BIKERS BEACON<bR>
APRIL 14, '98<bR>
<P>
Question: What's the best thing about being part of our group?<bR>
Answer: A ride like we had on Tuesday.<bR>
<P>
Picture the scenario: All day long, gray skies make Michiana as<bR>
gloomy as a White Sox clubhouse in late August. But God is a<bR>
pedal-cranker, I'm convinced, because no sooner did the late<bR>
afternoon come 'round that the overcast conditions gave way to<bR>
pure early-spring Michigan sunshine.<bR>
<P>
Hearty daffodils and violets are making their spring debuts.<bR>
Eight hearty BBC members made a debut of their own on this<bR>
evening's ride. The turnout was the best of the year.<bR>
<P>
Scott Thayer, our president, and Richie Forrester, our sergeant-<bR>
at-arms. Parliamentarian Mark Samuel. The rest? Ron Johnson, Jack<bR>
Stenger, Eric States, Scott Leben and Doug Fattick. Spirits were<bR>
high, folks, let me tell you. It was biking season and everyone<bR>
knew it.<bR>
<P>
From the ad building parking lot all the way out to Five Corners<bR>
the crew kept up a social double pace line. Spring is special in<bR>
this part of the world, if only because the landscape is way-dead<bR>
for much of the year. Yeah, it was a little cool when we started<bR>
(this is April/this is Michigan), but the steady pace could've<bR>
warmed up even the most anemic among us. (Those who are waiting<bR>
for "nice weather" needn't wait any longer -- it's here.)<bR>
<P>
At Five Corners, the double pace line became a single pace line.<bR>
The tempo was quickening. By Shawnee, there was some breakage;<bR>
Singer Lake further damaged the happy unity that had been enjoyed<bR>
before. At the Hinchman Bend, President Thayer and Sergeant-at-<bR>
Arms Forrester made a convincing statement via crankshafts: "Eat<bR>
our Dura-Ace dust." He and Rich made us all hurt and it was a<bR>
pain that did not stop until the ad building parking lot was in<bR>
plain view.   <bR>
<P>
Maybe Mark's question -- posed through gritted teeth while<bR>
climbing the cursed Hinchman incline -- was emblematic of the<bR>
(good) pain we all felt: "I didn't know you could hear your heart<bR>
squeak..." Mine was crying.<bR>
<P>
But in biking, as in life, struggle gives way to accomplishment<bR>
and (in the BBC's case) congenial post-ride fellowship. We all<bR>
made it back in good form and decent time. It all went so well,<bR>
that it was felt that some awards were in order.<bR>
<P>
Swartzenneger "I Must Break You Award": President<bR>
Thayer/Sergeant-at-Arms Forrester.<bR>
<P>
Biggest Surge from Last Year: Mark Samuel. What's he putting in<bR>
his Wheaties?<bR>
<P>
Hearty Welcome Award: Eric States. Great to have him out and we<bR>
hope to see him every time. Become a BBC member: You get to learn<bR>
the secret handshake and -- special limited offer -- a free copy<bR>
of "The Quoteable Mark Samuel: Biker Lingo Dictionary." <bR>
<P>
Evening's Best One-Liner: Ron Johnson. When asked as to the most<bR>
painful part of the trip he quipped: "You mean there was supposed<bR>
to be one particular spot?"<bR>
<P>
AWOL Award: Jason Lange. While we were passing the Village<bR>
Hardware in downtown Berrien Springs, who should we see out in<bR>
front sweeping but "Meester Big" himself! Real men don't wear<bR>
brooms, dude! <bR>
<P>
The whole ride was fun and we hope to see even more folk out<bR>
there on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. This is the time of year for all<bR>
of us to get back into shape. Don't miss this train folks, it's<bR>
picking up steam.<bR>
<P>
Until Thursday, I remain,<bR>
<P>
Jack Stenger<bR>
BBC Chief Propagandist<bR>

P.S. All along Hinchman I noticed the springtime flora and fauna
that makes this time of the year the best. Also I spied a
graveyard, a horse farm, a caged dog, apple orchards and the
quaint village of Hinchman where the faithful gather at the
country Methodist church. All these things I noticed -- and
something else: there was no trash anywhere along the whole road.
Is this a great county or what? 

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