This Saturday we are scheduled to do one of our favorite routes, the Twisted Lillian Loop. However, upon checking the weather forecast about a half dozen times over the last 24 hours, looks like we need to change direction. The forecast calls for an increasingly stiff breeze out of the eastsoutheast as the morning progresses. This would in fact, cause us to endure quite a harsh headwind on the way back from Lillian. Therefore, after much discussion, we have decided to do a route that we missed a few weeks ago because of the wind out of the northwest...yes, cycling fans, we are doing the group fave, Soundside Loop!
The start time, location and pace will be the same, just the route and mileage changes. The Soundside route is about 45 miles. If you start in Gulf Breeze at the south end of 3 Mile Bridge, it's less than 40 miles. Plus, we will enjoy a lovely Tailwind Express all the way home. Come on somebody, you got to love that! If you select the Gulf Breeze start location, please be ready to roll at 7:20am.
And speaking of wind...that was one windy WERAD last Wednesday evening. I checked the weather report and it was blowing 25mph out of the south at start time. It was fantastic as we headed north and even around the airport and the Crit Loop. But, once we started back, it stood you right up.
The pace was civil despite the breezy conditions. There were a few strong surges on Fairchild and Burgess, but nothing to, uh...write home about. Once back on Langley for the final pass, The Count takes on the responsiblity of showing us all how to execute a proper Suicide Pull. Which he did in excellent form. As he led the group around the right hander which is Spanish Trail, he gave up the ghost and the Elder Half of the Prenti (EHOP) took charge. I think the wind had taken it's due out of Prentiss as he soon relinquished control to The Vortex who pulled up the hill into that nasty headwind and onto Maygarden itself.
No sooner had the struggling riders made the turn, then Twin Six launches an absolutely vicious attack that left all except Hurt Locker gasping for some turbo charged air into the carburetors. The 2 banditos soon had accumulated a lead of 200 meters through the S curves as the rest of the peloton was gassed from doing pulls into that gale. The developing chase group started to pick up momentum as they reached the S curves with The Kat and Vortex making a serious effort to bring the 2 amigos back in the fold.
With 1 kilometer to go The Kat could help no more and was jettisoned off the wheel of the suffering Vortex, who was determined to spoil the party for the 2 celebrators, now less than 100 meters in front of him. With 500 meters to go, Twin Six and Hurt Locker had agreed to a drag race for tonight's windy WERAD prize. At 200 meters they were side by side, (mano-o-mano) unawares of the fast closing Vortex who was suffering like a unicyclist in a headwind.
At 100 meters the drag race began with Twin Six quickly getting the jump on what appeared to be a spent Hurt Locker. The Vortex, was still hopeful of the podium as he charged after the 2 who just started to wind it up. With 50 meters left, it was all over...Twin Six crossed first, with Hurt Locker getting the silver and the crowd favorite Vortex coming in third looking more like a volcano than a bike rider. Absolutely fantastic ride...even with less than perfect conditions! Congrats to Dave "Twin Six" Murphy!
Big Pull Bull (BPB) Award goes out to Count Fishbone for his monster pull on Langley. The Count's award actually has gold gilding as his monster pull was of the suicide pull variety...a much more respected pull than the generic BPB. Congrats to Istvan "Count Fishbone" Peperancz. He also accomplished the very rare double combining his Suicide Pull with the infamous Istvan Eschelon! Amazing!
Great ride with more to come this weekend! Don't miss out on one minute of the peloton antics. Come on out tomorrow for the Soundside Loop. Word on the street has it that a few of the group may even continue on Around the Sound...Tailwind Express on the beach road. Oh yeah baby, it's the only way to fly!!!
See you out on the road,
Bob
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