And just for fun, we have mapped out yet another amazing route! Yes, that's right cycling fans, a brand new route that goes Around The Bay! "No way?!" "Yes way, my homies...way way! Whaaat?! Now here are the details:
The Around the Bay Ride will have the standard route which is about 60 to 65 miles. The "new" short route will be around 45 to 50 miles. The two groups will start together and stay together at a moderate pace until East Spencerfield Road in Pace. At this point the long route group will turn north and cut across Hamilton Bridge Road to Milton like we always do on the standard route. The short route group will turn south and meander southeast to Avalon Road. Both groups will set their own pace after the separation point and will have a rest stop. The second rest stop is the Raceway at the south end of Garcon Point Bridge in Gulf Breeze and will be the regrouping point. Then the two groups will ride together back to Pensacola on the standard route.
What an absolutely fantastic ride...and with the weather forecast for mostly sunny skies with temps in the 60s this could be the most epic winter ride this cast of unusual characters has ever ridden! Come on somebody!!! This beat up old rider can't wait! The best news is The Danamal is the Ride Captain for the long route group and The Vortex has agreed to lead the short bus group! (Oops...I mean short route group) Dude, what could be finer...Oh yeah baby! You are not going to want to miss this ride!!!
And speaking of epic rides; last Saturday's ride was almost that...according to the view from the Left Lane! He says that it was...well, I'll let him say in his unique way. Here's tis:
Saturday 12-31-11 Ride
With mild temperatures and this being the last ride of 2011 a large turnout was anticipated for this Saturday’s ride. Not to disappoint most or our regulars and some of our irregulars showed up. Riding were Danimal, Johnny Bugno, Dos Prentis, Vortex, Foxinator , The Daves, Retro & Bad Mayonnaise, Big Hoagie, The Left Lane,Tan, Robert, and coming out of hibernation, The Big Motor, Keith Irwin and Count Fishbone.
As we queued up for the start, conditions were quite foggy but wind was minimal and the temperatures were in the 55 to 60 degree range so it looked like a great day for a ride especially for the middle of winter. Our loop today would take us West for either the Innerrarity Loop or the Perdido Key Loop.
As we got ready to Start, Retro was over on the side of the parking lot at Fish & Wildlife assisting a young lady with a flat tire repair. When I asked Dave what was up and he told me I said he was a Good Samaritan and Dave started going on about how he was trying to make up for the bad deeds…..etc., and I said he would have to change a lot of tires to make the proper amends.
Well we got going and the fog was pretty nasty with everyone’s glasses getting wet limiting visibility and Prenti Snr flatting a couple miles out on Jackson. We got Prenti fixed and headed out. We did our usual Hammerfest down Jackson with Danimal dishing out the pain and then headed to Lillian where Foxinator went to the front and put in a nice pull and the Prentis and the Left Lane doing the rest of the work. As we got to the light at Blue Angel & Dog Track Robert did a 1 and ½ with a twist and stuck the landing …actually just tipped over from a stop but was not hurt and we continued on down Dog Track to Gulf Beach Highway.
Prenti the younger broke away as we neared GB Highway for the first unannounced sprint of the day and had it in hand when he sat up but “Sneak Attack” Retro Dave had other ideas and slammed it down to pass the Prenti and hold him off for the prize. As we reached GB Highway Vortex, Foxinator & Big Motor opted to short ride and headed home as the rest of the group went on.
Conditions were near perfect and the Peloton was hammering toward Innerarity at around 23mph when the peloton was first distracted by some kids yelling out the window at us and then some garbage cans parked in the bike lane which broke up the momentum of the peloton whereupon Tan bumped wheels with Hoagie causing him to go down and also taking Robert out as well. As I heard the commotion from up front I glanced back and briefly saw Tan taking a dive to the right and as I turned around expected serious injuries. Luckily though he only had a scraped shin and Robert had no apparent injuries. An Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputy was right behind us and stopped traffic and said he had the whole thing on video. We need to see if we can get a copy.
After a few minor bike repairs and talking about taking it easy to the light at Innerarity the peloton with Danimal putting down the hammer SPED away to Innerarity with Istvann saying something about there was going to be no whining like little girls... Truly no Love in the Peloton!!! We sort of regrouped at the store and opted for the Perdido Key loop…up over the bridge and toward Gulf Shores before heading back under and over the bridge. A nice little loop which we took at a reasonable pace with Prenti Jr & Danimal leading the charge up the bridge and to the break on the other side. We all regrouped at the break and headed back home on GB Highway. With Bugno, Hoagie & Left Lane doing pulls we were cruising at around 18-22 with the hoped for tailwind not materializing. The pace picked up as usual as we neared the Dub Blum Sprint with Danimal leading the group, Left Lane breaking out too early and Retro Dave taking the prize…Ho Hum …business as usual.
After another regrouping we headed toward the legendary Fried Twinkie Sprint. Dana & the Prenti wanted none of this and went straight for home while the rest of the group took the turn into Navy Point and the treacherous FTS on roads of which many are under repair or need repair. As we turned out toward the water Fishbone, Hoagie, Bugno & Left Lane separated and hammered toward the Twinkie Bridge. With Fishbone doing most of the work until the last ½ mile, the Left Lane put it down hard and gapped the others going into the final 2 turns to claim his first Twinkie in quite some time.
Another regrouping at Navy Blvd and we headed for PCC and the Barancas Bridge. The same four were out front again with the rest taking the short cut to the bridge. Count Fishbone led the group up the bridge for the last prize of the day before heading home to North Hill. Left Lane, Hoagie & Bugno then separated out front for the final stint down Bayfront where we rolled in around 11:00 AM with close to 50 miles at around an 18mph average.
We waited in Richey’s parking lot for a while but when no one else showed repaired up to Left Lane’s Manor for the usual after ride refreshments supplemented with a few room temperature Guiness Stouts the Left Lane had been hoarding.
Another fantastic ride and we talked about joining the Wheelmen ride to Ft Pickens tomorrow. Starts at 11:00 AM from Bagleheads parking lot. Should be a great ride at “Hangover” Pace so it would be great to get a bunch of the F&S group out. I will be there for sure.
Till next time
The Left Lane
Thanks Left Lane, great blogification! Can't wait to read next week's commentary...as only from the twisted view of the distorted mind of the one and only Left Lane. (Thankfully there's only one!) I'll definitely see him out on the road! How about you? Come on! You'll be glad you did! Especially if you were serious about those New Year's resolutions you committed yourself to just a few days ago. Remember?
See you out on the road,
Bob
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