Castle Shima

If wind and tide had been against us, I should have said yes.
-- Capt. Aubrey from Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World


Once more into the fray, my friends. The annual event has come upon once again and as years past, requires documentation of the festivities. If you could call them that...

So with more apologies to Peter King, here is the Things I Think I Know About the MS Bike Ride, 2010 edition.

1. Last year, we got lucky by not having the typical downpours. This year made up for it by surprising everyone. A typical conversation went something like this: "Rain? Its not supposed to rain. The weather guy said... What the?! Son of a bitch!"

2. The latest addition for the RoadKill Cafe: Crab!

3. Team Blue set a new record this year by having a ride group earn three flat tires. The previous record was two. The single rider record remains at earning two flat tires at the same time while going over a bridge.

4. I loved how DJ iPhone played Tom Petty's Mary Jane's Last Dance then ten minutes later, the live band came back and played the same song. Matter of fact, its playing now even as I right this.

5. Definition of Ironic: over 1000 cyclists are leaving the same gate and the music begins playing Lenny Kravitz's Are You Gonna Go My Way?


6. This year, the event sponsors gave the cyclists an added bonus by shortening the route. The only thing everyone had to do was ride through the wind tunnel used to test space shuttle engines. Congratulations!

7. From now on, the mixing of high winds and bridge climbing will henceforth be termed as "Knee Distress."

8. There is something scary, yet exciting, about being in a 60 man pace line, especially when you're the one on the back end.

9. Did anyone else worry about getting bedbugs while at the hotel? Maybe it was just me. Geezus, thanks for putting that image into my head, Jo.

10. And with that many thanks must go out to the Team Blue volunteers that handled the rest stop and the team tent. We couldn't continue this fight without you.

Wheels by The Foo Fighters


Cheers, mates!