Vegas Bet on The Crystal Lake

[Phong Ha]

The 2 distinctive VeloViet sub-groups (Fab-4 and Irvine Crew) have set their Champions, but we all know it takes a lot that goes into a WINNING team.  Here is a Vegas breakdown of these top 2 "alpha" groups that will clash on the slopes of Crystal Lake:

Rider - Fab team nominated Brian, and Irvine Crew nominated Nam.  On the flat Vegas believes that Brian can cream Nam... but 30 lbs is a lot to carry on the slope.  Advantage Irvine Crew.

Domestique - Irvine Crew has the Truong Brothers, Binh, Nam, Nhat, and a few more.  Fab team has Chanh, Hoa, and John.  Even though Irvine has more man-power, the Fab Domestiques are the best in the business.  Advantage Fab team.

SAG Support - you would think SAG has nothing to do with the race, but it sure does!  On the Fab team side, they have Steven.  One can see money being exchange between Hoa and Steven last Sun day so you know Steven's serice has been bought.  On the Irvine side, they have Johnny.  Johnny is like MacGuyver when it comes to mechanic.  Hhhmmm... this is a tough one but Vegas gave a slight edge to Irvine here.

Incentive/Hunger - this is who is the hungriest.  Fab team has clearly dominated these past few years, and possibly may be a little less motivation.  The Irvine Crew have been salivating at every epic climbs, but have not had a chance to deliver the win yet.  They are trying out every tactics in the book to win, as you can see from last Sunday when Chef Nam offered Brian like his 5th hot dog to fatten him up.  Clearly the advantage here goes to Irvine Crew.

Based upon the above facts, Vegas bets on Irvine Crew Ride Nam!!!

The domination is about to fall this Sunday!!!

Come out and enjoy front row seat to the Show!!!

Spartacus

On Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 4:46 PM, Phong Ha <phong...@gmail.com> wrote:

I often described the VeloViet's family as a small eco-system, an inter mixing swirls of many colors of the bikes, new and familiar faces, intricate personalities of all sorts, and the love of adventures centering around cycling.  I have told many legendary stories of these eco-groups within the Viet, but I have never focus fully on these young riders who grew into the furious dominators of high mountains that they are and how they came to be.  It was on this Crystal mountain many years ago that they declared themselves to be prophets on these slopes.

There are four who have dominated seemingly on every challenge for these past few years.  They build themselves to legendary status within the VeloViet, and became known as the Fab-4.  Their training program is unmatched, but this year seemed to be different.  It may be on this same Crystal mountain that a new King will be crowned!

THE BACKGROUND  -
Crystal Lake was discovered by the VeloViets a number of years ago, when GMR became an easy training ground as the group gotten stronger.  Boasting a longer and harder climb than the mountains of Glendora, Crystal Lake has crack many who have challenged her.  Riders swore of a Crystal Witch that lives near the top and challenge those who dared to enter the Lake.  Too were rumors of Sirens near the lake, singing their pretty song to lure the VeloViet men.

But the truth is that men have become boys on this climb.  The women who have climbed it vowed that it is most painful, and only giving birth to a child is more painful.  All that we know is that Crystal Lake won more battles than it have lost.  And it was here that young boys and girls endured the hardship, won the fight that they were tossed into, and grew to became those strong men and women.  They are now the nucleus and formed the group that is known to be the VeloViets.

THREE WEEKS AGO -
Back to the Fab-4... with this fame came the attention, and it was the witch that did not hesitate and struck first to weaken the support structure of VeloViet's Fabulous Four!  Ironman, a slight and powerful racer that usually led the first attack uphill for the Fab-4, was taken down by the witch on the famous Santiago Canyon road.  Left lying bleeding by the waste side, an image of Fab-4 Cap't John cradling the head of Ironman is now forever etched into the VeloViet's memories.  John, full of sound and fury, vowed on that day to take vengeance on the Crystal Lake Witch.

And to this revenge Cap't John offers what could be their most reliable Fab-4 rider, Brian.  Known for his consistent pull at the front for hours upon hours, Brian has been transforming himself to that of a climber, and dominated first in today's training ride to GMR!  It is in Brian that will represent the Fab's name.

A WEEK TO GO  -
Then there is the challenge from MAN.  The Crystal throne offers the seductive and intoxicated beauty of the sexual Sirens, and the grand glory of that for the High Kingdom.  These exquisite tastes bring in the next eco-team in the VeloViets... the Irvine Crew.  The Crew offers their best strength-to-weight rider to the mix, and that is the lightest Irvine rider Nam!  Part of the famous Truong Brothers Trio, Nam at 130 lbs is the lightest of the bunch, and can fly up those steep slopes.  And his support crew is the best in the business, with dependable work horses like Binh, Hoang, and Henry.  Too are the Truong Brothers Doug and Vu, who will do whatever it takes to bring down the dominating Fab Force and put one of their own on the podium!

THE NOW  -
The Beast that of the Crystal Witch cackled with glee as she realized the VeloViets are coming, but will be fighting among themselves for her throne.  She know with all of the fighting taking their toll, the first few riders will be skin and bones, but she hoped there will be a few slow fat ones will make it up so that she can have a nice meal.  The Crystal Witch salivates thinking of the upcoming roast.

She sees movement further down below. The VeloViet Warriors started to charge up the hill.  The battle for Crystal Lake has begun!

TO THE CRYSTAL LAKE WE GO !!!

Spartacus

[Hoa Tran]

This is getting very exciting. I need to cut down the alcohol this week so I can perform for the old man Brian!

Thank you Phong

Hoa T

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[Kato Leong BS50]

Wow...maybe I should skip my MTB race in AZ just to watch this shootout...

Kato

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[Michael Hoang]

Carb loading for the big day.

[Chris Ngo]

I am so sad that I am going to miss this epic battle of the century 🙁😞😒😣☹️.  

Best of luck to both teams, be safe, and may all of you survive to slay the Witch of Crystal Lake!

 Chris 

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 24, 2018, at 8:33 PM, Michael Hoang <hoang....@gmail.com> wrote:

Carb loading for the big day.

[Tim Truong]

Thank you Phong for your eloquent and color full description of the throw down Brian placed onto our lap. 

Irvine Crew would have like to have more time for getting ready but here it is. We will have four riders ready to take on Brian challenge. Binh, Minh, Hoang & Nam will each take on this audacious challenge by Brian. Doug is currently out of commission and he is sagging. I am so out of shape that I can only help to pull the challenger for the first 3 miles or so I hope.  I think the bet is $20 each for the VV beer fund. 

Based on the smart money coming in so far, Brian is the current Las Vegas favorite due to the  3 super domestique  in John Hoa & Chanh vs Me, Henry, and Nhat ... I don't need to tell you how's that going to turn out. However, we are currently recruiting some helps. If you are a free agent domestique and ready to pull for beer or coffee, please contact me. You need to understand that going up against the Goliath Fab 4 is a kamakazi mission with very small chance of success. The reward is just a simple beer or coffee. 

Like I said before, you will never have a dull ride with Brian Lieu. Let's do it !

Vu Tim Truong

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[stevenlongkhanh]

I will help Irvine crew if you gyus don't want slow down. 😀 have a good day everybody. Love you all.

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

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[Duc Au]

Equally adept on a bike, Phong possesses rare power to stir evocative emotions with words. His descriptive narration always reads like a screenplay for The Fast & Furious movie and this latest Crystal Lake edition is no exception. Yet, for all the intense promotional buildup between Fab 4 and Irvine Crew rivalry, it must be highlighted in bold lettering that our smoldering silent Michael Hoang bounds to test any KOM challenger’s thresholds for suffering to the max. The young man doesn’t talk or eat or drink or sleep or date much, but his propensity to endure mind numbing pain is almost un-human. Alas, just to be able to ride up to Crystal Lake in relative  good health is a personal triumph in itself for the rest of us.

Still lost to summer wind,

DA

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[Minh Nguyen]

Needless to say Phong is the master of colorful descriptive words, gelling us all into one wonderful cyclists group.  This year Crystal Lake challenge is unlike previous years, it is more of nursing home AARP members on the left .vs. AARP members on the right pretending their face skin still glowing and tight;  Wishfully thinking their hairless legs, thick sturdy thigh generating immense torques uphill.

In the end when all reach Crystal Lake, all-grey-few-leftover thin hair blowing with the wind or bald, shine beautiful shaved heads we all sit down have a good time with senior coffee discounted for $0.99 cents tax included from McDonald, keep bragging mano-a-mano stories till next time.

Ride on!

min jr.

DA

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[Minh Ly]

Life too short ride hard much you can ! AndI my favorite is  Brian. Ride4beers! 

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[Phong Ha]

Hi VeloViets,

Youth and energy won over experience and wisdom today, as young cycling stud Charles made a daring attack and seized the grand glory on the top of Crystal Lake.  Second place and third places too was a surprise, and taken by Hoang and by the "energizer" Thomas.  Their names will be forever remembered in VeloViet folklore as the best of the best on this fine day in 2018!

The race between the Fab Team and Irvine Crew was fierce and brutal!  One can see the domestiques from both team working lard for the leader, and it came down to just a single minute!  The glory was captured again by youthful Irvine Nam besting the veteran Fab Brian.  I am sure the next few week the Fab Team will push a grueling pace on the Sunday Rides to work out some their frustration!

As you all know, a VeloViet Epic Ride could not happen so successfully without much planning and support.  I had a good time on building up this drama, and so much "painful" fun during the ride!  I would personally like to thank Cap't John and the VV leads for all the planning going up to the ride.  During the ride, Anh Sang, Doug, Dave Maya, and Johnny are the best SAG Crew ever!  Special thanks to Johnny for giving me the Gu and trail mix at mile 23 as both of my legs had started to cramp!

After ride social was a blast!  Special thanks to Nam's wife, Dat's wife, Dien's wife, Kristy, Nam, and many others who contributed to the food and beer and gave us a wonderful lunch!  The food was absolutely delicious!  Please extend my thanks to the wives!

Thank you all!  I hoped you had fun!  Here is to the 2019 Crystal Lake!  A video recap can be seen below.

https://vimeo.com/267156366

Out,

Spartacus

[Buu Tran]

"I am sure the next few week the Fab Team will push a grueling pace on the Sunday Rides to work out some their frustration"

Phong knows how to tease Fab4 :)