Saturday's Pine Forest Loop which was scheduled to start at 7am will be changed to start at 8am. We will still meet at Firestone and Summit just at 8am instead of 7am. This change was due mainly to the temperature for tomorrow morning according to the latest forecast. At 7am it is high 40s and dark. At 8am it is mid 50s and sunny.
Actually, it is due to Coolio's insistence that it is too cold to start a ride at that early hour. (The boy missed his calling. He should have been a lobbyist.) Bobby; no more gifts and I really cannot accept that cruise to the Panama Canal...it's a very nice gesture but the riding public is starting to get suspicious. And for the record, no, I don't want any Pumpkin Spice Krispy Kremes! Thanks anyway.
Good ride last night. We did the Figure 9. (It's the standard Figure 8 without the loop at the bottom...thus it's a 9.) Good group with the Brizzard boys, Left Lane, Coolio, a new guy named Matt and your's truly. The pace was very moderate until Maygarden. Several pulls at low to mid 20s, then baby Brizzard took off with Coolio trying to draft him through the S curve. He looked pretty good until his tongue got caught in his front spokes...slowed him down quite a bit. Ever seen tongue road rash? It's okay Bobby, I understand your mouth heals quicker than the rest of your body.
Needless to say the young Jedi won the sprint.
If you are interested, in about an hour is the biweekly Fox's Friday Frolic ride. About 40 miles at a moderate pace. With the chilly temps, I would guess a stop at Starbucks may be in order...I know it will be for tomorrow's ride!
Just a reminder that all ride details are on the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogazoidal.
See you out on the road,
Bob
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Fox's Friday Frolic
The Foxinator, in an effort to keep the good form he has acquired over the last few months, is once again doing a Fox's Friday Frolic. (I believe he is trying to do this every other week throughout the winter months) This week, uh tomorrow, we will meet at 9:10am at Firestone and Summit for a 40 miler at a moderate pace. Details on the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogulation.
If you are interested let me know or just show up tomorrow morning. Until then, I'll...
See you out on the road,
Bob
If you are interested let me know or just show up tomorrow morning. Until then, I'll...
See you out on the road,
Bob
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Must be the Time of Year?!
Saturday morning saw several of us heading out on the Back Door Loop under chilly, sunny skies. It was cool enough to wear a vest and arm warmers, but Left Lane was donning just a sleeveless jersey. He and some of the others may have wished for warmer attire. The pace was a bit frisky for the temperature. We rolled down Jackson and then Lillian Hwy at 20mph+. Some of the guys were doing beastly pulls into a mild headwind. We cruised across Dog Track and onto Gulf Beach Hwy to the back door of NAS.
The guard just waved us through...first time that ever happened. Usually they want at least a government issued photo identification, (GIPI), and sometimes they want to pat you down for pipe bombs, bazookas, handheld missile launchers, etc. But ever since that guard frisked Coolio, they just wave us through...
Must have something to do with lycra.
The pace slowed significantly as we paraded through the base. We stopped at a sunny corner by the golf course for the "pause that refreshes". Once back in the saddle we headed for the front door and the Fried Oreo Sprint. (I had incorrectly announced this as the Fried Twinkie Sprint (Navy Point Bridge) in a previous post...although it doesn't really matter it's all fried!) Anyway, the Fried Oreo Sprint is at the north end of the NAS Bridge and Left Lane, not being willing to be out done on anything fried, won the FOS easily...uh, nobody else actually went after it. Yep, the Fried Oreo Sprint is Left Lane, or FOSILL...yeah, that about sums him up.
And talk about awards; Carroll Ann Chandler hammered with the big dogs the entire ride. For this she is awarded the weekly Shebeast Award! Congrats to the lovely Mrs Woodrow Boodrow!
The rides have not been very well attended. I guess it must be the time of year. Perhaps tonight we will have a bit larger group. We leave promptly at 5:33pm because of the lack of daylight. In fact, you may want to at least have a rear flashing light for these few evening rides before the time change in about 10 days. The Saturday morning ride times will change in November as well. We move the time back to the 8am hour starting on Saturday November 6. This week however we will still be starting at 7am for the Pine Forest Loop.
Please check the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogulation for more details.
And I will...
See you out on the road,
Bob
The guard just waved us through...first time that ever happened. Usually they want at least a government issued photo identification, (GIPI), and sometimes they want to pat you down for pipe bombs, bazookas, handheld missile launchers, etc. But ever since that guard frisked Coolio, they just wave us through...
Must have something to do with lycra.
The pace slowed significantly as we paraded through the base. We stopped at a sunny corner by the golf course for the "pause that refreshes". Once back in the saddle we headed for the front door and the Fried Oreo Sprint. (I had incorrectly announced this as the Fried Twinkie Sprint (Navy Point Bridge) in a previous post...although it doesn't really matter it's all fried!) Anyway, the Fried Oreo Sprint is at the north end of the NAS Bridge and Left Lane, not being willing to be out done on anything fried, won the FOS easily...uh, nobody else actually went after it. Yep, the Fried Oreo Sprint is Left Lane, or FOSILL...yeah, that about sums him up.
And talk about awards; Carroll Ann Chandler hammered with the big dogs the entire ride. For this she is awarded the weekly Shebeast Award! Congrats to the lovely Mrs Woodrow Boodrow!
The rides have not been very well attended. I guess it must be the time of year. Perhaps tonight we will have a bit larger group. We leave promptly at 5:33pm because of the lack of daylight. In fact, you may want to at least have a rear flashing light for these few evening rides before the time change in about 10 days. The Saturday morning ride times will change in November as well. We move the time back to the 8am hour starting on Saturday November 6. This week however we will still be starting at 7am for the Pine Forest Loop.
Please check the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogulation for more details.
And I will...
See you out on the road,
Bob
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Full Moon Ride Tonight
What a great ride last evening. I think there were 9 or 10 of us as we headed out under a beautiful clear sky. The pace was the usual Wednesday evening friskiness with several of the peloton taking beastly pulls. Not to mention a couple of chronic wheelsuckers at the back. (Ooops, just did...but I'm sure you could of guessed who anyway!) The second time down Langley the pace went from frisky to hammerfest. However, the action started in earnest as we rounded the turn onto Maygarden.
I was riding Big Dog, (that's my nickname for the last of my Cannondales in the stable. I think I have sold 3 or 4 and this last one is a bit heavy but I want to keep her), as we made the sweeping left hander on Maygarden itself. I decided to test out the Big Dog as she hasn't been ridden in awhile. "Oh baby, let the Big Dog eat!" She cranked it right up and we were rolling. I finished my pull and Keith "Big Motor" Irwin pulled through with none other than the man himself Bobby "Coolio" Cooley taking a turn at the front. As Coolio slid over, "Katie bar the door!", Tim "Crusher" Fox took over with about 1.5k to go and had the bit between the teeth!
Crusher had it pegged on 26/27mph as we topped out on the final hill. The big Clydesdale boy was pulling at 27 uphill into a headwind! Absolute Sultan of Speed status. (SOS) As we pass through the S curve Big Motor launches a vicious attack with 350 yards to go. Coolio, Left Lane, Mel "Mellow Yellow" Young and Chuck "e N Love" Norton gave chase. With 250 yards left the Big Dog wanted to run...
I tried to hold her back, knowing that she's been in the stable for so long watching with longing as each day I rode off on the Lynskey. I was a bit concerned that she might hurt herself. She would have none of it...the Big Dog wanted to eat and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. (Maybe she just wanted me to know she still has what it takes or wanted to show off for the Lynskey who had been getting all of the attention lately.) But before I knew it she was around the chasers and headed straight for Big Motor's wheel. She caught his draft and waited for just a second or so as if to catch her breath, then she was off, snorting and grunting her way to the finish line just barely ahead of Big Motor...amazing.
Makes me want to take her out more often.
Great ride! And speaking of great rides, we have one tonight at the beach! The Full Moon Ride is back for the last time this season. Come on out at 6pm at the Casino Beach Parking Lot for an easy to moderate paced 20 miles. Enjoy the beautiful sunset as we ride down to Fort Pickens and the moonlit Gulf as we head back under the Full Moon! Left Lane is even bringing some refreshments to celebrate after the last Full Moon Ride this year.
Please bring an extra $3 to get into the park. See you tonight and...
See you out on the road,
Bob
I was riding Big Dog, (that's my nickname for the last of my Cannondales in the stable. I think I have sold 3 or 4 and this last one is a bit heavy but I want to keep her), as we made the sweeping left hander on Maygarden itself. I decided to test out the Big Dog as she hasn't been ridden in awhile. "Oh baby, let the Big Dog eat!" She cranked it right up and we were rolling. I finished my pull and Keith "Big Motor" Irwin pulled through with none other than the man himself Bobby "Coolio" Cooley taking a turn at the front. As Coolio slid over, "Katie bar the door!", Tim "Crusher" Fox took over with about 1.5k to go and had the bit between the teeth!
Crusher had it pegged on 26/27mph as we topped out on the final hill. The big Clydesdale boy was pulling at 27 uphill into a headwind! Absolute Sultan of Speed status. (SOS) As we pass through the S curve Big Motor launches a vicious attack with 350 yards to go. Coolio, Left Lane, Mel "Mellow Yellow" Young and Chuck "e N Love" Norton gave chase. With 250 yards left the Big Dog wanted to run...
I tried to hold her back, knowing that she's been in the stable for so long watching with longing as each day I rode off on the Lynskey. I was a bit concerned that she might hurt herself. She would have none of it...the Big Dog wanted to eat and she wasn't going to take no for an answer. (Maybe she just wanted me to know she still has what it takes or wanted to show off for the Lynskey who had been getting all of the attention lately.) But before I knew it she was around the chasers and headed straight for Big Motor's wheel. She caught his draft and waited for just a second or so as if to catch her breath, then she was off, snorting and grunting her way to the finish line just barely ahead of Big Motor...amazing.
Makes me want to take her out more often.
Great ride! And speaking of great rides, we have one tonight at the beach! The Full Moon Ride is back for the last time this season. Come on out at 6pm at the Casino Beach Parking Lot for an easy to moderate paced 20 miles. Enjoy the beautiful sunset as we ride down to Fort Pickens and the moonlit Gulf as we head back under the Full Moon! Left Lane is even bringing some refreshments to celebrate after the last Full Moon Ride this year.
Please bring an extra $3 to get into the park. See you tonight and...
See you out on the road,
Bob
Monday, October 18, 2010
Weekend Recap and Other Observations
This morning, while out on my sunrise constitutional with the meathead, (meaning; I was walking the dog), I got to thinking about the rides this past weekend. Many emotions flooded my thoughts as I think about those I rode with as well as those we rode in memory of. I cannot imagine all the difficulties the family and friends of Fenner, Matt and Roger have gone through as they lost their loved one. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.
I think these rides are very important. It let's others know that we care. We care for their lost and for the concerns of other cyclists. These concerns are very real to each of us. In fact, on both Saturday and Sunday we had altercations with motorists. Nothing serious, just the same old yelling out the window as they pass by and the ever present sitting on the horn just as they reach your rear wheel. Annoying yes, but scary as well when you think of what has happened in recent weeks. Makes you wonder if these folks read the news...
I sense some anger rising up inside me just as the meathead yanks on my arm and yanks my thoughts back to my morning walk. It is another beautiful day, as was the weekend.
Saturday's century was just about perfect...except maybe 23 too many hills! And 23 was not all of them, just the ones I counted as too many. Man, 102 miles, (including warmup miles), with I think as many hills. Don't get me wrong, I don't really mind hills in general, it's just the going up part that causes this old Clydesdale body to suffer like a dog. And I'm not referring to the meathead here either! The meathead seems to love going uphill as she pulls my shoulder almost out of it's socket. "Why can't you just walk?"
Huge group of cyclists out on the roads of Blackwater. I rode with the main group until the first, uh...hill. Then rode many miles with nothing but my Lynskey to talk to. He wasn't hearing alot of positive monologue. Rather, the typical thoughts of a big boy among the hills. I just kept thinking out loud. "Not another stinking hill." And, "Ah, come on, we just climbed that one, didn't we?" And, of course, " Unbestinkinglievable, couldn't we have just 100 yards of flat?!" Other than that, it was a fantastic ride. I hadn't ridden a full century in at least a decade. Anybody get the elevation gain on that bad boy?
Sunday's Ride of Silence was very touching. I'm sure Vicki and the family must have been moved as well. It was a variable who's who of area cycling. I'm sure there was at least 200 to 300 cyclists as we rode down to Portofino and back at parade pace. For the most part it was just quiet and reflective. I rode alongside of David and Angela Murphy on their tandem with Don Davis just behind us. It was heartening to see so many riders I haven't seen in awhile. Good friends.
We made it back to Quietwater Parking Lot and enjoyed the company of many others. Then we rode back over the bridge and into Gulf Breeze where I had parked. On the way back, a pick up truck full of obnoxious junior highers, (men) came by close sitting on the horn and yelling profanities that will not be repeated here. Besides, I'm sure you have heard it many times before. I don't understand the motive. Is it a thrill to yell at some guy on a bike? Maybe they think it's funny to scare someone that otherwise is having a peaceful ride down the road. I'm a motorist. When I see a cyclist I slow down and move over. Sometimes I may have to wait a few seconds before I can pass safely, so I wait. No big deal, right? Apparently not.
The meathead has stopped to do her business. No, I don't pick it up. I walk her in the woods across the street. I am not going to pick up the meathead's...well, you get the idea. If somebody from another planet looked down wanting to talk to the leader of this civilization and saw humans following animals around picking up their...uh, business, who do you think they would want to talk to?
Enough of canine philosophy. It was in fact a great weekend of riding. The weather this week looks absolutely perfect for riding as well. Please check out the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogulation for more details. Don't forget Thursday's Full Moon Ride! This will most likely be the last time this season so come on out and enjoy a beautiful sunset ride to Fort Pickens and a moonlit ride back.
Less than 3 weeks of Daylight Savings Time rides. Yes, it's that time of year again. However, we are going to continue riding one evening per week with lights. Stay tuned for more details.
Other observations:
Randy "No Bull" Bullock pulled off another great century!!! Great job Randy...you are the man!!! An enormous thanks to you and all the volunteers and sponsors!
A huge thanks to Tim "Crusher" Fox and Mark "In the Zone" Calvert for pulling my carcass the last 20 miles! Great ride guys.
By the way, I was at Count Fishbone's house the other day. He was reading a book. I asked him what it was about. Vampires. The Count was reading a Vampire book! Hmmm...I didn't see the Count at the century, must have been up late the night before?!
I heard Keith "Big Motor" Irwin using the word "puncture" instead of "flat" the other day. I realized later that he doesn't say "flat" because that means "apartment" in the King's English. So, when I heard him use the word "quibble" I was curious as to the meaning. He asked me if I have read Harry Potter and I replied that I don't read that dribble. We began to argue as to the literary value of the Harry Potter books. I figured out what "quibble" means as we quibbled over dribble...and that's no fib(ble).
I was watching college football the other day and noticed that our own Dana "The Animal" Foster looks exactly like the head football coach at Iowa. I think I figured out why Dana hasn't been on our Saturday rides lately.
Our own Coolio has denied allegations of Krispy Kreme comsumption for years. However, over the weekend he was caught red-handed with a dozen of the delights in his vehicle. They were the infamous Pumpkin Spice variety. He claims that he brought them to share with others. Upon further investigation I have not found anybody who says Coolio shared a donut with them. Instead, Coolio was found in his vehicle in a park slumped over an empty box of Krispy Kremes. An apparent overdose of Pumpkin Spice.
It has been discovered that Left Lane has a school for civil disobedience. I saw many of his students on Saturday's century ride. I would love to see that curriculum. I wonder how much he charges them?
See you out on the road,
Bob
Rats...the meathead needs to go out again! Alright, alright...she's not a meathead, but I have met a few out on the road who just love to chase cyclists. The uh, lovely Mrs Graves wanted you to know that I actually like our dog. It's true, I do, except for her name. She named her Pumpkin Spice! No, I'm not kidding, that's our dog's name; Pumpkin Spice...go figure.
I think these rides are very important. It let's others know that we care. We care for their lost and for the concerns of other cyclists. These concerns are very real to each of us. In fact, on both Saturday and Sunday we had altercations with motorists. Nothing serious, just the same old yelling out the window as they pass by and the ever present sitting on the horn just as they reach your rear wheel. Annoying yes, but scary as well when you think of what has happened in recent weeks. Makes you wonder if these folks read the news...
I sense some anger rising up inside me just as the meathead yanks on my arm and yanks my thoughts back to my morning walk. It is another beautiful day, as was the weekend.
Saturday's century was just about perfect...except maybe 23 too many hills! And 23 was not all of them, just the ones I counted as too many. Man, 102 miles, (including warmup miles), with I think as many hills. Don't get me wrong, I don't really mind hills in general, it's just the going up part that causes this old Clydesdale body to suffer like a dog. And I'm not referring to the meathead here either! The meathead seems to love going uphill as she pulls my shoulder almost out of it's socket. "Why can't you just walk?"
Huge group of cyclists out on the roads of Blackwater. I rode with the main group until the first, uh...hill. Then rode many miles with nothing but my Lynskey to talk to. He wasn't hearing alot of positive monologue. Rather, the typical thoughts of a big boy among the hills. I just kept thinking out loud. "Not another stinking hill." And, "Ah, come on, we just climbed that one, didn't we?" And, of course, " Unbestinkinglievable, couldn't we have just 100 yards of flat?!" Other than that, it was a fantastic ride. I hadn't ridden a full century in at least a decade. Anybody get the elevation gain on that bad boy?
Sunday's Ride of Silence was very touching. I'm sure Vicki and the family must have been moved as well. It was a variable who's who of area cycling. I'm sure there was at least 200 to 300 cyclists as we rode down to Portofino and back at parade pace. For the most part it was just quiet and reflective. I rode alongside of David and Angela Murphy on their tandem with Don Davis just behind us. It was heartening to see so many riders I haven't seen in awhile. Good friends.
We made it back to Quietwater Parking Lot and enjoyed the company of many others. Then we rode back over the bridge and into Gulf Breeze where I had parked. On the way back, a pick up truck full of obnoxious junior highers, (men) came by close sitting on the horn and yelling profanities that will not be repeated here. Besides, I'm sure you have heard it many times before. I don't understand the motive. Is it a thrill to yell at some guy on a bike? Maybe they think it's funny to scare someone that otherwise is having a peaceful ride down the road. I'm a motorist. When I see a cyclist I slow down and move over. Sometimes I may have to wait a few seconds before I can pass safely, so I wait. No big deal, right? Apparently not.
The meathead has stopped to do her business. No, I don't pick it up. I walk her in the woods across the street. I am not going to pick up the meathead's...well, you get the idea. If somebody from another planet looked down wanting to talk to the leader of this civilization and saw humans following animals around picking up their...uh, business, who do you think they would want to talk to?
Enough of canine philosophy. It was in fact a great weekend of riding. The weather this week looks absolutely perfect for riding as well. Please check out the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this blogulation for more details. Don't forget Thursday's Full Moon Ride! This will most likely be the last time this season so come on out and enjoy a beautiful sunset ride to Fort Pickens and a moonlit ride back.
Less than 3 weeks of Daylight Savings Time rides. Yes, it's that time of year again. However, we are going to continue riding one evening per week with lights. Stay tuned for more details.
Other observations:
Randy "No Bull" Bullock pulled off another great century!!! Great job Randy...you are the man!!! An enormous thanks to you and all the volunteers and sponsors!
A huge thanks to Tim "Crusher" Fox and Mark "In the Zone" Calvert for pulling my carcass the last 20 miles! Great ride guys.
By the way, I was at Count Fishbone's house the other day. He was reading a book. I asked him what it was about. Vampires. The Count was reading a Vampire book! Hmmm...I didn't see the Count at the century, must have been up late the night before?!
I heard Keith "Big Motor" Irwin using the word "puncture" instead of "flat" the other day. I realized later that he doesn't say "flat" because that means "apartment" in the King's English. So, when I heard him use the word "quibble" I was curious as to the meaning. He asked me if I have read Harry Potter and I replied that I don't read that dribble. We began to argue as to the literary value of the Harry Potter books. I figured out what "quibble" means as we quibbled over dribble...and that's no fib(ble).
I was watching college football the other day and noticed that our own Dana "The Animal" Foster looks exactly like the head football coach at Iowa. I think I figured out why Dana hasn't been on our Saturday rides lately.
Our own Coolio has denied allegations of Krispy Kreme comsumption for years. However, over the weekend he was caught red-handed with a dozen of the delights in his vehicle. They were the infamous Pumpkin Spice variety. He claims that he brought them to share with others. Upon further investigation I have not found anybody who says Coolio shared a donut with them. Instead, Coolio was found in his vehicle in a park slumped over an empty box of Krispy Kremes. An apparent overdose of Pumpkin Spice.
It has been discovered that Left Lane has a school for civil disobedience. I saw many of his students on Saturday's century ride. I would love to see that curriculum. I wonder how much he charges them?
See you out on the road,
Bob
Rats...the meathead needs to go out again! Alright, alright...she's not a meathead, but I have met a few out on the road who just love to chase cyclists. The uh, lovely Mrs Graves wanted you to know that I actually like our dog. It's true, I do, except for her name. She named her Pumpkin Spice! No, I'm not kidding, that's our dog's name; Pumpkin Spice...go figure.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Very Sobering Couple of Weeks
The last couple of weeks has seen two of our own seriously injured in crashes and Roger Grooter killed in an accident. A very sobering couple of weeks. Today, Tim "Grocery" Fox and myself went out for an easy spin and the topics ranged from Wednesday night's hammerfest to Codie Brook's flat to tomorrow's ride to the lovely Mrs Graves to Tim's work...but it always somehow came back to the awful accidents of the last two weeks. I'm sure many of you have been thinking about them as well.
I will be at the Ride of Silence for Roger Grooter on Sunday, October, 17th. I think this is a very important event for all area cyclists to attend. Plus, there appears to be a groundswell among cyclists wanting to complete Roger's ride in his place since he was not allowed to finish it.
I think these are very positive actions for all of us. Perhaps it's time to do more?!
There are plans in the works to create a "Cycling Alliance" where all cyclists would have a voice before local governments to lobby our unique concerns. You will be hearing more details in the coming months. If you have an interest in participating in the formation of this new approach, please contact Randy Bullock or myself.
Now for this weekend's Ride Schedule:
Tomorrow morning is the Around the Sound Ride. This 60 to 65 mile loop starts at the Fish and Wildlife center at 7am. The pace will be moderate. There will be a group waiting on the south side of the 3 Mile Bridge for those who aren't very excited about riding on the bridge. If you plan to meet us on the Gulf Breeze side, please be there by no later than 7:15am as the group will not be stopping as we pass by.
Sunday afternoon at 3pm meet at Firestone and Summit for the UWF/Scenic Hills loop. This 35 miler will be the last chance to ride the hills before the Fenner Century next week.
Weather this weekend looks to be absolutely perfect for cycling, so come on out and get in those miles before the 100 miler next Saturday. Looking forward to...
Seeing you out on the road,
Bob
I will be at the Ride of Silence for Roger Grooter on Sunday, October, 17th. I think this is a very important event for all area cyclists to attend. Plus, there appears to be a groundswell among cyclists wanting to complete Roger's ride in his place since he was not allowed to finish it.
I think these are very positive actions for all of us. Perhaps it's time to do more?!
There are plans in the works to create a "Cycling Alliance" where all cyclists would have a voice before local governments to lobby our unique concerns. You will be hearing more details in the coming months. If you have an interest in participating in the formation of this new approach, please contact Randy Bullock or myself.
Now for this weekend's Ride Schedule:
Tomorrow morning is the Around the Sound Ride. This 60 to 65 mile loop starts at the Fish and Wildlife center at 7am. The pace will be moderate. There will be a group waiting on the south side of the 3 Mile Bridge for those who aren't very excited about riding on the bridge. If you plan to meet us on the Gulf Breeze side, please be there by no later than 7:15am as the group will not be stopping as we pass by.
Sunday afternoon at 3pm meet at Firestone and Summit for the UWF/Scenic Hills loop. This 35 miler will be the last chance to ride the hills before the Fenner Century next week.
Weather this weekend looks to be absolutely perfect for cycling, so come on out and get in those miles before the 100 miler next Saturday. Looking forward to...
Seeing you out on the road,
Bob
Monday, October 4, 2010
Two Not So Subtle Reminders
Usually, the Monday or Tuesday blogulation would be full of news of how great the weekend rides were and how the peloton antics came from the usual cast of characters and of course, usually we would mention how wonderful the weather was for riding...usually. However, this past weekend was anything but, usual!
As most of you already know, we had a crash on Saturday's Twisted Hammock Ride. Our good friend and fellow cyclist, Harland "Happy" Williams was seriously injured. He sustained a broken clavicle and a collapsed lung and was hospitalized for two days. This very unfortunate accident comes one week to the day on the heels of our very own David "Lawman" Carroll's crash in which he broke his arm. David's serious injury requires surgery to repair his arm. He goes in to Andrew's Institute tomorrow.
I consider both Harland and David good friends and excellent cyclists. One accident would be sad enough, both two just one week apart requires a bit more action than just being sad!
Several of you have emailed and telephoned me with your thoughts and feelings regarding our recent events. Therefore, I think it very important that something be communicated to the group as a whole expressing those concerns as well as some constructive admonitions for all. What I believe is important to avoid is any kind of finger pointing or witch hunt. Look, let's be honest, we all have been a bit to casual in regards to safety lately. It's bound to happen to any group that hasn't had a major crash in several months...it's just human nature to think that it won't happen to me. It will, it has...
Cycling is a dangerous sport. Everyone of us has gone down. It happens and it happens too frequently. However, group riding, although safer than riding alone in some respects, has a unique set of dynamics that can make it far more dangerous than riding alone. If we all recognize the hazards and are proactive in avoiding and pointing them out for others, then the benefits of group riding far outweigh the dangers. However, if we ignore or push beyond the cautions, it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe all accidents can be avoided, but I sure want to avoid as many as possible. Therefore, when we have two serious accidents so close together, it's prudent to review a few basics of group riding:
1. BE PREDICTABLE! Every cyclist around you is depending on YOU! Make no sudden movements of any kind. Let others know if you drift up on their right or left by simply calling out that you are, "On your right" or "On your left". If you see debris in the way, make gentle, slow movements to avoid it while pointing it out for others behind you. Do not make sharp sudden moves!
2. Hold a nice straight line and a steady speed. Swerving back and forth and/or speeding up and slowing down will cause trouble for those behind you. Remember: the small action you take is exaggerated in the movements of those behind you. You swerve one foot to the right, by the time your swerve gets 4 to 5 riders back it may be 3 to 4 feet! Same with speed; don't yoyo back and forth, stay steady. If a gap opens in front of you, close it gradually.
3. Never overlap wheels. This is a certain recipe for a crash. If you lap your front wheel one inch past the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you and he swerves, you are going down, not him, and you'll probably take a few others with you. Generally, leave yourself a foot or two of space between your front wheel and his rear wheel. Nobody will bark at you for the couple of feet gap...however, they may bark if they go down with you!
4. Always leave a bit more room in corners, construction zones, railroad crossings, etc. Slow down! You're not going to get dropped. This is a group ride, not a race.
5. Please keep your equipment in good repair and well adjusted. Everyone around you is depending on you to take care of your machine. Flats happen...and an occasional dropped chain, missed shift or broken spoke. However, parts should not be falling from your bike when you hit a bump, causing others to swerve around them. I've seen many accidents caused by someone's waterbottle flailing across the road. Inspect your ride before every ride. Take the time to assure it is safe to ride. We are all depending on you!
6. Use the good sense the Lord gave you when approaching stop signs, traffic lights, etc. We all have coasted through a red light...this needs to stop before one or several of us gets hurt. I'm not talking about right turns on red here, rather the blatant running of a red light, sometimes with traffic coming! If you are the first one to come upon the traffic light and it is red, STOP. Most everyone behind you will stop as well.
7. Generally speaking, always pass another rider on the left. If you are excelerating past him, do so on the left. If you are just finishing a pull, drop to the back on the left. Of course, there are those unusual situations where we will pass on the right, such as a stiff headwind off our right shoulder. However, this will be called out ahead of time for all to note. Please don't pass on the right.
I'm absolutely sure I have missed something that is very important to you. I am really hoping that you will post a comment and express your concerns. All I am trying to do here is get us thinking on being a safer group as we ride down the road together. Let's hear from you...especially you more experienced, savvy riders with decades of miles on your derriere.
Being safe together is the chief concern of all of us. We won't avoid all the accidents, but hopefully we can avoid most of them. I would rather just...
See you out on the road,
Bob
As most of you already know, we had a crash on Saturday's Twisted Hammock Ride. Our good friend and fellow cyclist, Harland "Happy" Williams was seriously injured. He sustained a broken clavicle and a collapsed lung and was hospitalized for two days. This very unfortunate accident comes one week to the day on the heels of our very own David "Lawman" Carroll's crash in which he broke his arm. David's serious injury requires surgery to repair his arm. He goes in to Andrew's Institute tomorrow.
I consider both Harland and David good friends and excellent cyclists. One accident would be sad enough, both two just one week apart requires a bit more action than just being sad!
Several of you have emailed and telephoned me with your thoughts and feelings regarding our recent events. Therefore, I think it very important that something be communicated to the group as a whole expressing those concerns as well as some constructive admonitions for all. What I believe is important to avoid is any kind of finger pointing or witch hunt. Look, let's be honest, we all have been a bit to casual in regards to safety lately. It's bound to happen to any group that hasn't had a major crash in several months...it's just human nature to think that it won't happen to me. It will, it has...
Cycling is a dangerous sport. Everyone of us has gone down. It happens and it happens too frequently. However, group riding, although safer than riding alone in some respects, has a unique set of dynamics that can make it far more dangerous than riding alone. If we all recognize the hazards and are proactive in avoiding and pointing them out for others, then the benefits of group riding far outweigh the dangers. However, if we ignore or push beyond the cautions, it is only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.
Don't get me wrong, I don't believe all accidents can be avoided, but I sure want to avoid as many as possible. Therefore, when we have two serious accidents so close together, it's prudent to review a few basics of group riding:
1. BE PREDICTABLE! Every cyclist around you is depending on YOU! Make no sudden movements of any kind. Let others know if you drift up on their right or left by simply calling out that you are, "On your right" or "On your left". If you see debris in the way, make gentle, slow movements to avoid it while pointing it out for others behind you. Do not make sharp sudden moves!
2. Hold a nice straight line and a steady speed. Swerving back and forth and/or speeding up and slowing down will cause trouble for those behind you. Remember: the small action you take is exaggerated in the movements of those behind you. You swerve one foot to the right, by the time your swerve gets 4 to 5 riders back it may be 3 to 4 feet! Same with speed; don't yoyo back and forth, stay steady. If a gap opens in front of you, close it gradually.
3. Never overlap wheels. This is a certain recipe for a crash. If you lap your front wheel one inch past the rear wheel of the rider ahead of you and he swerves, you are going down, not him, and you'll probably take a few others with you. Generally, leave yourself a foot or two of space between your front wheel and his rear wheel. Nobody will bark at you for the couple of feet gap...however, they may bark if they go down with you!
4. Always leave a bit more room in corners, construction zones, railroad crossings, etc. Slow down! You're not going to get dropped. This is a group ride, not a race.
5. Please keep your equipment in good repair and well adjusted. Everyone around you is depending on you to take care of your machine. Flats happen...and an occasional dropped chain, missed shift or broken spoke. However, parts should not be falling from your bike when you hit a bump, causing others to swerve around them. I've seen many accidents caused by someone's waterbottle flailing across the road. Inspect your ride before every ride. Take the time to assure it is safe to ride. We are all depending on you!
6. Use the good sense the Lord gave you when approaching stop signs, traffic lights, etc. We all have coasted through a red light...this needs to stop before one or several of us gets hurt. I'm not talking about right turns on red here, rather the blatant running of a red light, sometimes with traffic coming! If you are the first one to come upon the traffic light and it is red, STOP. Most everyone behind you will stop as well.
7. Generally speaking, always pass another rider on the left. If you are excelerating past him, do so on the left. If you are just finishing a pull, drop to the back on the left. Of course, there are those unusual situations where we will pass on the right, such as a stiff headwind off our right shoulder. However, this will be called out ahead of time for all to note. Please don't pass on the right.
I'm absolutely sure I have missed something that is very important to you. I am really hoping that you will post a comment and express your concerns. All I am trying to do here is get us thinking on being a safer group as we ride down the road together. Let's hear from you...especially you more experienced, savvy riders with decades of miles on your derriere.
Being safe together is the chief concern of all of us. We won't avoid all the accidents, but hopefully we can avoid most of them. I would rather just...
See you out on the road,
Bob
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