One Fantastic Turbo Tuesday

Official winter hat modeled by Jakey La Cruz

Taking a break before heading to Genoa

Deserted town. Kirkland, IL.

Putting Jackets, warmers, and gloves for drop in temps

Byers rd, my favorite.

Flying down the road with NO traffic.

Met up with B.B, Jakey La Cruz, and Uncle Velos for a fantastic night of riding. Rode out to Kirkland via pavement and plenty of gravel, then rode straight north into a nasty headwind to drop Uncle Velos off to the Mrs. At Belvedere we were looking at a 30 mile ride home. The Winds were at our tails for the remainder of the night and we just blasted down Genoa road past midnight riding three breasts side by side. We got kind of Bonky from all the riding and were happy to See Kelley's Market open in Genoa. Some Bear Claws, drinks and we were perked for the rest of the ride. Out of Genoa we took Rte 23 south and had a massive tailwind at the point.

Our steel animals whistled in the air at over 2omph. We were enjoying the complete quietness and the amazing darkness that encompassed us, we were all alone, the three of us. We talked about the Slender Fungus song and how befitting it was to the type of riding that we most loved. We talked about the comfort of night, the missing traffic, the ease to the eyes and how we enjoyed each others company. A quick pang reminded me of this being my last Turbo Tuesday and how we had reached such a high point, a pinnacle of riding. This can only continue and grow.

The Slender Fungus is stronger than ever and will continue to lurk while you sleep.


Ari

Post # 666

Post #666

Slender Fungus Turbo Tuesday


Meeting Tonight at Ari House

At

8:30 P.m. Sharp.

Rain or Shine

Ari

Handsome Bicycles at Rapid Transit Chicago

Franny and her co-worker battling the diamond wrap

Finished Product. Nice cloth tape and TRP's New drilled brake levers with gum hoods.

Proud of their work. Looks awesome!

The Chrome store is packed wall to wall. One guy left of man with white hat with black stripe is Nick, great mechanic at Rapid Transit.

Handsome bikes have arrived at Rapid Transit,
Chicago

Proud to have me offspring working at such a prestigious shop in the great city of Chicago. It is a great experience and at a very young age this is her second bicycle shop that she has worked. New bicycles from Handsome were showcased at the exclusive Chrome store in the city and Franny helped set up and do a special "Diamond" wrap on the mustache bars. The bikes looked smashing and the party/introduction of the brand was a total success. Here are some of the photos I borrowed from Rapid Transit.
best,
Ari

Zooma Women's Half Marathon Saturday 22nd, October

Jean and Jill and a really friendly dog.

Cookie and Ari

SFCA team members, great friends and unashamed to say Awesome mechanics.

Spotted Cow for breakfast

Fontana, Wisconsin

The girls after the race. Strange Prada model roaming around the race

The wife in full airborne position. She had a great race

Jill burning it up. 2nd in her agegroup

This lady rocked up early Sunday morning. She was great on the Saxophone.

Jill's friend Jean

Jill came in tenth overall on the first lap.

Early morning was cold, but the sun came out and it was great day.

Wifey ready to go. She was glad to have brought the winter jacket to stay warm until the race started.

The Slender Fungus teamates of Ari and Cookie accompanied our significant others to Lake Fontana, Wisconsin for a pretty painful half marathon. We awoke at dark thirty and met up in Wisconsin. I love how you cross the border and the topography changes and the roads get smoother. This was a women only event and we went up for support. The race started promptly at 730 am and it gave Cookie and I a chance to talk about bike shops, Trans Iowa and many other things. We never seem to be able to catch up. I will be moving up to the mountains and we went through some other topics as well. Cookie girlfriend, my wife and new friend Jean had a great race. We found ourselves at the resort with wine in hand listening to a cover band which was actually really good. We later hit the bar pre-noon for some food and New Glarus Spotted Cow. It was a great day and we enjoyed supporting our significant others since they put up with so much crap with our endurance nonsense. Congrats to the ladies and a speed recovery from the effort.

Keep moving!

Ari

Gypsy Criterion

Had a pretty rainy morning, which I think discouraged attendance. Anyway, we go together at Gumby's house and rode out in rain and cold. The gravel was quiet good and as always it was great to be out in the country. It was great to see my friends for another ride since we will be moving out to the mountains soon. My daughter was in from Chicago fresh out of her sling. She had a run-in with a car and had flipped over the bars on the fixed Zeus and done a double fracture on her collarbone.
Gumby is still nursing his knee which housed his twin, unborn brother for over 30 years. Cookie was sporting a Team Salsa jersey and Joe Meiser facial hair. Since Meiser had a kid Cookie is taking over his spot on the Salsa Team. You go Cookie!!!
Uncle Velos was in for a double loop since it was Sunday and he was in search for a Dry Cleaners that was open to do his suit for a wedding he had to attend in Hollywood,California. B.B. was incapicitated from a long night of Polo and Porto. Polo-Porto-Polo-Porto.
So we rolled and at the end Cookie and I ended the day with 7 loops since I had commitments. I got tired of the Selma, even more when I discovered the seat a full 3cms too low. Man, that's why me legs felt so dead. I guess when you ride a lot off road one should check seat heights since they tend to slip a bit.
All in all it was kind of a weird day. There was this gelling missing. I just can't figure it out. Maybe it had to do with the fact that we rode in daylight. We should have done this ride at night!

best,
ari

New Olympus Stylus Epic

Wife on 14 mile run

Tuesday I spent all day on the Selma Ti.

Summer leftovers and Mutanoraptors On Velocity Blunts

Abandoned house on Annie Glidden

Slender Fungus pounds a metric with start time of 930 pm.

Midwest Corn

Minimal singletrack in Dekalb,IL.

We found a lot of repaved roads last night making for a swift ride.

While visiting the mountain area we are moving to.

This buddy came to the fence to say hi.

One of my favorite cameras. Originally paid 400 dollars. Picked up my third one for a fraction of that.

Post on the Criterion soon as other camera is fully charged.

best,

Ari

Slender Fungus Headquarters to relocate

Slender Fungus Headquarters

With the intention of finding more gravel and dirt and a bit more peace and quiet, the Slender Fungus Cycling Association Headquarters will be relocating to the above pictured location. It will be time to train hard for the upcoming Mega Miler known as the Trans Iowa Version Number 8.
Many calories must be burned, lambs eaten and endless nights on the mountains with nothing more than some dry bread and a light jacket. This and only this is the way to finish off the beast for once and for all.
While we are away please continue on with Turbo Tuesdays and some "special" rides. Remember to frown upon the thin tired bikes known as "Cheater" bikes for they go fast because of their ability to slice through the heavens. Drink the elixirs that keep us alive. Ride at night because that is when it's right. Wear wool and take a flask. Cause mayhem, start a fire, eat some delicious food.
I have alway enjoyed your company and this and only this has helped me through it. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer I long for the whiskey and the sugary tea. I remember my lonely rides with the long gone Hellmut. The endless nights that saw us welcome the morning. The burning sensation in the eyes when the sun would emit its first rays.
The Fruit Loop, also known as "the destroyer", the ride that left my limbs numb for months. The Gypsy Caravan, the funnest ride of all time. The memories are endless, the jokes too many to list.


I will remember you always as I suffer alone at altitude.

Ari,
Slender Fungus Cycling Association President

Slender Fungus Cycling Association Announces.......

The Slender Fungus Cycling Association presents the
"Gypsy Criterion"
October 16th, 2011
8:00 a.m. start time.

The race will commence at the Slender Fungus Cycling Association World Headquarters which is located at the Gum House on 16710 Lynch rd, Dekalb, IL. 60115
The ride will consist of 9 something mile loops and the rider will receive "tokens" for each loop completed.
The general idea is to complete enough loops to obtain the coveted "Hundo", and not the cheater "metric hundo". There will be music, provided by the Zenith System and refreshments. As usual the event is completely free of charge.
Please leave a comment if you are coming. We would like to start a roster.
thank you in advance,

Ari
SFCA President.

Roster:
Uncle Fester
Uncle Velos
Jakey La Cruz
B.B.
Ari
Giaco
Jelly Boy
Bonk King
Cookie
Paul
Franny

Hey All!
Here is the map for the Criterion. Mostly choppy gravel, Vibration Central, so don't forget to lube your chain and chamois.
Ari