Interbike
That’s right kids, most of the MissingSaddle team will be at Laaaas Vegas for Interbike so be sure to find Curtis and Skiles and get your free T-shirt while supplies last. Just use the secret pass code “Polish Knob” and get your free shirt with no obligation to buy anything, ever.

This year promises to be the biggest ever so check back soon with a full report on all the latest and greatest - at least by MissingSaddle standards.

New Look, New Features
Don’t adjust that dial, your monitor is fine. We’ve just updated MissingSaddle.com v38.4 (a rough estimate), but Curtis assures me we’re done with the redesigns for awhile so we hope you like it.

Got News?
We have a new feature on MissingSaddle.com called MS News that we think will bring everyone together in peace, love, harmony, and journalistic bliss. Got a good story you think others will like? Submit it to MS News. If other readers agree and vote on it, it will make the MissingSaddle front page where thousands of other cycling fans just like you can read it.

Why trust one biased and incompetent editor to filter what’s newsworthy (myself) when you can rely on the bias and incompetence of thousands of your closest friends within the cycling community to share the burden?

We’re confident together we can wade through the sea of information on the internet, categorize it, evaluate it, and share it. In so doing, MissingSaddle.com will be your one-stop shop for all things uber hip related to cycling. That’s our dream. We hope it’s your dream too.

- Jason

The Belgian Blunder (2004)

Austin King’s Chronicles From Across the Pond

Ah yes, the Belgian Blunder. Allow me to shed some light on this frequently occurring phenomenon. You see, everyone new to Belgium is vulnerable. It’s really only a matter of time before it sneaks up behind you and taps you on the shoulder. You really have little to no choice but to face it at some point in your stay in this wet and windy little country. Go ahead, try as hard as you can but at some point or another you’ll slip. Maybe just a little slip or maybe just a trip. But sometimes it can be one hell of a stumble. Maybe the language is to blame, the weather, the map…

What is that you say? You went to McDonalds and did your deed in the ladies restroom. We’ll that’s a Belgian Blunder. What is that? You got lost training and ended up on the other side of Brussels and back with a 9 hour ride. We’ll that’s a pretty impressive Belgian Blunder there Mr. Sterling Magnell.

But you see ladies and gentlemen, today I heard the greatest Belgian Blunder of all time. The Blunder legends are made of, and the one that will forever set the standards for future mishaps. The Belgian Blunder that will forever go down in history belongs to one of our new riders, Bennett. Well it appears that Bennett’s favorite breakfast cereal of choice was not really cereal. No, it actually wasn’t even close to being cereal. You see, Bennett’s been eating dog food for breakfast. Yes, dog food. But wait it gets better….. Bennett’s been eating dog food for breakfast for about three weeks now. That’s just plain awesome if you ask me! Probably the greatest thing about it is the cat and dog on the cover of the bag. The dogs wearing a chef’s hat and has silverware in his paws. It really doesn’t get much better than that.

So Bennett, as the current holder of the World’s Most Greatest Belgian Blunder, I salute you.