Rise of the Domestique - A VeloViet's Legend is Borne

[Phong Ha]

The pain etched heavily on his weathered brown face.  The Old Man looked up from his hunched position and his redden eyes focus intently forward into the climb.  He has done what he could to prepare his body for this upcoming epic battle: a regimented diet, losing weight, and daily kick-ass training sessions with his new Yahoo Kickr with his virtual Zwift friends.  He even shaved his head so that he is the most aero-dynamic on the bike as much as he can.  His smooth oily head can now cut through the Eastern winds like a hard hot knife through moist butter.  Fab-4 Brian lowers his head, grits his teeth, and gave it an extra watts per kilogram on this Zwift ride.

His Fabulous support staff have also been very well prepared, and the Fab rider thought back to all those late night tactical sessions with his Fab team leader John.  So much sacrifices have been made as too his wife have been extremely upset at him, as he even had abstained from all sexual contact so that he can be in his AARP peak energy for all of the Zwift training rides.  But now... he is not sure that this was enough!

Earlier in the day, when he had read that one of the famous Truong Brother will not be riding, he was ecstatic.  This meant that the Irvine Crew was one strong rider down, and this gave his Fab Team another advantage.   But suddenly... a new dark horse enters the race.  Boasting watts/kg unheard of before, Racer Michael H was announced by Promoter DA that he too will challenge the race.  Fab Brian knows that Racer Michael is also a strong rider, and had come close to seizing the glory on the past epics.  He wondered what this new trio of threads will spin, and whose web he will land on.

Fab Brian knows that greatness is not borne, not given freely, but it is made through hard work, continual sacrifices, and absolute dedication.  But he also know that the transition from domestique to one who seize the throne of the mighty kingdom will earn legendary status within the VeloViet's folklore.  His name will be ever whispered in cycling gossip by every new crop of VeloViet Rookies as he who was an average man that rose above all challenges, and captured greatness on that one fine day!

This thought spur him on.  The Old Man lifted his bald head and have a loud roar....

"To The Glory Land We Go...  Let's Get Ready to RRRUUUMMMBBBLLLEEE !!!"

Spartacus

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 7:44 PM, Phong Ha <phong...@gmail.com> wrote:

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

[VeloViet]

Hip hip horay... With all the emails back and forth... I might need an Ambien pill to sleep on Saturday night.  Great job everyone to make it a fun ride.  A little competition is healthy to keep everyone training. 

Team Tai Nam will send up 10 guests to ride with us and I know they are strong riders who can smack us around so bring your legs. On top of that, we will have a strong rider from Fresno, his name is Kelly who has no problem following us through 133 last time. 

Here is the menu:

Nam's wife will make baked bean. 

Anh Đạt wife, chị Dung will make Asian salad. 

She will also come out with Dien's wife and they will get Ribs, Chicken, Bread, shrimp cocktail, ham & cheese, sashimi tuna, smoked salmon, fruits.  Of course we will wash all the foods down with cold beers.

Kristy will have oranges for SAG. 

Nam will have tables and stuffs ready for food. 

Anh Sang, Johnny and Doug please bring a cooler with you. I will have water and gatorade. 

The SAG team will drive along if you need water/gatorade or anything, just raise your hands. 

As far as Las Vegas bet, my money is on Michael, then Duc Au.  But the Fab4 will try our best to fend of attack from Binh, Minh, Hoang, Nam and chase down Michael and DA.

There will be fireworks on Sunday!