Dino embraces 'old coot' internationalism

Eight Canucks and four Yanks, all of notable age, rode BC's Bowen Island with Dino who took this photo.

BOWEN ISLAND, British Columbia -- Dino Enell, the Chippings bike mechanic extraordinaire, rode this scenic island with a group of eight Canadians and four Americans (counting Dino) last weekend in what he reported as total harmony. The group has been doing an annual three-day cycle ride on the island for 25 years, Dino said.
Admittedly, the island is small and laid back. Even by cycling up numerous hills numerous times, the Yanks were hard pressed to log any more than 55 miles total on their speedometers. The Canucks recorded 90 kilometers of their odometers.  
Perhaps it was the leisurely pace. Or maybe the frequent rest stops, or the downhill coasting, or the ample food and beverage. Whatever it was, it was mellow. Dino, the beleaguered chair of the dispute resolution process on the Chippings' Sicily ride, declared that the international group of old coot bikers had "mastered the art of interpersonal male communication."

Three Chippings ride Peninsula Metric on Kitsap

Strawberry shortcake for Scott and other 50K finishers

SOUTHWORTH - Three Chippings, fueled on rice, beans and raspberry filled fig bars, rode the 50-kilometer route of the Peninsula Metric Century in Kitsap County Sunday. Nearly 500 cyclists, setting out from either the Southworth ferry landing or Gig Harbor did 50K, 100K or 100-mile routes in this annual event sponsored by the Tacoma Wheelmen's Bicycle Club (TWBC).
Tom Yagle, Scott Fraser and Johnny McCoy opted for the 50K ride because Tom, despite lightening sprints up the hills, figured 32 miles was enough. Plus he wanted to visit his mom in the afternoon. Scott said he needed to see a doctor. And John, who had registered participants for three hours, was already sunburnt. Even with a couple wrong turns and a lingering rest stop at a Kitsap fire district station for grub, the three Chips completed the rolling 50K course in less than three hours.
All three routes took cyclists along Puget Sound with some magnificent views of the Olympics, Sinclair Inlet and the naval shipyard at Bremerton before plunging into the backroads of rural Kitsap County.
Like all great rides, the threesome likely gained weight. The Peninsula Metric is known for its food. Aside from the usual oranges, bananas, muffins, cookies, candies and Gatorade, TWBC volunteers served up hot rice and beans, boiled spuds and -- get this -- strawberry shortcake.

John, Tom and Scott at Southworth finish: "We just did 50K no sweat."