StuporBowl 6
Some said it would never happen. Since the inception of this race, the date has turned from the coldest day of the year to one of the warmest of the winter. With the coldest October on record revealing itself not as a prelude to what was to come, but really just what was to come, hopes were fading fast for a cold Stupor Bowl. But hope was not lost.
It was sunny, but it was cold. Finally. Not real cold; closer to, "everything's melting" than, "too cold to snow", but still a lot better than previous years. A relatively fresh blanket of white and dry covered the landscape with the accompanying spots of brown and slippery covering the streets. All in all, excellent conditions for a messenger race.
Despite the sun and a lovely view of the city, riders were not quite as inclined to stand around and mingle as in previous years. Who knew why? There were always new faces and some old ones who come out of the woodwork to enjoy the start, even to race. Milwaukee, San Francisco and Lincoln (Nebraska!) were representing. Heck, Chicago finally came back. Maybe they didn't want to break down and let slip their secret routing, an easy possibility with the lo-tech truth serum that was flowing free. Maybe they were all itching for ink at Twilight Tattoo. Or to wrestle the infamous, "Girl Arm" and take a roll of the dice at Muddy Waters or eat a dill pickle potato chip at the Sculpture Garden. Rumors of unknown humiliation at the Hoophouse abounded, helped along by vague secrecy of the organizers. But how could they have known the delights that awaited them? Everyone, of course, wanted their shot at Jay and Liz who both were racing for their third consecutive titles.
Could be it was that their feet were turning into iceblocks. Who can say with the kids these days.
In any case, with 59 entrants, the race went off a bit after 3pm.
The stops:
- Palmer's Bar - 500 Cedar Avenue South
- Dunn Brother's Coffee - 925 Nicollet Mall
- The Hoophouse - 2517 16th Avenue South
- La Pantura - 650 25th Avenue SE #420
- Twilight Tattoo - 3054 Bloomington Avenue South
- The Witches Tower - University Avenue SE between Malcolm and Clarence
- Muddy Waters Cafe - 2401 Lyndale Avenue South
- Garrettshaus - 1000 University Avenue SE, House #19
- Upper Mississippi Lock and Dam - One South Portland
- Walker Sculpture Garden - 726 Vineland Place
- Skyway Lounge - 725 Hennepin Avenue
- Big Brick Building - 1224 Quincy Avenue NE #300
Finish: The Hub Bicycle Co-op
| Open division | |||
| 1. Jay Gropen (manifest) | 1hr 9min 20sec | Minneapolis | First Fixie |
| 2. Martin Rudnick | 1:15:25 | Minneapolis | |
| 3. Steve Rowntree | 1:16:55 | Minneapolis | First Civilian |
| 4. Erin Willingham | 1:16:56 | Chicago | First From Afar |
| 5. Sean Nelson | 1:21:21 | Minneapolis | |
| 6. Gabe Flowers | 1:21:37 | Miilwaukee | |
| 7. Dale Bowles | 1:24:35 | Minneapolis | |
| 8. Paul | 1:24:56 | Minneapolis | |
| 9. Greg Degrace | 1:25:03 | Minneapolis | |
| 10. Nick Lippert | 1:25:56 | Chicago | |
| 11. Mike Morell | 1:25:58 | Chicago | |
| 12. Sven | 1:26:25 | Minneapolis | |
| 13. Matt Allen | 1:28:05 | Minneapolis | |
| 14. Tat | 1:28:10 | Minneapolis | |
| 15. Kevin S. | Milwaukee | ||
| 16. Mike Brauer | Minneapolis | ||
| 17. Jordan Hermann | Minneapolis | ||
| 18. Andy Larson | Minneapolis | ||
| 19. Mike Harris | Minneapolis | ||
| 20. Herbie Green | Minneapolis | ||
| 21. Chris C. | Minneapolis | ||
| 22. Eric Sovern | Minneapolis | ||
| 23. Conor | Minneapolis | ||
| 24. Carlos | Minneapolis | ||
| 25. Jameson | Minneapolis | ||
| 26. Eric | Milwaukee | ||
| 27. Peter Diantoni | Minneapolis | ||
| 28. Bill Morgan | Milwaukee | ||
| 29. Eli | Minneapolis | ||
| 30. Dan S. | Minneapolis | ||
| 31. Joel H. | Minneapolis | ||
| 32. Tim F. Gellerman | Minneapolis | ||
| 33. Mark Finn | Minneapolis | ||
| 34. Shaggy | Milwaukee | ||
| 35. Black Rob | Minneapolis | ||
| 36. B-rad | Minneapolis | ||
| 37. Mike | San Francisco | D.F.L. | |
| Women's division | |||
| 1. Maty Sauter (manifest) | 1:28:28 | Minneapolis | Fixie (14th overall) |
| 2. Araby Williams | 1:31:53 | Minneapolis | (15th overall) |
| 3. Amy Campbell | Minneapolis | ||
| 4. Kristine | Minneapolis | First Civilian Woman | |
| 5. Guenevere | Chicago | ||
| First to Twilight Tattoo | |||
| $50 gift certificate | |||
| Local: Amy Campbell | |||
| Visitor: Kevin S., Milwaukee | |||
| Asskickinest Prize | |||
| For riding from the third stop to the finish with a flat front tire | |||
| Carlos, Minneapolis | |||
Excellent prizes and supported donated by:
Blazing Saddles Bicycle Messenger
Palmer's Bar
The Hub Bicycle Co-op
The Grease Pit
| Friday the 24th | |
| evening - 1am (bar close) | Welcome Party and Art Show Closing |
| Palmer's Bar and Grease Pit Bike Shop | |
| 500 Cedar Avenue South | |
| Registration and cruisersprint qualifying | |
| Saturday the 25th | |
| 1-2:30pm | Registration at Blazing Saddles office |
| 11 S. 12th Street #102 | |
| 2:30-3pm | Registration moves to Boom Island Park |
| 8th Avenue NE and Old Man River (Plymouth Bridge) | |
| 3pm | Start the Holiday Tour of The City (aka alleycat action) |
| 3pm-??? | Finish at The Hub Bicycle Co-op |
| post finish | Rocknrollpartyaction |
| 2323 27th Avenue South | |
| Cruisersprint qualifiers and finals | |
| 9:30pm | Music by The Lentils, The Bleeding Hickeys, Monkeypaw, and The Vets recorded dance hits to follow |
| Sunday the 26th | |
| all day | Heck if I care, you're not my responsibility anymore |
