Old stories, but true

9-6-05: The century challenge is heating up. We had a great turnout on September 3rd for our century ride. Century finishers included Scott Summers, Mark Hess, Ed Frantz, Neal Price, Bobby Baker, Mike Haney, Brenda Ormond, Carol Branch and Dave Galloway. Lisa Weston, Lisa Mathias and Keith Hines did the 55-mile loop, with both Lisas setting personal records. Jim Wood rode about 70 miles, a new record for him. Jorg joined us for part of the ride. And Helen Haney did the last 45 miles on the tandem with Mike.

9-2-05: Sorry for the lack of updates. I will try to become more regular in the future. Or better yet, help me to urge Jorg to get back on the job. He did a great job with the website.

The club has really had a great summer. Attendance has been fantastic on our evening and weekend rides. We've had tremendous participation in our century challenge. The beach ride was a blast, and many of our new riders set personal records. Noteably, Mark Hess and Neal Price completed their first century. Lisa Weston and Joanna Thompson finished their first half-century. It is great to have so many new, excited riders amongst us. And the Sag support was out of this world. They did a tremendous job, and the ride (100 degree heat) would never have happened without their help.

A new record? Frank, Karl, Brian and I might argue with them. But some of the guys recently did a Wednesday night ride to Seven Springs and back, and averaged almost 24 mph. Great job, guys.

Upcoming events: Many are training for the Bridge to Bridge ride on Sep 18th.

Missing in action: Ralph

Newly surfaced: Karl Gerschutz, back in the states, now living in Tuscon and Orlando Bermudez now living in Puerto Rico. I've heard from both of them, they send their best wishes to all.

New Seyboros: Mark and Michelle Shroyer, a baby girl. Paul and Marie Harrell, a baby girl.

8-2-05: The Jorg Chronicles are coming to life. Our esteemed webmaster has forgotten the website, he's bought a Cannondale, and he's missed his first century in 3 years. But that Baby Katie sure is a cute one! In his defense, I can't blame him for missing a few rides.

The July Century was a good one, lots of participants, a great average speed, and more hills than we normally see in this area. The century challenge is heating up, with a lot of folks still claiming to be in the competition. Check out our "upcoming events" page to refresh your memory on the rules for the competition.

The Family Y's Triathlon was another success. Thanks to all the club members who helped. It was great to have Doug and Sarah back home for the weekend. Congratulations to Keith Hines on his 4th place finish and Joanna Thompson on her 2nd place finish. Kudos also go to our triathlete friends CC Wilkens and Charles Royal for their respective 3rd and 1st place finishes in their categories.

Club members are signing up fast and furious for the Bridge to Bridge ride in September. Most of them have obviously believed the Prez when he said "The course is mostly flat, with one or two small hills that I remember."

7-15-05: It was bound to happen. Should have seen it coming. For many years, the club members upgraded to Litespeeds. Almost everyone except Dave. He faithfully rode his CAAD 5 Cannondale, and swore that it served him well. After all, he finished 2 double centuries on it, and seemed fine afterwards.

Then, this past spring, he finally bowed to the pressure. Bought a Litespeed Palmares. The other club members listened in disbelief as he often proclaimed "It's nice, but I can't tell much difference. I still really like the Cannondale."

His words were heard. It has happened. You won't believe me but it's true. The "King" of Litespeed, Jorg himself, has bought himself a brand new CAAD 8 Cannondale. Come out for one of our rides, I am certain he will be riding it. He has finally seen the light.

Wasn't this predicted in the Jorg Chronicles?

7-4-05: - Has it really been that long? Yep. It has been close to two months of riding without a new blurb. Wow.

Fret no longer, update junkies, you'll get a double fix below, trust me.

But hey, word of mouth has done the trick as most everybody knows about the Seyboro Double Century, the finishers and the excusers (..."my daughter's nails" ...what the f#ck?!). Dave, the three time finisher - we bow to the president again. Find the details on the special double century page.

- The three amigos (Tom, Mike and Dave) riding that Virginia deal, too tough for us mortals (definetely for this 200+ lbs wannabe fast guy), a breeze for the old guys. Well, Dave did finally admit that the Palmares did most of the work. The Ol' Crack'n'dale has only been seen in the rain since...

- The summer rides have been a full success, with the Tuesday ride taking over as the marquee event in terms of participation. On some nights, we've had 25-30 riders out, which proves that we have a solid riding base in Wayne County. As a matter of fact, we have added an impromptu Thursday easy ride with good participation.

More riders have ventured out into the faster club rides. Mondays and Wednesdays have seen a steady 5-15 hammerheads out for a good ol' spin 'n sweatchaballzoffkindaride. Nice.

5-15-05: The President was right: This here reporter is already slacking off on his duties. No update for almost a month. After browsing through the new 'Chronicles', you'll see why. However, the Seyboro engines kept churning. Here's what has been happening the last few weeks:

-The April 30. edition of the Seyboro Century Challenge brought out some 25 riders. Sarah was back (the D.A. claimed allergies and DNS'ed), Kyle increased his annual mileage tenfold and the Fayetteville crowd was well represented by Ol' Buddy Furman ("Do you gyus alway talk that much shit?" "Yep, that's why we ride in the first place. Y'all don't do that down there?" "Nope. It's all about love for the bike and stuff..." "Whaaaat? What a bunch of crap. HowyougonnaridelikeTHAT? We don't really like bikes at all. It's ALL about emptying your head. Just listen to Keith for a while. You'll either get it or (most likely, ed.) just go numb...").

-The shower for Baby Katie at Chuck and Velvie's was another full-blown Seyboro succees. A house full of people, great food and a father-to-be who was utterly confused by various items of baby-paraphenalia ("Pssst, Lisa! What are these? Baby tights? Are they Santinis? Where's the chamois?" ...and: "Wow, cool! What does this do? Clean bottles? (quietly to himself): Hmmmm, looks like it might fit in between a Record cogset as well. Maybe we can just rinse the bottles...").

-Shower footnote: Bobby showed up proudly displaying his special prize for winning the century: A bright blue first place ribbon!!.

-Footnote to shower footnote: That thing looked suspiciously much like the ribbon Junior ("Ccchhhhhhh...Luke, I am your father....ccchhhhhhh) won at the sheep-shearing contest in the Wayne County Ag Fair last year. Folded over in the right place, mind you, but very similar nevertheless...

-2nd shower footnote: Kyle, Maureen, Anna, Sarah, Doug - Man, it was great to see you all again!

-The Tuesday beginner rides have officially turned into semi-hammerfests, promptly prompting (huh?) the President to shoot an email to the faithful. Funny thing is, he is usually the one up front at the time of the offense. Well, he and Mike, anyway. Then again, we expect that from Drohan jr.; but from the President? Quo vadis, Dominus? Quo vadis, indeed...

-Tony has ridden his last official ride with the homeboys. No more jumping out of ditches, no more kicking the pace up into a low earth orbit, no more deep-oxygen-debt-chasing the Ol' Colnago with the completely corroded Record ergo levers. No more ABT-rides. We will miss you, Brother. Be safe in the Fatherland!

4-19-04: Update junkies rejoice - we're baaack!!!

Tuesday's beginner rides are really taking off. Even with the bridge out and an additional 3 or 4 miles, spirits are high, as are our numbers. 20 some riders, including two tandems and new riders each week! Nice, easy pace means that everyone gets home in one piece. Keep coming out, newbies, you're doing well!!!

The Pickle Ride (read: RACE) draws 128 riders this year - 12 of them Seyboros, regitered for various distances from 25 ( Go Mr.Randy!!)to 75 miles.

With temps in the 40 and a howling wind, Ol'Man Winter has made a comeback. Mike and the President use some candyass-excuse about having to help with the Kiwanis road run and don't show. Keith and Steve show up with Camelbacks ("Lookit, Man. We're not fu**ing stopping!!"). Keith is carrying 2 small children, full camping gear complete with propane cooker, a full set of metric and standard wrenches, 2 workstands, a wetsuit and running shoes ("Come on, man! I'm not even tired! I'm not even breathing hard! I'm going for a run right now! My training is not over, man! Can YOU do it, huh? huh? huh?"). Steve carries enough water to hydrate all 128 riders for the entire weekend.

The ride gets off to a decent start with some tailwind sections and not too many hills. With last year's leg ripping hammerfest courtesy of the District Attorney still on everyone mind, everyone is going p-i-a-n-o. No suicide breaks, just the usual sizing up the opponents: Mostly a couple of guys in green outfits (Long live the Seyboro colors - GO black, red and gold...) and some cat on a Calfee custom rig.

The first sag brings most of the riders to a stop ("Twenty miles? We'll easily make it to the forty, boys!!"), with Steve, Keith, Scott, Chuck, Jörg and Calfee-Mike turning down the local fare in favor of some minutes on the road.

The six carry on and are able to put some time into the green men. Keith's tri-geek upbringing come to full bloom when he and Steve ("Lookit, man. I was just rolling along...promise...") take advantage of a Calfee-Mike - initiated nature break and lay the wood to it. Attacking on a piss-stop! What self-respecting roadie would dare?

Well, after Steve drops Keith wihtout a problem and solos off into the wind, the remaining foursome get behind the team car and catch baffled Keith 3 miles later. ("I wasn't attacking. man. If I was, you'd know it! You couldn't catch me! Is this all y'all got? huh?huh?huh?")

They eventually move on to Steve up the road, who, incidentally, had not attacked either...

The Seyboros are looking to draw out Calfee-Mike, only to find out that my man was sandbagging on every uphill and headwind section. 13.2 mph - puhlease!! He could close a gap at 32 - no problem.

Anyways, the final sprint sees Jörg, Chuck, Scott, C/M and Keith cross the line in front of the Pickle buiding. Nice ride.

P.S.: What the riders could not do, his stomach did. Steve blew after heeding his wife's pre-ride dinner suggestions: Plenty of NC barbecue the night before a big race. Guaranteed no carbs and crazy heartburn at 27 mph...

Goooooooooo Wilber's!

4-6-05: Weekday Ride Mania!!!

-The first week of rides brings out a slew of riders. Tuesday tops the list with 15 Seyboros out for a nice spring evening spin. Two tandems, a recumbent rider, a converted mountain biker, Orlando on his way to recovery, ...variety on Beginner Biker Tuesday. Come back next week, y'all!!

- The president finally has a real reason to elbow out of riding all the way back to EWES. The bridge on Parkstown Road is out. No lie. He blew it up.

GO HEELS!! 2005 National Champions

4-2-05: Seyboro sightings:

-The offcial site of the Pickle Festival Ride prominently features the home team. To see the picture, a quick Google search will get you there.

Side note: Keith has promised a tri-geek-triumph for the April 16th Pickle Race. Quote: "I don't need no stinking sag stops. I'll have my camelback full and be riding away from all you soft-boiled roadies..."

-The Robinsons have announced themselves for the Wagners' baby shower at Chuck and Velvie's. Yeah!

-Greetings from the Jodices' Beijing outpost to all Seyboros.

-Chuck, Jörg and Mike ran/rode into Walt. Good to see you, Old Warrior.

-Same ride: The three spotted Al, La Grange Postal Cycling Squad, outside of Seven Springs. Broad grin - no wonder, he had the fierce tailwind.

-Although plastered all over this site, another reminder: WEEKDAY RIDES BEGIN MONDAY, APRIL 4th. Come on out and get back in shape!!

-Steve had an interesting visitor at the shop: "Nevada Dave". He is on his way to New York, from Portland, Oregon, down through California, across to Georgia and up the eastern sea board. Nice guy, check out his travels on Greenfish Sports' website (...while you're googling...)

3-30-05: You just KNEW that Chuck could not be the only Seyboro without a century in the first quarter. And right you were. He, Mike and Jörg set out to ride the Hookerton loop and then add on another 45 miles. Turns out, the Hookerton loop turned into the newly blazed "Hookerton Hundred" - no add-ons needed.

Despite well-founded fears of another "Battle of Bartlett Road" (you know, the one where Chuck has to call on his 20/10 retired-fighter-pilot-vision to read road signs before anyone else in the group can figure out where they really are), Kemo Sabe did well this time: Up Old Jason road to Institue, over to North Lenoir H.S. and Hookerton, across Fourway Road to Snow Hill, down a previously unexplored road behind the local Quickmart onto NC 58, into Stantonsburg, west on NC 222 to 181, westward to Buck Swamp and onto the homestretch on Tommy's Road - 99.7 miles on new roads plus a lap around Colony square to see the odometer turn to triple digits.

At mile 90, the trio took the obligatory "Euro-style" break: ice cream and cappuccino at Sprinkles. That, of course, made the last ten miles quite painful - nothing like heavy legs and a new overpass after a restart!

Ride note sidebar:

- Mike doubled his miles for the year.

- Chuck rode under a brand spanking new Atmos. You guessed it: dog-induced crach on the previous' day's ride. Some road rash, torn favorite jersey, scratched ergopower carbon everywhere, a bent derailleur hanger and a certain heart attack for the pooches' owner when the bill comes.

"Soooo, how much a bike like that sitcha back?"

"Oh, about six..."

"SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS? DAAYAAMMMNNN!!! Aaah cane git faahhve new 'uns at Kmart for that much!"

"Uh, hmmm, yeah, actually, oh, never mind ..."

Week of 3-27-05:

Another great weekend in in eastern Norff Caa'lina: South Jersey Sate (known as Duke U. to the sadly misguided) loses in the sweet 16, the Heels are going to the big dance (we got Roy!) and Baker junior ("...Luke,...I am your father...") rides his first century.

Although Greg Fishel is, as usual, dead wrong about 73 degrees and sunshine, over a dozen riders come out for the last chance to ride a century this quarter and qualify for much sought-after bonus points in the Seyboro Century challenge. After Mike ("Sorry guys, but it's my anniversary and I have to, uhm, bake a cake...") and Keith ("Sorry guys, but it's my wife's birthday and I have to, uhm, cut the grass again...") throw in the towel after 65, the rest of the Seyboros go on around Fields Station Road to complete the 100.

The president cannot bring himself to finish the ride on his new Palmares and actually does a reverse Ullrich (who once switched to a nicer climbing bike during a Tour stage) by using his (t)rusty aluminum beer can rig for the final 35 miles. Luke takes a double win by outsprinting everyone twice: Once on top of Parkstown Road and then again down New Hope after the group realizes that they are a few miles short after all. Steve almost spoiles the party by putting the hammer down 30 feet from the finish (aka. "sucker-win"), but comes to his senses and a screeching halt 4 inches from the line as Luke passes him after team orders.

In the official club standings, Chuck is now cleanly surpassed by Calvin, Eric (congrats, Brother!), Luke and a host of other Seyboro-regulars for the first century of the year.

Unofficial weekend recon-report:

1. The president is a closet ti-phobic, after all.

2. Calvin CAN ride without being heard five miles down the road.

3. With all the "birthdays" and "anniversaries" going on, March 26 should be a federal holiday.

4. Eric will learn the meaning of true post-ride pain after letting Bessie turn around by herself. Oh, no, grasshopper, you must never...

5. Go Heels!!!!

Week of 3-20-05:

-Aaaah - spring has finally arrived in Golsberry. Sunny, temperatures in the mid-60s, a light breeze and 13 riders out for Saturday's morning cruise. Field's Station road was the call on a double inaugural / welcome back ride:

1. Doug, new guy, strong AND riding the preferred brand of titanium frames made in Tennessee. Welcome to the club, brother!!

2. Palmares, Dave's, Rolls Royce green, immaculate, DuraAce equipped, presidentially ridden. And now we know for sure, Charles: It IS the arrow...

3. Ralph, his wife got back from Ohio and put the chair back. Well, that and some lame knee surgery excuse.

After a detour in L.A. (...looked like every single volunteer fireman in eastern NC parked his mud-stained F-150 to block off some some road in the vicinity.), we made it arround the Lenoir County dumpster onto Paul's Path. The usual Tony-initiated break came at the Blue Barn, with Scott, Jörg, Chuck, Bobby and Keith chasing. Once caught, Tony got comfy with
Jörg in the back while Scott and Chuck drove hard enough to

whittle the chasers down to the above foursome. Chuck opens up the sprint and shows everyone a clean set of wheels. Hard earned, breathless and quiet - just the way we like him...

-Sunday's outing was a bit more uncivilized with an average speed well into the 20s. An opportunistic crossing of Hwy. 70 and good form early in the season give Steve the win over Scott, Tony and Jörg.

-Roll call:...Saturday: Chuck, Tony, Scott, Bobby, Keith, Mike, Lukas, Doug, Paige, Carissa, Ralph, Dave and Jörg. Sunday: Steve, Scott, Tony, Doug, Mike, Dave, Calvin (no misprint!) and Jörg. Also seen: Pat (again, no misprint!), Brenda, Keith, Carissa, Paige and Keith (...albeit these last three running. Without bikes. Weird.)

-Rumor topic du jour:

The fate of the president's old Caad 4. Top two suggestions:

1. boat anchor

2. return to original state, i.e. cut the tubes, put lids and bottoms on, fill with beer.

Week of 3-6-05:

- 1876, The Little Bighorn, Montana: George Armstrong Custer's last stand and somewhat deserved demise comes at the hand of some ten thousand mightily pissed off Sioux and Cheyenne.

129 years later, Sun Valley Drive, La Grange, NC: Dave Galloway's last rant on the superiority of Caad 4 frames. Yes, my fellow mourner, the unthinkable has happened: Thanks to ebay and Preownedbikes.com, The President will soon enjoy the riding bliss of a slightly used 2001 Litespeed Palmares. Celeste green ("At least, I'm getting something painted, none of that bright brushed Ti-crap for me, thank you..."), full DuraAce 9, nice finishing kit altogether.

Obvious new name on the top tube: "Sitting Bullshitter"

- In case you have wondered where Alan has been: He's moved to Raleigh. He will meet with Guido for some promising riding.

- Jerry (you know, ...the guy with that white steel Masi and the Campy Delta brakeset), made cyclingnews.com with his 45+Masters' team from the North Atlanta Cycling Club. Way to go, Keezer!

And, by the way, we all knew 27 was not your real age.

- Dave, Bobby and Jörg complete the second installment of the Seyboro Century Challenge. Scott also rides the first 65, then Sarah Foley joins in for the remaining 35. Keith claims to have ridden 35 miles before the actual century and then goes home after the first loop to cut some grass.

We do have well-founded doubts, since he also claims to have beaten Pele, Diego Maradona and Franz Beckenbauer in a four-up soccer ball juggling contest that morning.

-Ralph borrowed Jörg's rollers three weeks ago and despite the decent riding weather, has not been seen since. Scott's guess: cracked driver's side window, testicular contusions and new Ultegra front lever.

Dave's guess: Ralph's wife took away the chair and went to visit her folks in Ohio for a few weeks.

- Jörg will get his rollers back. Soon. Very soon.