Magical mystery tour to...

Todd Gulch baby!

Mel and Chainsaw survive a Highroller designed ride! Incredible! Look, they are even smiling.

Good to hear your not too badly hurt, and thanks for the great words in regards to Tickler 3. "Not being there I can't really comment on the level of suffering and decision-making at the Tickler 3 but I will say that no one should beat themselves up about participating. Stubborness, optimism, drive, ingenuity, gumption, willpower, strength and a thirst for adventure were all on display and it is these exact qualities that are in rare supply folks. I'm very proud of everyone of you who pushed on in the face of clearly diminishing returns, who suffered to reach an arbitrary goal dreamed up by a friend of little importance to outsiders. Most play it safe, leave a margin for error, wears an extra layer and watch what they say and in the process grow pale and bloated like a veal in a box, snug and secure, unthreatend and unchallenged right up until the butcher's block. It NOT stupid to go roaming off into the unknown, lost in the mountains in unrideable snow, hike-a-biking endlessly with friends in the silent, clean, crisp woods. What would have been stupid would have been to spend Sunday going to the mall, watching tv, driving to Home Depot, getting fatter instead of fitter and softer instead of more capable. Fuck that! I say congratulations and my admiration to every one of you who pushed on, who cracked a joke or helped someone else, who looked ahead at all the snow and thought "hmmm, maybe it will clear up around the corner"! That's the fucking spirit team, don't ever give it up! With that said I got completely creamed by a Jeep on my ride into work yesterday (Chocolate Thunder Pussy, sadly, is no more!) so the Indian Peaks Traverse may have to wait a few weeks. I got off lightly and will hopefully be fine in a few days time to join YOU out there, getting it on and throwing it down, in the very near future! Thanks for the inspiration friends, Matthew"

Classic! I've added Ellen to the bIKE cLUB e-mail but do you seriously think she'll ever deign to join us again? If so she's my kinda peeps!

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Originally uploaded by shZo.

Tickler 3 started promisingly enough...
(click on the photo to see all the pictures on Flickr)

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Originally uploaded by shZo.

...and ended well. Chainsaw hammers for the safety of home - and to give MOA a tongue-lashing.

Imagine how hard it would be to bend the rails and seatpost and wrench a saddle off like this. Now imagine doing it using only your ass. Now imagine what that ass would look like after...Wait, wait. Go back and tell me what you're wearing, slowly now while I dim the lights.

Rust in peace friend, rust in peace. Chocolate Thunder Pussy bites the dust courtesy of a Jeep in a hurry yesterday morning. Be safe out there everybody!

Tickler 3 turns into Sunday, Bloody, Sunday in the form of crusty deep snow and bare shins. The carnage could have been easily avoided by using common sense, although it seems team members forgot to pack any. On a brighter side, the hot dogs were unbelievable and Ellen’s chocolate was incredible. 

Hmmm, look at all this snow? Wonder if there will be snow on our descent?