Bootlegger's Bliss III (w/ bunches of big, stolen pics)
Up in my parts, my bud iconoclasst puts on the Bootlegger's Bliss. The concept is simple: brew some beer, then bring enough to share at the event, along with your bike, a homemade dish, and your S.O., if you are so inclined.
Day of Numero Tres (or Trois, if you are french-inclined) was last Saturday, and ~37 foo's showed up at the secret-squirrel venue...somewhere in Merryland, under a picnic shelter, in the autumn woods. We started off with a big group ride, mixing and meshing the seasoned with the newbies, to traipse through the trees, streams, and rocks.
Dkeg sports the reverse-skunk goattee: (pic: Hjalti. Click it.)
The Great Pumpkin Allroy chases Lynn: (pic: Donna. Click it.)
Beerme does the stump ride: (pic: riderx. Click it.)
Jaybone and Jones: (pic: Wrench. Click it.)
Buchetti with the new Paul Bunyan look: (pic: iconoclasst. Click it.)
After a couple of hours of fun, mixed with the sprinkling of technicals, we converged back at the shelter to sample each other's homemade brews and dishes (but not S.O.s). I've never homebrewed before, but riderx took me under his wing a month ago and said I could join him when he was brewing up a batch. With his buddy Sam, the three of us wrangled up a pumpkin ale and a coffee oatmeal stout. No starter kit for those two, they do it from scratch. I don't drink beer much, but I got to taste it for the first time at the Bliss, and if I can say so myself, it turned out good.
After sating ourselves with insanely good food such as fresh-fried fries & wings, just-shucked oysters, and of course, beer, the antics began. JoeP, who didn't come (as usual), lent me his unicycle. What better way to destroy ourselves than to get on one after getting a nice buzz? None, minus Wrench, had prior experience, so the end result was lots of falling and laughing in each other's faces. After all, that's what friends are for.
Massively unskilled: (pic: Glueslug. Click it.)
Massively skilled: (pic: Glueslug. Click it.)
Oh yeah, what better way than to destroy ourselves? Drink a little more, then start a crash-up derby in the parking lot, interspersed with box-hopping.
There's a puppy underneath the box: (pic: iconoclasst. Click it.)
Derby King b1umb0y goes down: (pic: Buchetti. Click it.)
Punishment for squishing the puppy: (pic: Buchetti. Click it.)
If you weren't taken out during the derby, welp, there's always the table hopping. Ultimate goal was to get on top and over, and for the second year in a row, bIumb0y is the only one able to do it.
Dkeg Bailage: (pic: iconoclasst. Click it.)
Trials King and the jealous onlookers: (pic: extrafunky. Click it.)
Two days later, I'm still sore, but the memories will last much longer. Thanks iconoclasst, and all the others that helped and came out. Bang up, swell times.
29er content: within the above post, you will find several Karate Monkeys, Jones SpaceFrames, an IF Ti 29er, a Black Sheep, a lime green Niner, Bianchi Rita, Raleigh XXIX, On-One Inbred 29, etc., etc., etc.
...there was no puppy under that box. It was a day-old kitten with attached umbilicus.
A huge heartfelt thanks to all who attended this year's event. With somewhere around 37 participants, this was the most successful one to date, and if the number of smiles I saw all day on people's faces is any indication of their level of satisfaction, next year should be even better.
The quality and variety of food and beer this year could not possibly have been better. The homebrew ran the gauntlet, from barleywines to trippels to stouts to IPAs, and everywhere in between; all of it tasty! The top-notch culinary offerings included such diverse treats as Mike Clarkson's raw oysters and clams (brilliant!) and Todd Bauer's cooked-on-the-spot hot wings and french fries. I'm still dreaming about the spread and wishing this thing ran the whole weekend. The weather was perfect, the route was fantastic—a great blend of just about everything you could want in a loop—and the post-ride asphalt derby and tabletop trials segments somehow managed to surpass last year's efforts.
Specials nods go to Jon "Baler" Schultz for planning an awesome route, to Butch "Bootch-wah" Ramsey for his excellent print production work on the signage, and to all who were sufficiently sodden to rumble in the parking area and take on the picnic table behind the pavilion, to the delight of everyone else. Well done--the Bliss wouldn't have been the same without your help, and I appreciate it.
Hope to have a write-up posted here soon. Here's looking to next year!
Pic credits: Butch Ramsey (top) and Glueslug (bottom)
Last edited by iconoclaSSt; 11-03-2008 at 11:58 AM.
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
Looks like fun! So why did all of you Jones fat-fronters choose to run your regular 29er wheel? Just curious about when you choose one over the other.
For me, the Endomorph is finicky and has some handling quirks (which I guess I could get used to), but the regular wheel handles better through most of the riding that I do. Plus, the regular wheel is at least 1.5-2 pounds lighter (at least the way I have mine built up.)
The 'organizer' Iconoclasst-bone banned fat wheels for the event, claiming some unfair advantage. Mainly so he could get his cheap shot in and bail out...
I like the fat wheel, but it's overkill for most regular riding, plus 2 - 2.5lbs of extra weight on the front gets tiring. Long fast downhills it's super fun, slow techy riding not so much.
Originally Posted by tamjam
Looks like fun! So why did all of you Jones fat-fronters choose to run your regular 29er wheel? Just curious about when you choose one over the other.
29er content: within the above post, you will find several Karate Monkeys, Jones SpaceFrames, an IF Ti 29er, a Black Sheep, a lime green Niner, Bianchi Rita, Raleigh XXIX, On-One Inbred 29, etc., etc., etc.
There was an Astrix Monk there too
Thanks iconoclast for putting this on, everyone had a good time.
It was indeed a great time. Thanks to Icon O'Classt for hosting the event and Baler for the route. That was some good riding, when Tony wasn't fixing his chain, and even better beer and food. My back is still tweaked from that damn uni. I shouldn't go 20+ years between rides I guess.
Posted a short video of the derby on You Tube if anyone is interested.
Can't wait 'til I'm back in Baltimore in a year or so for this. Kinda funny that his post comes up, I'll be brewing a honey wheat this evening...not exactly a fall/winter beer, but still tasty.
Cheers!
-jon
I build that beach a lovely set of wheels and he takes a picnic table to them. I don't get no respect.
The reverse skunk goat is beyond awesome though.
Thanks for the pics Ricky.
Pete
Sorry, Pete but that is what happens after a few beers. I had a real hard time running into Ricky. I kept aiming for his wheels so his new Jonesey didn't take the brunt of my aggression.
I think Steve and DT need to get serious about their offer to have a springtime Bliss up here in Mass.
Working on making it happen in the spring, Jace. Will keep everyone posted.
"I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailleur? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!'' -- Henri Desgrange, from an article in L'Equipe
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Originally Posted by Drevil
Homebrew, check! Bike, check!
