Cjell Money's La Manga Challenge

[davidhaile]

Could someone send me a link showing exactly where this climb is located? I'll use Google Earth to figure out altitude of start/finish and total distance. This story will be submitted for V5 of Cordillera.

[cjellmoney]

Barring a stellar time from Ralph Yukon or Jay Pertervary I think we can call this one for Peter Haile. That was amazing. Few really know what it means to climb that thing in a half hour...but take it from me, one who does know, that sh!t was incredible. Dumping gatorade, pumping up the tires, what a spirited competitor. Extra points for stylie dollar bill art.

Peter or Mr. Haile, PM Bounce and anyone else who has loot with your address.

Congrats!

[Bounce]

Epilogue....

The Cjell Money La Manga Challenge was a great success.  The goods were sent to Peter Haile and he confirmed that he received them.

So, what's in store for next year?  It has to be something better and more exciting, right?

We're playing around with some ideas, but Cjell $ has indicated he might hang around HORCA next year and challenge riders individually up La Manga.  And, to be exciting, there has to be something to win - right?

So, what we may do is this....  If Cjell $ wants to challenge riders in a one-on-one comp, I may put up 5 Benjamins.  If any of five riders kicks his ass up La Manga, they'll receive a Benjamin on the spot.  If Cjell $ wins, he'll receive the Benjamin - on the spot.  Offer good for five man-on-man races.

Gotta do something to up the ante, right?  There's no entry fee.  There's no risk.  So, who is in?
 
Cjell $ thinks this is easy money.  What do you say?

[dru1962]

Yet another piece of Cjell$ TD lore.  He obviously impressed the hell out of the Back of the Pack Racing dudes -- they inducted him before he could leave the processing station.  Of course, now that he has rediscovered his "steel is real" roots, they may have to reduce his rank for bailing on the titanium Black Sheep (does he still have it? Does it need a home?  Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge!).

As a die-hard University of North Dakota fan and grad (twice!) and [team formerly known as the] Fighting Sioux backer, I must say that I cannot wait to finally meet this Cjell$ in person (along with the BPR crew).  He has already become one of my favorite North Dakota State University grads.  If the green and white Blunt rim combo was intentional to set off the golden drive train as a Bison homage, the complexity of this Cjell$ character continues to amaze.  If he just liked the colors -- or it was all that was available -- at least it shows that his run-ins with the oppressive normative attempts of the NDSU Engineering faculty did not totally jade his collegiate experience.

I hope to see that Chinook and its on-board manufacturing capacity out here in Maah Daah Hey Trail country in western North Dakota.  The Maah Daah Hey 100 is not until August 17th -- plenty of time for a road trip, Cjell.  Just sayin'!

[cjellmoney]

I feel like dru1962 must be an old classmate messing with my ego buttering me up like that. I bleed green and gold, the bike colors were obviously a tribute to my great alma mater. I really need to make it back there and smoke some weed with dr nazari. Lucky I went to college, without it I would never wait tables and snowboard like I do.

The ma da hey 100. Damn, I need to do that. At the present moment I need to be wealthier too so not sure if its in the cards. If I could score a sponsor then I could probably swing it but not everyone can appreciate the money like dru and my own narcissistic ass.

Check out cjellmoney.com for my grand plan to have tons of folks shower me with big endorsement deals. Surly wants no part of Cjell Money despite him pedaling around their big ass tires and reluctantly loving the shit out of them. 'Woah, those are some big tires...please tell me more about them.' Dammit, I love them.

[Bounce]

Yet another piece of Cjell$ TD lore.  He obviously impressed the hell out of the Back of the Pack Racing dudes -- they inducted him before he could leave the processing station.  Of course, now that he has rediscovered his "steel is real" roots, they may have to reduce his rank for bailing on the titanium Black Sheep (does he still have it? Does it need a home?  Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge!).

As a die-hard University of North Dakota fan and grad (twice!) and [team formerly known as the] Fighting Sioux backer, I must say that I cannot wait to finally meet this Cjell$ in person (along with the PBR crew).  He has already become one of my favorite North Dakota State University grads.  If the green and white Blunt rim combo was intentional to set off the golden drive train as a Bison homage, the complexity of this Cjell$ character continues to amaze.  If he just liked the colors -- or it was all that was available -- at least it shows that his run-ins with the oppressive normative attempts of the NDSU Engineering faculty did not totally jade his collegiate experience.

I hope to see that Chinook and its on-board manufacturing capacity out here in Maah Daah Hey Trail country in western North Dakota.  The Maah Daah Hey 100 is not until August 17th -- plenty of time for a road trip, Cjell.  Just sayin'!

Yet another piece of Cjell$ TD lore.  He obviously impressed the hell out of the Back of the Pack Racing dudes -- they inducted him before he could leave the processing station.  Of course, now that he has rediscovered his "steel is real" roots, they may have to reduce his rank for bailing on the titanium Black Sheep (does he still have it? Does it need a home?  Wink! Wink! Nudge! Nudge!).

As a die-hard University of North Dakota fan and grad (twice!) and [team formerly known as the] Fighting Sioux backer, I must say that I cannot wait to finally meet this Cjell$ in person (along with the PBR crew).  He has already become one of my favorite North Dakota State University grads.  If the green and white Blunt rim combo was intentional to set off the golden drive train as a Bison homage, the complexity of this Cjell$ character continues to amaze.  If he just liked the colors -- or it was all that was available -- at least it shows that his run-ins with the oppressive normative attempts of the NDSU Engineering faculty did not totally jade his collegiate experience.

I hope to see that Chinook and its on-board manufacturing capacity out here in Maah Daah Hey Trail country in western North Dakota.  The Maah Daah Hey 100 is not until August 17th -- plenty of time for a road trip, Cjell.  Just sayin'!

Did you know that Cjell $ rode his bike from like Costa Rica or some such to start the TD last year?  I mean, seriously, how does someone do that?  Costa freaking Rica?  Facepalm.....  Good thing he hablas - and he does.

[Bounce]

I feel like dru1962 must be an old classmate messing with my ego buttering me up like that. I bleed green and gold, the bike colors were obviously a tribute to my great alma mater. I really need to make it back there and smoke some weed with dr nazari. Lucky I went to college, without it I would never wait tables and snowboard like I do.

The ma da hey 100. Damn, I need to do that. At the present moment I need to be wealthier too so not sure if its in the cards. If I could score a sponsor then I could probably swing it but not everyone can appreciate the money like dru and my own narcissistic ass.

Check out cjellmoney.com for my grand plan to have tons of folks shower me with big endorsement deals. Surly wants no part of Cjell Money despite him pedaling around their big ass tires and reluctantly loving the shit out of them. 'Woah, those are some big tires...please tell me more about them.' Dammit, I love them.

Sponsor yourself.  You have all the knowledge you need at your fingertips.  You know what I'm  talking about.

[Bounce]

Sponsor yourself.  You have all the knowledge you need at your fingertips.  You know what I'm  talking about.

I smiled as I typed that.

[dru1962]

I feel like dru1962 must be an old classmate messing with my ego buttering me up like that. I bleed green and gold, the bike colors were obviously a tribute to my great alma mater. ....

The ma da hey 100. Damn, I need to do that. At the present moment I need to be wealthier too so not sure if its in the cards. If I could score a sponsor then I could probably swing it but not everyone can appreciate the money like dru and my own narcissistic ass.
....

While an homage to your alma mater makes no sense given your apparent disdain former the "establishment" -- it makes perfect sense given the intellectual rigor it helped refine during your stay in Fargo and the formative role it has played in your wait & snowboarding skills (nay, may I add metallurgy skills, perhaps?).   Remember, Surly-- and Salsa -- want us to think they are small potatoes, but they are still QBP, an industry behemoth.  Surly Brewing, on the other hand...

How about a couple (several?) frame building gigs (or a sale of that fabled, now stabled (?) Black Sheep?) to finance your race -- with plenty of $$ left over for Chinook pimping & gas money back to CO for the first snowflakes of the season?  As a Plan B or C, I know several well-heeled, diehard Bison alums who would probably pony up good $$ to watch me be the most hospitable Fighting Sioux host of a Bison alum just for shi*s and giggles!

Actually, the Maah Daah Hey 100 is a "cheap date."  The $50 registration fee you can work off in exchange for a day of trail maintenance/marking pre-race (easy fix).  That entry covers pre-race meal Friday night & breakfast/brunch awards ceremony on Sunday morning after -- not to mention BOTH a chartreuse VOLUNTEER T-shirt (for trail duty) and a participant T-shirt.  Did I mention the views of these incredible Badlands?  They are not mountains, but they are FAR from Red River Valley flat.  Race day fruit & water are part of the package, as are intermediate aid stations with full sag/shuttle support (both bikes & riders).  Shuttle bus service (following the $3 shower post-race) with pizza & "rehydration" beverages available next to the Dakota Cyclery finish line in Medora make this a fantastic way to experience the MDHT.  If the overhaul is done, the Chinook is perfect for your base camp at the CCC Campground/Trailhead ($6/night!), where the race begins at 5am CDT on 8/17.  You should also be able to bum a ride with some of the many Minnesotans coming up, if you are still in the Land of 10,000 Taxes by that time.  We can find you a roof and a bed if the Chinook is still being pimped.  Give it some thought!

BTW, we have not met, but I have followed your exploits since discovering your wordpress blog after TD2012.  I also enjoyed your Lanesboro (?) pal's blog comments about and insights into all things $/Money/Monee/Monē/Zman.  The BPR dudes are also recent cyber-connections, but kindred spirits nonetheless.  They know a classic when they see one -- sometimes its rider qualifies, too!  They took a shine to you -- hope the Rowher bros. kill it on the CTR ITT's they are supposed to start soon!

Keep inspiring others and come share some of your bigger-than-life persona with us here in God's Country.  The Badlands were big enough for Teddy Roosevelt's ego, there is ample room for yours, too!  We would love to get to know it -- and introduce you to our semi-hidden secret.

[dru1962]

For those of you who think North Dakota is all "Head East"-like (i.e., Flat as a Pancake), here is a little proof to the contrary:  the Badlands viewed from the plateau after the "never-ending switchbacks" above the CCC Campground/Maah Daah Hey Trailhead (across the Little Missouri River from Theodore Roosevelt National Park's North Unit, just south of Watford City, ND); bridge crossing at trail mile 95 (?-ish); "Devils Pass" at the +/- halfway point toward the southern terminus near Medora; and a "picture of a picture" featuring one of Chad Ziemendorf's fantastic images of one of the 2012 inaugural MDH100 competitors taking a break (he and his Pugsley finished!).