|   Rally around the beer coolers....(56k modem users beware) | mugg
Sep 10, 2003 7:02 AM | | On a warm Sunday afternoon, the City of Brotherly Love hosted its 3rd annual one-speed rally to commomerate our love for singlespeed and good beer. The gathering of the one-geared flock took place in front of the Philly Art Museum where Rocky Balboa strutted his stuff some 20 years ago. I can still hear the Rocky jingle as we speak. After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, the group paraded to the official start of the rally urged on by the clatter of a beer bottles tucked safely in messenger bags and the oh-so-sweet sound of a trumpet being played by one of the rally master.
The rally rules were simple. Bring a six-pack of good beer as entry fee, no Budweiser please, a single speed bike and good sense of humor. Beers were dropped in coolers inside a tunnel aptly named the "Tunnel of Love", where participants jovially consumed their share just before the start of the rally. No worries. There was plenty more good beer to go around.
Then off we went to do our mandatory lap. A mixture of twisty, narrow singletrack, off-the-saddle grunt and fire-road descent greeted us at every turn. In between laps, beer was flowing freely. Participants were decked out in groovy polyester shirts, gaudy jerseys and funky hats. One even wore a gold glittered mask. How he was able to complete a lap without passing out due to heat exhaustion, I haven't a clue.
Second event was the trials ride, which required hopping a series of fallen logs that lay in an uncanny fashion, and "death squeeze", which required you to hop a slick boulder where a menacing looking baby-head, stuck between a tree and a retaining wall awaited to topple you. It was much, much harder to complete than it looks. Most of the participants were exemplary riders but only one come out on top. With a little bit of brute force and finesse, our very own single speed outlaw managed to complete the entire trial run. The dude has mad skills.
Totally carnage was had on the very last event, the rodeo, where a combination of beer intake and bike speed made for a series of hoot and hollering wrecks. Participants pedaled out of the gates like a bat out of hell in succession. There was a mixture of awesome wrecks that would make Evel Knievel proud. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt save for some scrapes and bruises. It was nothing that a few pints of good beer can't mend. What a hoot! All who attended the rally had a grand time and for that I want to extend a brotherly love thank you to the rally masters.
Thanks for reading and have yourself a fantastic voyage. mugg
 It's brisk baby!
 The flock starts to gather.
 Inside the tunnel of love.
 Bikes, beer and good friends.
 Getting ready to ride.
 Eelpie, "the Muscles from Brussels" itching to ride.
 Official starting point.
 Too much beer can have this affect on a person.
 Riding was half the fun.
 Into the great void.
 A Team Butter rider.
 Perched on top to try and capture the crowd.
 The mask avenger working the crowd.
 Could someone give me hand? Thanks.
 Going, going..
 down!
 SSO wows the crowd with his mad skills.
 Having a yard sale.
 Super tight squeeze.
 A crowded trail.
 Eyeing a soft landing.
 SSO does a fly by.
 Zoom, zoom, zoom.
 Lock and loaded.
 "Bikes not bombs."~Unknown |
| RIDE ON! | mtbbrian
Sep 10, 2003 7:15 AM | | That looks really fun!
I could have ridden my Rockhopper FSS.
Thanks for sharing!
Bikes and Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Brian
Ride On!
http://www.mtbbrian.com |
| hey, I think I recognize that tunnel! | Stick
Sep 10, 2003 7:24 AM | | cool post mugg! Were you riding at Bellmont Plateau? Used to do the weekly Thursday night races there, back when I was fit and had lotsa free time after work.
These days, a sunny sunday of drinking beer and doing trials on singlespeeds seems more my speed. Sorry I missed it. :) |
| Man, that was cool. | Bikebreath
Sep 10, 2003 7:27 AM | | And I'm not even a SS and l liked that.
Great job, Mugg!
Bb, [ gearhead ] |
| Great timing. I needed a good hit of "passion." Thanks | Rev Bubba
Sep 10, 2003 7:43 AM | | Yup, thanks for the fix. Now ya' have me thinking of changing my rigid bike into a single speed for no particuliar reason at all which is probably the best reason of all. The old Zaskar just keeps going and going and going....
Peace |
| Very nice! | Nukinpader
Sep 10, 2003 7:43 AM | | Looks as though a good time was had by all. SS'ing and beer; a great combo. |
| Thanks for the a nice post.... | michigantammy
Sep 10, 2003 8:10 AM | | I didn't know that it's legal for one to "drink and ride". No alcohol permitted here where I ride.
Anyway, sounded like you guys had a great time. I always enjoy your posts. Thanks again for sharing!
Tammy |
| Who said anything about being legal? ;-) | wrong side of the law
Sep 10, 2003 12:34 PM | | |
| SSpastic! [nm] | Gadfly
Sep 10, 2003 9:42 AM | | Shock and awe. |
| Bike fun is good | boyonwheel
Sep 10, 2003 1:19 PM | | Nice photos. This brings back fond memories. Group rides of long ago. |
| Usual Mugg story, usual Mugg pictures. | Twilight Error®
Sep 10, 2003 4:24 PM | | "Great" is getting overused. I need a Thesaurus... |
| |
