Nototious over the bar

Why not? The Bikes N Beers clan had so much fun at our first ever Highland Games last year why not do it again?  This year we know a little better what to expect and have actually practiced a little (very little) thanks to Dave “Butterbean” Summers.  But it’s not just about competing it’s about spending time outdoors, stepping out of your comfort zone and expanding your horizons. Wow, I sound philosophical…Ever wonder exactly what a “Gathering of the Scottish Clans” is all about?  It is one great big family reunion with lots of excitement, entertainment, and beer.

Throttle throws a big rock

The word ‘Clan’ means family. Each Clan has a tartan with a plaid that is designed for a particular Clan. If you belong to that Clan, then you may wear their tartan. Clan Tents are set up around the main field where the families of each Clan gather to watch the competition.  If you find your family name at one of these tents, there will be someone there to welcome you and tell you about your family history as it relates to the Clan.

True that none of the BNB Clan have very much Scottish blood but we feel like family and that’s close enough. We have adopted 2 tartans to represent what is important to us…the Marine tartan in honor of Notorious’ step-son who just returned from Afghanistan and the firefighter tartan to honor the dangerous work firefighters do everyday and Throttle’s past experience fighting fires in the west.

WeeMan and the caber

The Games are centered around a field of athletic competition which includes the well known “Caber Toss”.  There is also competition of Pipe & Drum Bands, individual Pipers and Drummers.  Lassies and Laddies compete in the Highland Dance as well.

Entertainment includes Country Dancing, a Dog Show, and Clan Competitions that can get pretty intense, not to mention several incredible Stage Performing Bands, Balladeers, a Comedian and Kid’s Playground & athletic competitions.  Of course, there has to be ‘Education’, even if it is learning about the different types of Scotch. Can we help it if you have to take a wee sip?

Crash chillin’ in the beer tent

Whether or not your ancestors hailed from the Highlands, the Lowlands, the Islands, the badlands, or any lands…come out and join us at the games May 18 and 19. Here is a video of the BNB guys competing last year…and remember, if yer failin’ then yer playin and playin’ is what it’s all about. Here’s tae ye!

Once again we participated in our favorite event of the year, the SEAL Extreme Challenge.  The maniacal architect of this race is Dan Schreder, owner of Outdoors in the Smokies and in his own words “The SEAL Extreme Challenge is the most physically demanding 5k’ish race in the Southeast! Mountains, Creeks, Ponds, Obstacles, More!!! This is a race destination… we can’t bring Mother Nature’s challenges and beauty to a park or farm near you!”.  To be sure he’s not kidding.

No matter your current fitness level the SEAL Extreme Challenge will test you.  With over 2000′ of elevation changes, water features and obstacles, this race is as tough as they come.  Limited to 200 racers the field fills up quick, and is composed of extreme obstacle racers from all over the southeastern US.  The race is also developing a loyal following and we see the same great folks year after year.

Everyone standing in line to get some Big Dumb Blond

Bikes n Beers is a proud sponsor of the SEAL Extreme Challenge and of course brought a sampling of our Geezer Brew.  For the Friday night festivities we debuted our newest creation, an IPA called Panty Dropper, and with 72 IBU’s (International Bitterness Units), it sure to make those taste buds hop.  For Saturdays after race refreshment we hauled our our long time favorite, Big Dumb Blond.  It was either really good or this batch of obstacle racers are big drinkers because we ran through 20 gallons in 1.5 hours.  And finally for the few that hung out later Saturday evening we hauled out our American Pale Ale called Pale Bastard, we may have drank most of that one.

The new Bikes n Beers / Geezer Brewery Rig

We also debuted our newest acquisition for our Brewery in planning, Geezers Brewery.  Our M35A3 (Deuce and a Half) seemed to be a big hit and with the kickin sound system we lit up the Smoky Mountains that day.

As always we brought an army of cameras to catch all the agony, oops, I mean fun, and we also debut a few new toys in that arena including a couple of cable camera, and a quad copter aerial platform, o hell, your tired of listening to me, just enjoy the video:

Bikes n Beers made hit the 3rd annual AMBC Fall Festival.  AMBC (Appalachian Mountain Bike Club) is a Knoxville based chapter of the South East regional division of IMBA.  According to the AMBC website, their mission revolves around conservation of open spaces, mountain bike rider education, and protection of the natural environment and experience for other trail users.  Now I’m not sure about all that since my normal modus operandi on the trails involves breakneck downhill speeds with my hair on fire doing kick-outs over small woodland creatures screaming YEEE HAAAAAW.  But I will say this; the AMBC puts on a kick-ass fall festival for the third year in a row.

The festival started in the early afternoon with 3 different guided rides, a 30 mile ride that highlights the entire trail system they are building/maintaining in south Knoxville, a 16 mile ride,  and finally a 5 mile ride for the beginners.  In the interest of preserving our drinking time we decided not to ride any of them.

New Belgium beer had plenty of their tasty suds on hand.  We also brought some of our own stuff, a traditional Scottish Ale we call Skelping Bahookie (that’s Scottish for Ass Slapper).  Note the ass slapping taking place in the video.

Next up was some spectator friendly short track racing; the format was a 4-lap 1 mile loop and while the racers were surely burning their lungs and having a great time, I believe the spectators had even more fun harassing, I mean cheering on the riders.  Following the short track races the party really began to ramp up.  The night time festivities began with some outstanding food provided buffet style and included lots of carb rich foods that hit the spot after a day of riding and drinking.  The bonfires were lit and people began settling in for some great bands, a blind auction, and lots of great raffle prizes.

We are looking forward to returning next year.

We spent the day at Noris on some very boring trail.  Today’s ride was more about the new toy we got to play with and less about how fun the trail was. Today Bikes N Beers gave our new cable cam a test drive.  Special thanks are owed to David Green for sharing his design with us.  We can’t wait until he comes out with the powered version. Hurry up Dave…will beer help????.

Eight months ago our good friend and partner decided she needed to make a change.  This mother decided she wanted to become a MOUNTAIN BIKER.  The last time she had really ridden a bike was when she was a little girl.  This simple video is a testament to her will to succeed and her transformation from Mom to Mountain Bike Moma.  Hats off to Bikes n Beers own…..Princess Crash!

What a day to ride!  Bikes N Beers participated in a group ride at Concord.  The day was perfect.  You couldn’t ask for it to get better and then…..it did!  Enjoy.

The Sin City Geezers ROCK!

Bikes N Beer attended the 14^th Annual 12 hours of the Hill of Truth race at Haw Ridge Park.  This year we were back to a 4-person Sin City Geezer team that included Notorious, Throttle, Throttle’s son Zack and indoctrinating Crash in her first MTB event. WeeMan was MIA, or rather MOE, being at the MOE concert in Nashville.

Throttle hanging the “eye in the sky”

This year’s turnout was better than last year and about 175 racers participated. Nototrious and Throttle hit the trails early dispensing cameras along the way so that BNB could get new perspectives on the event that we have not had before (check out the video).

The race course was not overly difficult and included the new Greenway, West Shore, Lake, I, Red Shore, Powerline, Silo, of course, the Hill of Truth and ended with butt slapping thrash down Kaboom (Sweeeeeet).  This last bit would have been especially loved by Christopher Walken as the clanging of cow bell serenaded the racers as they fought for the finish line.  An unanticipated challenge came from the rising water that continued to advance throughout the day.  This caused mucho mayhem, from washouts on the cement bag trail (we saw all you people fall down on our hidden cam) to wet cold stinky feet!

Notorious and Zack at the Start/Finish

The disco ball didn’t make it to the hill this year. But who really gives a shit, after climbing the hill of truth do you want oxygen or a disco ball?  Instead it was hung over the start finish line for all to enjoy. Kids races were held on the infield through out the day and the Huffy toss for distance made us all look stupid, well only the ones who sucked at throwing it.  There was tasty barbque and a bon fire where the Huffy was, once again sacrificed to the Mountain Bike god (should we burn Luke instead next year?).

We Geezers broke out the trail lights around 7 PM as Throttle finished our team’s last lap.  Yeah, we know the race goes until 11 but we had worked up quite a thirst by this point and were ready to rehydrate.

Crash on Lap 1

In all the Sin City Geezers finished 6 laps with Crash having the slowest team time (although she didn’t crash) and Zack the fastest. We didn’t win but we did have a great time and will definitely be back next year.  See you next year.  We are going for 7 laps….or maybe 5.