me up at 5am this morning to come out and try the Beat the Train (http://www.beatthetrain.org/about.asp)  ride downtown Detroit that starts at 6:30am from Historic Fort Wayne. (Our stomping grounds every October for the Mad Anthony Cyclocross race that many of us do and love so much)

I was tired.  I was cranky.  Could still feel the Oberons I had the night before.  But once I got the bike on the roof rack, and pulled out of the driveway, I was ready to rock and had a feeling the ride would be pretty sweet.  And it was!

Jrad and I introduced ourselves to Andy (super cool dude and ride founder) in the Fort's parking lot.  Waited for and made small talk with a bunch of other riders, and at 6:30 we shoved off.  Think there was like 20-30 riders, I can't remember... and people had road bikes, cross bikes, mtn bikes, and all kinds of other weird shit I hadn't seen.  I hadn't ridden my bike in 3.5 weeks, recovering from a nasty sinus/respiratory infection as well as starting a new job, so I knew I wasn't going to feel real spry. Last time I rode was the ILRA group ride the Saturday after Barry Roubaix... yeah, I'm in bad shape.

The ride itself was awesome.  Very similar route to the Tour de Droit, I think... but I'm no expert.  Just with less people, was free, and we went faster and saw some cooler stuff that I hadn't experienced yet.  Riding along the riverfront as the sun came up, a giant, lifesize Detroit Piston Brandon Knight bobble-head along said riverfront, attacking a Strava segment in some old cemetery, and hitting the Dequindre Cut and cruising by Eastern Market had to be my highlights.  Jrad and I bailed once they hit Mexicantown for breakfast, due to time constraints, but I think moving forward we should make time for a morning margarita or 3 and some chips and salsa!  Think we got in around 32 miles.  Check my Strava data below, it happened.

http://app.strava.com/activities/50958463

Will I be back?  Oh yeah, this was awesome.  I strongly suggest we get more wieners out there for this one, you will not regret it.  All the riders were super nice, and the pace can be as fast or slow as you want it... Andy does a great job organizing this.  My only regret was not bringing along my Contour video camera to document the ride.  I will next time, and I hope there are more of us.  Anways, till next time... see some of you d-bags at PLRA tomorrow for Gary's race, and then Mud, Sweat, and Beers next weekend up in Traverse!

It's Hot Dog Season

It's Hot Dog season folks, spring has arrived. I know it might not seem like it, but trust me, it's here. I for one, have a lot of work to do. The winter doldrums encased in beer drinking, intense couch sessions, and reruns of Mork and Mindy have taken their toll. To make matters worse, I signed up for the Lumberjack 100.

So what exactly is the Lumberjack 100? I have no idea. However, when guys like Coach, and the effervescent Shaun Welch say it's hard, I know I'm f%$*^d six ways til Sunday. I only have 171.7 miles under my belt year to date. The race itself is more than half that total. Of course, you could have probably done that math yourself. Regardless, it's pitiful and I just punched myself in the nuts.

Goal setting is hard to do at this point since I have no idea what to expect other than an ass whooping. Of course my goal has always been just to finish regardless of what place. While I certainly hope to achieve that, shitting the bed is entirely possible after the first lap.

Anyway, spring has arrived and you'll be seeing all of your favorite wieners at a race, trail, dirt road, paved road, railroad crossing, donut shop, bar, or backyard bbq near you very soon.

Ride bikes, drink beer.

Sincerely,
DLC

Michigan State Championships CX Video

Team Hot Dog - Addison Oaks State Championship from David Le Clear on Vimeo.

RECRUITMENT TIME!!

ATTENTION! ATTENTION fans of Team Hot Dog…

Do you like to ride your bike? Do you like to drink beer? Are you looking to join a team or club to further your biking excitement? Well then, look no further than Team Hot Dog! We are looking to add to the fun group of “hot doggers” we already roll with, and are hoping you become part of that group.

We don’t require much in order to join the team. You don’t have to race expert or semi-pro, shave your legs, or weigh your chicken. Good friends, good fun, and better beer after the ride is what we are all about. And don’t forget about an occasional hot dog. All we ask is that you participate in at least three events (race or organized ride) throughout the year, and roll our jersey (which you’ll have to purchase) while doing so. Public humiliation in a hot dog costume may or may not be included.

What’s in it for me?  You may be asking yourself.  Well, a cool Team Hot Dog kit for starters.  A great group of people that love to bike.  You’ll never have to look for a group ride again… we do plenty of them, all year long.  We race alot, so you'll always have someone to hang with before and afterwards.  Our after parties are epic.  A few of us work at bike shops, some of us are really fast, some can build/fix a bike in our sleep (or hungover), a couple of the faster wieners even make the podium. We’ve got tons of experience… and all of that just motivates the hell out of us to keep going and make each year better than the last!  We. Just.  Have.  Fun.  Camaraderie is #1 over here at tHD.

Some of us race quite a bit, some, not at all.  Mountain bike, road bike, cyclocross, singlespeed, 650b... we roll it all. We’re just looking to expand our group.  We're also looking to get our 2013 kits ordered soon, so if you want in, let us know ASAP!  Think you got what it takes? Please e-mail Coach or
HotDogHimself to get the party started. Please e-mail the following information to us:

•       A brief summary of your biking past
•       Why you would like to become part of a team
•       Your favorite beer

Thanks for your interest!

2012 Iceman Doneth!

Figure the video is every where else on the web... might as well put it here too.

Rocket Island...err Ore to Shore

Our video from Ore to Shore weekend. Hot Dog and I need to tighten our chin straps. Enjoy!

2012 Ore 2 Shore Complete

Wow what a weekend!  Just keeps getting better and better.  tHD came, saw, and destroyed the O2S as well as the UP.  What fun that was.  My mind is still trying to play catch up, processing it all....

I'm too tired to post pics or really report on anything.  I'm still trying to google everything David said over the weekend for accuracy.  At any rate, here is how we all did:

Shaun -- 3:02
Helmet -- 3:05
Gary -- 3:18
Shaun's Pops -- 3:24
Coach -- 3:25
HD Himself -- 3:46
Jrad -- 3:58
DLC -- 4:24
Cheryl -- 2:30 (in her very first ever Soft Rock!  Great job!!)
Matt -- Train tracks 1, Matt 0 (Don't worry, happened to Coach before)

Anyways.  Great job everyone!  See you all at the next big ride or race.