OK, so assuming that we actually get a crew for Sunday, here's my question (looking at you, William):

If I call a ride and am in possession of the coveted prize, does that mean that I'm in charge of designing the ride and NOT fighting for the win(s)? i.e. riding up ahead on a climb and calling the winner at each "stage"? Or am I trying to win / hold on to the jawbone (thimble, monkey paw, friendship bracelet, etc.) and kind of let the ride sort itself out?

Monkey Paw...

I envisioned a jawbone ride going down as such:

Holder of the JB gets to (a) call the entire route, and (b) calls the specific climb up which the battle for the bone will be fought. Holder must compete.

A jawbone ride differs from a thimble ride in that there is only one transfer of the JB per ride, as opposed to a transfer of the thimble at every predetermined point of contestation.

Jawbone: battle
Thimble: war

One of the best episodes EVAR.

The toppings also contain potassium benzoate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTxJ2QXyzSc&feature=related

... That's bad

Right. The smart thing to do on a thimble ride is "sit in" and then wait for the finale so you can take it home. Although, you'll be called out for riding like a wuss and skipping out on the first 5 climbs or whatever. This is my strategy as I got used to name calling and pejoratives a long time ago. I am the Nick Nuyens of group rides. Ouch!

BTW, where is the sacred Empire thimble of the city commissary? I believe Ryan has been sleeping with it under his pillow for the last 6 months.

seriously

ryan is a total weiner

ditto tito

You guys are dorks.

But I will gladly come to your ride and win all your prizes.


Mike

I'm in for the Sunday ride.

Perlberg goes uphill like a turtle.

Ros looks like a hardman.

Joe loves cake.

I'm the official old guy that gets fat in winter.

a bunch of non-kissena buddies and i are riding saturday

10 am on the NEW YORK side of the bridge

come along!

Tito & all who will be attending Sundays ride,

I'm writing to send my regrets for not being able to attend the slugfest, as I will be hung over from a Holiday party the night before.

Now I know this is going to upset everyone terribly, but implore you to not give up hope and just go on without me. As for my Jawbone and Thimble I guess you can just drop them off at my place in Williamsburg. Hear me out. I don't feel all that comfortable just accepting the Jawbone and Thimble without actually showing up for the ride but I know you are a all men of principal and that you just want to do the right thing. So on that account I will graciously accept them humbly. Feel free to let me know what time you want to and drop them off and I will try to meet you.

All my best,
Joseph Mueller

Will be riding over the bridge on Saturday. Not sure on my timing yet, WDC, but will look for you at 10 a.m. on the NYC side if I'm in the area. Not that I'll be able to stay on your wheels, but it's been too long since I've ridden in a group.

Joe,
My plan was to arrive at the ride hung over. To give you a chance at taking these sacred objects from me.

Joe - I'll bring the jawbone over, but you'll have to do a full cavity search to find it.


Judging by how long the thimble's been gone, I think Ryan has a special stash spot too.

Hey fellas - I may not be able to ride Sunday after all; depending how things shake out, I may get called to Occupy Wall St duties Sunday morning. I'll keep you posted.

I have fully and emphatically earned the thimble the last several times I have ridden with Joe.

had the pleasure of Joe and Stokes's company this morning

wish i could be there tomorrow to beat on all of you in pursuit of this bit of sewing accoutrement, but alas, i will be in bed with a skull two sizes too small for the brain within

have fun!

I won the thimble today from an uninterested Ryan and a pack of imaginary Freds. Had a hard time "retrieving" it....

Guys,

So... what exactly is the deal tomorrow morning? Who's meeting where & when?

Ros,
Don't know who is going to be at the Brooklyn Bridge at 8am. You'll find me and some others at the Jersey side at 9am. Roll out by 9:10.

Is this potentially another ice ride? I'm having flashbacks to the freezing rain, 5+ hours, bisected by a train, black ice crashing, 30-minute flat fixing ride from 2010 (?). I'm super out of shape, but may make 10am GWB, depending upon how I feel after my thimble winning ride today.

Bundle up kiddies!

I'll give you a winter prediction: It's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.

JP, I'm not gonna make it out to GWB by that time, so don't wait up for me. With this cold, I will most likely just put in some time indoors. You guys stay warm!

Tell me about the cold. That's for others to enjoy.
E

I was going to head out for a kissena hangover ride, but instead I will be on the rollers watching football.

Ha ha

Holy hangover, Batman....

I recall Leroy lying in Joe's bed surrounded by ladies.... he's got a harem, yo.

Shooting to be in Prospect Park today at 2:30 for some easy to pretty easy laps.

Owens,
I don't know what you're fearing. The ice ride was epic-y epicness, and those who missed out are secretly jealous they weren't there. And you were the stud of the ride--if it was another year, you might have landed the hardman title. You're the guy who had your own blood freeze your tights to your skin and you finished up fine. It was amazing that only you and Tad went down that day. It was an ice rink out there. Though the train crossing was a little sketchy.

Ragot,
The cold is bold and beautiful. The sun is bright, the roads are empty, and the esprit d'corps is incredible. You're missing a great time.

All,
Great day. And yet it was only me, Patrick (also a veteran of the icepocalypse) and Josh. I broke a spoke on the GWB, borrowed a wheel from Strictly, where Josh picked up some handwarmers, and it was all good.

We did the standard Kissena until state line, where we turned left, joined the paved railtrail and rode it to Blauvelt. Then we rode to West Nyack, past the reservoir, up and down Snake Hill to 303. On 59, Josh showed us a detour to his aunt's place, nice steep hill on a dead end street, then we rode to downtown Nyack, where we picked up a gravel rail trail that took us to Piermont. This was new for me and, at least for me, a highlight of the ride. Rode up Ash to get to 9W, and then rode it home.