i hear that you have to be able to prove you have raced/participated in at least 5 SB's to register this year... is it true?
your best chance of finding out is at: www.stuporbowlmpls.com
on a side note, have you found a copy of cog magazine?
go get one! 1 on 1, and C-R-C both have 'em. (it's free, cheap-ass).
this domain and the hosting needs to be paid for soon.
i have been paying it for 3 years now, un-reimbursed.
which is fine, but that's all i'm gonna do.
it would make a lot more sense for somebody else to be running this thing anyway.
so, some messenger, (any messenger), needs to contact me and transfer this shit to their name.
it will disappear forever, in january, if no one can do this.
i'm sure someone will buy up mbma.net quick and we will never get it back.
welcome to the new mbma site.
don't bother changing your bookmarks just yet, this will likely get moved eventually...
but no matter what happens, mbma.net will get you to the right place.
i doubt eveything is working correctly yet, and frankly i ain't got the time to deal with it, so hold your horses and it'll get worked out.
at least i can put up info in these posts quick, and easy.
see ya at the races.
If there is one good thing about France, besides their continued refusal of increasing their workweek despite insistence of worldwide corporate capitalist forces, it's a long tradition of bicycle racing. Sure, French-threaded bottom brackets have died off, much to the dismay of many a proud Viscount or Motobecane owner, but the Le Tour lives on.
The Yellow Bag was created by Jason Stukel in anticipation of his leaving the courier profession as a continuing prize that is given to the top local courier in the most recent Minneapolis alleycat race. After receiving the Bag, the winner gets to add their name to the growing list of champions on the inside front panel.
The Bag embodies all the ideals of a good messenger- just large enough to carry a small envelope (if you take out your patch kit, if you carry one) and not too proud to turn down large packages. No, wait, that's not quite right- how about functional, efficient and stylish? A lot nicer to pass around than that stinky, old, yellow jersey we used to have.
Minneapolis Alleycat Champions | |||
| 1.30.99 | Jason Stukel | Stupor Bowl II | |
| 5.21.99 | TIM GELLERMAN | ||
| 6.25.99 | Amber Ella Elandt | ||
| 7.9.99 | WHEELS | ||
| 8.15.99 | WHEELS | ||
| 9.22.99 | Amber Ella Elandt | ticket to HPR | |
| 10.8.99 | MARTIN | ||
| 12.03.99 | WHEELS | "Ides" | |
| 1.07.2G | Brad Emery | ||
| 1.29.2G | Shane Mathews | Stupor Bowl III | |
| 3-08-00 | MARTIN LICIOUS | ||
| 3.24.2000 | SVEN! | ||
| 4.6.2000 | MARK-O | ||
| 4.21.2G's | B-rad | ||
| 5.5.2G | WHITEBREAD | ||
| 5.31.2G | SHANE M. | ||
| 6.9.2G | Seng | ||
| 7.28.00 | Whitebread | ||
| 11.4.00 | SAM KUNKEL | ||
| 12.15.2000 | B*RAD | ||
| 1.27.2001 | JAY GROPEN | STUPOR BOWL 4 | |
| 3.9.2001 | Mark-o | Buried Bikes Alleycat | |
| 4.13.2001 | Christian | ||
| 4.27.2001 | Gene-O | Art Show opening | |
| 6.9.2001 | B-rad | St. Paul Crackdog | |
| 6.22.2001 | Joe | Crackdog Stage 2 | |
| 01.08.03 | Seng | Milwaukee Crackdog Time Trial | |
| 8.17.2001 | Sam | Crackdog Stage 4 | |
| 11.03.2001 | Tony | Halloween Fundraiser | |
| 12.21.2001 | JAY GROPEN | St. Ides | |
| 2.2.2002 | JAY GROPEN | STUPOR BOWL V | |
| 12.13.2002 | Martin | St. Ides | |
| 1.26.2003 | JAY GROPEN | STUPOR BOWL VI | |
| 2.2.2004 | Matt Allen | STUPOR BOWL VII | |
| Super Rookie | Murder Cat | ||
| MattAllen | BBQ Cat | ||
| 2.5.2005 | Spencer! | STUPOR BOWL VIII | |
| 9.22.2005 | Spencer | Mean Streets. | |
| 10.15.2005 | Caitlin / Matt Allen | Messenger Homecoming | |
So what in the fuck, you might ask, is the MBMA?
Well, we're a loose knit, (or tight knit depending on who you ask), non-organization of bike messengers in Minnepolis.
A downtown, street level, Professional Organization designed to improve and maintain the current working conditions for bike messengers in Minneapolis and promote cycling as a method of transportation and good times.
It also serves as a conduit between messengers of Minneapolis, (and St. Paul), and the larger worldwide cycling and messenger communities. Basically a support system for each other... You know, someone to bitch about your day to, to have a beer with after work.
For those contemplating working as a messenger: the MBMA is not a company, and does not exist to get you a job!
Please do not email, visit us, or phone us looking for a job -- call the companies like the rest of us had to.
Thanks.
Moving on...
Call us what you will: work horses, daredevils, nuisances...whatever.
We are bike messengers.
We work hard, (or we don't - depends on the pay).
We love our jobs, and we hate our jobs... depends on the weather, our mood, and/or the severity of our hangover...
So wanna hire us? Wanna be us? (most people do...we understand).
Well sir/ma'am you've come to the right place...here in you'll find our "personal profiles", as well as a list of courier companies hiring bike messengers,and the following FAQ to answer all of your queries.
Breath deep children...
Q: How do i get a job as a messenger?
A: If I had a nickel... seriously. It's not that I hate you for asking, it's just that I hate you for being the 15th person to ask today. All I can tell you is: Apply, Interview, Get Hired....just like anyother job.
It helps if you have, and can ride a bicycle.
Q: Who are the members of the MBMA?
A: Membership consists primarily of current bike messengers in Minneapolis.
Q: Who is in charge of what?
A: Good question. There isn't a set hierarchical structure to the MBMA, but we are generally run on consensus or xerocracy. Recent spontanious elections made Spencer President, and Treasury. SuperRookie VP, and The Little Guy Secretary.
Now we just have to figure out what that means.
Q: How far does a Minneapolis Messenger usually ride in a day?
A: Further than you think. Remember, we get paid by the job.
Q: What sort of things do you guys usually carry at work?
A: In our bags at any given time are: packages from the previous day, our lunches, more packages - envelopes, boxes, flats, tubes, etc..., tools, spare tube, patch kit, extra layers, rain gear, a good book, a few bucks, and later probably a case of beer.
Q: What is the pay like?
A: Ouch. This is the worst. It's like asking a girl how much she weighs... you just don't do it.
But since you asked;
There are some lucky messengers in Minneapolis that are hired as employees. They get hourly pay and benefits. Most of us, however, are independent contractors. The majority of us get paid per job, with no hourly base. So, it really depends on who you work for, how hard you work, the time of year, and the state of the economy.
So, in a word: Shit.
Q: I saw a messenger run a red light. What's with that?
A: The laws for cycling in Minneapolis are posted
here.
We break them at our own risk. We don't, however, don't do so recklessly. If we did, we would be putting ourselves in tremendous danger. Remember, we do this shit for a living, and we do it every day. We excersize caution to minimize the potential for harm to ourselves, pedestrians, and even automobile passengers. What might look "dangerous" to the casual observer, is in reality a carefully excacuted, highly refined, skill that has been honed over the course of years on the job.
Please, (really- please), don't emulate us, especially in traffic! Nobody wants to see you get yourself hurt.
Also, we don't really "get away" with it, either: every couple of weeks, another messenger gets a ticket. But yes, you probably did see us run a red light.
So you wanna make a go at being a "tag-junkie", do ya?
Well rookie, you could start by calling every courier company in the yellowpages.
Good fucking luck.
All those companies get many, many calls
every day.
I suggest growing a spine, and riding your crappy-ass single speed racer downtown and talking to the couriers you see there.
BUT WAIT! Don't harass me when I'm working! Don't accost me when I am hustling out of the IDS, at 4:56 trying to get some bullshit filing to USDC by 5:00.
Just chill out, act normal, and make friends. Best way to get a job... referal. There are very few jobs available, and you can't have mine.
Maybe I sound like a dick, but that's just because I am... and cause you are just a pose-enger.
You may remember our friend Tyler, who had his wheels ripped off by some total fuckball.
Well, our beautiful bike culture here in Minneapolis bound together and we found Tyler's wheels, (well actually just the rear one), we all should be very proud of ourselves!
Shit like this is what makes our scene so fucking great. In a lot of cities those wheels would be gone and no one would give a fuck.
It is seriously awesome that we have a culture here that we can accomplish shit like that.
I want to thank anyone and everyone who read the post and kept their eyes open, asked around, or even thought about what a crock of shit it is to get ripped off by another kid who thinks he's part of the same scene as you.
That being said, we are still looking for the front wheel, so let us know if you know something.
I'll put out a $200 dollar Bounty for info leading to their
recovery. Keep your eyes peeled if you can.
Tyler "Skidsy" Denniston
Category 6 Racing Squad
did you see the stops yet?
It was a chilly day, the first StuporBowl had seen in a few years, but it was by no means the bitter cold we all hope to see on this day.
We take what we can get though, and the locals were feeling like their chances were good... soon the truth would rear it's ugly head.
An amazing 225 people registered to ride, and i'm sure a few more folks tagged along, making StuporBowl 9 THE BIGGEST ALLEYCAT EVER. ANYWHERE.
Fuck yeah, eat that NYC.
A few minutes before the start time the racers were herded over to the super-secret starting spot, at Boom Island, and everyone was given their manifests and sent "le mans" style on their way. The Nordeast-ish start had definatly thrown a wrench into some peoples plans as folks raced of in every direction.
We had planned a few ugly suprises along the route, you know, just to keep the kids on their toes, like mini-manifests at two stops, and the infamous flat tire stop. As well as forcing everyone to try and count all the stars on First Ave... Ha!
Fred was once again stationed out on the ice on Lake Calhoun, which for the theme of the race was known as Lake Minnetonka for the day, and many sorry s.o.b.'s did try to turn in manifest that said Calhoun... sorry kids, better luck next time!
The race was scored by the number of checkpoints that you made it to within the time limit, with the tie-breaker being the finishing order.
I.e., if two people had the same number of stops completed who ever had showed up at the finish first would place higher.
At the finish line it was a devastating day for the locals as we gave the top THREE spots to Wisconsin!
Kevin Strode from Milwaukee took top honors, with the tag-team of brothers Marko and James in 2nd and 3rd.
The three were the only ones to finish the enitre manifest!
Top female was Minneapolis veteran Liz who finish a super strong 8th in the overall, with Katie and Jamie one stop down in 2nd and 3rd.
Minneapolis represented HUGE in the stupor side of the comp, with B-rad a clear winner for the men, and defending womens champ Meg on the womens side!
Top placed local was Matt Allen, missing only one stop, who will take the yellow Bag for Stupor Bowl for a second time!
the spoke cards were rad too. Thanks to all who helped make this event happen!
Results as folows....
preliminary results. | ||
| 1st Kevin S. | milwaukee | |
| 2nd Marko L. | madison | |
| 3rd James L. | milwakee | |
| 4th Matt Allen | mpls | |
| 5th SuperRookie | chicago | |
| 6th RoundTree | minneapolis (first to lose to super-rookie). | |
| 7th Leif | mpls | |
| 8th Liz | mpls | |
| 9th Mike Sobol | mpls | |
| 10th Noah | ? | |
women. | ||
| 1st Liz | mpls | |
| 2nd Katie | philly | |
| 3rd Jamie | philly | |
| 4th Gwen | mpls | |
| 5th Steph S. | mpls | |
Drunks
Men B-Rad
Women Meg (the only defending champ this year!)
Medallion
carlos! (it was in the Sculpture Gardens).
Poker
fullhouse kings over aces
Rob S. aka Tuffy Cat 6 racing, mpls
We are all alleycats at heart.
The hunt is in our blood.
We do not fear the elements, the traffic, or the competition.
We do it because we have nothing better to do.
A brief alleycat history of Minneapolis:
the yellow bag.
Stupor Bowl History and Results.
One on One.
Our favorite "bike shop" to hang out and drink coffee at.
The Hub.
Our favorite shop... to... ummm... writing these sucks.
NYBMA.
NYC Website.(fuck puma though...)
SFBMA..
SF Website.
Portland.
Portland messenger Website. They love us, and we love them.
Houston.
I got warrants in every city except Houston...
e-rock has a website!
if you don't know, find out quick.
The Gold One.
You just can't fuck with Minnesota.
The MCF.
Minnesota Cycling.
Wanna Race? Go here.
The NSC Velodrome.
Think you're fast? Prove it.
(Yeah, I'm talking to you Team Puma).
C-R-C.
Cars indeed are Coffins..
You might think that you are too cool, but you're not.
Visit C-R-C now.
trackstar NYC
you will drool.
Cat Six Racing
Cat six is the peoples racing team. For real.
messenger images will be here... eventually.
things like:
StuporBowl Photos.
AlleyCat Photos.
Sometimes Nick's Modeling Portfolio.
Fliers.
Art stuff.
StuporBowl 1
StuporBowl 2
StuporBowl 3
StuporBowl 4
StuporBowl 5
StuporBowl 6
StuporBowl 7
StuporBowl 8
StuporBowl 9
StuporBowlX
It was a cold day. But to the locals, it felt like a heat wave.
Race Day came on the tail end of a serious Alberta clipper, the most vicious cold snap we've seen in five years. With temperatures predicted to soar into the high teens, the locals faced a welcome break from the -44 wind chills they had seen only one day prior. A medium dusting of snow was also on the forecast, promising to make things interesting for everybody.
Seventy-three registrants huddled at the starting line. Some did jumping jacks to stay warm, others stood still, letting the pre-race butterflies do the work. Everyone knew that there was no defending champion. This year, the playing field was even. This year, it was anyone's race.
2004 saw the return of the Stupor Champ title, handed out to the first racer to finish who has a drink at every stop. A coveted title, to be sure.
| Start: The Bench | above Lasalle on the Loring Greenway |
| Bryant-Lake Bowl | 810 W Lake St |
| Bullwinkle's | 1429 Washington Ave S |
| Country Bar and Grill | 3006 Lyndale Ave S |
| Grumpy's Bar (Northeast) | 2200 NE 4th ST |
| Grumpy's Bar and Grill (Downtown) | 1111 Washington Ave S |
| Lee's | 101 Glenwood Ave |
| Lyle's Bar and Restaurant | 2021 Hennepin Ave S |
| Mayslack's Polka Lounge | 1428 NE 4th St |
| Pizza Luce (Downtown) | 119 N 4th St |
| Skyway Lounge | 725 Hennepin Avenue |
| Terminal Bar | 409 East Hennepin Ave |
| Finish: The Triple Rock | 629 Cedar Ave S |
| Open division | |||
| 1. Matt Allen | Minneapolis | First Fixie | |
| 2. Mike Brauer | Minneapolis | First Civilian | |
| 3. Tim Hayes | Minneapolis | ||
| 4. John Swanson | Minneapolis | ||
| 5. Martin | Minneapolis | ||
| 6. Spencer Haugh | Milwaukee | ||
| 7. Adam Clark | Chicago | First Out-of-towner | |
| 8. Andy Larson | Minneapolis | ||
| 9. Hurl | Minneapolis | ||
| 10. Steve Rowntree | Chicago | ||
| 11. Nick Bohrer | Minneapolis | ||
| 12. Amy Campbell | Minneapolis | First Woman | |
| 13. Gabe Flowers | Milwaukee | ||
| 14. Brent Olds | Chicago | ||
| 15. Michael Sobol | Mpls/Colorado | ||
| 16. Damien Tank | Minneapolis | ||
| 17. Sven | Minneapolis | ||
| 18. Kevin Stroede | Milwaukee | ||
| 19. Nick Gibbons | Chicago | ||
| 20. Otto | Minneapolis | ||
| 21. Marko | Mpls/Madison | ||
| 22. Gene-O | Minneapolis | ||
| 23. Araby | Minneapolis | ||
| 24. Dave C. | Madison | ||
| 25. Tim Gellerman | Minneapolis | ||
| 26. Noah Kaufman | Minneapolis | ||
| 27. Jim Oliver | ? | ||
| 28. Shaggy | Milwaukee | Stupor Champ | |
| 29. Sam Tracy | Minneapolis | ||
| 30. Danielle Olson | Minneapolis | ||
| 31. Patrick Moen | Minneapolis | 2nd Stupor | |
| 32. Petar Brinson | Madison | ||
| 33. Todd | Philadelphia | 3rd Stupor | |
| 34. Darrell Berg | Minneapolis | ||
| 35. Eric Schuller | Minneapolis | ||
| 36. Theo | Minneapolis | ||
| 37. Deevil | Minneapolis | ||
| 38. Vladimir Lenin | Minneapolis | ||
| 39. Jeff | Minneapolis | ||
| 40. Teddie | Chicago | ||
Finishing with a special rocknroll show at The Triple Rock with Signal to Trust, The Skinnys, and The Vets. 5pm, a measly $2. 21+ (doin' it for the kids).
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:
| 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 | |||
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 |
