Gonna be out and about Friday?

KC Sprints March 30th flyer and stuff

I found the new flyer for the KC Sprints event coming up at the end of the month.
March 30th at the Buzzard Beach
Its the post Critical Mass bash



Then there is this video that has been making the rounds.
Its funny but at the same time I fear that it gives cyclists a bad name.
Granted we do it to ourselves



"Just because we both ride bikes doesn't mean we're friends" - Surly Bikes

After being distracted last week and neglecting to measure twice, cut once I got Peg Leg's new All-City Big Block completed


Not the greatest photo but you get it.

Peg Leg told me via text that he feels the All-City is "Stiffer, smoother and faster" than the steel Specialized Langster he has been riding for the last couple years.
Looks like All-City has made a new convert.

I'm lusting for several of their bikes too.
Besides the Big Block the Nature Boy & Macho Man are on my want list.
May put the Purple Hipster and the VDSSCX frames up for sale to get their All-City replacements.
We'll see what happens.

Damn You Mother Nature!

POSTPONED

Welllll... shit.


Unfortunately Mother Nature appears to have other plans for Lincoln this weekend besides KC Sprints - Occupy Duffy's.
Via our contacts the snow is deep, falling hard & fast, raising the question of us even being able to get into town
So compared to driving a few hours only to realize we can't make it and/or get stranded somewhere the decidison has been made to postpone the event to a yet to be determined date. Assuming that Duffy's will still have us (although we are sure they will).

We love coming to Lincoln & want to put the race on. It will just have to be a different day.
Sorry folks.
Have fun playing in the snow Lincoln.

We are gonna drown our sorrows with some afternoon drinking and maybe go heckle the KC Street Cred event.

OldSprints

Via Yehuda Moon & The Kickstand Cyclery

A little motivation to make the next KC Sprints event

Up for grabs at the next KC Sprints event is a bike from Pabst Blue Ribbon.
It looks something like this:


Photo via cjfoeckler

Will it be the grand prize?
Will it be a raffle prize?
Will Jones try to keep it for himself?
All that is yet to be determined.
But it has been confirmed that there will be a PBR cruiser up for grabs one way or another.
Wanna chance at winning it?
Guess you better show up.

See you at the Replay Lounge April 22nd

A last minute reminder from the KC Sprints crew

Ya ya OK... We know. Pretty late on the reminder.
We've been busy. Seriously.

Plus we figured you already knew and that your calendars were marked.
But just in case you need the reminder....

Friday night (for many of you, TONIGHT, for some of your LAST NIGHT)

KC SPRINTS at the BUZZARD BEACH : Round II
You know the drill.
Tournament sign ups and Grudge Matches begin at 8 PM
Tournament racing begins at 9 PM

Tournament racers qualify to win fabulous prizes from out sponsors:

Eight Inch
Surly
CycleOps
Portland Design Works
Twin Six
Giro
Ghost Ship
PBR
UrbanVelo


You don't have to come out to the Buzzard Beach,
but you probably should!
You don't have to race,
but you probably should!
You don't have to drink,
but you probably should!
You don't have to challenge your _____ (husband, wife, boss, mistress, son, uncle, cousin, co-worker, fuck-buddy, neighbor) to a Grudge Match,
but your probably should!

Friday.
Get off work. Hit happy hour or have dinner with your family or friends.
Then ditch them or just bring them to the only 5 Star Dive Bar in Kansas City, the Buzzard Beach.
Have a tall boy of PBR and check out or maybe join in the fun that is KC Sprints

See you at the races.

uNKy jOIns, KC Jev Jev, One Eyed z

From uNKy jOIns on the KC Sprints blog

The following is copied directly from the KC Sprints blog that Jones posted this morning.
To see photos from our last event (which the UMKC article is about) at Buzzard Beach click here

UMKC Article
This may or may not have been published yet:

Slow and steady may win the race, but you’d be surprised how far drunk and desperate can get you.

On Friday the 28th, Buzzard Beach held a bicycle tournament to find out who has the best inebriated cycling skills in Westport.

The event was sponsored by KC sprints 2011, which is a group of enthusiasts around KC who put on simulated bike races.

The seedy atmosphere of Buzzard helped to create a laid-back, contented feeling during the contest. Bar patrons were amused by the antics. Many were cheering riders on vehemently and drunkenly spewing swear words even more fervently.

Two riders face off. Each mounts their bike, one facing the other. The front wheel of each is gone, and the whole bike frame is held in place, fastened by bolts. The rear wheel of each bike rests between two stainless steel cylinders. The cyclist’s pedaling turns the bike’s wheel, which, in turn, spins the cylinders. The whole apparatus is hooked up to a machine that calculates the riders’ speeds and distances.

The competition was fierce, but it came down, as all races do, to the last two riders. They were known only by their aliases. TWA and Black.
Each rider, drenched in sweat, threw off his shirt, exposing a healthy grouping of muscles beneath.

TWA looked ready for anything. His eyes remained calm as a lake on a windless day while his back tattoo seemed to beg for freedom from the skin that held it captive.
But Black just sat as if a stoic God. His legs were all the strength he need command. Like tree-trunks, they were rooted fast to his bike’s stirrups. No sooner had the race begun than was its glorious victor shaking TWA’s hand, commending him for putting up as much of a fight as he had.

As the tournament slowed to a stop, hands were placed on the bare back of TWA, consolingly patting away. Then, promptly, those hands were whisked back and wiped clean of the rider’s slimy sweat on everything from tee shirts to skin-tight jeans.
After Black was announced the winner, friends rushed up to congratulate him. Fist bumping took place between sips of delicious yellow nectar housed within aluminum Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) cans.

During the competition, free PBR Stuff We All Get (SWAG) was being handed out. Most popular among the SWAG was a hand-cranked bicycle bell, the kind that goes ka-ching, ka-ching, with the PBR logo emblazoned on it by way of sticker. Ringing could be heard throughout the dive bar, and certainly throughout all of Westport that Friday night.

More than anything the event at Buzzard on Friday promoted bicycling in general.
A great deal of Kansas-Citians rely on their 2-wheeled machines on a daily basis to make it to school or work on time. The more places like Buzzard Beach can feature bicycle-related events, the more Kansas City can move towards a more bike-friendly future. And I’ll drink to that.

-Sam Towns

It also has been confirmed that our next Kansas City race will be March 25th at the Buzzard Beach (yes again, god bless the Buzzard Beach). If you missed the last one be sure you make out this time.
Again on Critical Mass night.
See you ladies there...

Hugs and Pinches
uNKy jOIns

KC Sprints: In our book everyone is a winner But only some of you will get prizes...

I decided to revamp my prize picks for KC Sprints @ Buzzard Beach Friday night.
Realized I got a little carried away and we'll still need to have some prizes for future races.
But we have some pretty sweet stuff up for grabs for the fastest of the fast.

The top 3 in the Men's and Women's classes of the tournament racing on Friday at Buzzard Beach will win...


Oh you would like to know wouldn't you?
But we aren't telling.
What we will tell you is that Friday nights prize package contains items from Surly, Giro, Eighth Inch, Twin Six, Portland Design Works, CycleOps, GhostShip, UrbanVelo, Broadway Coffee & PBR
It has an approximate retail value of... $525!
And thats not too shabby considering all we want from you is $5 and a little bit of sweat.
OK, a lot of sweat.

Extra bonus!!
We are also having a raffle.
What could you win? This one we'll tell you.
A brand spanking new set of CycleOps Aluminium Rollers!



These rollers have a $280 value!
Raffle tickets will be $5.
The more times you play the better chance you have of winning.
So be sure and buy up those raffle tickets!
You must be present to win.
So no slinking off thinking that you'll get a phone call if you win.
You aren't there, you don't win.
Simple as that.
We'll do drawings until we'll find someone that still there.

So lets review:
Friday night
Buzzard Beach
KC Sprints
8 PM tournament sign ups & Grudge Matches begin
9 PM tournament begins
Men's and Women's brackets
Prizes for top 3 of both classes
$525 in prizes available for the wining
Raffle for CycleOps Rollers
$5 for raffle tickets
Must be present to win

See you Friday night!

Just a little reminder about Friday's fun

Tonight I started putting together the prizes for the Men's and Women's 1st, 2nd, & 3rd places of the tournament for KC Sprints at Buzzard Beach Friday.
A little something for the best Grudge Match of the night
And we are considering a SWEET grand prize for the best overall sprint time of the night.
We've got some really good stuff.
You'll be missing out if you aren't there.

Tournament sign up and Grudge Matches start at 8 PM.
The tournament starts at 9 PM.
Tournament is $5
Grudge Matches are $2 per racer.

So go do Critical Mass at 630 then come on over to Buzzard Beach all warmed up and ready to race.
Or just to have a beer, cheer on your friends & heckle your enemies.
What ever you decide its gonna be a good night and you should be there.

See you Friday!

KC Sprints makes the papers in Lincoln

From the DailyNebraskan.com
(I took the liberty of adding links and the flyer)




Sheclismo, KC Sprints set to host fundraiser for cycling team at Duffy’s

By Emily Walkenhorst

Lincoln is a cycling town, all included.

Sheclismo (‘She' + the Spanish word for ‘cycling') is Lincoln's only all-female cycling team. With members ranging in age from 22 to 69, its presence is known — and growing.

On Saturday, for the second year in a row, Sheclismo and KC Sprints will host a fundraiser for the team at Duffy's Tavern (14th & O streets).

The event will consist of traveling organization KC Sprints' specialty: simulated bike races.
Starting at 6 p.m., bar patrons and registered participants will pedal 500 meters, as measured by computers and attached spedometers, atop stationary bikes. In addition to a planned tournament, attendees will be able to challenge friends and complete strangers to head-to-head races.

One of the founders of Sheclismo, Elisabeth Reinkordt, said last year's fundraiser filled Duffy's to the brim with bike enthusiasts and those just looking to have a good time.

"It's really not a serious event as much as it is for fun," said Dave Kosark, co-owner of Joyride Bicycles, a sponsor of Sheclismo. Kosark described last year's event as "raucous."

Even with the loose atmosphere and semi-drunk challenges, both Kosark and Reinkordt warn: The race is hard.

Reinkordt said fast racers can often finish in fewer than 30 seconds, but added, "When you're up there on the bike, it feels a lot longer."

Reinkordt also said she expects many grudge-match challenges this year from people seeking to even scores.

"There can be a tendency to have a few drinks and want to prove something," she said.

But one thing Reinkordt does not remember from last year's fundraiser was a large turnout of female racers.

Sheclismo is a somewhat new organization, with members who race competitively on roads or mountains and members who simply commute to work by bike every day, even through harsh winters.

Events like KC Sprints at Duffy's are a way of helping Sheclismo financially but are also recruiting tools for the team.

KC Sprints, an organization based in Kansas City, will provide all the tools and bikes necessary for Saturday night.

ScreenInk, a screen printing and embroidery business in Lincoln, will also be on site printing T-shirts throughout the night.

Aside from the flair of impressive technology and energetic atmosphere, Saturday will also be an opportunity to bring a community together.

"For a lot of us who enjoy cycling," Kosark said, "it's a way to get together."

emilywalkenhorst@dailynebraskan.com

EVENT INFO:
Duffy's
6 p.m.
$2 for head-to-head challenges
$5 for tournament entry

Just a reminder, We'll be in Lincoln this month

KC Sprints at Duffy's Tavern in Lincoln, NE January 15th
Presented by Sheclismo
Hope to see all my Lincoln homies there
Lets race!

Plagiarizing my own work

Originally posted by me on the KC Sprints blog:

Back in the beginning of December we loaded up the gear and headed out to Topeka to take part in Flat Tire a benefit for the Topeka Community Cycle Project.


The shop facility space for the TCCP is huge and the people connected to it were great hosts. Which was nice since we ended up needing their tools, work stands and then, embarrassingly, some of their parts to pull KC Sprints off that night.

The night was riddled with one problem after another. Which was too bad because we went in to it ready to put on a great show & help raise money for the TCCP.
And according to the TCCP crew we did just that, although it didn't look that way from our end.

There were problems right from the get go.
First there was a communication issue with the restaurant Bosco's that our part of the event was in. The organizers were under the impression they were going to stop serving dinner early so we could pack the place to race. Bosco's either didn't want to or just didn't realize that was the plan. We could understand why. It is a nice place. Really nice. We couldn't believe we were going to race in there. Plus it was a Friday night. Prime eating out time for one of the nicer eateries in Topeka.
No matter. We worked around it.
Of the nights hurtles it was a small one.

While Jevon working on getting the software set up, Jones and tag along Rudy set up the rollers etc & I took the bikes down the block to the TCCP shop. The rigs were in desperate need of new rubber & a once over, something I hadn't had the opportunity to deal with.
As I said before for being a bike collective run by volunteers with donated equipment the TCCP facility was really nice.
I got the new ThickSlicks from Freedom by WTB installed (a company we should hit up for sponsorship) wiped down the frames, tightened the stems etc & hustled back down to Bosco's to finish the set up.
It wasn't until the bikes were back on the rollers and we were test riding that I realized the next issue. The Blue/White bike's short chain combined with the new bigger tire meant that when the bike was weighted the tire rubbed the frame. Back to the shop to scrounge up a little chunk of chain.
While I was correcting that problem Jevon let me know that we were also having some software problems. An automatic software update that happened over night wasn't working properly. Well OK thats putting it nicely. It didn't work at all.
Well, shit.

OK. Don't panic. No need for the normal projector and screen.
Jevon had a plan B.
Plan B was to put our spare little computer screen in front of the riders so they could see their progress.
But when we plugged it in we discovered that apparently its had a rough life since we used it last and the screen was cracked.
Aww...WTF?

No worries. Jevon had a Plan C.
Plan C consisted of Jones squatted down in front of the racers relaying the hand singles that Jev was giving him showing who was leading who. No easy task since Jev was determining who was leading who by watching code stream across his laptop screen.
It looked something like this:


OK. So finally we are racing. Problems are solved.
Well not all of them. Not yet.
About 1/2 way though the grudge matches the Blue/White bike started having problems again. The seat post was slipping down during the race. We kept clamping it tighter but it kept slipping. Finally I pulled the seat post then loosened up the quick release all the way to take it off and give it a look. When I did so I discovered that the resin washer (for lack of proper term that I know it has) had broken in half, which then promptly fell out.

Good grief.

I stuck a regular flat metal washer that we had in the tool box in its place but it still wouldn't hold. So it was time for another trip back to the TCCP shop to dig around in their parts.
Thankfully I found exactly what we needed and we were back to racing again.



At this point we (Jones, Jevon & I) had all individually decided that after a couple more races we were going to suggest packing it up & going home.
As it happens we only had a few more races before we realized something else was wrong. This time with the Red/Black bike.
At first we thought that we had a bearing going bad on the rollers, which would have been really odd. More so on a sets of nice CycleOps Rollers that were only a few years old. But it was much simpler than that. Apparently when I had replaced the tires I had managed to pinch the tube giving it a nice sloooow leak. The new fat ThickSlick tires hid this obvious detail until a rider was on the bike. Which would explain why some riders were out of the saddle leaning dangerously over the handle bars when on the Red/Black bike.
Oops. Sorry about that guys.
That however, was the last straw and good enough reason as any to call it quits for the day.

Now while all this was going on in the basement restaurant upstairs the other 1/2 of the Flat Tire event to benefit the TCCP was taking place. Consisting of 3 bands & a silent auction.
We didn't stick around though. We were fed up with our poor performance & frankly a little embarrassed.
However, the fine people of the Topeka Community Cycle Project said that the event was great. They got what they wanted out of it and they had a big & successful turn out.
Which is good. Since that was what it was all about anyway.

If you want to see more photos from the event you can see some more of the above either at uNkY jOIns or the One Eyed z Flickr pages.

KC Sprints want to thank the good people of the Topeka Community Cycle Project for letting us be a part of their event. Not to mention the use of shop, tools and the couple little parts we "borrowed".
Thanks gang!

Up next (besides some serious software, bicycle & equipment check overs) KC Sprints returns to Duffy's Tavern in Lincoln, NE January 15th.
Last year Lincoln was not only our 1st out of town event but by far the best event of the season. Lincoln set the bar pretty high for our KC Sprint events. We are hoping that all the kinks are worked out of the system so that in 2011 the Lincoln event can be even better than it was in 2010.
Don't worry Kansas City, we haven't forgotten where we came from.
KC Sprints holds its first Kansas City race January 28th at the Buzzard Beach. It will be the January Critical Mass post party.
Should be lots of fun. Hope to see you at the races!

Who wants a drink? I do! I do!

CycleOps makes a blender?
Yes. Yes indeed they do.
Check this thing out.



Once again this season CycleOps is one of KC Sprints great sponsors.
Outside of getting us some items to use for swag and prizes (even a set of their rollers for a Grand Prize!) the local rep (Thanks Ron!) thought it would be a great idea to loan* us his new never used CycleOps Pro Series Trainer Blender.
*(Loan as in the thinks he is getting it back. Doubtful. When the snow flys I can see indoor "training" taking on a whole new dimension since I can also make tasty drinks)

For serious.

It arrived today and I set it up in my living room to check it out.
Basically it is their Pro Series Trainer modified to power a blender.
I haven't made any drinks in it yet (I'm sure I will tonight, Jones... bring ingredients over tonight!) but I don't see why it wouldn't work like a champ.
We will have this out at the KC Sprints events this year.
Hopefully any bar we are in will let use set it up and blend some of their tasty drinks for them.
Why the hell not, eh?

Lets have a drink!

KC Sprints found some sponsors

Well well well... Looks like KC Sprints have found some sponsors for the 2010/11 season.
Some are repeat sponsors & a few are brand spanking new!
Who are they you might ask?
Well...

The repeat sponsors:

PBR


UrbanVelo


Eighth Inch


CycleOps


Giro


All Hail the Black Market


The brand spanking new sponsors:

Portland Design Works


GhostShip


We are very excited to have gotten the support of these sponsors.

First race is this weekend. Topeka, KS here we come!

KC Sprints, Mustaches & Beer

Jones and I were talking the other night (drinking beers) when he mentioned that with our KC Sprints 1st event of the season coming up perhaps we should repost that sweet promotional video that Lucas Marshall made for us after our Lincoln event last January.

So here ya go.



Since I'm on the topic of KC Sprints, Jones is also strongly considering getting some KCS hoodies made.
Not sure what the cost to you would be for them yet. As of now they don't even exist except for on paper but Jones (and maybe me) should have them on soon while we are out and about.

So if you think you might be interested in getting one shoot us an email at KCSprints@gmail.com

November is also know as Movember. Around the world men are growing mustaches to raise awareness for men's cancers.
And since women don't want to be left out today November 18th, er... Movember 18th, is "Have Sex with a Man with a Mustache Day"
Needless to say with a mustache like mine I've been patiently waiting by the phone and computer for an phone call/text message/email from some gal who wants to do her part to show her support in the fight against cancers that affect men.
I think I'm gonna have a long wait.

And while I wait I might as well have a beer.
Yesterday was Boulevard Brewing Company's 21st Birthday!
Happy Birthday to my favorite beer!

I'll have a Pilsner please!

KC Sprints @ The Replay Lounge for the Octoginta

Fall is in the air and its time again for the Octoginta.

What is this Octoginta you ask?
Well, its the annual end of the season road ride in Lawrence, KS and this is its 41st year.
Its a big weekend in the old L-town and this year its only gotten bigger.
Not only is there the actual Octoginta ride, a 40 or 80 mile ride through the beautiful northeast Kansas country side, on Sunday the 10th.
There is also a Time Trial (@7AM), Tour de County (@9:30AM), a Gravel Grinder (also @ 9:30AM), & a swap meet (@ 2PM) all on Saturday the 9th.

But the absolute best part...
as the opening act for the weekend....
yours truly...
KC Sprints!

So, where do you need to be on Friday October 8th?
At the Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS of course!
The Replay will once again play host to KC Sprints.
This time around the race is a benefit for the lovely ladies of the Women's Free State Racing Team !

So come on out. Cheer your friends, race your enemies, drink some beers and have a good ol' time.

The fine print:
Registration is at 7 p.m. and racing begins at 8. Register for the tournament ($5), grudge matches ($2), or both. Proceeds go to Women's Free State Racing Team. Ages 21 and over.

Friday Night!!

KC Sprints invades The Replay Lounge in Lawrence, KS
We've got a big prize on the line this time around and no its not just Jones spectacular trophy:


Its the PBR Cruiser provided by our great sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon!


So if you think you got what it takes to be the big winner of the night, I suggest you Bring it on.
You've got some stiff competition



See you there!

Stuff is happening

Did another training ride for the up coming MWI Gentlemen's Race this past weekend.
Its was a wet one and pretty chilly too.
Which, as it turns out, might be a good thing to get used to.
Weather for race day is looking to be wet & in the upper 30 with a chance of snow.
SNOW.
I hate to sound like a puss but I was really hoping for sunny and in the 50s.
Ah well. Fortunately I've got a good crew gathered to do this with me.
Plus I found out today that one of the 8 teams has dropped out because of the "possible inclement weather".
Which of course means now we are guaranteed at least 7th place.
Assuming we finish at all.
*
The KC Sprints crew has announced a few more dates coming up in April.
Saturday April 10th at the Buzzard Beach in Westport
Friday April 30th at the Replay Lounge in Lawrence
Should be good times. Mark your calenders.

KC Sprints at Buzzard Beach!

KC Sprints @ Swagger Feb 20th!

The last couple of KC Sprints races have been on the road.
Time to bring the show back to the home town crowd in Kansas City with a new venue and sponsor.
Come on out and race!