Saturday is the "Rite Of Spring Classic"; The Around The Bay Loop! This 65 miler (shorter route of 45 for those of us who haven't ridden much lately) has it all! It is always a group fave with flats, hills and the headwind beast itself, Gargoyle Point Bridge. As always we will have two rest stops to fill the bottles and tell the latest tales. This is a ride you will not want to miss...it's, uh...a classic!
Then Sunday we're off to Bayview Park for another stage in the Bad Mayo Series. He comes up with some very interesting, although somewhat convoluted routes. Always good fun and we usually finish up with a stop at the end of Palafox to take in the view...and tell more tales. (The COUCs are globally known for their antics and stories. It's what makes riding so much fun...just ask Coolio!) Anyway, the weather forecast is looking real good for both days, so come on out and get in some miles with the cast of unusual characters!
And to prove to you I'm not just whistling Dixie; here's some commentary from the Left Lane regarding last Sunday's Bad Mayo Ride:
Sunday
ride recap: Had 11 riders at the start!!
ANOTHER
EPISODE OF THE SUNDAY TWISTED & CONVOLUTED BAD MAYO LOOP TO THE WEST SIDE
Another
great edition of the Sunday Twisted and Convoluted Mayo Loop. We had some
additions to the usual cast of characters….Danimal joined the group saying it
was a little too cold to sit on the yacht and knock back heinekens….Mayo’s
better half Beverly joined (for a short while), Doug and his wife on a tandem,
AeroJim Brittnel, and new guy Glenn joining us for the first time and maybe
last whereas he would soon be going back to Iowa and doing his riding on a
trainer staring at cinder block walls in his basement for another 2 months or
so. We are really lucky in Pensacola
that we get some great weather even in the typically cold months. Rounding out
the group were the usual suspects, Retro Dave, Bad Mayo, Johnny Bugno, Big
Hoagie, and yours truly, The Left Lane.
Weather
was actually very nice at around 50 degrees and wind was out of the Northwest
so we rode out mostly into the wind and got an assist on the way back.
We started off doing Mayo’s typical route out Jackson but when we hit Old
Corry, word came to the front to stay on Jackson all the way out to 72nd
Avenue. We took a left on 72nd to 98 and then another left and
headed to the Romp Through the Swamp on the Wooden Wonder. Retro Dave
kicked up the pace to around 25 down 98 all the way to the College where the
group headed into the parking lot and we rolled over the side walks toward the
bridge. The Left Lane, trying to not be behind the Mayo Wagon on the
bridge tried to accelerate and get around just before the bridge and as I
kicked it up and went right around Johnny I hit a speed bump on a bit of an
angle and almost went down and about got denutted (nada pelota) by my seat. I meekly
got back in line and from here on out I will be writing in a voice about 2
Octaves higher!!
The
ride over the bridge was fun as usual and without incident. We continued
on behind the shopping center to Patton
Drive where Retro & Glenn did most of the work
as we headed to the approaches to the Fried Twinkie. The group favorite
lead up and sprint would be fun this day as we turned onto the course with the
wind somewhat favorable. Johnny went to the front and pulled the first
half before giving way to Glenn. Another first timer leading us to the
sprint that he isn’t even aware of ….perfect for the peloton regulars!!
Around
400 yards from the first turn in to the bridge, the Danimal exploded off the
front gaining around a 20 yard advantage over Glenn with the Left Lane hanging on as well and the
others falling back. Dana seeing the upcoming right hander at the stop
sign, and dreaming of many future heinkens on the yacht and the next new
episode of “Say Yes To the Dress” watching with Mrs Dana slowed down and as
when asked later by the Left Lane what happened said something to the effect
that “going through a right hander at the stop sign at 25 mph” was not
necessarily high up there on his list of things to do this Sunday. Well
that little bit of a slow down was all the Left Lane needed to blow past Dana
and Glenn who wasn’t sure what was going on and to run unfettered to victory
for the greasy fried treat (the crowd going wild of course!!).
The
Barrancas bridge was pretty much a nonevent with most of us taking the short
cut out to the Bridge and Dana leading the Hoagie, Glenn, and Brittnell
the long way. Us short riders got to the top and waited for the rest and
only saw Danamal storming up the bridge toward us. Apparently Jim headed
home on the west side and I believe Glenn as well with Hoagie out of site at
this time.
The
wind was most favorable as we headed home down Main Street including a trip around the
new Ball Park then to Bayfront where Danamal went
to the front and inflicted serious pain/spanking, kicking it up to the mid 20s
as we turned into a strong crosswind and leading the group to the debriefing in
Ritchie’s parking lot.
Another
great Sunday ride in the books whereupon the Hoagie and I headed up to Manor De
Leftus Laneus for our Yuengling debriefing with the remainder of the Peloton
even Johnny Bugno (who has been off the beer for a while and tipping the scales
at 15lbs lighter) turning down a seat on the steps of the Manor. Oh well
more for The Left Lane and The Hoagie!!!
See, I told you so...these guys are wacko! But really fun to ride with. However, don't take my word for it, come on out this weekend and see for your own bad self. Great routes, great weather, great group equals just an okay time...NOT! You'll be glad you did! Hey, for all the details, check out the Rides Calendar at the bottom of this Blogazoidal. It's updated through Memorial Day weekend.
See you out on the road,
Bob
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