RW24 was just an outstanding experience on so many levels. A trip like this is really the reason to start a bike racing team with friends and pile them into a school bus for the weekend.
It is readily described as a tour through the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee. There is a loop of 4.5 miles bounded by 4 checkpoints that everyone needs to stop at in order to receive credit for a lap. Categories are split by gender into soloists, 1 team-1 bike, 1 team-multiple bikes and tandem. There are also bonus checkpoints that are set up in 2 hour time slots all throughout the 24 hours that showcase neighborhood businesses, community activities and characters. The beautiful thing about this is the random hours of the night these checkpoints would always be staffed and anxious to see you roll through.
As a group of people that have been racing alleycats and several variances of bike races for many years now, the prospect of nailing down as many laps as possible on a set course in another city for the sake of frivolous bragging rights was just too much to pass up. Of the 500 registrants we, and our like-minded competitors were in the minority. And that is still way cool by me (written by jeff, by the by).
One of my many great memories will undoubtedly be that stretch between 4:30 AM and 7:00 AM when the rain was pounding down for the 5th straight hour and I saw more CP workers than riders. The sun was starting to shine whilst the streets were practically empty and I was just really into chipping away at this wonderful task of riding to no conceivable end. It was a remarkable moment when it felt as though all of this organizing and persistent volunteering was done just for me. (real or not, you certainly don’t enjoy that feeling in the “sanctioned” racing world).
Eventually we all met the end of the time crunch and the bus occupants fared VERY well at the task of hitting the bonus checkpoints and the lap count. No one’s trip was gonna be sold short, that’s for sure. Incredible accomplishments all around. Callie completed 44 laps on what must have been an exhausting brakeless fixed gear ride. She got the most out of any female soloists. Nico, trippz, Blaze, Philly Jeff, and C Norris came on super strong at the end to seal a tie for 1st in the mixed bike category and 2nd overall with 74 laps. I spent the time sharing a bike with Bradley, the Augdog and Candles Nordyke. The lattermost man was the one going apeshit to ensure we collectively took the most laps out of everyone else. And we did. 79 laps and all the bonuses. 350+ miles of straight checkpoints alone. Not too shabby.
(thanks to fonscy)
There really are too many great things and feats within and without this team to highlight from the trip. Free lemonade, free champagne, fresh oatmeal cookies, free dinner, free breakfast, free couch, you name it. I could probably talk your ear off about it but I’d rather conclude with saying I had an absolute fucking blast and I’m very happy to know there is a place in the world like the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
August 5th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Holy crap… I really can’t say enough about how amazing that weekend was. Seriously, i take my hat off to the riverwest neighborhood of milwaukee. The organization of this event blew my mind wide open.
Free pasta dinner before the start?! Great start to the event, and endless amounts of butter!! While i’m on the subject of food, how great was that breakfast? Fresh fruit, meats, cheeses, bread, pb & j, coffee, fresh squeezed oj/carrot/beet juice, and pastries galore! Oh milwaukee, you know the way to my heart… The ladies who ran it were super sweet as well, walking around with pitchers of water, making sure everyone was well hydrated.
Enough good things can’t be said about the volunteers that stayed out through the 24 hours of madness that ensued. Special shout out to Rob over at checkpoint two! Dude was there from 7pm friday till 7pm saturday. Always smiling. That shot of Powers we shared on the final lap really hit the spot, buddy. I still owe you a beer! I will find you someday and make good on that.
Let’s see, who else do i owe a beer… Checkpoint One! Steve and crew were just priceless. From the constant cheering, smiling faces, fresh fruit and hotdogs to the can of Pepsi that saved my life and kept me going for another hour plus throughout the rainstorm somewhere around 2am saturday morning… thank you!
Speaking of rainstorms… So I had just finished up a 12:45am to 3:15am shift, the latter half in the pouring rain, and I’m over at the 4am pizza joint stuffing down a few slices. So as i’m sitting there on the ground of this place, leaned up against the wall in my soaking wet kit and wrapped up in a towel, just shivering, frozen to the bone. Then in walks my guardian angels, Joe Burge and his sweet lady, Emily. They ask me how the bus is looking. And well the bus was a bit of a shit show with bodies and garbage and wet clothes and socks and shoes sprawled out everywhere. It definitely had a mean funk going on, and there was really nowhere left to lay down. Being the fantastic people they are, they offered up their couch, a hot shower, and a dryer for my wet clothes! I had died and gone to heaven. If it weren’t for their hospitality and the solid hour of dry, warm sleep i was able to get, i don’t think I’d have made it the next day.
Now lets not forget Mandy… Every time i went by Checkpoint Three, there was Mandy, giving massages to whomever needed one. Needless to say, I stopped by after my third shift on the bike. At that point, my neck and shoulders were just killing me. I gotta say, Mandy’s got some magic hands!!! For fifteen minutes, I just melted into the massage table. I’m still dreaming about it… So if you’re in MKE anytime soon, hit her up before she moves out west, you won’t regret it (healingomassage@live.com).
A shout out has to be given to Shaggy and Mr. Kevin Sparrow. 24 hours between the two of them on the same bike! 74-75 laps?!! Get out! Y’all are nuts. I hear shaggy rode the rain shift from 3am – 7am… goddamn boy.
Oh man, i’m sure i’m forgetting someone, but seriously thank you riverwest from the bottom of my heart. Y’all did it right. Mr. McGarry, I miss the hell out of you, but you got it going on up there in the magical land of milk and cheese. I’m super proud of all you’ve done.
Cafe Corazon!!! Thanks for letting us live in front of your spot for the weekend! Random people on their porches cheering us on in the wee hours of the morning, thanks for the added motivation to keep going! Basso! You did the maglia rosa right, buddy. Deva, you’re just hilarious. Ms. Watson, thanks for your hospitality. And Dr. Positive… guard your heart.
Sound like a broken record at this point, but really, you guys are all so very special.
Chicago loves you.
Andrew Nordyke
August 5th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Glad to hear Milwaukee made such a great impression. You all are welcome back any time.
August 5th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
i could not have said it any better than the candleman. i had an absolutely wonderful time. milwaukee did it up proper. much love!
August 5th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
Great job CCC. You added to our community’s treasured event. I look forward to you blowing by me again next year.
August 6th, 2010 at 1:07 am
PHILLY CUTTHROATS + Chicago Cuttin Crew = GOD DAMN!!!!!
August 6th, 2010 at 8:18 am
I see you finally found an appropriate event at which to wear that jersey, Mr. Perkins.
Good job, guys.
August 6th, 2010 at 8:50 am
http://bikejerksmpls.blogspot.com/2010/08/rw24-2010.html
August 6th, 2010 at 9:03 am
Thank you for the many compliments, I was born and raised in RW and to see it coming back to life in such a wonderful way is a great joy for me. I have made the pasta dinner w/ lots of volunteers for the RW co Op for three years in a row now and to see all you young boys and girls gobble up that food and go on to share my neighborhood with me for the next 24 hours makes my heart skip a beat. Those are the same streets I explored as a young girl in the 50′s and I loved them then as I love them now. I am glad to share w/ you kids from Chi-Town
August 6th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
As a resident of Riverwest, a lifetime Milwaukeean and a volunteer of the RW24 we are glad you enjoyed yourselves…. I had a blast too!
August 6th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
I watched the activity out my window and am BUMMED I didn’t sign up..grrrr! Will definitely participate next year!!
August 9th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Well ridden CCC.
you guys came in clutch when i was in need of an allen wrench out near your bus… wanted to drop a thanks!
Till next year.
August 10th, 2010 at 5:56 am
Genial post and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Say thank you you on your information.
August 16th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
doin’ the Windy proud. sounds like a crazy good time was had by all, congrats