Git'n PUMPED!

Greetings. While wasting time trying to find any Olympic events on TV that *aren't* skiing or ice skating, ("ice-dancing" is on right now...) I've been getting super pumped to go ride some big fucking hills this Sunday. I've been out on some sneaky recon rides out within that perimeter, and let me tell you, they are still really hard. Having seen the bridge that is sort-of out on Hardt Road, I think that we'll probably skip that little jaunt over to and up Dehart Farms. We could probably walk the bridge, but who wants to walk when you can ride. I can't say that I'm too heartbroken over that one, as we'll all be either at the entrance to, or deep within the pain cave by then.

If you haven't ridden out in this area before, and are wondering whether you should run gears or SS, just know that there are several hills that go above 20% and in some cases approach or exceed 25%. That's pretty steep. Like ballpark-beer prices steep. That being said, 2 crazy jibroneys went singlespeed last year. One was even on his flipping mountain bike.

*Edit* Please note that this is not a supported ride in any way shape or form.

Now for our quiz of the... week. Extra points if you can identify this "celebrity" from the great Stonecutters Song on The Simpsons:

Second question: What hilarious line does Moe say in this scene?

So until this Sunday... make sure your derailleur's lower limit screws are set properly.

-Casey F. Ryback

Death By Hills Ride deetale

Greetings. So here's the lowdown. (I said "load.") If you'd like to do this ride, and really challenge yourself in the same way that Mason Storm challenged himself in "Hard To Kill," then listen up cuz' I'm fin'a drop a few truth bombs on you.
-
What: ROUTE Nearly 100 miles of hilly goodness, never more than 10 or 15 miles from the starting point.

Where: Starting at Lone Elk Coffee Please park in the lower area of the lot, per Ralph's request.

When: Sunday, Feb 28th at 9AM - clicking in at 9AM, so get there early and be ready to ride!

WHAT ELSE:
-Last year's ride took about 6 hours.
-This is a really fucking hard route. Seriously. That's why it took 6 hours to ride 83.5 miles last year.
-This is *not* a supported ride, so bring plenty of food and fluids, and cash/plastic to buy more when we stop at the few gas stations.
-I reserve the ability to cancel or alter the ride depending on weather - I'm not going out for a 6 hour ride below freezing or in the rain or snow. Might still ride, but won't be as ambitious. Jerks. Last year's weather was sunny and mid-to-high 30's, and I really hope we have that again!
-You might want to start limbering up your t'aint now.
-Unlike my underpants, this route isn't marked.
-I welcome random cursing and verbal bashing directed towards me at the base of any and all hills, as per the practice from last year.

The few, easy places to refuel on the route:
-the gas station at Allenton/44
-the gas station at Wild Horse Creek/Eatherton
-water @ Drew's house
-water @ Thrasher's house
-water fountains in Rockwoods Reservation next to Smokey the Bear, though they are probably off for the winter

Pace: NOT a hammerfest. Talking pace except on the hills, where you do whatever you have to do to get to the top. I want to ride in a nice cohesive group with friends and people I know (thus the idea of "organizing" a group ride) but I'd also like to throw out the idea the group break into smaller groups if people are waiting for more than 10 minutes at the top of each hill. So please print out a copy of the route or download the map-my-ride link onto your Garmin, and use that to guide you if you find yourself sans-group. I'll probably do this as well and bring some.

Here is the route, typed out. I made a couple of small changes over last year, notably the little out-and-back Dehardt Farms road, which will equalize your brain into a 1980's sitcom mush, and a little jaunt up Smith School Road - otherwise it is pretty much the same as last year:

-Start at Lone Wolf Coffee
-Head west on Clayton,
-Left on Thunderhead Canyon Dr.
-Left on Westglen Farms Dr.
-Right on "Village Plaza View Dr," toward the stripmall
-enter bike path opposite the parking lot
-left across black pedestrian bridge, crossing Hwy 100
-left after bridge
-right onto Old Manchester (across from the Jack in the Box)
-left onto Woods Rd. Descend and turn left up Bartizan, come back down, and continue down Woods.
-left onto bike path and ride south along Hwy 109.
-left up Old State for about .1 mile
-left onto Redtail Hawk Dr
-Then turn/veer left onto Johns Cabin Rd, which is a clockwise loop (Mitch's secret training loop) and will bring you back to Old State.
-Cross 109 at Old State, turn right up Alt Rd.
-Left on Forby.
-Right onN. Central Ave
-Cross over Hwy 44, turn right onto West Main St (in between train tracks.)
-left onto Wengler and start Allenton Loop, going CCW.
-Exit Allenton Loop to the left, go underneath Hwy 44, and climb Allenton Rd.
- right onto Scenic Loop Rd, going opposite direction.
-right, continuing on Allenton Rd.
-left onto Melrose
-right onto Hwy 100
-right onto Woodland Meadows Dr.
-right onto Old Manchester
-right onto Glencoe (through Rockwoods.)
-Go straight up Melrose
-Turn right (again) onto Hwy 100, cross over and turn left and continue on Melrose all the way until it descends to Hwy T.
-Left on T
-Left on Bassett
-Left onto Cremin's Green, out-and-back. Continue up Bassett.
-Left onto Old Manchester
-left onto Bouquet.
-Left onto Ossenfort, cross T, and continue on Ossenfort.
-Right turn onto Hardt Road (at the bottom of Ossenfort Hill)
-Left turn up Dehardt Farms Rd at stopsign - go to end and turn back around in cul-de-sac.
-right back onto Hardt Rd, returning to Ossenfort.
-right back onto Ossenfort
-Continue straight onto Wild Horse Creek
-turn left up Babler Forest as an out-and-back.
-Come back down, and turn right onto Wild Horse Creek, climbing to Rieger.
-Turn left onto Rieger
-Right on Pond.
-left on Smith School Rd.
-Left on BA.
-left into Babler State Park. Once in Babler, turn right onto John Cochran Dr (CCW loop), turn right up Theodore Wirth Drive, and left down Guy Park Dr (past the pool). Turn right back up John Cochran Dr, climb up the first hill, and turn left at the bottom of the other side (also John Cochran Dr (be careful on the gravel!) and duck under gate to exit Babler State Park.
-Immediately turn right up Wild Horse Creek Drive (Doberman.)
-Turn right onto Old Eatherton.
-Left onto Orville.
-Right up Shephard.
-Left onto bike path alongisde 109
-Left onto Clayton back to Lone Wolf Coffee.

*a mercy option to take Shephard to Streucker to Kehrs Mill back to Lone Wolf is in effect, thus shortening the ride by several miles.
*Please take note of where to exit Babler State Park - it is not well marked, and easy to miss. It is at the bottom of the second climb, when you will pass by it at first, and then loop back around to it. It is not very well paved, and you will have to go underneath a metal gate.
*UPDATE* the addition of going to DeHart Farms might be out because of bridge that is out, in which case we'll just continue down Ossenfort.



That should be it for important info. With any luck, Scott might actually get lucky with a man-boy-who-looks-like-chick, just hopefully not at the expense of the group's progress. At least there will be amazing food waiting afterwards.

Holy shit.

-Casey F. Ryback, Regular Guy

Death By Hill Ride Official Date, SON!

Greetings Team Seagal Loyalistas! Here Ye, Here Ye - Let ring through the streets and towns that the date for the Death By Hill ride has changed just slightly from Thursday the 25th to Sunday the 28th!

Let me repeat that - SUNDAY THE 28th. Of February.

We'll go up and down like a thousand times. We'll go up some hills that are so steep you'll wonder how the pavement hasn't tipped backwards and fallen back down the hill. I'll put the route up soon, so stay tuned.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that this site for the fake, unofficial team exists? www.teamsegal.blogspot.com

In the meantime, in order to mentally prepare for the mentality involved here, please look at this photo, closely, and thank me later.


-Casey F. Ryback, Regular Guy

Death By Hill Ride "Tentative" Date

Greetings, frozen Jerks. As a heads up, the tentative date that has been sent down from on High for this ride is Thursday, Feb 25th. You might remember last year's ride, and this will probably be mostly the same route, with a couple of minor extras thrown in. Stay tuned for more info, and a hammered-down date. Sorry 'bout the Thursday, most of us don't have m-f 9-5 jobs. It probably won't really go down if it is below freezing.


In the meantime, check out this meaty ride/race/thing that started showing up on radar at Team Seagal HQ - it's the inaugural year too! The 2010 Gravel World Championships!
150 miles of Nebraska dirt, and free!

Hopefully our group will be as diverse as this one:

...and be at least as much fun as a vacation with these folks:


-Casey F. Ryback, regular guy.

SoBoCoMo Gravel Grinder Recon, starring le Professeur

BREAKING NEWS: 2013 CX WORLDS TO BE HELD IN LOUISVILLE, KY

Greetings Team Seagal Loyalistas! If this winter could be described in one word, it would probably be something like "hate" or "bleak" or "stupid" or "murderdeathkill." One of those. But if the Team Seagal Winter War Plan could be described in one word, it would be "pain" or "manly" or "nut-chillingly-cold" (still counts as one word.)

Having been kicked off at CXmas, the Gravel Grinder series is in full swing, having taken place last weeked in and around Hermann, Rolla before that, and this coming weekend it will be in Columbia. With that in mind, two brave (and manly) Seagal Soldiers, myself (Casey F. Ryback) and Nico Toscani, were given our orders to deploy to Columbia to rendezvous with Professor Robert Burns - our mission to do some recon on the Sunday's route, and also to snap as many wrists as possible on the way. (Very easy to do while riding the MKT Trail.)

While en route to our first destination, Professor Burns' headquarters, we were sidetracked by a few things. The first was delicious Supersonic Burritos at Sonic. Holy shit, that is the best breakfast burrito at any place with a drive-thru. Our bellies full and nearing our destination, we were also able to take in the local sights without leaving the car:


Arriving, we suited up and embarked. First thing Professor told us was how to find our way back, should he fall in battle and can't direct us back. He said to look for the picture of the guy wearing short-shorts and tube socks stretching his thighs:


Columbia is such a badass town, as we were able to take trails all through town to get to where we needed to go - first to Klunk Bicycles, and then to outer-lying roads. Karl, of Klunk Bicycles and Repair, (our new and totally awesome sponsor) is the major organizing force for the Columbia edition of this weekend's Gravel Grinder series. Professor is our highly trained liaison with Karl, and with his help, new bonds were made between Nico, myself and Karl. I had hoped to get a photo of the 4 of us so everyone out there better knows who Karl is, and so people can put a face with the name that we will surely be using quite often in teh future. However, due to the me having had parts of the movie Rocky IV in my head, I forgot to snap the photo. Fortunately however, once I got back home, I contacted a *really good* police sketch artist who was able to render an image of what Karl probably looks like, according to the description I provided:

So back on our bikes, we did find the roads around Columbia to offer an awesome mix of thick gravel, some pavement, and some super-buff hardpack. Don't forget the hills. Oh yes, the hills. Well, they were downright dangerous:

They were plentiful and soul-cleansing, both going up and down. We got chased by a few dogs, but none of them were the threatening kind, but rather they all seemed to want to come out and meet us and lick us. Almost no traffic once we got out of town.

And the sun - it was out most of the day! However, that did end up having a funny side effect. So the temperature never got above 23 or 24, which is pretty cold. But the sun did shine directly on a lot of stuff, and on some lower spots, that meant for some super soft surfaces, as seen here on the last several miles of soft, wet, and gross Katy Trail (note how Professor is leaving a rut, which is impressive considering that he is so light, that he's actually still at his birthweight:)

At least the Katy was super scenic. But not only was it soft and wet, but that notorious Katy Trail dust was turned to cement, which sprayed all over ourselves and our bikes. It wasn't a problem for Norkward and myself, being on Major One singlespeed CX bikes. Unfortunately for Professor, he decided to take out his Powertap Hub-equipped Major Jake, which *is* geared, and all that spray resulted in a cemented downtube which then in turn rendered his shift cables useless, and giving him what he should have been on in the first place - a singlespeed CX bike:(that's what a middle finger looks like with lobster-style gloves on)
I think this is just another example of the CX gods, probably with some influence from Energor, trying to coax the Professor into riding the SS CX bike exclusively.

We soldiered on, seeing wildlife of all sorts from fat squirrels to deer to a flock of turkeys sitting patiently:
As Nic-ward shows us, the only thing better than riding bikes is riding bikes through a flock of birds!:


We were headed back to home base at this point, passing the "Big Tree" and heading up some long, punishing hills to finish out the route. Despite Professor having more health problems than a Tiny Tim, he has been logging more hours of saddle time than anyone I know, and finished up super strong today. This year will be even moar impressive, for sure.

Upon finishing up, Jerky and myself found our bikes to be splattered with that terrible Katy cement as well. So much so that it created little bottom-bracket-mounted stalactites:


That cement could not even be chiseled off without risk of damaging the frame tubes. Turns out that it has to melt off. Yes, it has to melt off, much like the pepper cheese melted off the sides of each side of Shakespeares Pizza slice which we shoved down our throat-holes after the ride:

When going to Shakespeares Pizza, your best option (bearing in mind that there are no bad options) is to get the Team Seagal Approved "JOBS" pizza:
-Jalapenos
-Onions
-Breakfast Bacon
-Sausage

...and with four toppings you get a 5th free, so you must then have pepper cheese. Make sure to round out this work of art by ordering it with wheat crust and in the 16" size. Then wash that mother fucker down with a very reasonably-priced PBR in the 16oz can. Holy shit. This is the kind of meal that ends wars. The kind of meal that can get you pregnant.

Do this ride on Sunday, starting at Klunk Bicycles. Karl will be there, but will Balboa show? We ended up with a little over 47 miles in less than 4 hours (having started elsewhere in town) with a little over 3400' of climbing. This is the kind of ride that makes you stronger! Garmin link


Speaking of making you stronger with hills, it won't be long now before we do our second annual calf-cramping, thigh-smashing Death By Hills ride. It will most likely be the same, or only slightly-modified, route as last year, and will start from Lone Wolf Coffee again. Just gotta figure out a date now.

Oh yeah, next Thursday (Feb 4th) we may be heading down to ride Middlefork (weather/trail conditions permitting) but starting from Council Bluff. Anyone interested?

2010 is feeling good so far... Are you riding... outside?

-CFR

Some Motivation for your Head

Greetings, Jerks. This winter reminds me of a dead Ron Jeremy - cold, long, and gross. It can be hard to find motivation. STLPAF Dave seems to have found some with new bling for the season, but when you're that pro you had better have some phat blang.

For the rest of us, I have something for you to keep in mind and get you in the proper frame of mind for the upcoming season which will surely be the best yet. A little poem that Le Professeur turned me onto, entitled "Invictus" by William Ernst Henley:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

It's no Regulator, but then again, what is? I think I'll have this passage in my head each time I think about pussing out or taking a trip to the beach - the beach of sandy vag's. Kind of like a literary VDS-12.

I'm off work on monday, let's get a ride going! Anyone up for some hills?

-Casey F. Ryback

Night + Snow + Friends = Moar Fun

Greetings Members of the Royal Order of Team Seagal Fans! Riding off-road in the snow, while snow is falling, after dark, with lots of people, is a rare occurrence. And when that opportunity presents itself, you must answor teh call of teh wild. There is just as much prep that goes on in order to make it happen, what with all them fancy lights, tons of thermal clothing, tube/pump, tools, trying to keep your water from freezing, driving an hour in 4 wheel drive to get there while avoiding other poor bastards on the side of the road... it's a miracle we made it.

I embarked on one such adventure Wednesday night, with the promise of white stuff coming down during the ride. I met with Mashor at his lair, from which we embarked in the direction of Lost Valley. We met several jerks out there, and there were less than 10 in our party who were going to be using the Lost Valley land. Those who were able to peel themselves away from watching Girlfriends on the CW that night were treated to a white blanket covering the Mound lot. Mashor, myself, D-wayne, Vandeevan, B-squared (Brian Busken), 1/2 of The Holtmans, Mr. Bock, and of course, our very own Lawman.

While man-training through the fantastically-expanded singletrack, we did pass a surprising number of other like-minded individuals. We also discussed how the new singletrack that has been added (and rutted, thanks to the owner of $80K Z06 'Vette, gold chain, and a combover) will very much change the dynamics of the Lost Valley Luau. We also wondered just why old trails have to be completely closed-off when new trails are built. Oh well. We also rode some supersecret downhills.

We watched, with great anticipation, Lawman come down a section of bench-cut singletrack in Lost Valley, (the descent that drops you to the rock-armored creek) and then laughed as he hit the deck on an invisible patch of off-camber, glossy-smooth ice. We had all paused across the creek and watched him, only his headlight was visible, and when he went down, it was as if a prophecy was fulfilled. This is because there was absolutely no way we could do anything about it - we had all hit the ice, and we were trying to warn him. Bam!

Halfway through the ride, responsibility kicked in for some, and a desire for more wrist-snapping kicked in for the rest, as myself, Mashor, D-wayne, Jim and Jeremy headed out once more for a grand total of a little over 24 miles and 4 hours. Bam! Over 2400' of powdery, track-laying climbing.

Definitely worth skipping Lawman for (thank god for DVRs, though!)



4 hours of snow coming through the helmet vents, while only wearing an earband:


Thanks to Masson for lending me his lights, they lasted the whole time!

-Casey F. Ryback

CXMAS recap by LHGNE*

*Let Himself Go Ned Overend

From his blog. I'm sure he uses a different name on his blog for anonymity.

How the Wrench Stole CXmas - By Dr. Casey F. Seuss

Every Crew
down in St. Lou-ville
liked CXmas a lot...

But the Wrench
Who worked at the Hub in Webster Groves...
Did plot!


The Wrench loved CX! The whole CX season!
No need to ask why, I think we all know the reason.
It could be the mud, it could be the cold,
It could be perhaps, that the Pabst is uncontrolled.
But I think that the most likely reason to suffer
may have been that he thinks it makes us so much tougher.

But,
Whatever the reason,
The cold or the mud,
He stood there on CXmas Eve, like a badass stud,
Staring down from the mound with a devious Team Seagal smirk
thinking to himself, "How much harder can I make them work?"
He was talking of course, about the CXmas'ers in their homes,
unbeknownst to them, tomorrow from their mouths would probably come foam.

"We've got presents all wrapped!" as he drank his beer,
"Tomorrow is CXmas, it's practically here!"
Then he burped aloud, with his Superior State of Mind constantly scheming,
"I must find a way to have them screaming!"
For tomorrow he knew...

All the crews on the ground
Would wake up bright and early and rush for the Mound!
And then! Oh the joys! Oh, the boys! toys ploys and Noise!
That's one thing he knew - that our man Jim (Lawman) would bring tons of Noise!

So the Crews, young and old, the first thing they'd do
They'd line up in order - the first with costumes!
There was Santa Boz, The Easter Heine, and T-tocs as a "tree"

That's what the Wrench wanted - lots of CXmas glee!
Oh, and please don't forget 1990's Ned Overend
Both his mustache and technical skillz were hard to comprehend.

And THEN
They'd do something the Wrench liked most of all!
Every Crew in St. Lou-ville, the tall and the small,
Were sent down the Hamburg, the gravel-a-flinging
They'd ride in a paceline to keep their faces from stinging!


It wouldn't matter what they'd do for the cold would still sting
And it would STING! STING! STING! STING!
The more the Wrench thought of the crew-face-sting
The more the Wrench thought, "Driving to checkpoints, I feel like a King!"
"For 53 weeks weeks I've planned up till now!
I must keep CXmas'ers going!
...But HOW?"

Then he got an idea!
An awful idea!
The Wrench
Got a wonderful, awful idea!

"I know just what they'll do!" the Wrench laughed in time...
"They'll have to grab a gift and then start a climb!"
And he then made it rain, "What a great Wrench-y trick!
"Carrying a gift, they'll look just like St. Nick!"

Unfortunately for most, wrapping gifts takes a lot of time.
And with 132 CXmas'ers, we ran out quickly - now that is a crime!
Good ole' Davey B, he was the first to not get a spokecard
But he did get a gift, thanks to him pedaling hard!




We weren't the only people in the cold that day
As we ran into some hunters, they probably thought we were gay.
They were happy though as we shared some of our loot
Some PBRs in their belly, they thought our Lawman was a hoot!

After the gifts, their wheels pointed up.
For they rode up the Hamburg, where they gift-receiving volunteers said "Sup."
It wouldn't be long before they found a lake and some jerks
The Professor had a surprises, because of these he did smirk:

The menu at Lake 12 called for whiskey and bacon
but it wasn't to be, as the propane was quickly taken
However, Punchor thought ahead, for he would not be shaken.
He had also cupcakes! A fine substitute!
Way more tasty than an East St. Louis prostitute...

But now where was the Wrench you ask? You are most curious.
For he was driving ahead, to keep the CXmas'ers from getting furious.
Making sure they made the correct turn was very important
But despite his best efforts the markings were quite scant.
It wasn't long though before Masson and Casey arrived with Nog!
I don't need to tell you how it made the ride more of a slog...

As the CXmas'ers came though, their ambition grew
3 cups of Nog is how many were put down by Drew!
Once our buddy Todd got wind of this challenge, he consumed 4 egg brews!
Of course it wasn't long before Red Wheel Nick came through
He took one look and slammed 5 as if it were Mountain Dew!

But none of that bullshit compares to the True Champion of Nog
For it was not long before something - someone - emerged from the fog.
Long after the hammerheads had reached the top,
Long after we tired of making jokes about some hunter's fresh plop:
Yes, down the hill rolled none other than Jenkins comma Bob!
If there was anyone that promised epic win, it was certainly this SOB!

It started very innocently, a couple of beverages between buds:
though we soon realized this man was a more than just a stud.It was clear that something drove him beyond a love of holiday drink.
It was a hatred, not love, that drove him to the brink.
He was told that Nick drank 5 then he said with wink,
"No, I'm going to triple it. Fuck him."
With logic like that, made on a whim,
He fought his way through and finished fifteen.
Did I say fifteen? Yes, I said fifteen. And I'm also rhyming fifteen with fifteen.

He left in the same fog through which he came,
However now the fog was mostly in his brain.

He rewards however were not just intrinsic,
for because of his actions he scored some slick tricks!

*courtesy of Mike Bobelak and Polk Audio!

Bob was not the only winner today on that windy lot,
our very own Nic-ward got a hat that was very hard-fought!
He did so on some goofy tires,
however his results do put my loins afire.

There were a select few who ended their race
a top the mound which has never seen movement of this pace!
Devin took top honors, followed by Mitch
It is too easy to rhyme this line using the word "bitch"

What comes up must eventually come down,
something which was no different today on these grounds
Our Wrench though had to be careful because
too many people up top could attract da fuzz.
So it was with that we adjourned to the lot once more
To drink beverages and regale some lore!

What a day in late December this was
CXmas is certainly an event worthy of applause!
My advice to you is to be here next year
'Cause you know that we'll make it rain with moar beer!
And that can always lead to moar holiday cheer.

Unless of course your name is Peat
In which case you make us look weak
by riding your bike to every event you do
and in the process, getting in a century or two!

Thanks to all that came today - it truly blew our minds
I'm going to end this before I actually start speaking in rhyme
Because they call me the Rhyme-nocerous
and
My rhymes are bottomless...

-Dr. Casey F. Seuss
(Regular Guy)

p.s. *whew*
p.s. see results here!

Merry CXMAS Thanks

Wow. This years CXMAS was truly amazors. I am simply blown away by what occured.
Here are some of the numbers:
-132 non-racers signed in, plus many more who didn't
-over $700+ raised for GORC
-a dozen+ awesome teammates and other volunteers helping on course and setting up
-temperature that I don't think ever made it above 30
-8 cases of PBR consumed
-2 handles of whiskey before it was gone at checkpoint 2
-20 bottles of eggnog consumed

Thank you to all of you that showed up, participated, donated, whatever. I also wish all of you could see the course as originally envisioned. The brains collecting crew we hired would have been overwhelmed by the blown mind matter all over the course had it run as planned. Last minute changes to the route suck, but I understand the reasons and appreciate the care with which the area land manager approached us on that. Top notch. I do want to apologize to those of you that got lost (probably almost all of you). I did not realize so much of the ribbon was taken down. Plus with the last minute course changes I didn't have time to go back and remark all of the course buried in snow, relying instead on the no longer their tape to be good. But you guys and gals are a great group and stuck with it having a blast a long the way. Thanks for being a part of it. You can tell your grandchildren about the time you rode down 25 miles of ice with 130 other people just to pick up 3 lousy zipties.

In my haste to get the prizes out so those there could head home for warmth, I forgot some top-notch prizes that were still in another vehicle at the eggnog station.
Read all about it on the CXMAS blog. You just might be winner.

Also check the key RESULTS at the CXMAS blog too.

And if you weren't there, WTF?!

Stay tuned for Coach's recap and those smooth flowing rhymes.