KITTEN FACTORY- Five Years of 24MOTAB!........yeah whatever.........

Awwwww......

2010-05-03T12:04:00.004-05:00

Proud to introduce our newest intern out here at the Kitten Factory. We expect great things from Cinder as she brings with her energy, charm, a few sneezes and undeniable CUTE.

More from the factory floor soon.

Don't worry, you're in good hands

2010-04-08T16:26:00.001-05:00

twentyfourmotabdammit!!!!!

2010-03-25T14:54:00.003-05:00

oddly enough 24MOTAB is this Sunday. Expect more excitement than you can possibly fathom because this time there will be more excitement than you can possibly fathom without being able to fully fathom the excitement or the said possibility of excitement than you can fathom! It has been said that often in the days of colonial British rule of the Indian subcontinent that when it got too dark to play cricket on the finely manicured lawns of viceroy, servants would stand on the perimeter of the game holding torches to light the grounds thereby deflecting harmful shotgun blasts fired by assassins riding pachyderms (of the elephant variety) hiding in the jungle periphery. Terrible terrible things would happen and sometimes not but mostly terrible things and these terrible things were not without consequence and outcome much like when you have your taxes done by the guy standing in line at the Freedom Mart who only wants a pack of smokes and a cheap tv dinner to sooth his troubled mind from all the terrible terrible things that have happened but sometimes not but mostly have. Pancakes. There I said it.

From Pull to FULL!

2010-02-26T15:33:00.004-06:00

That's it! Registration for the H8TR100 is now closed. This weekend we'll throw all the names in a hat and pull out the roster for the 2010 H8TR100!

PULL!!!!

2010-02-18T16:16:00.006-06:00

ready... aim.....PULL!!!

The Lay Of The Land

2010-02-15T13:30:00.008-06:00

After much delay it's time to light the fuse on the 4th edition of the Madison-Basco-Madison Spring Classic (now and forever after to be known as the H8TR100. Begun back in the spring of 2007, the M-B-M Spring Classic is an homage to the European spring road classics. In other words, grueling course conditions tempered by brutal early spring weather for maximum suffering. Sound good? You damn well bet it does!
Remember, We pick the day but not the weather!

The Date: Saturday April 10th
The Time: 10:00am
The Distance: approximately 100K (62 miles for the metrically impaired)
The Place: as is tradition, a secret until about a week before, but let's just say Madison Wisco fer now.
The Cost: $6
Registration: keep reading.

As with the last three years, the M-B-M H8TR100 will start in Madison and then do an out and back course on the H8TR Trail (better known as the Badger State Trail) with an overall distance being somewhere around 100K . The H8TR Trail is a combination of pavement, crushed gravel and eight miles of unfinished railroad bed featuring cinders, weeds, deer carcasses, potholes, downed trees and assorted sizes of gravel. Add to that the weather which two years ago featured a mix of rain, snow, sleet and stinging ice pellets aided and abetted by a stiff north wind on the return trip and you have a recipe for F-U-N!!!! Sound like your kind of fun? Oh yes it does! Rain date?....ahahahahahahahahahahaahhaha! This is Wisconsin!!!! Remember once again: We pick the date, not the weather! So be prepared for anything!

There are also highways to cross, bridges and a tunnel. Yes a tunnel, a very long very dark train tunnel so you will need a headlight (no really you will need a headlight) and possibly crampons for the ice in the tunnel. Still with me? Good! We have a couple more things in store just to keep things interesting and to put even more of a challenge in the race. What are they? That would be telling. Suffice to say that even though this is on a level road grade (mostly....) and runs along a finished bike path for the majority of the race (mostly.....) there is an element of danger involved which could lead to injury, damage to bike or even.......getting killed. Mostly it just means using yer head and keeping alert. Last year everybody who started the ride finished the ride and we had a great time doing it.

Competitive? Oh hell yes again! There will be trophies three deep for both men and women plus a DFL trophy for the last person to finish. Hopefully with the aid of sponsors we'll have some damn cool shwag to give away in a drawing at the end. Open catagory for bikes so run whatever though we'd recommend something along the lines of a cross bike, but hell mtn bike, unicycle, single speeds, fixed gear (it happened!), tandem (Bates has threatened a tandem)- you want to try it be our guests....

So, Kitten Master, how the hell do I get registered for this event? Keep watching the Kitten Factory, at some point this week (yes that's a secret too) we'll yell pull and then it's game on! We'll give you an email address to register at. Don't register here in the comments, we might miss it. There will be an 75 rider cap (this includes the six top three mens and womens finishers from last year). 75 is a "just about" manageable number. So 75 it is. We'll keep registration open for a week and then draw names for the roster. Any entries left over after that will go on a waiting list and those entries will be notified if there is an opening.

Fees can be payed via Paypal As always The Madison-Basco-Madison Spring Classic is a nonsanctioned, totally amateur (us, not you necessarily) event that could seriously threaten life and limb so we take no responsibility for injury or mayhem. Mayhem is cool! Serious injuries not so much.

Oh shut up already Kitten Master!!!
here are links for the past three M-B-M race day reports to give you a feel for what it's all about.
2007
2008
2009

bang

2010-02-13T18:32:00.004-06:00

When we yell "pull!" be ready.

Getting To Be That Time Of Year

2010-02-09T12:51:00.001-06:00

Infamy

2010-02-08T14:08:00.003-06:00

The Kittenmaster finally broke the stalemate and became the first person to win 6 24MOTABs. It took a while with an average of about one win a year, but as they say, half of success is just showing up. I also vehemently deny that I haven't been doping. I owe all my success to dope- as they say, the other half of succeeding is doping.

Newcomer Ben "Bin" took second place sucka and Matt took his third DFL in only 5 trys (now that is success). And yes, sure as the sun sets in the west, Jeff came up empty handed.

24MOTAB this Sunday

2010-02-04T13:21:00.000-06:00

feast yer eyes on this prize.

24MOTAB pushed back one week

2010-01-29T14:32:00.003-06:00

24MOTAB will be on February 7th instead of this weekend.
then we'll ride some laps in honor of the man who is not only responsible for me but for me and my lifelong connection to bikes.

misfortune cookies

2009-12-26T18:10:00.005-06:00

fortunes come and fortunes go, but 24MOTAB is here for you always like a big black cloud of goodness. and tomorrow night (decembre 27th) is the last 24MOTAB of the year, so if doing 24MOTAB was on your list of things to do for '09 this is your last chance! or just come to see Jeff get shut out yet again for '09

The Elite

2009-12-01T12:09:00.006-06:00

Last Sunday night our man Colin joined an elite circle of only three people who have won 24MOTAB 5 times (the other two being Dan "Danimal" Meyer and the Kitten Master). There had been a long dry spell for Colin after a flurry of '08 wins but he proved that the well wasn't dry with an impressive last second surge that made all the distance.

Here's Colin's play by play:
I'm still a little shocked about last night, it went something like this:
Lyle and I were rolling slow, talking about finding a way into the building when we got to the 2nd gate. As we were going around it Sketch Brah went under it, hauling ass, half joking I said "What does he know that we don't?" and just to mess with him I took off, thinking "There is no way the time is up, if anything it'll end right after we cross the line, then we'll have to fight it out for DFL, it will end badly for me."

So I'm pumping it, thinking DT and Lyle were hot on my ass, and I'm thinking I can't take either of them. When I hit the line I heard the beeping and looked for Dave to have just passed me at the line, only he wasn't there. I'm still pretty surprised by how the whole thing went down. Never would've expected it.

Well done sir well done!!! Also in the mix was Sketchy Dave for the second place sucka and Sarah taking the DFL
(he must be doping. well he better be doping, this is 24MOTAB after all!)

24MOTAB- it's what's for breakfast

2009-11-24T16:33:00.003-06:00

remember not so long ago when summer's blush was on the land and the sweet fragrant stench of mulch perfumed the multitudinous clouds of mosquitoes that swarmed in the dusk of a sun that never set on an empire so fair that poets were moved to lay down their pens and take jobs as cashiers in all night gas stations that locked the doors of their restrooms to guard against vagrant hippie drug dealers who had dropped out of MIT in their final semester because God spoke to them in a mushroom addled daze that could only be shaken off with tons of coffee, donuts and cigarettes procured from a vending machine at the end of the hallway on the way to rear exit of that VFW bar you used to go to when all the other bars had banned you or had closed due to proximity of churches and/or elementary schools that had two martini lunches stuffed into bookbags carried by children who could breath air that was perfumed with the acrid stench of leafy matter in plastic bags dreaming of summer's blush when the crack of the bat signaled that someone somewhere was juicing. Do you remember that? Do you? Me neither.

Business as usual this Sunday.

And Now We Are Five

2009-10-28T12:43:00.004-05:00

A Brief History of Time

2009-10-22T09:26:00.002-05:00

back in the time machine for a vintage poster from the pre-Kittenmaster days and via an email exchange between D*Pow, Olson, Lord Hayden and the Kittenmaster- a history of 24MOTAB from its start it's resurrection:

kittenmaster
okay so how many 24MOTABs were there before the current inception and what year did they start and end? just being mr. historian. that and I'd consider both that version and the current version the grandfathers of DIY madison bike foolishness/let's do something to entertain ourselves events.

D*Pow
In regards to the history of MOTAB, I'd say there were probably more than 7 but less than a dozen of the original format...I know that Dusty Herbig won the first 3, and the Row wrestled the mantle away from BBC for at least 3 (Stagger Lee and Olson won at least one each) But then Small Paul showed up in a skin suit to take the win for BBC...I can recall some team tactics and a peloton, back when folks would actually race for 24 minutes. There was the time Lommen broke his arm, and we used to post-ride drink at the ohio before we started to pre-ride drink at Mickeys. I can think of 2 or three other posters that I made, and at least 1 that Lazar made.
I'm pretty sure we discovered the building on a booze cruise around Lake Monona in the Summer of 2002. I think that they probably went on until sometime in 2004 when I moved on, at about that time, the Trek store guys seemed to have picked up on it, and Vee used to send me pics, and linked me to some creepyfriendly site I'd never heard of. I know Jesse made a whole bunch of flyers as well.
The first couple of races were a strictly BBS, maybe even strictly 1202 thing...then the Wacko Jacko and the Used Boys started coming, and brought those Row Dudes along. We used to grill and launch bottle rockets pretty much every time as well. And at the first race there was no gate and we started racing in the front of the building.

Olson
... And when there was a gate it got a board up on it for Gower to launch his ass off.

Lord Hayden
first one I was at was after Mifflin street party in 2003..so May 2003. the night before I got slammered up and somehow lost my bike between Gower's and my apartment, so I rode my roommate's bike. it was pouring rain and we scavenged a construction tarp, burned a pallet in a grill and cooked some food. I think there were about 4 or 5 after that, the Loman arm-break might have been near the end. I know he rode his broken-arm having self over to the Ohio for some old time medicine before going to the doctor's the next day.

D*Pow
I recall trying to "set" his broken arm for him, and Lee getting a bag of ice from the Ohio bartender when it was apparent that our set may kill lommen. I also recall feeling really bad when he showed up late to work the next day with his arm in a sling...I'm pretty sure Gower was jumping that ramp on a bike with Biopace chainrings

kittenmaster
I know I saw the flyers at Budget during my six month stint there in 03-04 (I started at Budget in late August/Sept of 03 so it might have been going on still at that point), but I remember bringing it up to Jesse at the TBS west when I'd been there for a couple months and we resurrected it on Easter Sunday of '04 (no pun intended). Then I think we might have done two others (one where I broke my foot stepping sideways on a brick from Brick Mountain after taking a leak- I still did the race) before making it a monthly event in October. So really there hasn't been that much of a gap between the two incarnations which is kinda cool.

D*Pow
those are all pretty good old views of days gone by, pretty sure the streamers one was the last flyer I made, but I think at some point I passed on quite a few of the first few flyers...back when it happened whenever we had the notion, gumption or the need for weed...

kittenmaster
the flyers are great! we'll pour one out for all of you and maybe for Lazer too.

This many years old this Sunday

2009-10-19T11:47:00.001-05:00

PRO Dopes

2009-10-13T16:16:00.001-05:00

Phil and Vee hold down the podium for the '07 DopeTAB

more from the past

2009-10-12T16:38:00.002-05:00

Fuel

2009-10-08T08:29:00.001-05:00

oh yes, three 24MOTAB mainstays check the reserves.

Trophy!!!

2009-10-07T07:02:00.003-05:00

It's also been almost 5 years of trophy making for the KittenMaster. In which he has courted blood loss, tetanus shots and last minute inspiration but has always come up with something worthy of a 24MOTAB winner.
some trophies have drinking problems, but don't worry, they're "happy drunk" trophies.

NILS!!!! was here

2009-10-07T06:59:00.002-05:00

Pile To The Sky

2009-10-05T21:28:00.002-05:00

One of the many engineering feats performed regularly at 24MOTAB. The ritual bike pile.
As we always say- never ride anything you love. But then you always hurt the ones you love.

Darkness Brings The Dark

2009-10-05T21:22:00.003-05:00

Marko visits the bone pile on this Halloween MOTAB from '05

Wet Kitten

2009-10-05T21:19:00.001-05:00

a rare shot of the Kittenmaster in his natural habitat

BROWN DERBY!

2009-10-02T11:35:00.002-05:00

many 24MOTABs have become brown derbies due to rain and snow but for this one future Brown Derby member Andrew Harrison was in attendance.

red white and booze

2009-10-01T10:52:00.003-05:00

July 3rd 2005

5 Years With Intent!

2009-09-30T16:45:00.003-05:00

all this month pictures from the past in preparation for the 5th anniversary of continuous 24MOTABs. hell I might even get in an actual update for the last two 24MOTABs while I'm at it!
trivia question: who's blood has been spilled for Randy Travis in this picture from '06?

Don't be chicken- 24MOTAB This Sunday!!!

2009-09-22T16:50:00.002-05:00

you heard me!

24MOTAB Buckle Bunnies needed!

2009-08-28T08:34:00.003-05:00

DAMN! It's time once again for 24MOTAB and this month's trophy is INSANE!!!!
So come on down to the abandoned building and see if you have the GUTS to wrestle this trophy away from the KITTENMASTER! He DARES you!!!!*

*disclaimer- 24MOTAB does not condone the use of steroids, monkey brains, submerged aquatic vehicles or lentil soup for the winning of 24MOTAB.
but there will be birthday cake!

Please Help A Brother Out

2009-08-06T19:35:00.005-05:00

The Kittenmaster will tell you from personal experience that cancer is no fun. It can be a long, hard, devastating road and any help along the way makes that road a little easier to travel. Right now Garrett Kipp needs our help and support. If you have ridden Blue Mounds or any of the trails C.O.R.P has had a hand in then Garrett has been part of your experience. There are a few things you can do to help. Just follow the links and do what you can. T6 and a bunch of other folks are pitching in and you can be a part of that. More than anything just to let someone know that you care can do so much to lift the spirit.

The Dopest

2009-07-31T15:53:00.003-05:00

Great cycling events tend to draw contestants and spectators like mosquitoes to free sample day at the Red Cross donation center. And so it was this year like the previous three years that the Tour de France and 24MOTAB attracted big crowds and riders all the while circling each other like hungry dogs in the alley behind the butcher shop. Errr, what? Okay, okay so 24MOTAB and the last day of the Tour fell on the same day again and 24MOTAB paid tribute by becoming 24Dope-TAB!

Pretty quiet on the doping front with the TdF this year so maybe MOTAB was a little off the back like some sad hipster that still thinks pirates are funny 4 years too late. But the difference is MOTABers are still there for the ride and the ride is what's important.

After the traditional pre-race press conference at Mickeys, the prologue to the abandoned building wound its way down the bike path. Skies had threatened rain all day but tonight it was clear and warm and the bike pile reached up to that cloudless blue expanse as if God himself might reach down and ring the bike bell on the uppermost handlebar. Whoops, got a little Phil Liggett on you there. Anyway, that jerk the KittenMaster nonchalantly knocked over the pile and the race was well and truly joined!

Riders became spectators, spectators became riders, hasty alliances were forged and shattered in the same lap and no one knew where off the front became off the back. But one thing was for certain, there was DOPE!

And who was the dopest of the dopers? Kenny took his first ever 24MOTAB victory home ensuring a place on next year's team and enough product endorsements to keep him in Cheetos till the end of next week! Last year's 24Dope-TAB winner Andrew was proof that cheaters/dopers can never acheive that level of dopeness again (or at least need to dope harder to pull it off a second time). Matt....Matt Matt Matt......DFL. And his choice of how to wear the DFL award only proved his worthiness of the DFL standing. Matt, that wasn't a Santa hat nosewarmer......

As the night sky closed in and the mosquitoes on their way home from the Red Cross decided to stop by for a snack, another edition of 24Dope-TAB was put down in the books. Next month a short return to normalcy for MOTAB but after that? Oh who knows after that.

24 Dope-TAB the 4th!!!

2009-07-21T08:39:00.002-05:00

This Sunday brings the 4th annual salute to the Tour de France and illicit drugs! It's been quiet on that front with the real tour so expect the 24MOTAB crew to take up the slack with plenty of EPO, blood transfusions and denials thereof!
Here's the trophy and all I can say is "heroic".

Slow Jamzzzzzzzzzzzz

2009-07-21T08:16:00.003-05:00

Ugh, apologies for the lateness of this update on last month's 24MOTAB- too much kitten fur lodged in the computer caused a meltdown in the circuitry leaving the kittens and I isolated in a netless wasteland of normalcy.....whut?

June 28th's 24MOTAB was really one of the best ever and for a few accidental reasons as well as the planned ones. First of course it was the 24SLOWJAMs edition and Nils did a great 24 minute mix of Barry White, Al Green, R. Kelly, Marvin Gaye, Peabo Bryson and a few others (30 freaks in 24 minutes as Nils put it), so a nice laid back, mellow funkbomb for a Sunday evening. About 30 people showed up so we had this amazing precision built 9 foot plus bike pile balancing precariously in the wind. It did topple before anyone could stop it and when it did it toppled into this perfect rainbow shaped accordion (was wondering how we'd disassemble it if it managed to stay upright till the race started- question answered).

What we didn't know was that the fireworks at Warner Park had been moved from Saturday evening to Sunday due to a rain threat so because of the Abandoned Building's proximity to the Dane County Airport we got flyovers by 2 squadrons of Air National Guard helicopters and a squad of 4 F-111 fighter jets on their way to buzz Warner Park and display patriotism through massive firepower (nothing says America like guns n bombs!!! YEE-HAAWWW!!!). Apparently three MOTAB riders mooned the helicopters as they passed. Well done! That's some quick thinking on behalf of the counterculture! Then to balance things out a flock of mallard ducks flewover as well. First time riders were impressed by our connections with the military and mother nature I'd wager! Cory brought back assorted large fireworks from a trip to Tennessee he'd made including a 90 round Roman candle that went for about four minutes straight. Good thing the police were busy elsewhere directing traffic. Add to all that perfect temps, no mosquitos and the fact that it was the summer soltice and you couldn't ask for better. On the way out rounding the far end of Garver a yearling deer darted out in front of me running toward Olbrich. Inner city deer? Right on!

24SLOWJAMZZZZZZ

2009-06-24T11:39:00.002-05:00

Heeeeeeeeeey kittenz. Almost time for a break from the heat and we know just the thing. a 24 minute thing. mm-hmmm 24 minutes of slow jams to cool things off and heat things up. ohhhh yessss. this sunday, usual time, usual place.

Six Flags Over MOTAB

2009-06-02T10:16:00.010-05:00

Sunday May 31st- After a short warm up at Mickey's, the usual core group of 24MOTABers made their way to the abandoned building. A warm pleasant evening with birds chirping, trees leafing and wheels turning. Perfect spring weather. And what goes along with perfect spring weather? A garage sale and that exactly what it looked like was happening at the abandoned building! Old office furniture, pallet racking, machete sized papercutters and .....a puppet show theatre (?) were just some of the items littering the grounds. Looks like they're doing some house cleaning inside. Uh-oh. But as the saying goes, "one person's garbage is another person's playground" and soon there were ramps and obstacles all over the place. And we needed 'em as the ranks swelled to well over 25 MOTABers! Hell we had an unprecidented two bike piles! Ain't never been done!!! A lot of new faces which is always nice to see, but the usual suspects were on the podium once again. Kelly added yet another first place trophy to the House of Cognition's always growing collection! And Lylez, the other half of the House of C took the other other end of things with DFL. And there in the middle was Zack with the 2nd Place Sucka spot. Much socializing, much riding and pilfering of garage sale items, before the mosquitos let us know that summer has indeed arrived. RUN FER YER LIVES!!!!
more pix here

Next month: The 24 Minutes of Slow Jams. Oh yeah...................

24MOTAB- Home of the winners!

2009-05-27T15:32:00.003-05:00

It was a year ago that the above pictured man began his unprecedented 4 wins in one year MOTAB tear. There's been a bit of a dry spell of late but you can be sure that Colin will be in it to win it this SUNDAY*.

*24MOTAB hereby states that they can't be absolutely certain that Colin began winning 24MOTABs a year ago but it sounded good at the time. Also if Colin doesn't show up on Sunday, 24 MOTAB is not responsible for your disappointment or regret at time wasted.

2009-05-14T21:44:00.000-05:00

the big pile

2009-04-30T20:51:00.003-05:00

and he who has the biggest pile of bikes...must be at 24MOTAB.
yes indeed the first real shorts and shirt sleeves weather of the year grew a tall stack of bikes for the April 09 edition of 24MOTAB. when was the last warm weather MOTAB? September of 08 maybe? just goes to show that the foolhardy are hardy fools to keep coming back month after month. a few puddles here and there at the abandoned building but otherwise good course conditions and good peeps to go with it. kinda nice to have some extra sunlight at the end of the day too. at the end of this day, Brett took the honours with his first recorded 24MOTAB victory and judging from the pictures he looked all the part of the champion. well done sir! unfortunately in what is becoming habitual sloppiness in record keeping, second place sucka and DFL weren't really kept track of. Oh the shame! we'll blame it on spring delirium. that's it, next month we need to start awarding stuff for second place and DFL again. I heard of at least two people who have DFL traveling jerseys in their pocession, so maybe those will return. the mosquitos will probably have returned by then too so expect a quick awards ceremony and then running for your lives. see you then!
pix

back to the simple life

2009-04-21T20:27:00.003-05:00

ah, now that we've had a taste of early spring European racing it's time to settle back into the routine that brings us here month after month, year after year- yes it's 24MOTAB time once again. this Sunday 8:00 at the abandoned building with pre-ride refreshments at Mickey's around 7-ish.

apparently a referendum did pass with this last election that will pave the way for something to be done with the abandoned building so maybe sometime in the next year or so. we've heard it before so who knows, but for now don't take 24MOTAB for granted cuz once the abandoned building is gone then 24MOTAB will be gone with it. get it now!

the when

2009-04-14T19:42:00.010-05:00

No pun intended but I hate this part. This is the part where I have to quantify and verbalize all the action, all the sensations, all the feelings etc. of a whirlwind that for me is Christmas, New Year's and Halloween all rolled into one. So let me say just this- I don't look for people who ask "why", I only look for people who ask "when". On Saturday I found those people.

Saturday April 11th 2009, all bunnies eve day and the Kitten Factory contingent rolled up to Westmoreland Park just off of Midvale and Tokay and started getting ready. It looked to be a warm, sunny day and despite his misgivings about that the Kittenmaster said "well, alright!". Chris, Billy and Kelly E. had shown up to get the registration started and soon this year's edition of H8TR Riders began to arrive. Familiar faces from the first MBM and the second mixed with first timers and all pretty much knew what to expect.....or do they. Oh they'd been bombarded with posts and emails form the kittenfactory, they've bantered on forums, they've done recon, plotted strategies and talked among themselves but until the wheels came to a stop it was anyone's guess as to how things would turn out.

At 9:50 the Kittenmaster stood atop his picnic table pulpit and dispensed the final instructions and with that they were off. A controlled lead out was just barely controllable as the speed was already starting to pick up heading down Midvale, but the Kittenmaster regulated and soon things were back to a relaxed pace and heading down the Southwest Bike Corridor. From the lead spot watching a parade of riders snake across the Beltline overpass, it was a thing of beauty. A minute later, the hand pointed forward, GOOOOO!!!! was shouted and the serene snake attacked. Jesse and Cory have great accounts of the opening mayhem and if you ask him nicely maybe Lyle will post the one he wrote (c'mon Lyle, wake up the hurtbox) it's almost as good as having Phil Ligget and a helicopter camera crew showing you life off the front. I'll try to gather some of these blogs and photos together because together you might get an idea what went on from a bunch of different perspectives.

From the Kittenmaster's viewpoint it was ride like you meant it (and he always means it) but to also act as on trail streetsweeper and caretaker making sure that those stopped along the trailside were okay. Oh and who should be the first person the KM stopped to check on but last year's MBM: H8TR100 champ Scot Van Asten walking his way back to the road just a little past Whalen. Course conditions were dry, hard, fast and bumpy on the unfinished segments and SVA's rear der dropout had fallen victim to the deadly combo. Game and frame over, but Scot knew it was the luck of the draw and treated it as such with a laugh. That is keeping things in perspective! He's already said he'll be back next year and we don't doubt that for a second!

Despite his love of foul weather, the KM had to admit that this was a fantastic day for riding! Leaf litter, dead grass, dirt and people going full bore made him think of cross season and the fall. Perfect. And speaking of cross season, the KM soon caught up with Nils Gibson, a man who's class in getting somewhere is only matched by his skills in getting there. Serious style we like to call it. We rode along for a while hitting Purcell Road and the beginning of the finished portion of the H8TR when off in the distance another rider was stopped alongside the trail. Dammit, if there wasn't such a thing as the H8TR winner's curse before, there is now- Cory Gwin the first MBM champ had been felled by a flat! Not enough to stop him of course but enough to make for a tough chase to catch up. Assured that Cory was doing fine and soon to join back in the chase, the Kittenmaster rode off only to hear Cory yell "I H8T you!" behind him. The Kittenmaster's day was made!

From H8TRville proper to the tunnel of H8T things rolled along uneventfully with various riders suffering happily alone or in small groups, but past the tunnel, into the turnaround and then to the mountain stage things were hotting up with the off the front group and the chase group. DAMN this was a real race! Stationary domestiques Phil, Roy and Kevin were at the ready with a cooler full of water, PBR, Mountain Creek, sausages and Little Debbie snack cakes. All reported that the OTF group were on fire heading up into the Dirty Alpes with Jesse leading the way. KM missed them by about three minutes but was there in time to see the chaser train steam by and head for the pass. Damn, that was exciting to see!

On the way back the Kittenmaster latched onto the NateTrain and he and Nate Jacques took turns pulling into the ten mile an hour north wind. Nothing like last year's stinging ice pellet north wind beatdown but enough to keep you pedaling steadily every step of the way. Once they hit the city limits Nate churned forward and the KM rode the rest of the way in with Frank Chemotti wheeling into the park with about half the riders returned. The Kittenmaster knew he'd done his job seeing several regular denominators of road, mtn and cx races sprawled across the grass.

Once everyone returned (and once again, everyone did return) the awards were given out which aside from the mens and womens 1-2-3 places also included the best brother/brother combo finish (there were five sets of brothers originally) awarded to the Curtes Bros., Mike and Joe, the dubious technical challenge award given to David Ziehr (three flats and he still finished!!!) and DFL to Karen Bates who stopped in Paoli for a bit to look in the art galleries (umm, the officials think you might have strayed off the course a little Karen...). Then there was a prize drawing and what better place to say thank you to all our sponsors and prize donators? This wouldn't have been nearly the event it was without you!
So thank you:
Twin6 (Mpls) you too can wear the H8T!!! in both his and hers!
Planet Bike
Creepyfriendly
Ben's Cycles (MKE)
Team Polska (MKE)
Portland Design Works (Portland OR)
The Milwaukee Fire Dept
Cognition Caps
ZR Cycles
P-Lip Designs (Columbus)
Revolution Cycles
MacLabs (H8TRville)
Screendoor Printing

And while we're at it, without the MBM volunteers this just wouldn't have happened anywhere near as smoothly and seamlessly as it did!
Billy, Chris, Kelly E., Ryan, Kelly P. , Jessica, Roy, Kevin and Phil- thank you from the kittens.

more blogs and more pictures as they arrive.
thank you to all the riders- you only asked "when".

postcards from H8TRville

2009-04-12T18:29:00.002-05:00

some pictures from the H8TRcam for yesterday's MBM Spring Classic. more in a day or two.

Everyday is H8TRday!

2009-04-11T18:05:00.004-05:00

What a day!
Right now the kittens are bushed after a long day out on the trail. So we're going to sleep for a couple days and then come back with a recap of all the MBM:HOTS H8TR goings on. But for now, that was a day made for spreading the H8t!
Final Results:
Mens:
1st- Jesse Lalonde
2nd- Matt Gehling
3rd- Lylez Hanson

Womens:
1st- Meghan Korol
2nd- Claire Cannon
3rd- Katy Steudel

The kitten factory will be closed for some much needed rest now.

ink, paper, scissors

2009-04-09T08:36:00.001-05:00

WORD.

Sketch Brah checks in

2009-04-07T20:58:00.002-05:00

Sketchy Dave did another recon and here's the latest on course conditions. Go DNR!!!

Did another full recon to the tunnel, this time solo. The light rain/snow/frothy mix paired with the high winds made the "pre-purcell" trail from seminole to the gravel sector very ride-able and fast, there is almost a hint of a singletrack. South of Henry Rd in Bosco is a bit soft and eroded, not too bad, but don't eat with your hands off the bar. From there through Belle-vile is great. On my way to the tunnel (mile or two south of Belle-vile), the erosion channels that Adler nutted himself on were still present. The tunnel is do-able with a minor dismount at the ice sculpture, as the underground ice is still there and slippery. The way back I was encountered with flag straightening winds. There was a positive spin on this as luckily I watched a DNR service truck with a flatbed trailer full of gravel turn in front of me off one of the county highways and drive all the way to the erosion damaged spot and began to repair the trail. I stopped for a moment, chatted with the fellows, and went on my way. Apparently, the section of trail always gets wrecked and the Highway Dept, nor the farmer wants anything to do with properly draining the shoulder of the road (HWY 69) so the DNR has to fix the trail every hard rain. The headwinds continued and my PowerTap CPU went on the fritz, but nothing too major as far as conditions to report. This was my last recon before the Hate and if the weather stays mild, we'll be in for a fast one.

pictured up above is just a smidge of the H8TR Booty (mostly crappy home made trophies but there's imported Portland love in there too. more to come!

At Home In The Killing Fields

2009-04-04T15:34:00.006-05:00

The Exceedingly Polite Version:
Today started out early with a full run of the MBM course (almost...). It seemed a little chilled at first but once the internal combustion warmed up the temps were perfect. I headed into Madison on the H8TR with the intent of rendezvouing with Lyle, Colin and Trevor on their way out. I was about 200 yards from Whalen Rd when I met Zack on his way out. We exchanged pleasantries and he said he'd meet us out at the tunnel. Right on. Said hello to the skunk and the two deer carcasses (not much left of the those two fellows) and stopped at the bridge over the Cap City trail to wait for my three co-riders. and wait and wait some more. I was starting to cool off so I thought I'd I'd start back out and maybe they would catch up.

Trail conditions despite the rains from earlier in the week were fast and with the wind at my back everything was in its right place. It goes without saying that I love the unfinished part of the H8TR and today the love was stronger than ever. From Whalen to Henry the speedway was open. A little slower out in the open past Belleville but by then you're almost to the tunnel. On the segment leading up to the tunnel there was a farmer feeding a massive brush fire with a Bobcat. Even 50 yards away I could feel the heat and it was appreciated as the sun hid behind the clouds. I got to the tunnel and switched on the headlight and aside from a twenty yard chunk of solid ice and then some canned ham sized ice deposits for another twenty yards, the tunnel is clear. I called Zack's name in the tunnel but got no response so continued on to the other side and then on from there. About another 75 yards on I saw Zack's bike lying by the side of the trail. Hmmm...suddenly I heard a voice yelling behind me to get the hell off his lawn and there was Zack sitting above the tunnel entrance. We exchanged pleasantries again and he came down. Then we went back through the tunnel and 2/3s of the way through we met what might have been last year's MBM Classic winner Scot Van Asten (it was dark and we couldn't tell but whoever it was they were on a mission). It had to be a H8TR though because who else would be on a road bike in the tunnel on an early spring day.

Crossing back over Tunnel Road we finally met Lyle, Colin and Trevor. There had been some technical problems with Colin's pedals hence the slow up. We all exchanged pleasantires and then went to ride through the tunnel again and then back. Whilst traversing the washout gullies paralleling hwy CC, Colin nutted himself on the saddle while trying to get unclipped from his errant pedal. The rest of us stopped and chuckled good naturedly whilst Colin good naturedly gasped for breath. Colin being the trooper and hard man that he is perservered and we continued on. There was a mild mild headwind from the southeast but otherwise again conditions were nearly perfect. Arriving at the outskirts of H8TRville I bid safe travels and good fortune to my companions and headed back to the Kitten Ranch for a respit. What a pleasant morning's ride!
The Usual Version:
ARRRRRGH!!! RIDE!!!! FAST!!! ZACK!!!! LATE!!!!ARRRRRRRGH!!!! KILL!!!!!!!!!! FIRE!!! TUNNEL!!! ZACK!!!!! RIDE!!!! LYLE!!! COLIN!!!!! TREVOR!!!! RIDE!!!! TUNNEL!!! ARRRRGH!!! RIDE!!!! NUTTED!!!! PAIN!!!!! RIDE!!!!! ARRRRRGGHH!!!!!! END!!!!!

Help A Monkey Out

2009-04-04T07:26:00.002-05:00

sorry it's a little late on the notice but the man could use yer help.
details are here

What's Up P-Lip?

2009-04-01T21:48:00.003-05:00

Phil has a secret. A H8TR related secret? oh yessssssss.

Oh Deer!!!

2009-04-01T09:19:00.002-05:00

Up above and right here, Creepyfriendly weighs in on the race you luv to H8T.
Oh yes you do.

It's All About Zack

2009-03-31T12:26:00.009-05:00

Last Sunday's 24MOTAB was held at the tail end of what we're hoping is the last gasp of winter. The Kittenmaster's trophy had coffee written all over it and it seemed that Zack was almost predestined to win and the K-master told Zack so. A small-ish but rabid pack gathered at the local watering hole for a pre-race drank and then headed over to the abandoned building. Zack and Jess were already there and waiting. Just to make it all legal, his honour V.A. Powell climbed the mountain and poured one for his homies and then we were off. For a weekend that started off with snow and cold, Sunday night was about perfect for an early spring race. And as was preordained Zack took home the first place trophy. Kenny from Delavin was a close second and Nils won a special DFL that we can only hope is hanging in a place of honour. Ah, dogs and children......creepy.

Not only was Zack blazing the trail for a MOTAB win but he was also out on Saturday doing some H8TR trailblazing. Fast was the report before the snow fell and the tunnel looks to be getting even better. Still a little ice but for the most part it sounds like there'll be nothing but rubber and earth (plus pidgeons and a lot of darkness).

The Kittenmaster was busy with power tools making an armful of trophies for the MBM, plus running around getting other bits together for this epic throwdown. Others have been busy too getting bits together to make this edition extra special. Zack has made a trophy that will be a welcome edition to anyone's mantlepiece. Phil has been working on a couple items for some sibling rivalry and Jesse is at work on a secret project. Fear it. FEAR IT!!!

24MOTABMARCHMADNESS

2009-03-27T10:18:00.002-05:00

Yeah that's right, we've got some 24MOTAB action this Sunday! 8:00, Sunday, the abandoned building or hitch yer pony up at Mickey's around 7:00 for a pre-race drank.
will the mulch bags return as they always do this time of year? we'll see!

more H8TR reports

2009-03-23T10:11:00.003-05:00

Sketch Brah Dave and Meghan did a ride on Sunday too and here is Dave's report:

well.. meghan! and I rode the h8tr from seminole to the tunnel. so with djonn's report combined with ours, one can get a complete idea of what is ahead. from the end of seminole to the "legit" start of the badger at purcell the trail is in primo condition. shotgun shells on wendt, and a fitchburg police speed-trapping people at M (he surprisingly said nothing to us as we came out of the field in front of him and crossed back onto the h8tr; i waved, he returned the greeting.. so i guess we have the blessing of the fitchburg PD.) the only remaining snow aside from the run-up to the exeter tunnel and the tunnel itself was on the stretch from purcell to the overpass at sayles trail. and it only really was patches, but the saturated trail is harder than it looks. from sayles to henry the h8tr is a speedway.. i can only imagine busting that at the 20+ mph we'll be seeing the front groups going. it is equally fast from henry to belle-vile, with some occasional sketchy places, but nothing too alarming. the only "whoa buddy" moments came south of belle-vile as some run-off channels crossing the trail were deep and placed close together to throw off ones rhythm. on the plus, northbound at the run-offs is easily hopped if you ride on the left side of the trail. as i mentioned, the lead up to the tunnel is wet and snow/icey, but maybe today's rains will clear all the snow up. the way back we hit up the belle-vile subway to split a 5 dolla footlong.. it saved the day.

Lemond Poprad, Michelin Mud 2 30's F + R ~ 50 psi.

also check Ronko's tunnel report in the comments section in the preceding post.

reports of on/off rain for the rest of the week. things could get interesting.

CSI: H8TRville

2009-03-22T17:13:00.002-05:00

Today the Kittenmaster took a solo sprint from H8TRville to Madison and back on the H8TR Trail and can report that if conditions stay dry it'll be a fast course come race day. Aside from a few lingering patches of ice and some wet spots from melt drainage everything else is drying out. Waiting for a couple reports from peeps who went the distance today to see what things are like from H8TRville southward. The K-master remains optimistic that the never before raced offroad section of Seminole will remain rideable.

One thing that was noticed was that the snowbanks are bequeathing a few more dead things along the trail, The Kittenmaster found another deer carcass on the south side of McKenna Road maybe only two hundred yards from the one Brassnipples found on the north side. A link between the two? Further investigation is required. A fresh dead skunk was also spotted trailside just before Lacy Rd.

A few roadies were spotted here and there but aside from a phantom speck in the distance that the Kittenmaster chased from Hwy M toward town, no one else was seen on the H8TR. But there were a few fresh tire tracks here and there so no doubt somebody was out there spreading the H8T.

24MOTAB next Sunday with a muted promise of sunlight and warm weather. Get it!

24MOFO!

2009-03-18T21:13:00.002-05:00

2/22/09- oh yeah, amidst all the M-B-M excitement some guy won his record tying 5th 24MOTAB victory while the other guy that won the last two in a row came in DFL. well, well, well.

and now back to the usual Hell Of The South chicanery: the Spencer Bros., Joseph and James-Ira did a little ride on the trail you love to H8T and they say things are drying out. The tunnel they say remains the same.

The Kittenmaster will be back in Iowa this weekend so he expects the rest of you to spread some more H8T on the trail as well.

Things To Do In Belleville When You're Dead

2009-03-15T08:45:00.010-05:00

Saturday and the fabulous Braun Brothers and the Kittenmaster went out to do a fullrecon of the H8TR Trail. The Kittenmaster suffered a flat tire before even getting out of the parking lot (a portent of the evil to follow I suppose), but after a quick fix and rendezvous with the brothers Travis and Matt they hit the trail.

First impressive thing was that the deer carcass that Brassnipples found a couple weeks ago was actually within the city limits! Hardcore. What can be said about the trail condition this year compared to last year at the same time is that it was both better and worse. Better in that the impassable snowdrifts from last year aren't there (oh don't worry there's still time for another snow dump) and there aren't any downed trees across the path (yet). Worse in that with last year's total saturation still in evidence, the trail isn't draining nearly as fast so the finished sections have a consistency of wet cement and ride that way too.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves- admittedly the unfinished bits were a blast as always and with the frost still holding things together it was fast. This year the potholes are bigger and the bridge drop offs deeper, but the trail path has been beaten down more by snowmobiles and bikers alike so there are some good lines to follow.

While we were on the section paralleling Wendt Road counting spent shotgun shells, we met a group of bikers coming in the other direction. This was a good sign in that otherwise all we were seeing was pelloton after pelloton of roadies out for an early spring ride giving us friendly but confused waves hello as they saw us disappearing into the thickets and mud. The bikers we met gave us grave warnings about glare ice for stretches of the trail and possible alternate routes. Alternate routes? NEVER!!! We pushed on. Since they had been out earlier it might have been glare but what we found was rideable (we're seasoned Wisco crossers after all and laugh at such things. HA!). We were laughing so hard that Travis fell off his bike on the tail end of the ice and tore his palm open nicely.

The trail leading into H8TRville was sweet and it seemed we'd be at the tunnel in no time. Then the wet cement started. Imagine going up a miles long uphil against a stiff headwind yet somehow the ground remains level and forward progress seems nonexistant. Short bridge and highway crossings were like seconds long vacations and then it was back to pushing the rock up the hill. Record setting paces were not on the menu. We got to the Tunnel of H8T and the waterfalls from last week were gone and in the tunnel itself there was an underwater skating rink. Still not quite do-able but hey there's still almost a month before go time. Don't hold yer breath though.

Somewhat disappointed we turned around and headed back down the wet cement highway. We stopped in Belleville at the local Citgo where Matt loaded up on fine pasteries and the Kittenmaster replenished his water supply from the fresh restroom sink spring water. For a treat we rode half a mile of highway pavement before returning to the H8TR. The glare ice was now glare slush that had Travis and the K-master dismounting and walking for a bit as Matt floated over mud coloured sno-cone with fat tires. Eff this, back to the pavement. Then back to the unfinished section and finally back to Seminole. By the way the section of the H8TR that parallels Seminole is totally rideable so this year barring floods we're doing it! At this point Matt went off to pee in the bushes and an SUV with some old women passed by pointing and laughing. The Kittenmaster flipped them off. Oh Kittenmaster, that's no way to be a goodwill ambassador of cycling!!!

Spent we took Seminole the rest of the way in but doing it at sprint pace line speed. For as much as single speeds can do a sprint pace- just as fast just more spin.

So there ya go. Go time approaches.

More Trail Recon

2009-03-08T17:27:00.011-05:00

Lest you think that the name the H8TR Trail is some cute appelation like calling a big guy "Tiny" or a bald guy "Curly", a recon trip on the trail last Sunday should immediately make you think otherwise.

Warm, sunny weather the last couple days and then the steady downpour from today has melted a lot of the snow on the trail but about fifty yards from the mouth of the Tunnel Of H8T it's still mid January.

But then when you get to the actual tunnel it looks as though you've stumbled onto a tropical rain forest! If tropical rain forests hovered at around 30 degrees! The good news is that there's a lot less ice in the tunnel than last year. The bad news is that the Kittenmaster got a bad bad evil idea for an alternate route in case the tunnel is impassable. bad bad bad.....

Elsewhere rivers of runoff ran wild across the trail and this is where part of the race fee goes, filling in those troughs and gulleys and keeping the H8TR an enjoyable experience for all. wait, did I just say that??? Crap I must be slipping.....
more trail pix here

Trail Conditions

2009-03-01T15:04:00.004-06:00

Our good friend Brassnipples was out doing some trail recon a couple of days ago and came across this sacrifice to the gods of H8T making this the third year running that this kind of carnage has been spotted on the H8TR Trail. We take it as a good sign for the M-B-M: HOTS.

In other news, the missing piece for the DFL trophy was found this weekend in Iowa. It's gonna be sweet, but anyone still on the trail after dark will be left for dead so no sandbagging for last!

The process of selection for the remaining non veteran M-B-M spots on the roster is almost complete and those selected will be contacted in the next couple days along with those on the waiting list (sorry, the Kittenmaster got a finger stuck in the machinery at the Kitten Factory and has had to recouperate before drawing names- it's hard pulling names out of a hat with a bloody stump - warning: gross out factor possible).

More mayhen soon!
the kittens!

Cali

2009-02-25T07:02:00.003-06:00

meanwhile Lyle, Kelly, Katy and Cale were out spreading the word in Cali at the TdC

M-B-M: HOTS Registration Has Closed!

2009-02-24T05:58:00.002-06:00

And now the process of selecting names from the new comers begins. We should have that finished by the end of the week. Thank you for an amazing response. Get ready to SUFFER!!

2 DAYS LEFT!!!!

2009-02-22T08:17:00.005-06:00

Yes it's true- there are only two days remaining to register for the Madison-Basco-Madison Spring Classic: Hell O f The South! At midnight on Monday 23rd/Tuesday 24th registration will close and we will draw names to add to the already impressive list of M-B-M vets. Okay actually it'll probably close when the kittens wake up Tuesday morning (But that's early dammit!). Once names are drawn new comers will be notified as to their status. See previous posts for registration details and what this race is all about.

Yesterday Haterville got a fresh shellacking of snow (around 6 inches) but don't despair there's still a month and a half to go before the race so there's still plenty of time for more snow, more rain, more sun, more snow , more typical Wisco winter/spring transition. Vets from last year know that it can still happen on the day of the race so prep accordingly. As if......ahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!

On the logistical side, we have a park and shelter reserved and six able bodied volunteers to help out with the race, but lest you think that somehow this has become an organized, well oiled, precision timed machine, guess again! We'll do our best to to give you a hand but the there and back is pretty much up to you. So again, plan accordingly- there, have I frightened you sufficiently? Vets, you know of what I speak....or at least you think you do.... But again, more details later.

Alright, enough blather. More later soon,
the kittens

24MOTAB sez HI !!!

2009-02-19T15:38:00.003-06:00

taking a short break from the frenzy that is the Madison-Basco-Madison: Hell Of The South we'll remind you that the perpetual monthly frenzy that is 24MOTAB continues this Sunday at 8:00 in the usual place. GIT IT!!!!

Open Up The Gates!!! M-B-M registration open NOW!

2009-02-12T09:02:00.013-06:00

Could there be a more auspicious day than Friday the 13th to open up registration for the Madison-Basco-Madison: Hell Of The South race to the teaming masses? HELL NO! So here's the deal. Write us here at the Kitten Factory (bugjetdjonn@yahoo.com) and say HELL YES! I want to register for MBM:HOTS! We will take names for 10 days and if we have exceeded the 80 rider cap then we'll draw those names at random for spots on the roster and those who didn't get picked will go on a waiting list in case someone bails. If we haven't hit 80 in 10 days time then you're in and we'll add names till the roster is filled! Either way you will be notified if you're in, out or on the bubble. Seem okay? The vets have had a week to sign up and now it's time for everyone else. MBM vets can still sign up of course, you'll just be in the general pool like everyone else. Make sense? Aw hell no! The cost is $6 and once you have been notified that you're on the race roster a Paypal link will be provided. I think all the main info of the race is covered here. ,but if there are any questions you might have write us and we'll do our best to answer, ignore or scoff at your queries.

H8TRs, start yer engines!

Hell's Getting HOTTER!!!

2009-02-11T11:18:00.005-06:00

Don't know about yer neck of the woods, but around H8TRville we've been getting a serious tease from spring with a thaw that's exposed some of the H8TR Trail to direct sunlight for the first time in a few months. Oh rest assured most of the trail still slumbers under a packed down snowmobile aided crust of ice and sno but at this rate some early recon missions might be necessary! It might also help thaw out some of Hate Cave too! I'm sure we haven't heard the last of winter by any means but this recent meltdown could make for some interesting course conditions come April.

Just a reminder, two more days left for M-B-M veterans to pre-register for M-B-M: Hell Of The South before the registration free for all starts on Friday. There's been a good response so far and we have some of the top contenders from last year returning to defend their titles. Get in now before this whole thing BLOWS UP!!!!!

M-B-M: HELL OF THE SOUTH

2009-02-05T08:24:00.015-06:00

After much delay it's time to light the fuse on the 3rd edition of the Madison-Basco-Madison Spring Classic. Begun back in the spring of 2007, the M-B-M Spring Classic is an homage to the European spring road classics. In other words, grueling course conditions tempered by brutal early spring weather for maximum suffering. Sound good? You damn well bet it does!

The Date: Saturday April 11th (yes the day before Easter, quit whinging)
The Time: 10:00am
The Distance: approximately 100K
The Place: as is tradition, a secret until about a week before, but let's just say Madison Wisco fer now.
The Cost: $6
Registration: keep reading.

As with the last two years, the M-B-M (this year running under the name The Hell Of The South or HOTS from here on in) will start in Madison and then do an out and back course on the H8TR Trail (better known as the Badger State Trail) with an overall distance being somewhere around 100K (62 miles for all you Europhobes out there). The H8TR Trail is a combination of pavement, crushed gravel and eight miles of unfinished railroad bed featuring cinders, weeds, deer carcasses, potholes, downed trees and assorted sizes of gravel. Add to that the weather which last year featured a mix of rain, snow, sleet and stinging ice pellets aided and abetted by a stiff north wind on the return trip and you have a recipe for F-U-N!!!! Sound like your kind of fun? Oh yes it does! Rain date?....ahahahahahahahahahahaahhaha! This is Wisconsin!!!!

There are also highways to cross, bridges and a tunnel. Yes a tunnel, a very long very dark train tunnel so you will need a headlight (no really you will need a headlight) and possibly crampons for the ice in the tunnel. Still with me? Good! We have a couple more things in store just to keep things interesting and to put even more of a challenge in the race. What are they? That would be telling. Suffice to say that even though this is on a level road grade (mostly....) and runs along a finished bike path for the majority of the race (mostly.....) there is an element of danger involved which could lead to injury, damage to bike or even.......getting killed. Mostly it just means using yer head and keeping alert. Last year everybody who started the ride finished the ride and we had a great time doing it.

Competitive? Oh hell yes again! There will be trophies three deep for both men and women plus a DFL trophy for the last person to finish. Hopefully with the aid of sponsors we'll have some damn cool shwag to give away in a drawing at the end. Open catagory for bikes so run whatever though we'd recommend something along the lines of a cross bike, but hell mtn bike, unicycle, single speeds, fixed gear (it happened!) you want to try it be our guests....

So, Kitten Master, how the hell do I get registered for this event? Here's the deal. Starting yesterday February 4th, veterans of the two previous M-B-Ms were allowed to pre-register. Vets will have until next Friday, Friday the 13th to be specific to register before registration opens up to newcomers, upstarts and rookies (there will be another post before the 13th to give details on that). There will be an 80 rider cap. Last year I thought there would only be maybe 30 people interested, we had to cap at 75 to keep things manageable. So 80 it is. We'll give you an email address to register at. Don't register here in the comments, we might miss it. Fees can be payed via Paypal

As always The Madison-Basco-Madison Spring Classic is a nonsanctioned, totally amateur (us, not you necessarily) event that could seriously threaten life and limb so we take no responsibility for injury or mayhem. Mayhem is cool!

This year's amazing, jawdropping flyer is courtesy of Creepyfriendly himself, Jesse Lalonde. Buy him a beer next time you see him and congratulate him on a job well done.

more soon!
the kittens

IT IS ON (more soon!)

2009-02-04T16:42:00.000-06:00

Only the COLDEST survive

2009-01-26T09:07:00.002-06:00

Single digits y'all!!! Out at the Kitten Factory the temps hovered in the sub-zero domain, but the trip into Mad City raised the temps up to a balmy 4 degrees above. You know winter's been hard when 4 degrees seems warm.....initially. Liquid courage was in order to get this MOTAB started so anti-freeze was applied at Mickeys before heading off to the meat locker. 7 took off from the bar and were soon joined by 2 more at the abandoned building for the first 24MOTAB of '09. The Kittenmaster climbed Brick Mountain without the aid of oxygen or Sherpas and successfully launched the race only to be caught in an avalanche while descending.

Gamely fighting the cold everyone rode as fingers, toes and faces froze. Sometime during the race Zack disappeared and was not seen again. A search party was sent out but no trace was ever found. Avalanche, hypothermia, the dreaded snow sharks? We may never know. Colin despite the loss of a comrade bravely pushed on beginning '09 as he ended '08 with a stunning victory. This makes 4 24MOTAB wins in the space of a year. The Anti-Doping Federation is now interested in Colin's further activities. My guess is that they won't be disappointed. The Kittenmaster took a distant 2nd place and former MOTAB golden boy Scotty Shapiro took the DFL spot.

It would be nice to think that it can only get warmer from here on in but those used to the fickleness of Wisco winters know that February could actually be worse. But we'll be there. No matter what.
what are we stupid or somethin'?
pix are here.

HEEEEEEEEEEY!!!! It's 24MOTAB Time!!!

2009-01-22T21:15:00.004-06:00

Damn right it is!!! There's been so much going on at the kittenfactory we've barely had time to think let alone remember stuff. But here's what you will want to remember- 24MOTAB this Sunday (Jan 25th) at 8:00 at the abandoned building! Remember drinks at Mickey's around 7-ish. Remember a change of socks! Remember to drink eight 32 ounce buckets of water every day! Remember there are forks in the road that will lead you astray- never take the roads! Remember nobody loves you like the kittenfactory loves you! Remember that concrete and cement are not the same things! Remember that M-B-M: Hell Of The South is on April 11th! Remember that just because it says "natural" doesn't mean they're not watching you! Remember that forgetting isn't the absence of light, it's the precursor to mono! Remember we're all in this together so don't get your hopes up. Remember, she's just not that into you. Remember to take a deep breath, it could always be your last. Remember to lock the door, switch off the lights and tip over your waitress. Thank you for throwing shoes, godzilla!

M-B-M: H.O.T.S.

2009-01-02T12:07:00.002-06:00

soon......

Breathe The Sweet Air Of Victory!

2008-12-29T16:36:00.004-06:00

Colin takes a record third 24MOTAB victory in one year! Aw hell we gave him DFL too since he did another lap after he crossed the finish line. And here's what he won.

Last 24MOTAB of the year! EVER!!!

2008-12-25T08:51:00.003-06:00

The holiday season. Holy crap, is this a great time of year or what?!!? Christmas/Hanukkah good cheer and New Year's tomfoolery and to make it even better you get the last 24MOTAB of the year bookended smack dab in the middle of it!!! That's right, this Sunday, 8:00 at the abandoned building we'll be doin' what we usually do on the last Sunday of the month- riding and drinking, plus remembering the past year (if we actually can...) and looking forward to the '09 season of bike related mayhem. So if yer feeling like detoxing between the holidays is just too much to ask, keep that buzz going this SUNDAY!!!
plus the best 24MOTAB trophy ever......

maybe

BEST DAMN 24MOTAB EVER!!!

2008-12-01T16:06:00.011-06:00

Sunday's 24MOTAB was one for the books and definitely fell in the category of Best MOTABs Ever. I mean three Santas, snow, freeflowing beer, spray paint graffiti courtesy of Surly Santa, presents from Snot Rocket Santa and christmas tree-like bike pile, what wasn't there to like?

But it wasn't all laughs as Sunday night we bid so long to D*Pow and J*Pow as they did their last 24MOTAB before heading off for Portland OR or Bethesda MD or Butte MT or where ever the hell it is they're moving to. Dan has been a mainstay in the Madison bike community, an instigator of bike mayhem like the ThunderJet series and the last of the original pre-kittenfactory 24MOTAB riders. Jen has always been up for anything and has thrown herself into cross and mountain bike races without a second thought. They've opened their home to traveling racers and drooling drunks alike. And they have two nice dogs.

AMAZINGLY D*Pow won and J*Pow took second place and they were both awarded for their efforts. D*Pow awarded us with presents that included several classic rock cds and albums carefully procured from somebody's curbside treasure trove, an aerospoke wheel (rear 26" so don't get too excited there you fixie hipsters), a classic VHS Paris Roubaix selection and all sorts of other things from the North (st.) Pole. Thank you Dan and Jen for everything you've contributed (except for that effing Van Hagar cd you stuck in my stocking.....
more pix here

24MOTAB November 30th

2008-11-20T16:50:00.001-06:00

Word.

2008-10-27T14:40:00.008-05:00

24GHOSTAB A small attendance by most of the regulars on chilly(it ain't cold yet! not by a long shot) Sunday night. D*Pow, Colin , Robin, Nils, Jeff, Jeff's brother, Zack, Lyle and the Kitten Master braved the cooler weather and some exhaustion after a long day racing cross to observe the 4th anniversary of continuous 24MOTABs. Leisurely was the pace with a ceremonial group lap around the building plus the usual bike swapping. Colin snaked a win away from the Kitten Master in a close finish and Jeff brought up the rear as DFL.

4 years? Who'da thunk riding around an abandoned building could be so entertaining? 4 years of races, fireworks, cook outs, drunken mayhem, visits from the police, broken bikes, broken bones, bike piles, trophies, themes, snow, rain, mosquitoes, rotting mulch, threats of renovation, grumpy landowners, confused dogwalkers- what's next? Stick around for another year and find out!

24GHOST-TAB this Sunday!

2008-10-20T10:09:00.002-05:00

wear a costume, ride a bike drink some beer and celebrate the best holiday of the year AND the 4th anniversary of continuous uninterrupted 24MOTABS!
Sunday (bloody!) Sunday
Rock-tober 26th

Heavy Metal Heavy Medal

2008-10-01T16:06:00.003-05:00

For something as awesome as 24 Minutes Of Motorhead you need a trophy that's just as awesome.
We try not to disappoint.
This Sunday, 8:00, the abandoned building
The Ace of Spades, The Ace of Spades, The Ace of Spades

24MOTAB One Week Later

2008-09-22T11:47:00.001-05:00

With the upcoming weekend insanity promised by the beginning of cross season in Sun Prairie the 24MOTAB governing board has decided to move MOTAB back one week to Sunday October 5th. Sure there's still a double cx weekend that week too but Sun Prairie is going to be over the top!

But when 24MOTAB does come back, over the top won't even begin to describe it! In the grand tradition of last year's 24SlowTAB, we're stepping it up with 24MOTORTAB! Yep, it's 24 minutes of Motorhead's The Ace Of Spades! More details in a bit, but consider this a warning!

BIRTHDAY MOTAB!!!!

2008-08-28T14:04:00.002-05:00

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My god have I been remiss, sloppy and generally not on the ball or what?!!? A whole freaking month has passed without so much as a peep from the kitten factory! Lazy kittens? No we've just been distracted by the summer goings on and general falderall that comes with the season. But now here we are and back with a vengeance! For one it's time to head into fall and fall means cross racing and blaze orange cans of High Life. Reason enough to celebrate but wait! It's the Kitten Master's birthday too! So come on down to the abandoned building for all the mayhem you've come to expect from 24MOTAB plus CAKE!!!!

DOPE.

2008-07-23T21:43:00.003-05:00

Racers start your doping!!!

2008-07-21T08:52:00.002-05:00

The third annual 24DOPE-TAB this Sunday!

24MOTAB: the MO is for MOsquito!!!

2008-06-30T11:39:00.009-05:00

Sadly the portatble DEET shower wasn't working for 24MOTAB last night as the skeeters were in full affect at the abandoned building. Friendly slaps to the face and back from those standing near you weren't uncommon. Least I think they were friendly... Andy, open hand, not closed fist.

Earl did the honours atop Brick Mountain and the race was on (next time chug the beer Earl, don't sip. think I lost about half a pint of blood waiting). Robin got to play goodwill ambassador for MOTAB when someone working in the little train station office building at the front of the abandoned building expressed displeasure at the thought of a bunch of probable free thinking, up to no good I'm sure cyclists riding in circles around an abandoned building. Dear God NO!!! Next there'll be Democrats in the White House!!! But he didn't tell us to stop and no police were called so I'm thinking next month there'll probably be a cyclone fence put up and a guard sentry to keep out the n'er do-wells. HA!!!!

Megan took home first place honours and a heavy (possibly alcoholic- see pix) robotic piece of metal. Sketchy D. might feel a little fresher with his second place sucka prize (see pix again). And Zack in a hotly contested and hard fought trackstanding battle of wills with Earl took home the new and incredibly virginal DFL jersey (see..., yeah you get the idea). Zack has vowed to wear the jersey for every ride he goes on (and not wash) between now and next month's MOTAB and to "make the next DFL vomit" from the accumulated stench. Never has getting DFL seemed so....so....well, so much like really losing.

And speaking of next month, next month's 24MOTAB will be the third annual 24DOPETAB salute to Le Tour de France. So speak to your team physician, your personal trainer or that shady guy in the ally with the bags of blood about getting DQ'd now! Doesn't really matter cuz by race time y'all be DQ'd anyway! tre chic? oui oui!

pix here

I told you to RUN!!!!!

2008-06-27T09:35:00.006-05:00

This month's
24MOTAB trophy is bent on destruction and
mayhem! RUN!!!!!

24MOTAB.....THIS SUNDAY!!!!

2008-06-25T12:36:00.006-05:00

JUNE 29th
it's Apocalypse SUNDAY!!!
the abandoned building!
8:00 sharp (lord knows we'd hate to be late for the end of the world!!!)

May Day May Day MOTAB!

2008-06-11T16:21:00.004-05:00

a good 24MOTAB turnout for the first nice weather of the year. clear evening skies, not many mosquitoes and the air doesn't smell like rotting mulch...yet. Patrick returned to the fold after exile in the Rocky mountains to slam the opening beer (Mountain Creek) atop Brick Mountain (beginning to see a pattern here?) and then we were off. Once again bikes were piled, ridden and swapped with careless aplomb capping off a perfect long Memorial Day weekend. Colin proved to be the top of the heap with a narrow first place finish over Katie who was adamant that she was going to win and was indeed sooo close . This month's trophy was last month's DFL prize, tetnus booster not included.

I think June is going to see a return of the traveling DFL jersey and maybe someday the 2nd Place Sucka ensemble will return too.

more pix here

mmmmmMOTAB!

2008-05-21T13:25:00.004-05:00

MAY MOFO MOTAB MOVED MONDAY
that's right 24MOTAB has moved to Monday this month in observance of Memorial Day sales and overall drunkeness that will be happening. Besides, what better way to end a long weekend and start a shortened workweek than 24MOTAB? None I tells ya, NONE!!! Same time, same place, just a different day.

24BLOWTAB!!!

2008-04-28T10:07:00.010-05:00

As with the changing of the seasons, the landscape of the abandoned building had changed again from last month to this month. The beach head of 100s of bags of mulch were gone leaving only some dead grassy patches as evidence of their existence. Gone too were the last vestiges of snow although considering the low temps and the winds that were whipping around on Saturday it was kind of surprising that there weren't some flakes in the air. But no, Sunday calmed down and everything felt just about right for an early spring orbit of the bricks. there had been some yard work done on the backside of the building with some of the tall weeds mowed down and a lot of the vines pulled off the brick face. But what the bricks revealed spooked us a little. A scary mishapen monkey skull of mortar and brick? Oh abandoned building what else are you hiding?

But no damn monkey skull was going to be enough to keep us from riding! A small-ish turnout to be sure but still enough to create a teetering bike pile that Andrew almost took down with the last bike. The Kitten Master slammed a Blatz from atop Brick Mountain and they were off. A strange MOTAB followed; almost the 24 Minutes of Ambivalence. Things broke, bikes were swapped, beer was spilled (nothing out of the ordinary) but with a relaxed lowkeyedness. Almost like a slumbering black bear who has just woken up from hibernation- a little groggy, a little sleepy, a little hungry, but still holding the possibility of creating mayhem at a moments notice.

For his third appearance at 24MOTAB Scotty S. won his second first place (careful folks I see another Danimal-like dynasty starting). True to the nature of the proceedings nobody seemed to know who took second place (man, we're gettin' lazy!). Yet somehow the Kitten Master got saddled with yet another DFL! I'd say something about DFL dynasties but somehow..... As always a fine time riding in circles. Next month it has to be WARM!!!

twenty-fourminutesoftheabandonedbuildingapril27th

2008-04-23T06:18:00.002-05:00

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twenty-fourminutesoftheabandonedbuildingapril27th
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twenty-fourminutesoftheabandonedbuildingapril27th

The H8T Parade

2008-04-16T08:25:00.013-05:00

The torrential rains from the previous two days had knocked out the landline and sole communications link to the Kitten Compound out in Haterville. So when for a brief couple seconds the email kicked on before sputtering off again Saturday morning showing 20 new emails, the hopes for a good turnout for the second running of the Madison-Basco- Madison Spring Classic:H8TR100 began to dwindle. The prior weather had been vicious with nature turning the H8TR Trail into its own cyclo-cross course complete with downed trees, deep freshly cut ravines, standing water and mud. That along with the promises of snow. sleet and a stiff north wind had the kittens rubbing their paws with glee! But would the people come or would there end up being just a handful of hardcore devotees of suffering? The Kittenmaster had done his best to scare off the faint of heart with dire descriptions of what to expect if the trail was in even good condition so with winter coming back for one last death rattle the Master of Kittens began to think he might have done his job too well.

Arriving at Tenney Park on the northeast side of Madison, the volunteers began to assemble along with a couple early arrivals. The first sign that things might go well was the discovery that the rented picnic shelter had walls and was heated. The idea of burning picnic tables for warmth had crossed the minds of the H8TR staff earlier on but now it seemed that wouldn't be necessary. Then with a trickle and then a flood the hardcore handful swelled to a total of 66 riders all ready for the long haul. With one concession to sanity it was decided that because of the extremeness weather (snow and rain at post time) coupled with the brick wall head wind that would accompany riders on the way back in, the course was abbreviated to an 80K distance and would make its turnaround in Belleville. Suffering is one thing, a death march is another...

People were checked in (thank you Billy and Chris!), spoke cards were handed out, rules were read and with that the H8T Train took off through Madison. Due to a 10K run going on in the Arboretum at the same time as the H8TR we took off down the Southwest bike corridor for a direct shot to the the H8TR Trail. The Kitten Master giggled uncontrollably and grinned at the sight of 66 bikes riding behind him. Once Midvale Blvd was crossed the flag went down and they were off! By the time the peloton crossed the Beltline a group of 6-7 breakaways had gone off the front with smaller and larger packs of riders working together to keep the H8TR Train rolling. With the wind at their backs the trip out to Belleville was faster than anyone could have imagined. Even a couple flat tires for Frank and Patti couldn't keep them from bridging back up and getting back into contention. Where's help? Where's help??? This time there was help! At the Belleville turnaround manned by Roy and D*Pow, paperbag musettes with 4 tootsie rolls, a handful of Doritos and a can of PBR or Hamm's waited to nourish redlined riders. Almost all except for the all business breakaway stopped and enjoyed (?) a quick snack before turning back into the hell of the north. On the way out to B-ville there were averages of 26 mph. On the way back....9 mph wasn't unheard of. In fact the short 2 mile section of highway pavement turned out to be the worst part of the course. Brutal winds and stinging ice pellets rained down trying to crush spirits and kill dreams but those dreams would not be killed!

The front group called a truce as they pedaled through Madison, vowing they wouldn't attack until the very end. Then disaster! Lylez flatted! The arm went up! Where was help? Where was help? There was no help! Lylez changed the tube and struck out to catch the leaders but then disaster struck again! On the home stretch Lylez got another flat! This time there was no tube along with no help! But Lylez never say die attitude carried the day as he picked up the bike and ran the rest of the way to the park! There, there was help! Grabbing D-Pow's old Schwinn single speed cruiser, Lylez took off again to finish the last 5 miles of hill climbs through the posh neighborhoods of Maple Bluff. There were unconfirmed reports that the Governor came out to the fence of his mansion to watch this segment of the race, but it might have been the groundskeeper raking up last fall's leaves. What it finally came down to was a 4 man sprint to the finish. In the end Scot Van Asten, Maciej Nowak and Cory Gwin (last year's champ) crossed the finishline 1,2 and 3. In the women's field there was no less drama with Angie Theriualt, Patti Kaufmann and Katy Snaks taking the 1-2-3 honours. Andrea took honours as DFL with Ben just making it through the door before her. Team Pgasus outta Milwaukee won the team points comp. Well done all!

An awards ceremony followed complete with a champaigne shower. Once again huge thanks are due to our sponsors:
TwinSix/BKB
Swobo
Cognition
Snappy Caps
War Axe
Sun Ringle
Planet Bike
Revolution Cycles
Saris
MacLabs

Now it's time to focus on the coming race season and also to get back to the smaller, simpler things in life like 24MOTAB. Ideas are already afoot for next year's M-B-M Spring Classic but that's at the bottom of a pint glass several months down the line.
H8T on everybody, H8T on.

photos courtesy of Mr. Robin Davies

Little Belgium

2008-04-14T10:11:00.008-05:00

We wanted Belgium, we got Belgium tempered with a little midwest hurt on the side. What a race! We really couldn't have asked for more. Snow, sleet, a little rain and a FIERCE north headwind on the return leg! An amazing 66 riders set out from Tenney Park and all 66 returned. A full recounting of the adventure will be coming but for now here are the results:

Womens catagory:

1st place- Angie T.

2nd place- Patti K.

3rd place- Katy S.

Mens catagory:

1st place- Scot V.

2nd place- Maciej N.

3rd place- Cory G.

DFL- Andrea W.

Robin's pix are here.

H8TR Hardware!!!

2008-04-09T06:38:00.006-05:00

Here's the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place mens and womens trophies for the H8TR100 (yeah I decided I didn't have nearly enough to do and made some third place metal).

Looks like some hellish weather forecasted for Saturday: rain, snow and WIND! Looks like Belgium is coming to Wisco for a weekend visit!

The list of riders is finalized. If you are not on the list you are NOT entered! There will be no race day entries. If you haven't received an email with race info let us know!

another H8TR update

2008-04-02T11:35:00.005-05:00

First off, I'll remind you that even though registration is closed, if you'd like to be on the waiting list then go ahead and email us at the address on the flyer. People have been dropping and we've been filling in those spots and my guess is that after some peeps see the condition reports below there might be a few more openings. ahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

BKB honchos Creepyfriendly and The Darkness, plus AOMIII went out for a little recon yesterday and seeing as how they have prior commitments on the 12th just couldn't let a chance to suffering go unused. Follow the links and read the reports on their trip to H8TRville! Above pix courtesy of creepyfriendly

Finally, a list of kind sponsors and generous contributors to the H8TR100:

Twin Six/Bare Knuckle Brigade
Swobo
Snappy Caps
War Axe Cycles
Planet Bike

Cognition
MacLabs

H8TR100 Registration has ended

2008-03-31T13:53:00.006-05:00

Hate the H8TR not the updater....

Yes, it's true. Much to our regret we are capping the population of H8TRville at 75 people. There are a couple of reason for this: firstly just the shear logistics of getting 75 riders through downtown Madison and having them on a trail that in places is sketchy at best, had the kittens wondering around the factory dazed. When we started this venture up a few weeks ago we figured there'd be 25-35 peeps tops interested in an early spring suffer fest, little did we realize how much people do like to suffer! Ya crazy bastids!! Hell last year when 16 riders took part I felt bad because I had only bought a PBR 30 pack! Anyway this took off like sparks from a campfire during the dry season and now we're sitting with 75. We apologise for the lack of warning, when we set the April 5th deadline for sign up we were thinking things were tailing off. Nope, not even close. Over the weekend another eight or ten riders signed up and the thought of maybe 100 plus was overwhelming.

And this brings us to the second reason: the trail itself. The H8TR Trail/Badger State Trail is in pretty wet sloppy shape right now and the thought of even 50 people riding it at once causes much concern about trail degradation. It sounds like more rain is in the forecast and the snow that hasn't melted (and there's a lot) is on it's way. So again limiting the number of wheels seems sensible. In fact what we plan on doing is that after park permits, beer and operating expenses are taken care of, any moneys left over will be donated to The Badger State Trail. We'd also like to give 'em a little more to sort of say "thank you" so if you want to throw a couple bucks extra in with yer $5 entry that be much appreciated.

Next bit of business: if for some reason you decide the H8TR100 just isn't your cup of mud and gravel, please let us know and then we'll start filling in places with anyone who might want to still sign up, waiting list style. In other words if you still want to send in your name please do and we'll see if any spots open up and then let you know 3 days before the race. How's that sound? Reasonable? I hope so.

Again we're sorry we can't get you all in. but this race was supposed to be pretty off the cuff and it's become much more. Drop us a line with any questions, concerns, recipes or regrets.

thank you all for your interest,

the kittens

24MOTAB this Sunday!!!!

2008-03-26T14:05:00.003-05:00

Boy, with all this H8TR talk going on, it's easy to forget the main focus of this site and that dear friends would be 24MOTAB! And this Sunday like every last Sunday of the month (mostly) is 24MOTAB day! 8:00, the abandoned building. I have no idea what the weather is going to be like- rain, snow, sleet, bright sunshine, all at once? well why the hell not?!!?
As an historical footnote, it was 4 years ago last week on an Easter Sunday that 24MOTAB was resurrected from a long dormancy. There were a few months of uncertainty after that before it became the regular event it is now, but Easter was the day. See y'all Sunday!

Welcome to H8TRville

2008-03-24T07:15:00.004-05:00

Just a quick update to y'all before a bigger update with more info etc.

First off- to be able to better facilitate, organize and empower all you H8TRs out there, Saturday April 5th will be the cut off date for H8TR100 registration. There are a few things we need to have exact numbers on and the time to get them ready so one week before we're ending registration. So any footdraggers you know that are thinking about racing or if you yourself are questioning your sanity, time's a wastin'. There will be no day of race registrations.

Second- we're starting to get some really first rate people and bizznesses stepping up to donate schwag. Once we get those nailed down, you'll be at least the second or third to know! Hooray, this year it won't be just my crappy home made trophies and whatever junk I can find in the basement of MacLabs!

email me with any questions or concerns.

The Unholy Alliance

2008-03-18T08:37:00.007-05:00

Yes indeed! Twin Six, bike clothing makers to the stars and the BKB have ponyed up what is guarenteed to be some fantasic schwag for the H8TR100. Damn son, this is starting to look more and more like a legit race! Don't worry it'll still be the half-assed, marginally organized race you've come to expect from the Kitten Factory just better prizes.

As you can see below, the roster is getting bigger by the day and tonight the kittens will be hunkered down in the bunker with maps and compasses plotting out the course. Stay tuned fer details!

L-U-V the H8TR!!!!

2008-03-13T09:09:00.005-05:00

Jesse brings the love to the H8TR with the official H8TR100 flyer. plus this way happenin' kittenfactory logo! YEAH!!!

H8TR Roster

2008-03-12T08:53:00.060-05:00

A roster of H8TRs to be added to as they come along:
Lylez- Cognition kingpin
Sketchy D- tiny bike champ record holder
Endurosnob (tentative)- master of the long haul race
djonnymac- what, not ride my own race???
P-lip- the first M-B-M vet to re-up - volunteer
Nils- another M-B-M vet and dumpster bike connoisseur
Zack- ZR Cycles honcho and not afraid to pee in a cup...or elsewhere
D*pow- the rocket of snot with the spin to win- volunteer
Cale- TI vet and keeper of Bush's crankset. beware!
Jonny- Jonnycycles mastermind, mainframe resident
J*Pow- our 1st womens entry! YES!!! it's no longer a brodeo!
Kelly- the brains behind Cognition (sorry Lylez) volunteer
Robin- bass thumpin, picture takin and cx racin'!- volunteer
Katy- another MKE entrant and third in the ever growing womens field
Andy T.- Cale knows him, Lyle knows him, soon we'll all know him
Colin- LOL Master, burrito lover - volunteer
Andrew- like a taxi driver from HELL!!!-volunteer
Ronko- another M-B-M vet joins up
Frank- says yes to the H8TR again despite its redundant T
Chris T.- yet another M-B-M vet who said "hell yeah! I want to suffer more!"
Erik O.- repeat M-B-M offender opts for 2nd strike in the 3 and out policy
Jeff K.- another cross racer bringin' the hurt!
Ben V.- Team Pegasus is starting to represent big time!
Constantine - fixedgeargus might not be fixed
Aristotle - bigger than you
Fang!!!- yeah we got another BKB boy all up in this biz-natch!!
Scott S. (tentative)- BKB thru and thru and tentative as a flying hammer!
Shari P.- 1st of a possible sister/sister combo
Eric B.- Nebraska sends its 2nd rider and BKB rep. NE represent!
Russell J.- his toolshed may be rusty but the man is SHARP!
Ryan S (tentative).- WORS warrior and BKB vet
Kerry D- Kerry will be taking kickstands like scalps.
Christian B.- WORS vet and Mothership resident
Ben F.- a disco pirate AND he can walk on water! YarrRR!
Andrea W.- another disco pirate from the 24-9 camp! double Yarrrr!!
Sebastian C.-he's a friend of Christian- what's with the ian names???
Gunnar R.- another Pegasus rider- can winged horses really fly?
Jake M.- more pegasus horseys for the stable!
Matt B.- Matt feels the need to suffer. welcome to H8TRville Matt
Ben B.- Ben folds to peer pressure and joins the ranks!
Rick W.- Rick wants a table by the kitchen he gets a chair by the mens room
Scott C.- a WORS/CX vet for who suffering can never start early enough
Mark C.- Mark C. joins Scott C. for the brother/brother Cole-train express!
Nate W.- NE sends another Evil Unicorn to the H8TR!
Michael M.- Welcome to H8TRville Michael.
War Axe Sam- damn! another bike builder, another NE resident!
good thing we've got Iowa inbetween NE and WI!
Tim B.- he breaks stuff a lot.
Seth H.- Seth has $5 just burning a hole in his pockets and wants to ride!
Chris Z.Chris fears no weather
Cheryl B.- ready for the challenge!
Ahren R.- Banjo Cycles chief and Mainframe resident #3!
Leah- She's been toChile and Argentina, you think the H8TR worries her? not likely!
Joel H.- Joel joins Sth as the third brother/brother combo for the H8TR!
Angie T.- Angie brings the H8T and lack of sanity up from Millywaukeee
Richard S.- Richard has anger issues with winter. we can help.
Jennifer- Jennifer jumps on the H8T train!
Patti- Patti buys a ticket for the H8TR Express too!
Sam K.- Sam enjoys pain. Sam this isn't that kind of site...or is it?....
Ruckus!- D-Rock, D-Train, Sparkles, even Derek. the man they call Ruckus has many names.
Cory- The M-B-M title defender gets back in the ring! Beware!!!
Justin- Justin thinks there no better way to waste an afternoon
Meghan- ThunderJet and MOTAB vet wants to expand her horizons
Aaron M.- CX titan and Fisherman bows to peer pressure
Don E.- GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Andy H.- fearing for his life, Andy risks his life on the H8TR Trail. Ronko says so!
Neil S. - Neil says he's in! I say bring small bills please!!!
Scot V.- Scot says H8T on!
Todd B.- It took some looking, some wandering but Todd finally found us
Alan S.- yup, he's here too.
Maciej N.- Yow! Team Polska brings it!
Marcin N.- And then Polska brings it even more!!
Joseph H.- Joseph makes it in under the wire!
Tim M.- Johnny Cash
Gretchen T.- June Carter Cash
Mark B- Mark waits patiently, Mark gets in!
Jamie P.- one more Pegasus pony for the stable!
Luke BC- LBC! LBC! LBC! that's what they chant
Wayne S.- Wausau sends another from 9 Mile country
Ron K- bribery is such an ugly word....

H8TR100:Rules of Engagement....

2008-03-12T07:08:00.004-05:00

more or less and subject to change.....

When: Saturday April 12th

Time: 10:00am- rain, snow or shine, it's on!

What: 100k metric century (62 miles) round trip bike race paying homage the European spring classics.

Where: Leaving from a Madison city park (as yet to be determined and kept secret till a couple days before race time) and heading out the Badger State Trail a.k.a. the H8TR Trail.

Terrain: a mix of city streets alley cat style, highway crossings, unfinished/abandoned railroad bed and finished crushed gravel bike trail, train tunnel (a headlight is highly recommended)

Bikes: open catagory, pick yer poison- single speed, fixie, cross, road, mountain, tiny bike- as long it's pedaled under yer own power it's good.

Men's and Women's- 1st and 2nd place trophies plus induction into the Basco H8TRs. Other awards when they come along. Maybe we'll get some sponsors or prize donations. maybe.

Entry: $5 ( I dunno, we'll buy some beer or something)

Register ahead of time .at bugjetdjonn@yahoo.com so we can get some sort of head count and so we can give you the location of the park start/finish. plus whatever questions you have.

The H8TR100 is a nonsanctioned, totally amateur (us, not you necessarily) event that could seriously threaten life and limb so we take no responsibility for injury or mayhem. Mayhem is cool!

M-B-M: H8TR100

2008-03-10T16:37:00.002-05:00

It's on.

details soon.

PIX from ThunderLeap!

2008-03-10T16:30:00.002-05:00

some from the kittens

and some amazing ones from Robin

YEAH!!!!

THUNDER LEAP

2008-02-28T09:37:00.004-06:00

What are you going to do with that extra day at the end of this week? What?!!? They put an extra Thursday in there somewhere??? NO! We're talking about Leap Day February 29th! Well, Sketchy and Ruckus know what to do with that extra time and they want you to do it with them! Do what? Ride tiny bikes! WHAT ELSE?!!!?
6.30 PM - 9 N Baldwin St - Feb 29 2008
THUNDER LEAP! A backyard and porch extravaganza!