Jim Utz's Big-Huge-Giant-Epic-All-Night Adventure
Jim Utz is the real thing. The kind of guy you could follow to the moon and back. He even knows a good bike route where there's not much sattelite traffic. On Saturday June 16th, 35 members of The Fucking Bike Club showed up to follow Jim as far as The Skyview Drive In in Belleville Illinois.
Nevermind what you might have heard. East St. Louis Illinois has it's own post office, zip code, and some of the nicest people in all of Southern Illinois.
We almost rode past this little Bar-Be-Que, but thankfully one of the ladies who was there partying ran out into the street and demanded that we come back, hang out and enjoy some grilled meats and cold beers.
East St. Louis Summers are no joke. Sometimes the only way to beat the heat is to swim naked in broad day light at a rodeside golf course lake.
Just on the other side of town lies the daunting Alp D'East St. Louis. Its the kind of hill that makes you want to grab hold of Peat Henry's seat post and hope he doesn't notice you until you're at the top. I don't know how many people Peat actually pulled to the top, or if he ever put his hands on the handle bars, but eventually we all made it to the top. At the top of the hill was a big house where a kid was riding a dirt bike around the front yard. John P. asked the kid to ask his dad if he had any cold beers to sell us.
Dad didn't have any cold beers. But he did let us cool down with the garden hose.
We made to the Drive in with time to spare, so we went down the street to check out a bike shop that is chock full of cool old stock bikes. The bike shop was closed but the bar next door was open.
At the bar we had some beers and shoulder rides but absolutely no 60 cent tacos.
DRIVE IN!
We watched 'The Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer.' Unless you are at a drive in with 30 of your friends, plenty of cold drinks and delicious snacks, on a beautiful summer evening, I wouldn't recommend it.
Thankfully, the movie eventually ended and we made our way to the Swansea Metro Station.
Then we had a Metro Link party all the way back to St. Louis.
By the time the Metro Link made it back to the Central West End Station, our group was down to about 20 people. Of that 20, 12 or so went to a party in South City. The party was nothing to write home about and the cops kept comming by and telling us to stay inside, where it was an honest 159 degrees Farenheit. About the time the clock struck 2:30 those of us that were still together started brainstorming a pool to crash. We weren't having much luck thinking of anything until John Patterson suggested Castlewood State Park for an envigorating late night swim in the Meremac. Two minutes later John, Peat, Rose, Monica and I were pedaling west into the night.
We made a quick stop at a 7-11 in where Abdoul gave us free Taquitos and hung out with us on the sidewalk dinning room. He also tried to give Peat a Band Aide for his bloody elbow.
4:00A.M. swimming in the Meremac. Next time we make the ride to Castlewood in the middle of the night we need to remember to bring someone with a headlight. The ride down the last big curvy hill into the park in pitch darkness was one of the scariest things I've ever done. It was also totally bad ass.
Sunrise in the Park. At 5:30 a maintenance worker showed up and was unloading picnic tables for a father's day, father-son fishing tournement that was schedualed to start at 7:00. He said had hoped that the fathers and sons would catch some fish but it was unlikely now due to the unusually high number of swimmers at 5:30 in the morning.
Bucolic Castlewood State Park at dawn.
Peat Henry atttacks a Monster Breakfast Sandwich with the zeal of young man who was been up all night riding his bicycle and having adventures.
The Fucking Bike Club LIVES!
-Lee
Nevermind what you might have heard. East St. Louis Illinois has it's own post office, zip code, and some of the nicest people in all of Southern Illinois.
We almost rode past this little Bar-Be-Que, but thankfully one of the ladies who was there partying ran out into the street and demanded that we come back, hang out and enjoy some grilled meats and cold beers.
East St. Louis Summers are no joke. Sometimes the only way to beat the heat is to swim naked in broad day light at a rodeside golf course lake.
Just on the other side of town lies the daunting Alp D'East St. Louis. Its the kind of hill that makes you want to grab hold of Peat Henry's seat post and hope he doesn't notice you until you're at the top. I don't know how many people Peat actually pulled to the top, or if he ever put his hands on the handle bars, but eventually we all made it to the top. At the top of the hill was a big house where a kid was riding a dirt bike around the front yard. John P. asked the kid to ask his dad if he had any cold beers to sell us.
Dad didn't have any cold beers. But he did let us cool down with the garden hose.
We made to the Drive in with time to spare, so we went down the street to check out a bike shop that is chock full of cool old stock bikes. The bike shop was closed but the bar next door was open.
At the bar we had some beers and shoulder rides but absolutely no 60 cent tacos.
DRIVE IN!
We watched 'The Fantastic Four Rise of the Silver Surfer.' Unless you are at a drive in with 30 of your friends, plenty of cold drinks and delicious snacks, on a beautiful summer evening, I wouldn't recommend it.
Thankfully, the movie eventually ended and we made our way to the Swansea Metro Station.
Then we had a Metro Link party all the way back to St. Louis.
By the time the Metro Link made it back to the Central West End Station, our group was down to about 20 people. Of that 20, 12 or so went to a party in South City. The party was nothing to write home about and the cops kept comming by and telling us to stay inside, where it was an honest 159 degrees Farenheit. About the time the clock struck 2:30 those of us that were still together started brainstorming a pool to crash. We weren't having much luck thinking of anything until John Patterson suggested Castlewood State Park for an envigorating late night swim in the Meremac. Two minutes later John, Peat, Rose, Monica and I were pedaling west into the night.
We made a quick stop at a 7-11 in where Abdoul gave us free Taquitos and hung out with us on the sidewalk dinning room. He also tried to give Peat a Band Aide for his bloody elbow.
4:00A.M. swimming in the Meremac. Next time we make the ride to Castlewood in the middle of the night we need to remember to bring someone with a headlight. The ride down the last big curvy hill into the park in pitch darkness was one of the scariest things I've ever done. It was also totally bad ass.
Sunrise in the Park. At 5:30 a maintenance worker showed up and was unloading picnic tables for a father's day, father-son fishing tournement that was schedualed to start at 7:00. He said had hoped that the fathers and sons would catch some fish but it was unlikely now due to the unusually high number of swimmers at 5:30 in the morning.
Bucolic Castlewood State Park at dawn.
Peat Henry atttacks a Monster Breakfast Sandwich with the zeal of young man who was been up all night riding his bicycle and having adventures.
The Fucking Bike Club LIVES!
-Lee
posted by mr. awesome at 2:17 PM
17 Comments:
I gots pictures! Check 'em out. Click the name. I also have pictures of the Flag Day ride, don't forget those.
These things just keep getting better and better each ride! It was even worth it having to show up a little late, just ask Rose.
I think it's time that we had an alley cat event, huh?? Any other suggestions for rides? I still want to play frisbee ultimate on bikes some weekend or afternoon.
Can't wait till the next full moon though sadly it will be Everett's last before he is moving away to God knows where. I'll miss his photo postings (boo hoo).
Man, that looks like it was a real snooze-fest. Glad I stayed home.
Aww. Thanks barney.
fuckin A, I love you guys
anonymous says lets pitch in and rent the skatium some night....nothing sweeter than a evening that involves bicycling AND roller skating AND beer! holy shit, the fun that could be had.....i've spread the word and rec'd several unofficial 'yes' votes.
I like anonymous' idea, I officially vote yea!
jeff p,
you just don't know what ya missed.
I have held a few focus groups, looked at tea leaves and consulted the magic eight ball. All say that I need to put on a FBC Alley-cat. I'm still working out all of the details as yet but I am thinking of holding it on Sunday afternoon, either the 8th or the 15th, (1st choice is on the 8th). There will be a small entry fee (5 bucks???) but there will be some (cheesy) prizes. If you want to participate but not risk life or limb in this race let me know. I will need some help at the checkpoints.
I should have it all figured out by the next Fiasco, hey that is next Sunday!
Questions??? Seek and you shall find little ones.
waiting@accessus.net
Whoops, I just rechecked the handy dandy almanac and I was wrong! The next Fiasco should be on Saturday the 30th.
I did some reconnaissance tonight for that alley cat thingy, just trying to work out some of those details. I am thinking about a route of unknown destinations with a picture of the next check point to go on, about a half dozen stops in a total distance of 15 to 20 miles, handicap tokens worth a minute or two that can be spent for directional hints to the next stop, prizes for overall, boys and girls divisions, different spoke cards for participants vs. spectators, a staggered start so that first entered is the first to start, podium babes and hunks if possible, rules, (no scratch that) guidelines, and who knows what else.
I will have something written about rules; I mean guidelines and prizes when the time comes.
What's the deal for Saturday?
I don't know what "the deal" is for Saturday, but I would like to point out that Saturday night FBC-er/fixed gear enthusiast/orange rim sporter Erik Seaver's band Lost to Metric will be playing their LAST EVER gig at Off Broadway. Whatever adventures may transpire that night, I think a stop at the Off Broadway for RAWK music, excellent beer selections and air conditioning is in order. Then the FBC can continue on its merry adventuresome way to wreck havoc all over town, refreshed and rocked out.
It'll be epic, I promise.
everet you should know by now that the destination is secret! but i can tell you it is not the swim underware ride.
OK, I lied. The incredibly awesome last ever Lost to Metric gig is at the nonalcoholic, un-air conditioned Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center, making it a far less attractive stop (though the rock will be no less epic for the lack thereof). My apologies for the confusion.
It should probably be made real clear that underwear is NOT in the offing for this weekend cause otherwise we're gonna have a strange mix of people wearing underwear adn not.
i heard that somewhere on the full moon there's going to be a lot of pop music and a fire spitting ice cream truck
I agree with deko. No one should wear underwear this Saturday.
Considered the most exclusive beef available, this meat is imported from the Tajima Provence. Low to moderate water use. Besides, organic fertilizers improve the natural resistance of the grass towards pests and insects. “But no one uses this bathroom,” I say. My Special Flower: Camellia.
Post a Comment
<< Home