Monopoly Alleycat Results

The new format seemed to work pretty well. There were 8 checkpoints, but it was possible to finish with only 6. Gary was the only person who had to hit 9 to finish. With this format you could come up with a really great route and hit all the checkpoints, but someone could beat you by hitting one less checkpoint and getting really lucky with the dice.

If I use this format again I'll do it with a couple more checkpoints. This will really magnify the effects of the unique strategy of this format. 10 checkpoint would be perfect.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so there are no photos this time around. It's only the results that most people care about anyway. So without further distraction, the results:

1st - Josh Rockhold - 8 checkpoints
2nd - Gary Ferguson - 9 checkpoints
3rd - Tony Hotrust - 8 checkpoints
4th - Rich Miller - 5 checkpoints + 3 checkpoints
5th - Paul Downing - 8 checkpoints
DNF - Guy Buckingham - 5 checkpoints

Rich was the first back to the start. He turned in 5 checkpoints, and got 3/4 of the way around the board. Guy returned next. He turned in 5 checkpoints. Then Gary came in with 8 checkpoints and ended up two spaces from finishing. Josh turned in 8 and won the game. Gary had to go repeat one checkpoint to finish. Tony came in with 8 checkpoints. Rich was just behind Tony with 3 more checkpoints. Paul came in with 8 checkpoints.

After the race, Gary/Dan's Bike Shop fed everybody with chips, salsa, guacamole, rice, cookies, puppy chow, apples and beer. Not a bad way to end a race.

Thanks to everybody for coming to the race. Thanks to Gary and Dan's Bike Shop for feeding everybody and for being the start, finish, and hangout for this race.

details. details.

Man, you forget one little detail and everybody freaks out. I mean, how was I to know that people might need to know when the race starts? Or what city it's in? Or where it starts? So here it is. Nice, clean, and all in one space:

Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Dan's Bike Shop
350 W. Main, Ionia, MI
4 PM

...and again...in bold:

Saturday, April 9th, 2011
Dan's Bike Shop
350 W. Main, Ionia, MI
4 PM

and on a picture:

Nearly 260 rpm

That's fast.

Squid putting on Velo City races in Michigan

Velo City is an introductory velodrome racing series put on by world famous nyc bike messenger Squid. The series will make 3 (THREE!) stops in Michigan:

April 30, 2011
Dorais Park Velodrome
Mound Road and Outer Drive
Detroit, MI.
9:00 AM to dusk
Rain date: April 31st

June 12, 2011
Gilmore Car Museum
Kalamazoo, MI.
9:00 AM.to Dusk
Rain or shine

September 10, 2011
Dorais Park Velodrome
Mound Road and Outer Drive
Detroit, MI.
9:00 AM. to dusk
Rain date: September 11th

Now, last I knew, the Dorais velodrome is only a velodrome in that it was once paved, was once banked, and was once used by bicycles. There's a group in Detroit trying to restore it, and these events will help them raise money to do it. If you've never riden on the banked board, this is a good place to give it a try. The banking is low enough that you can ride just about any bike on it.

Linkage:
Velo City Tour
Michigan Events

I'm back!

So I hopped the pond and spent three weeks in Europe. Now I'm back and we've got some racing going on. This coming Saturday, the 9th of April, will be the monopoly alleycat. This ones for bragging rights, so done expect any prizes. Next weekend is the Yankee Springs Time Trail at Gun Lake. I know it isn't really the type of race that this blog deals with, but I'll be there and probably racing.

I just checked the weather for Ionia on Saturday. Looks like there is a chance of thunderstorms, but warmer temperatures. This is going to be a blast!

Report from the Field

Europe is pretty great, but so far I'm glad I was born in The States. We American's are truly lucky. It's pretty crazy how rich even Michigan is. Especially during these rough economic times. It really shows up in grocery stores. We have so many more choices, and our stores are so much nicer. It's wild.

So many more people use bicycles for transportation, and that is really cool. Most of the bikes are pretty utilitarian, but I've seen a couple $5,000+ road bikes too. There are several different types of bike lanes, and the bike lanes have their own street lights that turn green a few seconds before the car lights. There are also a TON of unmarked intersections. I can't figure out who is supposed to have the right of way, and I'm not sure anyone else knows either. You just kinda go and hope for the best.

We're heading to Paris this weekend. I'm excited about that, but I'm also starting to get excited about coming home, sleeping in my own bed, seeing my dog, and putting on this next alleycat race. Hopefully you're excited too.

Monster Track XII

MonsterTrack XII from BODABODANYC on Vimeo.

I love alleycats!