The 3 Amigos And A Reverse Johnson

That was a fantastic weekend of riding! Sure we had a bit of fog early, but once it burned off, it was just about perfect riding weather. Several of the riders were lamenting the fact they were sweating on our rides...and it is January! However, might I remind us all of just a year ago when the temps were much cooler and wetter! Besides, I know a few of our northern brethren who would absolutely love to be sweating this time of year. Anybody ever ridden through a Great Lakes winter?

Well, Saturday saw the cast of unusual characters (COUCs. Pronouced: kooks) heading out on the (almost) group fave; 3 Amigos Loop. The skies were a bit foggy to match the mind of the Left Lane as he jumped out in front cruising through the first of many traffic lights of the rojo hue. (Uh...that's Spanish for those of you less fortunate than my bilingual self. It means: Red. Frankly, I'm not sure I would follow him into a McDonalds.) However, just as the pace settled in with the group all together on Johnson the Prenti (EHOP) flats. After the pause that refreshes, we were all back together all the way across Detroit and down 8 1/2 Mile Creek Road. (I wonder who named that road?)

Anyway, the group disintegrated a bit along Blue Angel Parkway with the big guns pushing the pace up front into what was now a pretty stiff headwind. With carnage aplenty, everyone regrouped at the right hander that is the Lillian Hwy. (Except for Danamal and Happy who pressed on alone on Blue Angel.) The pace was moderate along Lillian Hwy and down Dog Track to our much needed rest stop. The group was in fine spirits as we filled the tanks, emptied the radiators and told stories. With the festivities over it was back to the business of the day...fighting the headwind until we make the turn for home on Gulf Beach Hwy.

Gianni Bugno, Left Lane and Big Motor had the bit between the teeth as we enjoyed the first fruits of our much deserved Tailwind Express on Gulf Beach Hwy. They were cruising along in the low 20s just 75 meters ahead of the bunch when, Katie Bar The Door...here comes Retro with head down, charging like he was late for dinner! "Who let the dogs out?!" He hauls several of the bunch up to the 3 Amigos, passing them with a smile at 30mph! It was a hammerfest all the way to Fairfield and then the much needed truce among the combatants ensued. However, for just a kilometer or so, as the frisky Left Lane and then the cheeky Vortex launched equally vicious attacks toward the paramount prize of the day, the infamous Fried Twinkie Sprint!

The group would have no more of these futile attacks, reeling the two bandits, with the help of a very fit looking Destry "LeBrun James" and the Danamal (who must have bought a fresh pair of legs) like a mullet on a line. However, just as the group was all back together, that feisty Left Lane chose to counter-attack just before the road turned to gravel. The rest of the bunch decided to turn off the gas thinking a face full of (imaginary) Fried Twinkie was not worth a face full of very real gravel. Congrats to the Left Lane for his savvy victory!

Great ride on a winter day! This rider had 48 miles as I pulled into my garage.

Sunday saw the COUCs back at it on the Reverse Johnson (didn't even hurt) Loop. Strange name for a route but consider the source: Prenti (EHOP) and Left Lane. Need we say more?! We had a couple of new (old) faces in the peloton for this delightful afternoon. Yes, cycling fans, the little crusty climbing curmudgeon was out, looking quite fit for this time of year. Usually Triple C is hibernating on the sofa in his family room or downtown at Krispy Kreme this time of year. However, it was great to see the little fodderer in the group. The Blogulator always has plenty of fodder for blogulating whenever the master fodderer (MF) is within the peloton. I just love this guy!

Not to dwell on the deepest pile of fodder only. There were, in fact others on the ride, including our new friend Ray Groves. (That's Groves, not Graves. However, it was determined that our ancestors were relatives living next door to one another in an orchard and a cemetery. Guessed who lived where?) Anyway, apparently Ray has been around cycling for a long time. Strong rider and has a good sense of humor...a must for riding with the COUCs! Welcome Ray Gun!

Well, no sooner had we started down the road then this blogulator knew he would have fodder aplenty. The first sprint saw Left Lane, EHOP, Gianni, Nestordamus and Coolio (Triple C) going at it. The Vortex, Ray Gun and Trish "The Kat" Kuhnell decided to watch this from the sidelines. Try as he would, Triple C couldn't beat Left Lane for the honors. However, it soon became evident that the little crusty one was actually using the sprint to launch his attack for the top of the bridge honors. He, in fact, had a substantial lead as the group made the turn to get onto the beast itself. Coolio's lead appeared unassailable, but with 50 meters to go to the prize, Nestordamus blows by him like a fly passing up manure! The fans were going wild! It was all in good fun of course...but it was funny too!

We cruised on down to a rest stop at the end of Palafox with the group enjoying each others company. What a beautiful setting on a Sunday afternoon. After the pause that refreshes, the abbreviated peloton headed for home...with a quick stop for some lemonade being sold by a group of kiddos by the side of the road. (It was much more lemon than it was ade! Can you say pucker up?!)

See you out on the road,
Bob