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
It was great to see Vortex and Crusher riding again!
ReplyDeleteThe Leftlane pulled a few leftlane tricks towards the end causing Prentiss and Big Hoggie to get separated from the lead group; we chose to exercise a little more caution. I really don't know what to think of these leftlane antics. All I can say is be careful; leftlane antics can be dangerous, especially for those following.
Sorry Prenti, I did not mean to lead you into Harms Way. My turn onto Langley was not an antic. In my haste to yell at that crazy driver who tried to get in front of us at the Langley intersection I got hung out on the left side in the middle of the road. I was in a bad place and my best option was to roll left onto Langley. I did not use this as an “antic” to gain advantage though and just slow pedaled and waited for the group to catch up to me around ½ way down Langley.
ReplyDeleteThe Left Lane has tried to forsake the ROS (Rules of Scofflaw) but every now and then the Solo Rider Instincts take over.
Leftlane, it was a strange situation at the Langley intersection. The car was in the left turning lane wanting to get into the right turning lane, and the cyclist were in the right turning lane wanting to get into the left turning lane, plus cyclists coming up from behind. Then all the traffic coming both directions on Langley. Judgment calls had to be made. I may not agree with your choice, but you did what you thought was right at the time, at least for you and the situation you found yourself in at that present time.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of my comment is more poking fun. From my view from the rear it appeared that you were trying to get a gap and hope others behind would catch a light. Maybe, maybe not...
BTW, I have noticed that you are trying to forsake the ROS, but sometimes old habits come back like your Solo Rider Instinct.