I don't know about you, but "More Power" was my personal theme for this past weekend's action packed racing at the first ever Pensacola Cycling Classic! What a fantastic event! I loved every minute of it...some minutes more than others. Like the 30 minute crit that seemed to me to be about 10 minutes too long! Even so, I loved being on a crit course again...it's been over 20 years since I raced my last crit! Great fun!
Do you believe the size of the fields? Huge event...and for our first year! This just isn't the usual response to a first year event. It just doesn't happen. And speaking of happen...thanks to all of you that made this amazing event happen!!! Especially, Randy "No Bull" Bullock; David "Two Wheels" Mayo; Tim "Crusher" Fox; John "El Presidante" Brizzard; Dana "The Animal" Foster; and many from our own racing community including Ty, Destry, Codie, Darrell, Don all offering their invaluable experience with the details of putting on an event that brings racers back next year.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Ray Palmer and Sally with Pensacola Sports Association for their endless hours of behind the scenes work and from the City of Pensacola, Cheryl Fox and a huge thank you to the man himself, Sgt Chris "Big Gun" Huffman! (I'm giving you a standing ovation!)
A tremendous thank you to all the volunteers throughout the 3 fabulous stages of racing!!! Especially to Master Sgt Vicki Laue and her huge group of USAF Airmen from NAS Pensacola!!! You are amazing!!! Thank you for serving our country...and us this past Saturday!
What about all those who raced? So many from our group and our area. It was absolutely thrilling to see so many of our own Firestone and Summit Group out on the race courses giving it their all. I'm still smiling thinking about you guys out there suffering like dogs! Ah...but the thrill of finishing!!! Nothing like it! (I'm giving all you Senior Games racers a standing ovation as well!!! I feel your pain my brothers and sisters...uh, literally!)
And, finally all our sponsors, including Anderson Subaru, Bamboo Willies, Subway, Pensacola Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as well as a host of others that made it all possible! Be sure to patronize our sponsors and be sure to say a special "Thank You" to them all.
I do believe this event has put Pensacola on the cycling map...let's use this momentum to help create a wonderful cycling friendly community for generations to enjoy. Together we really can make a difference. Think about it...who would have ever thought a few years ago, that we would host an event like this past weekend's PCC?! It happened! It all started with a casual conversation between Bill Kimball, David Mayo and myself. We simply said "What if?!" Look what happened in one year!!!
What are the possibilities for the future? For our group? Our cycling community as a whole? Our city? Our region? These are very exciting times for cycling in our area! There are plans in the works even now for future events. But what about City Hall? The cyclists of our area need a unified voice before our local governments. This is really important! There are crucial issues for cyclists...especially as our area grows. We can get squeezed out of routes that we think of as common today.
Wouldn't it be nice to see a Bike Lane on Summit for example? Or, if the railroad ever vacates the rails from downtown Pensacola along Scenic Highway and across the bay, we need to be the first in line for a Rails to Trails initiative. Think about it...leave downtown Pensacola and ride a Bike trail all the way to downtown Milton...I think I'm in love!!! You know, there's a new 3 Mile Bridge in the works somewhere in the next few years...raise your hand if you would like a safe separate Bike Lane on the new bridge?! Or, how about our area as a winter training camp for clubs and teams from around the country?!
I'm only scratching the surface of the many issues that are important to all of us as cyclists. Think about the possibilities. Think about what you think a cycling friendly community would look like. Well, it will never happen unless we take the first step together.
Please, let me know if you think it is important for cyclists to have a unified voice in our area. And, if you think this is a unique time where we actually have a bit of momentum as a cycling community. Let's see if we can start a casual conversation together...
On a lighter note;
The rides this week will be, I'm sure, a bit easier than usual as most are recovering from the hard efforts of racing. Don't forget this week's Full Moon Ride on the beach. Check out the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogify for all the details!
Also, for those of you who participated in the Senior Games, there is a wonderful event this Friday evening at Sanders Beach Community Center at 6pm for the celebration of us older folks as well as the presentations of the medals for those who won them. Free food, free entertainment and free fun!!! Come on out for this wonderful closing celebration of this year's Senior Games! For more information contact Pensacola Parks and Recreation Dept. See you there!!! And...
See you out on the road,
Bob
Yes, the PCC was a great event. And, it was nice to finish. What a relief it is to hear that bell signaling the last lap of the crit. The fields were impressive and the pain and suffering was quite evident in the faces of the racers. Great courses and great organization. I'm really looking forward to next year.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Pensacola Cyclists need a unified voice in both the city and counties. I too have been thinking how nice it would be to have a bike lane on Summit Blvd. I've been wondering if there are plans for bicycle parking at the new park. It is my belief that if we build the infrastructure then the cyclist will come.
As far as the rails to trails to Milton, I doubt it. I thought after Ivan the railroad was done, but they fixed that rail faster than anything else got repaired around here; I think the railroad is serious about staying.
I have seen a greater acceptance of riders on roads by motorist since I started cycling here 25 years ago. There is more infrastructure than there use to be, but often times it appears as just an oversight; the cyclists benefit but it wasn't really planned that way. And as far as motorists, well there is a lot more of them and as we all know some of them lack in common sense and courtesy.
Hope to see you on the Full Moon ride.
Great comments Prentiss! There are a few of us that are thinking the same way. Sometime after all the races, centuries and other activities settle down we are going to sit down for a group idea session. If you are interested,l I'll let you know when we set a date.
ReplyDeleteYep, looking forward to the Full Moon spin!