Fruit Flies and A Fried Forest

The chilly but sunny ride this past Saturday was one of the most enjoyable winter rides this rider has ridden in quite some time. The temp was hovering around the low 40s at start time, but that didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the chosen few. The group, though smaller than normal for a Saturday, was hearty and appeared quite game for the day's proceedings. The pace was civil as this Band of Bozos (BOBs) headed out for the modified Pine Forest Loop.

In fact, this rider has seen more combative attitude from the lovely Mrs Graves as she battles the pesky little fruit flies in her kitchen at the palatial Graves Estate. With insect spray in hand she runs around barking out, "Reveal thyself you wretched bugs!" chasing the little pests around the "no fly zone" that is her kitchen. Perhaps several of you that partake of a more healthy diet including fresh fruits have had a similar problem with these near microscopic flying vermin. When I mentioned this problem to the group the other day, several expressed that they had a similar battle. Left Lane just said, "Yeah, I got those beer flies."

I have no idea how they got into the lovely Mrs Graves' kitchen. However, I envision the tiny creatures hanging out at the bottom of the fruit shelf in the produce section at the local market, awaiting a ride home on a melon by some unsuspecting shopper with a kind face...like the lovely Mrs Graves. (Reminds me of several riders I know who, when seeing Don "The Devastator" Davis pass them in the paceline heading to the front, jump on his wheel like fruit flies on a melon. Sorry about the melon metaphor Don.) I digress...

Perhaps we should hear from the Left Lane on his unique perspective of Saturday's romp on the roads to Pine Forest before this blogulation goes any further south. (Hey, how come it's always south? Why isn't it before this heads any further east or north? Northeast?! Hmmm...that one could stick.) Here's the view from the Left Lane:

Well the turnout was kind of disappointing for such a beautiful Saturday morning in January. Yes maybe a little colder than it has been lately, but still for this time of year….Come On!!! Temperature was around 44 degrees at the start but minimal wind it was really a perfect day for a ride. The hearty few that showed up were Vortex, Crusher, One Princess (don’t ask)Prenti , Johnny Bugno, Nestordamus, and the Left Lane. As we queued up for the start the group opted for a version of the Pine Forest Loop rather than the scheduled around the sound circuit.

Without some of the usual hammerheads (who will remain nameless) it looked like it was going to be a fairly easy paced ride today which was fine with me after last week’s around the bay loop. We headed out taking the Jackson St trek and heading toward the Pine Forest Loop and a stop a Starbucks. Few antics and a very nice pace as we headed to the hammerfest of the route alongside the interstate where the pace finally kicked up a notch with Nestor doing a nice pull and then Foxinator going to the front with the hammer down to “soften up” the peloton, and then Johnny Bugno doing the leadout for the last 500 yards or so with Left Lane on his wheel . I had assumed someone was behind me ready to pass Johnny and me but when I looked back no one was there. I was going to let Johnny have the sprint points but when I thought that Hmmmm Left Lane had never taken this prize having led out too early several times but this time JB was too early and Left Lane easily passed him and took the sprint points!!

We cruised up PF with Nestor and the Left Lane leading the way to the break at Starbucks. A perfect day for a break at SB’s where most of the riders had normal coffees but Nestordamus was having High Test…a Triple Tall Latte and predicting the future that this special brew would spell the difference on the final sprint on the Langley Maygarden Loop!!

We had a great break and discussed the upcoming spring season and considering monthly time trials, a cross Florida ride and other issues. Ahh, eventually we had to remount our machines and ride on. We had a nice ride in on the 10 ½ mile / River Gardens route.

We cruised on up Johnson with Left Lane toying with a breakaway as he led the group up ninth avenue but the lights were not friendly this day and the group was together as we reached the Langley Maygarden Loop. Left Lane led the group down Langley with Nestor taking over the pull on Maygarden and the lead group including Bugno, Left Lane and Prentis and the Vortex and Crusher still not going for sprint points. Nestor pulled us to the turn at the air terminal and then Left Lane took over the pull through the Ess turn where Johnny Bugno took over the pull. Well Nestordamus who had been keeping his powder dry (as the Triple Latte charged his batteries) all day then jumped out to try a break and JB chased valiantly but could not grab the wheel of the Argentine Cruise Missile who rolled into an easy win and this week’s Braggin Rights .

Thanks Left Lane for yet another unique commentary...and this time from first place across the line at the Fried Forest Sprint! You should have treated everyone at Starbucks! I mean, this may be a once in a life time event, we should have celebrated! Oh well, you can treat next time. (Just a heads up for everyone, Left Lane is treating at the rest stop this Saturday! Don't miss out!)

See you out on the road,
Bob