Ah Yes, Another Spirited TERAD!

I just love that kind of stuff, don't you?! It was definitely a Hammerfest, if not a Sufferfest for some. However, other than the Creighton Crossing, (CC) and the Yellow Corvette Incident, (YCI) I was really pleased with the group in terms of traffic and motorists relations. (TAMR). I have come to the conclusion that the only way anything will improve in Pensacola in regards to cycling, is if the cyclists do it!!! We are, in fact, our own worse enemy when it comes to how the public perceives us. And perception is reality! We have to make the changes ourselves. It is up to each one of us to change how the public views cyclists. We even need to police our own.

I'm not kidding, this is a very serious matter. Cyclists generally are not looked upon with favor in our city. Why? Well, there are a number of reasons why. Some we can change, some we can't. I am referring to that which we can change...and should! For example; what if all of us who ride bikes, obeyed as many traffic laws as practical for the situation. What I mean by that is, there are the rare occasions where the rolling right turn is appropriate so as not to hold up the rest of traffic. Or perhaps you roll through a four way stop because there is no traffic at all. These are things, to be honest, we may do in our car anyway. But, generally we need to obey all traffic laws. They are watching and forming an opinion based on what they see. And, in May 2012, the overall judgement is against cyclists. (If you don't believe me, go back and read what folks say after one of us gets killed on the roadways or just ask a friend who doesn't ride to be honest with you. I have, and it is an awful eye opener!) Guys, they don't like us! Some even hate us! Why?

We've started something in our little peloton a year or so ago. Actually, it was Tim "Crusher" Fox who started it and several have followed suit. We wave and or greet every walker, jogger, runner, stroller we pass. Hey, it's a start. And a motorist who is kind enough to stop for us so we can cross, we always try to wave and say "Thank you", even if we only lip sinc it out. Guys, it's working! Recently, I had someone tell me they (two) were out for a walk the other day when a few cyclists rode by and several said, "Good morning!" This person expressed how friendly that was and that it changed their opinion about those bike riders. Now, I know that's just two people, but if all of us who ride bikes, tried to do something similar for most of the folks we come across, including motorists, what might happen over time?! What might happen over time if we do the opposite?

Last Saturday, we stopped at the gas station at Hwy 90 and Beulah Road to fill the bottles. While there, the Team Subaru guys showed up, evidently out for an early morning training ride. I was struck with how friendly every one of them were to us old(er) riders. As we went our separate ways, I started thinking. "Why is it that some riders show up for a ride with a scowl on their face?" I mean, bike riding is fun. It's, in my humble opinion, the world's greatest sport. Why the sour puss? "Yeah, I may have had a rough day or maybe the boss barked at me, but hey, now I'm out on my bike with a bunch of my friends doing what I love!" Get over the attitude! It affects the way you ride! Besides, if the strongest, most beastly among us can be friendly and cheerful, then join in the fun! (You might like it.) Thanks for the inspiration Subaru boys!

I say all this to say, we have got to do something to change the way folks in our fair city perceive us! It is entirely up to us, not them! We have to do what we can do...just simple things are a good start. Try an experiment on your next ride, either solo or with a group: try smiling at folks. Come on man, your face won't crack! Instead of the usual, "I keell you!" demeanor, try a wave or two to motorists...especially those who are being kind to you. (They don't have to be!!!) Maybe when you pass a walker, jogger or just someone sitting on a park bench, give them your greeting. What would it hurt? Maybe, just maybe, you may change one opinion about cyclists. And that's a good thing for all of us!

And one last thing; when one of our number, does something stupid like blowing through a red light or cutting cross traffic...call him out!!! Bark at him! Let him know it is not good for any of us! It will do at least two things; 1) Let's him know that it was not acceptable, and 2) Let's all the motorists know that we know it is not acceptable! Remember, they are watching...

See you out on the road,
Bob

Now, here's Left Lane's TERAD commentary:

Another Tuesday another awesome TERAD!!  Had a really good turnout with most of the usuals attending.  Riding were The Vortex, Crusher Fox, Big Motor Keith, Retro Dave, Bad Mayo, both Prentii, Scott Hurt Locker Burt, Jason, Nate, Bryan, Big Hoagie, Happy Harlan, yours truly The Left Lane and a couple others.

As we queued up at the start at M&S, Hurt Burt wondered where the Bad Mayo was and I looked at my clock and pointed out that it was only two minutes past starting time and that to be fashionably late (which is Bad Mayos modus operandi) you had to be at least 3 to 5 minutes late.  I pointed down Summit toward the end of the runway and prophesized that within a minute or 2 you would see David’s orange flag and his normal entourage of Big Motor & Retro Dave approaching.   Sure enough within seconds or so, there they were.  So Left Lane was self-dubbed the “Prophet of the Peloton.”  I’ve been called worse.

Conditions were perfect for a hammerfest  with not too much wind and warmer temps then we have been having lately.  We started out with Prenti (the elder) leading us out and Fox and Left Lane doing the pulls up  12^th avenue before heading up Langley for the first time.  A small group hammered down Langley to Spanish Trail with everyone regrouping at the light.  As we headed toward the Crit someone warned that Bad Mayo had turned in and was doing the Salmon version of the Crit.  We hammered into the crit at a fast pace with most of the group going the normal route over the speed bumps and Harlan & Left Lane taking the smoother route.  We all regrouped as we hit Scenic Highway and pounded it on through the course and ran into the Mayo as we made our final turn back out to Spanish Trail. 

We cruised through the hood with Vortex leading us out onto Creighton and toward 9^th Avenue.  The pace average was in the 19 mph range and everyone pretty much went to Noodle as we crossed 9th and headed toward Burgess.  Everyone except the Left Lane though who was out ahead and just rode at his pace staying ahead to avoid the usual slamfest as we headed to Chapel St.  The boys reeled me in near the end of the long straight, but I did not have to stomp it to keep up as usual (ahh..fresh legs for the finish!!).  As we crossed Creighton, Big Hoagie took off for the unannounced City Limit Sign Sprint with Left Lane chasing.  Hoagie took the prize and as BH and the LL reached Burgess with around a 150 yard gap, the ever cantankerous LL asked Hoagie if he was up to a 2 man Breakaway.  Hoagie and Left Lane have been practicing this at the Thursday Crit practice at Ellyson which nobody else but Hurt Burt and Murphy attend.  Hoagie said lets go, so we went into 2 man mode doing short pulls and running in the 23 mph range.

BH & LL opened up quite a gap over the Peloton but as we were around halfway down Burgess here comes the indefatigable Hurt Locker reeling us in.  HL always up for a Breakaway was quickly incorporated into our now 3 man Break.  We hammered on toward 9^th Avenue opening a considerable gap on the now in shock Peloton.  Of course any Break on this course depends on perfect timing at the 9^th Avenue light.  As luck would have it, we caught the light just as it turned yellow and we pulled into the light at 12^th knowing we would get our green before the group got their green at 9^th  This would give us a gap that would carry us to a likely Breakaway win unless the Boys in the Peloton really slammed it down to catch us.  Either a win or a good chase … and for Left Lane(bad kneed old fat guy with no Sprint) the only chance at a TERAD win!!

As we caught our breath waiting for the green, I recalled Murphy’s Law….If something can go wrong .. it will (I think this is how it goes).  As we were about to get our green, I looked back at the peloton which should have been stuck on the other side of 9^th Avenue rolling up to join us …”What the…FnH.!!”.  Apparently the new Scofflaw of the Peloton, The Bad Mayonaisse attempted an illegal against the red crossing of 9^th Avenue and a Good Samaritan in a yellow Corvette blocked traffic to assist Dave in his crossing and the rest of the Peloton crossed as well.  That Bad Mayonaise knows more people and has more “Support Cadres” than Lance Armstrong in the Tour De France!!!

Well that was the end of the Breakaway and any hope for crowd favorites LL and BH for a victory.  Of course Hurt Burt, the other member of the Break would have something to say about the final outcome.  We were therefore all together as we headed up Langley for a second time.  Prenti the younger blew off the front past 2^nd wheel Left Lane looking for a break partner but I was pretty much gassed and in recovery mode and could not oblige.  Just then Foxinator came rolling through with Bryan in tow and Left Lane grabbing the wheel chasing down The Prenti.  Prenti, realizing he was alone pulled up and Fox, Bryan & LL who were slamming it to reel in Prenti had a quick slow down which caught Bryan and Left Lane by surprise and in a serious wheel rub  which due to superior bike handling skills amounted to only a scare…..Shooooo!!. 

Fox took the pull and regulated the Peloton to a reasonable pace as we cruised down Langley in the mid 20s.  As we headed up Spanish to Maygarden the lead group was down to around 7 riders with Retro, Hurt Burt, Foxinator, Bryan, Hoagie, Left Lane and Prenti TY.  Pulls were alternated by Prenti, Retro & Hurt with everyone together until the turn at the Terminal  (bye bye Left Lane off the back as usual) with the rest staying together.  Fox took the lead for the Big Bull Pull as they went through the Esses, and then fell into disorganization at which time Scott Hurt Locker Burt blew by the unsuspecting Retro Dave on the right as he looked over his left shoulder to assay his competition.  A fatal mistake for the perennial favorite RD and Bryan as Hurt Locker was not going to be caught this day and rolled on to a 20 to 30 yard victory with RD & Bryan  rolling in next then Fox & Hoagie & Prentii TY and then Left Lane an always respectable 7^th!!

Fantastic TERAD Hammerfest with average speed of 19mph even with stops & noodles.  As usual Big Motor Keith said to me ..”Now the ride really starts” referring to our normal post ride Mad Dash back to East Hill.  Keith loves to dish out the pain on this last 4 mile stretch!!!  Oh no, not again I thought, but what the hell here we go.   Keith did the majority of the pull down Scenic Highway with Hoagie, Bryan, Left Lane & Mayo in tow running in the 23mph range.  After Hoagie did a short pull and fisselled, Bryan did a short pull as well with Keith going back to the front down the hill to the Cervantes Bridge hitting 30 mph.  Some kind of cool down lap!!.  Well I held Keith’s wheel and tried to pass him on the uphill as we crested the hill at around 18mph but Big Motor had too much motor as usual..but the Left Lane was nipping at his heels!!  Maybe next time Big Motor!!

Great Ride, sometimes I think these TERADs take more out of me than the 50 to 60 mile Saturday rides.  Well Hoagie got back up with me at the Palatial Manor De Left Lane and by the time I changed and was out on the front porch he had returned from Pat O’Brien’s with the usual 12 Pack of Yeungling.  So 4 beers (that’s my limit) into the 12 Pack I decided to write this blog…so please allow a little “Literary License.”  Hoagie and I got into our usual political discussion , both being of a fiscally conservative bent after Hoagie noted on the TV at Pat O’Brien’s our President’s speech touting his “Gutsy Call” coming from Afghanistan on the eve of the demise of UBL.  I think the discussion at the Liquor store was something to the effect that thank goodness BHO was not “Spiking The Ball”… but Hoagie noted he never said he would not conduct and illegal unauthorized End Zone Celebration!!!  Enough politics…Sorry!!

That’s my story and I’m sticking tooit.

Thanks Left Lane! Great ride and great commentary! Don't forget tonight at WSRE at 5pm for the WFW Hammerfest! And, of course Saturday morning for the Cinco de Bad Mayo Ride at 7am at Fish and Wildlife. And, if that's not enough, Saturday evening is the Full Moon Ride out at the beach! It's all on the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this Blogazoidal!