It's Closer Than You Think

Believe it or not, it is only 10 weeks until the time change and we are riding the WERAD on Wednesday evenings once again! It's hard to understand how time just flies along. In just a little over 2 days we will say good-bye to 2011 and hello to what will no doubt be a fantastic new year...2012!!! Before you know it we'll be back out on the road under the warm Florida sunshine riding with the cast of unusual characters on loops like The Twisted Hammock, All The Way Around The Bay and The Three Amigos...just to mention a few. Yes, pain and suffering is just around the corner!

In fact, the Rides Calendar has been updated all the way to Time Change Sunday in March! We have scheduled several of the all time group favorite loops along the way. When you have a few minutes, take a peek at the ride parade this Spring. And don't forget the New Year's Resolution Ride on the first Saturday in January. That's right, it's the Around The Bay Ride! It's 65 miles of romping, stomping fun that will make you want to stick to all those new year's resolutions! (Or give up cycling altogether!)

And speaking of rides...we still have a few left on this Holiday Rides Schedule. Tomorrow morning we will be doing a new little loop (25 to 30 miles) called the Twisted Figure 8. Saturday we're heading down to Perdido Key or Innerarity Point. Sunday we have our usual jaunt around town and Monday we have a brand new route called the Starbucks Loop! What a great way to finish the old year and start the New Year...(hot Starbucks I mean!), especially since the weather forecast is calling for cold temperatures on Monday. If you need details, just check out the Rides Calendar.

Well, how about some Left Lane commentary?! He sent this in a couple day ago and is as fresh as if he sent it in today...uh, whaaat? Never mind. Heeeere's Left Lane:

We had a great ride Saturday out to UWF & Screaming Hills. Riders were Danimal, Bugno, Nestordamus, Prenti, The Bad Mayo, Doug, Nate, The Left Lane, and making a guest appearance John Fricke who moved to Tallahassee this year and was visiting P’cola over the holidays. Also joining the F&S Peloton for the first time was Omar who has recently relocated to Pensacola from Miami. Omar was driving by last Saturday as Bugno, Hoagie and the Left Lane were enjoying refreshments after the ride. He came out and joined Left Lane & Bugno the next day for the romp down to Innerarity Point with the Wheelmen.

We headed out Spanish Trail with Doug doing the early work and then out to Johnson where Danimal put down one of his usual hammerfests and into the Industrial park into the wind softening up the peloton before we headed to UWF. Left Lane Led the Group into UWF with Nestor & Omar going by at the first light and making the wrong turn again to the right instead of going straight. Even though Mayo had discussed doing the “whole” ride through UWF before we started. Anyway, we slammed it through UWF with Dana & Left Lane leading the way and along comes Nate enjoying the hills and shocked because he thought we avoided hills at all costs!! Nah we do some hills sometimes. A few of the hearty rode past the art center and did the steep downhill and then the climb out (No Retro to lead the group on the sidewalk route!!). As usual I avoided the last up and down section and headed for the break at the water tower where we all regrouped.

After regrouping, Left Lane led the group on the next leg to and through Scenic Hills. We headed out 10 ½ Mile road and took our break at the Circle K on Guidy Lane. We had thoughts about lengthening the ride but several had to be home early so the group stayed together and headed home out to Airway and then back on Johnson Avenue.

As we headed through the neighborhood toward the Langley Maygarden loop Danimal was filling in Omar on the upcoming sprint and tactics on Maygarden. Ah, but two of the seasoned veterans (non sprinters) of the peloton had some different ideas about what the outcome of the “Sprint” would be today. As we cruised down Maygarden, The Bad Mayo went to the front and built up around a 100 yard gap with only Prenti grabbing his wheel. I was next back with Johnny Bugno and then the rest of the peloton back another 30 yards or so. With favorable wind conditions coming up when we would turn onto Spanish, I started thinking breakaway and put it down to catch up with the Prenti and Mayo. When I caught up around 300 yards from Spanish, I asked Prentis if he could see how far back the peloton was in his rear view mirror and when he said “a block” I asked him if we was up for a little two man breakaway. He was somewhat skeptical but immediately jumped up to do the first pull as we slammed it toward Spanish Trail. We almost got buggered up at the turn by a vehicle but only had to scrub of a little of our speed as we took the turn.

Prenti and I hammered it up Spanish and then onto Maygarden trading short pulls and keeping it in the 22-25 mph range for the most part. By the time we passed the Air Terminal and headed for the Ess turn the “Stunned” Peloton was no where in sight behind us. We pushed it hard until around 300 yards from the finish and then sat up and cruised in for 2 man team victory!! Nestor, Danimal and newcomer Omar rolled in next after they just barely overtook Bugno who had soloed valiantly the whole way and almost took 3^rd.

We discussed the planned upcoming Monday Ride and then headed down Scenic Highway with the tailwind express. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating Monday morning though and I am not sure if anyone rode that day. Mayo had called me around 7:15 to try and schedule a later ride but morning was my only opportunity to ride having plans to make Gumbo in preparation to watch the Saints clinch the Division and break some records Monday evening. So this WHO DAT rode the couch Monday instead of the bike.

Till Next Time

The Left Lane

Ah yes, a view from the Left Lane. Thanks buddy! Come on out everyone for the last few rides of 2011 and the first few rides of 2012! See you then and...

See you out on the road,
Bob

Impromptu Ride Today!

Meet this afternoon at 3 pm at Firestone and Summit for an easy to moderately paced ride of about 25 miles on the Twisted Figure 8 Loop. This day before Christmas Eve ride will be no hammerfest but will have all the social lures that a pre-holiday ride is accustomed to having. (sorry, Left Lane no eggnog). We scheduled this ride after being notified that most, if not all of the peloton had off from work today in celebration of the Christmas holiday. So come on out and get a head start on our Holiday Riding Schedule! (Please see Rides Calendar)

Also, as you are perusing our vast array of rides between Christmas and New Years don't forget to check out our new store...not! (Just checking to see if you're asleep) Check out the ride for tomorrow morning; we're doing the UWF/Scenic Hills Loop...with a stop at Starbucks! This 35 miler will serve as more of a celebration ride than a hammerfest. Weather forecast looks good, with a bit of a chill in the air. 'Tis the season!

See you this afternoon, in the morning and by the way, Merry Christmas!!!
Bob

A Long Road Back To Fitness

It was absolutely fantastic being out on a ride today with the goof balls we call the Firestone and Summit peloton. However, after just a few miles I knew it would be a long road back to fitness for this beat up old rider. Can't wait to be able to hammer again...not this day! Left Lane has once again detailed today's ride and has requested a mass email be sent out to see if there is any interest in riding with our Wheelmen brethren tomorrow morning.

So here tis in his own words:

The View From The Left Lane

Saturday 12-17-11 Ride

As I rolled up to Firestone & Summit, I was afraid that the large anticipated turnout to welcome the Vortex & Crusher back to the Peloton was not going to happen. I was a few minutes early but no one else was there. Sure the weather was not looking that great but this was the highly anticipated return of the two big Clydesdale Pillars of the Peloton for so many years. I did pass The Big Hoagie as he parked his truck at his sisters on Firestone so there was some hope of a good turnout.

Parking at F&S I waited and then one after another the regulars started rolling in. Showing up were Danimal, Johnny Bugno, Happy Harlan, Nestordamus, Prentis, Retro Dave, Bad Mayonnaise, The Left Lane. And returning to the peloton after long absences were the afore mentioned Big Hoagie, Mr. Dave 4 Green (we have at least 5 Daves that ride with us so at one time I assigned them numbers), The Nathan Bomb, Nate, Robert, Randy Riche (I guess putting his name in the Blog last week prodded him to return..or maybe he just got lost on his way to Beulah!!) and of course The Vortex & Crusher (on a borrowed bike) as he awaits delivery of a sparkling new Durace Madone that is on order.

So The Vortex & Crusher were back and the Local Cycling Universe felt like it was back in balance!! We rolled off and pretty much noodled as we headed toward the Pine Forest Loop. Fox quickly flatted on Langley and with the help of Left Lane & Dave 4 we got him back together and headed on. Left Lane took the Fried Oreo Sprint (I had to chase this one cause once Crusher is back in form he usually takes this one) and we cruised on toward Montclair and the blast down Massachusetts Avenue.

With Left Lane & Johnny Bugno leading the group into Montclair we got lost…Go Figure!!. This was also the last time we saw The Vortex and Crusher Fox who is waiting for his wife to drop a little Fox and along with it being the first ride back did not want to get too far from home. Great to have the Cyldesdales back even if only for a few miles. Big Hoagie brought up a map on his fancy trip computer and helped guide us out to Massachusetts.

Great Ride down Massachusetts and then out to Mobile Highway as we headed for Pine Forest. Dana, Randy, Happy, Left Lane, Hoagie, and Prentis separated out front as we hit the stretch paralleling the interstate where the hammerfest began in earnest toward the day’s first sprint with Happy pulling and then Dana. As we neared the slight uphill before the sprint, Left Lane broke to the front and opened up a pretty good gap but had the pesky Randy Riche stuck to his wheel. As usual I ran out of gas a little too soon and Randy went by and then Happy who I believe arrived at the break first ahead of Randy who I think was sitting up just easing in.

At the break the group of 14 riders were still all together and we had a great ride home with the usual share of antics. The final sprint and Braggin Rites on Maygarden went to Retro Dave again who broke away from the lead group of Dana, Nestor, Happy, & Left Lane. Retro man with the wind at his back built up too much gap for the rest to reel him back in. Nestor, Dana, were next a few yards back with Happy and Left Lane next. Fantastic Ride.

Hoagie & Bugno and I retired to the Thom Thumb for the usual adult beverages and the help came out and ran us off for “drinking on the property”. Oh well back over to Maygarden where we discussed that the ride felt kind of short and that we should maybe do it again Sunday morning so as to not miss the Saints game and then at 3 tomorrow the most highly anticipated game of the year the Denver Tebows against New England. Us Gator fans will be pulling for another miracle but smart money says that NE blows the Broncos out….but it will be fun to watch. So we plan to join the Weelmen ride tomorrow from Bagleheads at 8:00AM for their ride of the Innerarity /Perdido Key Loop. So anyone who needs another 50 miles come on out and join us tomorrow morning.

Til Next Time

The Left Lane

Thanks once again Left Lane! I hope we have a good showing tomorrow morning for the Innerarity Route. If you are wanting to ride, meet everyone at the Bagel Heads on Gregory at 8am. Looks like good weather for a ride!

See you out on the road,
Bob

Left Lane's Lament

Well, this weekend's weather forecast is sure looking a lot better than last weekend! According to our own Left Lane, as you'll read in a minute, the cold temps drove everyone indoors and on the sofas for some Reverse Aerobics. (For those of you who are unfamiliar with this term, it is defined by a face down semi comatose state with a diet of much fat laden foods like donuts. If you google the definition you find a photo of "you know who" all laid out in his recliner with a chocolate glaze residue down the front of his little shirt. It's a picture of the opposite of fitness!) I'm sure many of you did not partake in the Reverse Aerobics ritual, but I think more did than would admit it.

So, here is poor Left Lane, showing up for yet another ride on a chilly morning. (The boy is a trooper.) He is lamenting the fact that he is the only one brave (crazy) enough to ride in the cold. Hang in there Left Lane, the Holiday Riding Schedule as well as warmer temps are just around the corner...Crusher and Vortex return too! And wait until you see Crusher's new custom machine! Giddy up...

Here is Left Lane's report in his own words:

Well let me see if I can list all the riders on this Saturday’s ride. There was ahhhhh… Oh yeah, Happy Harlan, The Left Lane andddddddd……..wait a minute, that’s it. I guess the prognostications of bad/cold weather scared everyone else off. As I was getting my full diaper suit on and about to head out the door to ride down to Fish & Wildlife I got a call from Bad Mayonaisse saying he and Retro had decided to wait another hour or so to go for their ride. I was suited up though and ready to go and did not want to wait any longer. Plus I have been riding in the mornings before work down to 35 degree weather so this morning seemed absolutely BALMY to me.

Got down to F&W and only Happy was there waiting. We waited around 10 minutes for any stragglers ..with none showing so the two oldest (in the absence of a certain Sugar Coated doughnut eating CCC) and heartiest riders in the peloton headed out. As we waited we had considered routes other than the Soundside Loop which would have had us riding back over the bridge into a serious headwind. We quickly came up with an alternative and did a Reverse Manzier Loop out 12^th Avenue then Davis over the viaduct etc out to old Palafox. At this point we figured a route to basically do the Pine Forrest Loop eventually coming back on Johnson Avenue.

Once we got going and got warmed up the weather was windy but really not bad at all. Happy and I traded off the pulls in the 2 man mode and had a fantastic ride. No noodling here. The 2 man mode really gives you a great workout. We ended with around 33 miles by the time we finished at Maygarden and Summit at an average speed of around 17.4 which was pretty sporty considering the conditions. As for Braggin Rites for the week…as Harlan was doing the last pull up through the Ess Turn after the Air Terminal the Left Lane pulled up alongside him trying to have a Team LeMans style finish (A Tie!!). But I guess boys will be boys and Happy stepped on it as we got around 150 yards from the finish line…Left Lane stepped on it in response and barely edged out the Harlinator in a photo finish!!!

We said our goodbyes as Harlan headed up Spanish Trail and I toward Scenic Highway. As luck would have it the best tailwind express of the day pushed me home down Scenic Highway clipping along in the 23-27 mph range. What a great way to end the ride.

I am still kind of surprised at the lack of turnout. Heck we have been riding in much worse wind/weather conditions over the past couple of months. Come ON everyone…basically only one chance to ride as a group each week!!! OK I will get off my SoapBox for now.

We did have some citings during our ride. As Happy and I were crossing 9mile road at Chemstrand a contingent of cyclists around 10-12 strong passed by. Also as I was heading down Summit to Scenic on the way home I passed by Randy Riche out on his morning run. Haven’t had Randy in the peloton for a while…must be training for some big marathon or something.

Until next time,

The Left Lane

Don't fret El Left Lane, (uh...that's Spanish for those of you less fortunate than my bilingual self), I'm sure with this warming trend, there will be a huge peloton this Saturday for the group fave Pine Forest Loop! This 45 miler has one rest stop at either the Raceway or Starbucks depending on how the group is feeling. We start at 8am from Firestone and Summit. The pace will be moderate so come on out and enjoy a ride on the Firestone and Summit Express! (FASE) Dadgum acronyms, I just can't get them out of my head!

See you out on the road, (Oh yeah baby, I'm back! Crusher too!)
Bob

Ride Schedule Change: START TIME ONLY

We have decided to delay the start time for tomorrow morning's Soundside Route ride one hour to 9am. We will still meet at Fish and Wildlife for the start location.

The only change to this ride is the start time which is postponed to 9am instead of 8am! This change was made because of the cold temperatures forecast for tomorrow morning. Hopefully by 9am the temps will be closer to 50 degrees.

Stay warm out there and have fun!

I will soon...

See you out on the road,
Bob

Chilly Saturday, Hot Tamale...

Hey man, it looks to be a cold ride Saturday morning. I'm sure there will be a few (fool) hardy souls come out for the Soundside Route. It starts from Fish and Wildlife at 8am. However, stay tuned for further notice because the start time will most likely be delayed an hour to allow the weather to warm a bit. Frankly, Sunday afternoon's ride looks to be more conducive to riding.

Give one or both a go this weekend. At least your getting an advantage on the sidelined Crusher, Vortex and Circle K...all laid up with injuries awaiting healing. (Sheila back in the peloton yet?) We've had quite the Injured Reserve List this Fall. Hopefully the rest of the Winter and coming New Year will be much health to all...and to all a good night.

Anyway, for those who were unable to make the ride last Saturday, the ever loquacious Left Lane has been yet again gracious to offer his unique perspective from the, uh...Left Lane.

Here's his report:

Great weather other than being a little bit windy for one of the Group Favorite Loops - Hurst Hammock. Around 50 degrees at the start and getting up into the mid 60's as we completed our ride.

Riding were: Bugno, Danimal, Happy Harlan, Nestordamus, Retro Dave (showing no signs of the prior week wreck on a new rear wheel built up for him by the boys at Cycle Sports), David (The Bad Mayonnaise) Mayo, The Left lane, Doug, and returning after some absence were peloton favorites, Count Fishbone and Prenti The Older as well as Peter, and Don (who rode with the group for only a few miles).

As usual the Hammock Loop never disappoints. This ride has so many legs/turns, etc., it's hard to remember everything to put in the blogazoidal. Plus this commentator put in probably over 20 solo miles during the ride as the peloton is continually broken up and regrouped during the ride and as my legs turned to Mush somewhere on the Detroit Blvd homeward stint.

We had a great ride out through Beulah with most of the group staying together. We regrouped at the school at the turn off Mobile Highway and we headed for the Hammock. The 3.5mile ride into the Hammock is always fun especially if the wind is favorable. Happy led the peloton into the Hammock and then Doug taking over the pull. We were cruising in the mid 20's for the first couple of miles but as we were approaching the Sprint for the Hammock sign we were in a double paceline with the speed slowing down to the lower 20's and it just did not "feel" right to the Left Lane. So I jumped out and kicked the pace back up over 25 with around 3/4 mile (I think) left. I can never tell how far the end is on this ride and I remember my first ride into the Hammock when I asked The Vortex how far the end was and he told me "one more turn" so I put down the hammer only to find there were around 3 more turns...tricked by the Wylie Vortex as my legs gave up and the peloton went screaming by to the finish!!

I had no delusions of taking the sprint this day (too much horsepower in the peloton) but just felt like pushing it as hard as I could for as long as I could. Around 500 yards from the finish Bugno, Retro Dave, and Peter went around, with the other contenders blocked out by the double paceline, and the real sprint for the sign began. Bugno who like the Left Lane could not judge how far the end was, ran out of gas just before the finish with Retro Dave taking the Sprint and Peter on his wheel. "Braggin Rites" for the week go to the Retro man!!

Peloton broke up somewhat on the climb out of the Hammock with Dana & Harlan being the first to escape the Hammock alive!! The group filtered into the break upon which Left Lane got a phone call from Bugno about "someone broke his chain" on the way to the break. When I told the group that we had to wait up because Bugno called and that someone had broken his chain there was much confusion from Dave and Nestor wondering how "someone else" could have broken Bugno's chain. I had to explain that Bugno had said someone else had broken their chain!! Now I will cut Nestor a little slack seeing as to how English is his second language but Dave??? I think they were just pickin on the Left Lane. Shortly the stragglers rolled into the break with Peter having a crescent shaped (1/2 of his small chain ring) hunk of metal hanging from his bike bag. Apparently the screws were loose holding the chain rings together leading to total failure. He was able to continue though with just the large front chainring operational.

At this time the peloton broke into two groups, one going the long way and the other an appx 4 mile shorter course. I took the long route along with Danimal, Happy, Nestor, Bugno & Prenti who got a late start from the break but caught up later only to fall off again as the lead group hammered on. This adventurous group had an interesting ride as we chose to ignore a bridge out detour sign and continued on our normal route. As we headed down a hill toward the bridge over a small creek we braked abruptly as we saw that the bridge really was out. Well, we dismounted and considered portage. Portage was possible but we had to be careful as we meandered through the minefield of a broken bridge with several holes in it with a view straight down to the water and tangles of rebar trying to trip us up in our already difficult to walk in bike shoes. With gators nipping at our feet and Left Lane wanting to stop and catch the fish he saw down in the water the group made it safely across to continue the ride.

We hammered on with Nestor doing a mini breakaway and Dana, Bugno & Harlan doing pulls to reel him back in. Just when we caught up and I thought it was slow down time, Happy went to the front for more hammering and the Left Lane cracked off the back. Oh well, another 3 or 4 solo miles into the wind to our stop at Pine Forrest where we regrouped with the short ride group.

The group headed down Pine Forest to Detroit Blvd where we headed for home. By the time we crossed Highway 29 my legs were toast and I toyed with the idea of heading home solo on old Palafox to East Hill. Bad Mayo told me I was getting soft and convinced me to roll on with the group. We headed to Johnson with Danimal & Harlan breaking away and then the rest of us in a couple of groups. By the time we got to Cody Lane, I was done though and took the right to Olive Road as the group went left to Johnson on the longer route.

I passed the second group on Olive as they were coming out on SixPence. This group, including the DAVE's, headed home down 12 Avenue and were never seen again. I continued on and caught sight of the lead group (other than Dana who was long gone on breakaway with Harlan) of Nestor, Bugno, Prenti, et al as they turned onto Langley but could not catch up. As I rolled to a stop at Maygarden & Summit my man Johnny Bugno was just walking over to the Circle K for After Ride Adult Beverages.

Rumor has it that Danimal was first in with Nestor next, winning the group sprint going away. Way to go Dana & Nestor. Me, I was just happy to finish!! A couple of Yuenglings though, and I was good to go for the 4 miles home to East Hill. I rolled in from this grueling ride around 12:00 with around 62 miles total. Man I hope our next ride we have the wind with us on the way home!!

Worn out from the Saturday ride, and having many chores to do at home, I was not able to join the Sunday afternoon group ride (if there was one). If there was one, someone else will have to Blogazoidal to Bob.

Till Next Saturday....

The Left Lane

Thanks again Left Lane for your help with these blogifications until the regular blogifier is back on the Blogazoidal doing his own blogifying! But, until then he probably won't...

See you out on the road,
Bob