The 8th annual All-British Cycling Event tested the fortitude of Nutters from near and far. We had riders from New York, Illinois, and Iowa join us and that is a long way to travel to drink a pint in the rain; not that it isn’t worth it, mind you, since the Silver Knight Ale was simply spectacular but it proves how far a devotee will travel to be amongst those with the same affliction. Friday evening we opened the festivities with a reception for the out-of-towners and Barley John’s was claimed “In the name of the Queen and for all the riders of the Realm”. We posted the flag and raised our glasses. Proving their remarkable endurance, Alan and Owen closed the bar. Little did we know that was to be the last time any of us would be dry. Saturday began with drizzle but that was no deterrence for the Gravity Race and Pastry Joust participants, who were forced to pedal up the face of the steep incline due to construction on the other side. The Pastry Joust went remarkably well with none of the little darlings cast upon the bitumen (pastry or participants). Tim McNamara was the repeat champion in the hub gear category and Jim Hulbert the victor in the non-hub gear category. Soon after the winners were crowned, the drizzle turned to light rain. Capes were donned and we pressed on and made our way past the new 35W bridge, Wiseman Art Center and the new U of M rowing clubhouse. It would rain off and on for the rest of the day. Park Rash was revisited when we made our way out of the river valley with a 20 degree grade and a switchback. The legs, gears and frames were all pressed to the limit but the fine English steel prevailed and all of us found ourselves at the top and starved for our efforts. The Grand Avenue lunch stop was, in a word, grand, with most of us enjoying the excellent fare at the Coffee News Cafe. The rain intensified as we stopped on the Irvine Avenue switchback to have tea with Marlis. Marlis and her assistants Darlene, Elaine and Janet served an incredible High Tea in the garden while it rained; if you didn’t drink it quickly, your cup would eventually re-fill. High praise indeed for the heartwarming tea, finger sandwiches, chocolate cake, shortbread, crumpets and chutney; exactly what we needed to continue the adventure. Pressing on through St. Paul and turning upstream along the Mississippi, Noel and I crashed together; no broken bones to be found but Noel had a nasty cut. Bloodied and bruised, Noel and his iron resolve insisted on continuing the ride. Noel was a sight with Paul’s cut-up shirt wrapped around his head. Upon our arrival, Dan pieced Noel’s head back together and we were off to dinner. The Great Dragon buffet was a welcome sight; I had been wet and chilled for nearly 9 hours by then. No matter, we are a hearty lot and with a change of stockings and a dry waistcoat would do it again at the drop of a pith helmet. Sunday was our day to shine; at least that is what the weather report said. The sun was nowhere to be seen but “Light rain by 1pm” was the prediction. Going on a hunch we moved up the time for the shorter Gentleman’s Tour as best we could and it paid off. It sprinkled throughout the tour but upon our return, the rain intensified. Luckily the Keeper of the Cask declared the Silver Knight Ale “well and good” and we were warmed from within. The presentations, as usual, were the hit of the day with both Paul McLeete and Dan Shindelar telling incredible stories and both winning “Best Background Story”. Noel was presented with our first “Founders Award”; an original watercolor by Sandra Muzzy depicting Noel himself at the Lake Pepin overlook. Alas, the noble Silver Knight Ale was no more; emptied by the thirsty Nutters of the Realm and their iron resolve. As the rainy day drew to a close, our claim upon Barley John’s was released from the Commonwealth and returned to the Colonists.
Best along the path, Jon Sharratt, Shirt-Tail Organiser www.ABCEtour.com www.3speedtour.com
Date(s): September 12-14, 2008. Album by STO. Photos by STO. 1 - 69 of 69 Total. 9239 Visits.
10 Preparing for the English-like weatherEdit Donning rain capes. Spandex Rider on right a passerby awed by the "uniqueness" of us nutters. Went home to come back with camera.Edit
