Around The Sound And Some TERAD!

Before I get to the Left Lane's color commentary from this week's TERAD, let's take a quick peek at tomorrow's Around The Sound Loop. We're meeting at Fish and Wildlife at 7am and will leave shortly thereafter for Gulf Breeze via 3 Mile Bridge. If the bridge makes you a bit queasy, then meet us at the south end about 15 minutes later than start time. We'll then, en mass, loop through Proper and head for Soundside under a moderate pace. We'll maintain this pace until the first rest stop. After the rest stop, we'll continue towards Navarre and over the Navarre Beach Bridge for our next rest stop at the corner of the beach road. I'm sure that this section would have seen the peloton break into two basic groups.

After the second rest stop, all bets are off as the dogs will be running at full speed until Pensacola Beach. The beach road is always a Hammerfest if not a Sufferfest for some and tomorrow will be no different as the forecast calls for the much coveted Tailwind Express! Yes cycling fans, we will have anywhere from a 10 to 15 mph wind out of the east southeast!!! Can you say, Slamma Jamma!!! Oh yeah baby, if you like to go fast on a flat road, then tomorrow morning's ride is definitely for you! Come on somebody!

As you see the Portofino Towers approaching fast in your windshield, you may want to ease back on the hammer. Why? Because our own David, "Bad Mayonnaise" Mayo has invited everyone for a breakfast as his palatial Bad Mayo Estate; aka Portofino! Pull in for the festivities before the soft pedal on home. (Trust me on this one: Beverly is doing the cooking and is a fantastic chef! With a name like Bad Mayonnaise we couldn't let David in the kitchen.) Should be a wonderful finish to top off a great ride, come on out! RSVP to David. Thanks!

Now for the Left Lane's take on this week's TERAD! Take it away Left Lane:

TERAD Tuesday is once again upon us. The Vortex/Bolginator in Chief being mired in the heat & dust of Mother Clucking Phoenix the Left Lane has again been called upon to Bloginate.  Vortex assured me that he has been putting in some miles out in the Phoenix area and will be back for the group ride Saturday of the Group Favorite “Around the Sound Loop” and hopefully back to his blogging duties as well since I tend to get a little stale after three weeks running of documenting the TERAD antics.

Good turnout again this week with around  15 riders.  Riding were, Crusher Fox,  Retro Dave, Bad Mayo,  Prentii TO, Scott Hurt Locker Burt, Nate, Nestordamus, Bryan, Big Hoagie, Coolio in his magic glass slippers blue shoes, the return of the Murphinator, The Count of Monte Fishbone, Fast Eddie LawnChair, Chung,  yours truly, The Left Lane and more.

Weather conditions were near perfect with a little SW wind but not too strong.  But it would be mostly in our face for the final run down Maygarden.   We started out with Left Lane leading us out and then Prenti pulling down 12^th avenenue  to Langley.  The group was cruising at a fairly sedate 23 mph down Langley when the Chunginator went to the front and kicked it up into the upper 20’s down to Spanish Trail.  Looked like it was going to be another Hammerfest of a TERAD.   We headed for the Crit with Fox in the lead.  Fox decreed that the whole group was going to take the same route this week instead of splitting down three different roads and almost converging in a bad way as we came back together last week.   Left Lane complained that this was America and he would go whichever way he wanted but what the hell , towed the line and stuck with the old track over the speed bumps…Ouch (could the Left Lane be mellowing in his old age….NaaaHHH)!!   Pace was quite slow until we hit Scenic Highway and headed back toward Spanish Trail with the boys hammering up into the upper 20’s until we ran into some oncoming traffic which slowed us down on the final leg of the crit. 

Group hammered it down the long straight heading to the Creighton Crossing where the Left Lane took the uncontested city limit sign sprint.  Points are Points!!  But no one came along so no breakaway was in the cards today.  At least not yet.  We noodled through the hood and upon hitting Burgess,  Fast Eddie LawnChair (FELC) blasted to the front with Nate and Left Lane on his wheel and the rest of the Peloton content to hang back.  Left Lane realized the FELCs pace was nuts and fell back to rejoin the peloton with everyone pretty much back together as we hit the end of Burgess.  Well the Left Lane, still steaming over the aborted (Mayo’s Mythical Yellow Corvette Benefactor incident) breakaway of the prior TERAD, rode hard toward Langley and built up a little lead as the peloton went into after hammer noodle.  Once again perfect timing at the light put the Left Lane at the light at 12^th Avenue with the peloton stuck at the light at 9^th Avenue. 

Did not know if I had the legs for a break today (with the 1/3 mile gap the lights would give me) but you just have to try.  Either give the boys  something to chase and maybe hold on for a TERAD win or get spanked by a hard charging peloton somewhere along Maygarden (usually the case).    I put my nose down and went into the drops and just as I headed toward the runway there was Bad Mayo and his cohort Retro Dave dealing with a flat.  Well, typically this near the end of the ride there is no stopping for a flatted rider so I pounded it on trying to build a gap.  The Left Lane entered his “Own Private Idaho” of pain, assuming the Peloton was in Hot Pursuit,  not looking back until he was around the Air Terminal.  Finally looking back I did not see the Peloton in pursuit but nonetheless hammered as hard as I could all the way to the finish.  The crowd was going wild…not. 

Well I sat at the finish recovering and waiting to congratulate the next rider on a fine second place but after around 5 minutes realized something was up with the peloton.  Started riding back and finally around 1/3 of the way back here comes the hard charging group of riders finally toward the finish.  I turned around  but did not see the finish but I believe Murphinator took the prize with FastEddieLawnChair, Hurt Burt, and Bryan in close pursuit.

Another fantastic TERAD was in the Books.  And at least, in the absence of The Big Motor Keith, I would not have to bust my hump down Scenic Highway on the ride home.

Yes Hoagie and I once again repaired to the Manor De Left Lane front porch for after ride refreshments but I won’t bore you with our discussions political and otherwise of this day.  But I did want to mention that when I stopped by my favorite LBS this week, Cycle Sports, the purveyor of all things cycling Brian “Stoned” Stone and I entered into a little wager on the upcoming monumental election this November.  The wager…a case of beer of course!!  I don’t think I need to say who picked who…suffice it to say I may be the LEFT Lane but … Anyway,  make sure you get into a political discussion with The Stoned next time you drop by the shop and see if you can get in on some of the action….Can you say Sucker Bet??... I think you can!!

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

As always, great report Left Lane. See you and everyone out in the morning for the Around The Sound Loop! Or, Bad Mayo's Breakfast Run! Either one it will be a blast!

See you out on the road,
Bob