A View From The Left Lane

In an effort to keep you up to date with the local peloton antics the Left Lane has sent in his own unique perspective. I'm sure he as well as some others will keep you informed as to the cast of unusual characters that are the Firestone and Summit peloton. Here is his latest submittal for your literary enjoyment:

Saturday Morning Ride Report

Boy it was chilly at the start of the Saturday morning ride. As we queued up for the start at Fish & Wildlife, I was regretting that I had not worn long sleeves and some toasty toes. Of course I only had to ride down 17^th Avenue from my house so I had not had a chance to warm up at all.

Usual suspects were Bugno, Dana, Chris, Happy, Nestor, Paul, The Left Lane, Josh, Bad Mayo, Retro Dave, and a couple of the Bikes Plus guys. The start was crazy…Happy Harlan was on a limited time frame so as we waited to get everyone ready he took off on his own. Well a few minutes later we thought everyone was ready but I think the Bikes Plus guys may of still been wrestling to fix a flat, but the boys were all chomping at the bit and out of the chute so there was no slowing down!! Except Mayo who went over to see if the BP guys were ready.

Well the pace off the bat was quickly up over 20mph and we slammed through 9^th Avenue and down town with out having to stop at any lights. I talked to Bad Mayo later that night and having started slowly he got caught at a light and was never seen again. He went on the normal Lillian route for a way and had a nice solitary ride. The BP boys were not ready either so they missed the ride as well.

As we crossed Palafox, I could see Harlan up ahead around 1/3 of a mile or so and the boys at the front were pulling the peloton in hot pursuit and chased Harlan even though he deviated from the normal turn up to Jackson Street. So we went all the way to Pace with the peloton getting close to Happy. I was next to last with Bugno as we neared Pace and saw that Happy had turned left to Navy Blvd rather than going up to Jackson. I briefly discussed with Johnny turning up to Jackson but at the last second figured I would never see the peloton again if I went that way so I headed to Navy as well around 200 yards back from the lead as they caught Happy turning right onto Navy. Never saw Johnny Bugno again. Not sure if he headed up to Jackson or followed me and fell off or what.

So the peloton was quickly thinned out and we were on a Hammerfest heading down Navy Blvd before turning left to Highway 98 and then up 98 for a straight shot to Lillian. We smoked it all the way out to Lillian and our average speed was between 20 and 21mph. Retro Dave bolted to the front of the peloton and led the charge up the Lillian Bridge. As usual the hill challenged Left Lane started falling back on the way up but maintained a reasonable pace and grabbed Dana’s wheel as he came around about 60 yards back from the lead. With the Left Lane cresting the hill not too far back and always believing that a downhill with the wind is a “terrible thing to waste”, slammed the big gear and starting reeling in the front runners on the way down and just barely nipped Retro Dave who was easing up at the Alabama sign. The Left Lane was accused of a Quasi-pseudo-Bob-esque win. Well when you learn at the Wheel of the Master of the Unannounced Sprint……..what can I say!!! Certain traditions must be maintained in the absence of the injured!!! Crazy pace though and the fastest I had ever gone clear across town to Lillian Alabama. When we stopped it seemed like we weren’t even completely warmed up yet!!

The rest of the ride was fantastic with the weather warming up and Retro Dave and Dana doing some monster pulls as usual. But the fun was over as we reached Gulf Beach Highway and it was time for the PAIN part of the ride….heading home the last 15 miles or so directly into the wind. Thank goodness Dana loves the pain….The Danamil put his head down and went to the front and never gave up the pull all the way straight down GB Hwy (no Fried Twinkie today) to the Barancas Bridge maintaining a pace into the wind of 18-19mph the entire way. By this time it was Dana, Chris, Nestor & Left Lane in the lead group.

At the foot of the Barancas Bridge my story ends….you know …the hill challenged thing!! Lost too much ground going up to recoup going down and last saw the boys heading down Main Street as the Left Lane went straight toward Garden Street for the solitary ride home the last few miles. Man was I toasted, and cruised home the last miles at around 15mph or so into the wind and ended up home before 11:00 with around 54 miles at an average of 18.5mph.

Great workout!!! With time change, this week I plan to go on the Dawn Patrol at least two mornings a week (as the wind, rain and cold permit) leaving my home in East Hill at 5:30 AM and doing a variation of the Figure Eight for around 22 miles and getting home around 7:00 to get ready for work. Boy I hate the end of riding season!!

Sorry to the guys we lost at the beginning of the ride. Need to have a more organized start next time!

Thanks Left Lane. I'm looking forward to rejoining the group as soon as possible. If not for the exercise and camaraderie, then at least for the Blog fodder! I mean, come on, I can't just make stuff up, right?!

Probably not soon, but I hope to...

See you out on the road,
Bob