TERAD Tonight!

The weather is absolutely perfect for another romp on the Super Figure 8 Loop at tonight's TERAD! Should be an antics filled ride as all the jersey leaders are scheduled for attendance as well as most of the Cast Of Unusual Characters. (COUCs) Come on out and enjoy 25 miles of rompin, stompin fun on the Firestone and Summit Express. Train leaves the Maygarden and Summit Station at 5:30pm! See you there! (Word on the street is that Coolio may make a cameo appearance!)

Just a few notes for the peloton's edification:

1. When you have a couple minutes, check out the Rides Calendar. We have scheduled every Full Moon Ride throughout the 2012 riding season. The first one is next Friday, April 6th at 6:30pm leaving from Casino Beach Parking Lot.

2. This Saturday we have scheduled the awesome Around The Bay Loop. This route has it all and has become the group's all time fave. We leave promptly from Firestone and Summit at 7am for this 65 miler. Come on out for some much needed base miles!

3. If you happen to be one of our triathlete brethren, you are always welcome on a F&S ride! However, that being said, please do not be on your elbows within the paceline. If you must be in your aero position, do so at the back on the group or if you are first in line only. We have had several close calls over the past few years with those on TT bikes. Safety is our number one concern and TT bikes are not safe within a paceline. They're not made for that purpose and presents a danger to those around you when you are in your aero position. Thanks for your cooperation guys.

4. Several of you have commented about the size of the peloton lately. Apparently, there is a bit of concern about getting too big to have that personal F&S touch that we have all come to know and love. Well, although we had over 30 riders this past Saturday, we had two groups after the rest stop. One short route group and the longer route group. It is up to each individual rider to decide which is best for them. We will continue to offer two options on our Saturday rides until the peloton is just too big for two groups...then we'll offer three groups!

5. Speed...oh boy. Look, I have received several phone calls and emails regarding the pace. I don't have a magical speed thing-a-mo-bob to somehow pull back the reins on those that want to go fast. (Yes, I know my name is Bob, but I don't have a magical thingy.) All I can say is this; most folks at some point in every ride want to go fast...the distance is the question. We have tried several warnings, cajolings, threats, bribes, etc. It doesn't work...besides I absolutely hate being the one doing it. But, you complain to me instead of the one speeding. (Uh...I don't have a magical thingy.)

And we still have the issue of speed. Every group I have ever been a part of has always had the same problem. (See Pace Chart for details) In fact, other than the Rides Calendar, the Pace Chart is the page with the most hits! This means that speed is a major issue to most folks. However, the only way that I have seen in my 30 plus years of riding in successfully dealing with this issue is to form groups based on pace. So, that's what we are doing, for now. If that doesn't work, I'm open to other suggestions.

Okay, enough of that.

We have a fantastic week of riding ahead of us, starting tonight at 5:30pm at Maygarden and Summit! Then tomorrow evening at WSRE parking lot for the 5pm WFW ride. Around The Bay is at 7am Saturday at Firestone and Summit. Don't forget the 8am WFW ride at Bagel Heads on Sunday or the Firestone and Summit ride at 2:30pm. Whew...what a week! I will see you at most of these rides and hopefully...

See you out on the road,
Bob