Amish 250 2017 RECAP
Amish 250 2017 RECAP
Ken Bestine
Amish 250 2017 Recap
The Amish 250 could easily hang its straw hat on the hook of good food, hospitality, beautiful countryside, a road network ideally suited for handcycling and lastly lifelong friendships that form during training, but it doesn’t. What it does target and achieve is a consecutive series of arm blowing events that can be compared to a religious experience. Soul searching that occurs during brutal climbs where you and your training partners grit meets the road. The “Roller Coaster of Pain”, “Hopkins Road”, “Red House” and “Bear Lake” will keep you up at night thinking what and why did I do this to myself. Coaches will ask why you did that to yourself. Friends will ask you why you did that to yourself. Wives and husbands will ask why you did that to yourself. Girlfriends and boyfriends will give you that questioning look and lastly the family pet will probably not care. I will try to put in simple terms why the Amish 250. Intestinal fortitude that can only be fortified by testing ones inner limits to the point of near braking then reset and repeat until something better is created then you started with.
2017 was the first year where two distinct cycling clubs participated. Capone Handcycle Club of Chicago and Club Hand Bike du Quebec. Also new for this year was the option of riding with one of three different groups that offered varying degrees of difficulty and course length. All that participated distinguished themselves in their respective groups. The start list is below.
Jose Alzati
Nadia Barrera
Maxime Beliveau
Grant Berthiaume Capone Cycling
Leah Cuffe Invictus Team Canada
Pat Desnoyers
Jean-Paul Dumont
Luke Gingras
Kevin Gnehm Capone Cycling Club
John Haupt Milwaukee Bicycle Company
Michael Knapp Capone Cycling Club Chicago
Rico Morneau Club Handbike du Quebec
Theodore Moss
Megan O’Neil Capone Cycling
Pierre Ouellet
Michael Sprouse Red White & Blue
Peggy Sprouse
Michael Trauner Invictus Team Canada
Ken Bestine Capone Cycling Club Of Chicago
Bob Swanson Capone Cycling Club Of Chicago
Another first for 2017 was a cash purse for the Empty Tank TT held on the last day of the event. THANK YOU Carbonbike for sponsoring !
$75 1st Rico Morneau Club Handbike du Quebec
$50 2nd Ken Bestine Capone Cycling Club Of Chicago
$25 3rd Luke Gingras
$50 Lanterne Rouge Michael Knapp Capone Cycling Club Chicago
The Amish Hammer award for the most improved rider was earned by Bobby Swanson. The Amish Mafia got their way and was privileged to deliver the coveted inscribed hammer.
A big thanks to our sponsors Carbonbike, Wegmans, Lake Country Bike, Five and 20, Krasa’s Kove, and South Shore Winery, Capone Cycling Club. Also thank you Barb Bestine, Mack Bestine, Madalyn Bestine, Mason Bestine , Coach Mack, Emma Dennis, Craig Nighman and Dave Dennis.
News Alert!! “250” headquarters raided by Amish Mafia! Mafia reportedly unhappy, terms must be met or Amish sanctions to be placed on “250“participants. Amish 250 Elders are scrambling to meet terms. “We will have this resolved before August 6th which is the kick off date for 2017” says Elder Abraham with confidence in his eye. We’ve dealt with these types before and it won’t be the last time I’m sure. Apparently the issue stems from handcycles passing buggies in a no passing buggy zone last year.
We are quickly approaching camp. If flying, please coordinate flight times with [email protected] or call 814-323-3026. An airport shuttle will be available.
Register here!!
Hello Amish barn builders. You must be happy now the fields are tilled and ready for planting. I know, I know, you have been drooling over this log pile since last fall, just waiting to turn it into planks for a new barn. Patience is not a word found in the Amish dictionary. Little known fact. Soon August will be here and then a barn they will become.
Amish Elders warn against being tardy for barn building training. Your brethren depend on you to be ready on August 6th. Carbonbike’s Chris Peterson has recently discovered he is 90% Amish after performing a genetic lineage check through Ancestry DNA. He always suspected a connection due to his interest in large wooden barns and horses. Chris has offered to sponsor the camp since getting in touch with his Amish roots.. Thank you Carbonbike!!
Elders have recognized the need for a “C” group that will handle less miles but still very challenging rides. This is exciting for us because the apprentice barn builders need to start with training that can be absorbed and utilized later in their barn building years.
Amish 250 2017 itinerary
Sunday 8-6-17 = Red House District. 26 mile RR. We leave the hotel at 9 am. It’s a 50 minute drive to the park. Park address is 2373 ASP Route #1-Suite 3. Salamanca, NY 14779. The ride at the park starts at 11 am.
Dinner: 6 pm at Holiday inn Express lobby free spaghetti dinner
Monday = Westfield loop 52 miles B and C group leave at 10 am. A group 10:30 am.
Dinner: Pine Junction leave hotel at 6 pm. Average dinner is $15 total.
Tuesday = Bear Lake 45 miles. B and C group leave at 10:00 am. A group 10:30 am.
Dinner: French Creek Tavern order into Hotel lobby.6 ish. Pre order from menu will coordinate pre ride. Average dinner $14
Wednesday = Hogs back and Roller coaster of Pain 45 miles B and C group leave at 10:00 am. A group 10:30 am.
Dinner: Authentic Amish meal. $17 per person. Served in Amish home. Leave Hotel at 5:15 pm. Payment must be cash or check.
Thursday = Easy Ride, Alpe d’Huez B, C and A group leave at 9:30 am. Wine Tour leaves parking lot at 1:30pm.
Dinner: Meal at South Shore Winery after Wine tour. No charge meal.
Friday= Morning 8.5 mile TT and Waits Corners 38 miles. All group 10 am.
Dinner: BBQ at Bestine’s 6 pm.
Saturday= Easy spin starts at 9:30 am. End of camp
Registration link http://www.bikereg.com/amish-250
Video of 2016 . Courtesy of John Haupt
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