Thanks to All!

Thanks to all who came out. We had almost 80, which is a new record.

The weather ended up cooperating with blue skies except for some mist right before the start.

Trails were 50 percent good and 50 percent sketchy. New wet leaves and a bit of grease in Gosling. A big tree down in Gosling in a bad spot on a downhill -- glad nobody got hurt.

The keg went quick, as well as the supplemental beverages. If the event keeps growing like this, I'll definitely need more beer for next year.

Thanks to Bell's Brewery, Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors and Rick Plite with Founder's for additional quality refreshments.

Thanks to those who schwagged me with the Day of the Dead chi-chi.

Thanks to Jeff Buerman for bringing out the Scott Bikes Factory Bus.

Thanks to everyone who "dressed the part" -- Gorilla Man, Skeleton Jen, Ace from the Kiss Army, Wedge Man, etc.

Thanks to the MDNR Pinckney Rec Management for there support.

Thanks to Eric and Heather for the chili and additional beer after.

PottoFest XX tomorrow, 10am Poto Silver Lake Trailhead. Old School x 2.

See everyone else at Iceman. Remember Bell's Brewery MTB Team Sunset on the Season Party, Loading Dock, Saturday Night, The Orbitsuns will be Hauling Ass.

Trail Conditions Should Be Good

7:30am Saturday

Rain has been done in Dexter for a couple hours now. Since it is very windy and lots of leaves down now, I expect the trail will pretty dry by noon.

Come on out!

Wack FAQ

Courtesy of Larry Bell, our post-event beverage will be Bell's Octoberfest + a supplement of other Bell's offerings.

Good schwag provided by Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors.

Price = Free

Weather supposed to be 50 deg at noon event time, rain to stop before sun comes up Saturday, windy so trail should be dry and firm.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #8

Question #8

What if it rains?

It won't. That already happened last year.

No matter. PSSWC happens rain or shine. This is singlespeeding -- chains don't suck.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #7

Question #7

Man, there is only one SSWC event each year. This year's was in Durango. Are you trying to rip-off that event?

This event is not billed as the SSWC, it is the Poto Singlespeed World Championship, or, "PSSWC". I'm sure that other event is slick and all. But, the PSSWC really has nothing to do with a gathering of a group of trustafarians from the coastal and intermountain regions of the U.S. who are getting together to cross dress, drink PBR, eat bacon and measure the lengths of there collective mustaches. We just aren't that cool.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #6

Question #6

Will PSSWC patches again be available for purchase?

Yes, new 2009 iron-on patches will be available for a nominal fee (which will be the TBD per unit cost of the patch). As always, individuals bringing Chief Potawatomi offerings of pan de muerto, sugar skulls, calaveras catrina figurines or Mexican marigolds will receive a TBD discount to be applied against their patch purchase.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #5

Question #5

Do I need a USCF or UCI license in order to participate?

No. No license is necessary in order to participate. However, if you are willing to bring your USCF or UCI license to the event and let Chief Potawatomi burn it before the event as a part of a ritualistic ceremony, you will be given a free PSSWC 2009 iron-on event patch.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #4

Question #4

Why is the PSSWC held the same day as the FILL IN THE BLANK event?

The PSSWC is held annually on the closest available Saturday to El Dia de los Muertos. As a quasi-religious ceremony designed to honor autumn in Michigan, perfect singletrack, the simplicity of the singlespeed bicycle, good beer and being alive for yet one more moment in time -- its date is immovable. So, just as some so-called Muslims may chose to eat when the sun is out during Ramadan and some so-called Catholics chose to eat meat on Fridays during lent, we understand that there will be so-called singlespeeders who will chose to attend their sister's wedding, Muddy Buddy Series Adventure Race #7 or some Americanized and commercialized version of cyclocross held on a grassy softball field nestled between an ice rink and an Aldi Supermarket instead of attending the PSSWC.

We all live with the choices we make in life, don't we?

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #3

Question #3

Is the PSSWC a bandit/pirate event?

The event is fully permitted and approved by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), as is after event partying and consumption of adult beverages in the Silver Lake parking lot. The planned post-event ritual sacrifice of bush pigs and consumption of their blood and entrails has NOT yet been approved by MDNR. However, we are hopeful that we will get approval before the event date.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #2

Question #2

What do I get if I ride the PSSWC?

Are you serious? What do you "get" out of riding your singlespeed on the Poto on an autumn day? Isn't that enough? If it isn't, of course there is the free Bell's beer afterwards. Not enough? What about the chance to win free schwag from sponsor Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors? Is this worth the price of your entry fee (which is zero)? Feel like doing a bike event isn't worth your time unless you have to pay money? Buy a PSSWC iron-on patch at the event for a few bucks. Feel like this is too small time for you? You only do events that cost at least $35 and give you a chance at taking home an "award" or "series points"? Tell you what we'll do. If you want to pay an extra $35 at the event, Chief Poto will run on down to Target and purchase a wood frame for you and will print out a personalized piece of printer paper on his ink-jet indicating your event finish and stating how special you are. If you want to pay a couple hundie and do two or three laps, we'll go ahead and call it an "ultra endurance event", give you a pint glass at the end and prevent someone from giving you hand-ups while you are riding. We aim to please. Only attend events where you can park your sponsor trailer and pop-up tent? No problem. There will be plenty of empty space in the Silver Lake parking lot on the last weekend in October for you to impress everyone with your "colors". Only show up at events where the big name riders show up? Well, a guy who rides with the Gary Fisher 29er crew who rode with Lance in Austin last week may be showing up. Need more of a brush with famous mountain biking illuminati? If enough Clydesdales show up to ride, I hear MTB World Championship bronze medalist Willow Koerber might show. She may shoot down hot guys like Al McWilliams just because they aren't Pro riders, but it looks like she might be a fatty chaser.

PSSWC FAQ Page: Question #1

Question #1

Is the PSSWC a race?

Life is a race. A giant rat race. We live in America, a country founded by adventurers trying to find new resources and opportunities in order to get ahead in life. Economically, we also are a capitalist society, which requires that we all must compete in order to earn a living. That said, we are necessarily always engaged in some form of pursuit with our fellow citizens. Some are naturally gifted and don't compete because they are already at the top in most everything they do as they journey through life. Some aren't naturally gifted, but try to better themselves. Some of these folks succeed at doing so, and subsequently advance and dominate. However, some will fall short, never acquiring the proper skill sets to advance past the others. Yet others lack natural gifts, never engage in any efforts at self-betterment, and stumble through their existence asking, "Why?"

The PSSWC is not set up as a race. It is not advertised as a race. There is no timing. There is no start or finish line. There are no cash purses. There is no tabulation of points based on your place in the group that will be reported to some monolithic (and neolithic?), corporate governing body. The maximization of rider speed at the expense of all other factors is not encouraged.

So, does the absence of these things that traditionally constitute the trappings of a race mean that it is not a race? This is a question that is only answerable by each individual rider. For, only an individual can interpret and try to actualize his or her own personal manifest destiny.

As the caged man once said, "Die gedanken sind frei!"

As the tag line says, "Free Entry/Free Beer/Free Will".

IT'S ON!

ANNUAL SINGLESPEEED RIDE/RALLY

(Halloween Edition)

Saturday October 31, 2009 12 noon

Silver Lake Trailhead

Pinckney Recreation Area

FREE ENTRY/FREE BEER/FREE WILL

This is a no minors/no whiners, self-supported mass start singlespeed group ride.

This is not a race. This is not a race. This is not a race.

You must be either fast, slow or middling in order to participate.

Sponsored by:

* Hellriders MTBC, Poto Chapter

* Aberdeen Bike and Outdoors

* Bell's Brewery

Watch this space for upcoming event FAQs and additional info!