Seems like it is currently en vogue for the local bloggers to rail against the local cycling scene.If someone from outside the area were to spend a week or two and catch every group ride they would see an interesting group of rides and riders.
At the end of those two weeks they would gladly go home and count themselves lucky to: (A) survive Mobile cycling unharmed (B) not be an alcoholic (C) be back home amongst the normal
Yeah....I know....every town has their
idiosyncratic cycling groups.....right??????
During your 2 week visit you would encounter a 50+ rider turnout at the local AAB Saturday ride. Then you would experience the 4-5 rider (recently) semi-regionally famous Rooster Ride every Tuesday at 5:15 A.M.
Mixed between the two you will find no-drop rides....you will be dropped rides....hilly rides....flat rides......rides with single speed guys......rides with tri-geeks....rides with hot chicks....rides with no chicks......rides with felons......rides with cops.....rides with posers.....rides with state champions......rides with t-shirts.....rides with pro tour jerseys.......you name it, we got it.
That being said....there is one constant........get ready for some complaining. Complaining after EVERY ride.
Some people complain during the ride......some after the ride......and then it spreads though each "group's" online forum. Where everyone posts an opinion. Then everyone has to comment on the others opinion.
But alas, each late fall early winter the vicious cycle ends.
By then the racers who continually push the pace ALL year long have gotten tired of finishing in the bottom 10 of EVERY race because their legs have been fried for a couple of MONTHS.
The t-shirts and rec riders are tired of it all and just don't like to ride when it gets cold.
So everyone just hangs it up for a month or so.
Come early spring the racers and the t-shirts strap it on again.
The racers do great for the first few races cuz they ramp it up straight from the beginning. The t-shirts start bitching cuz the pace is so strong. Group rides stretch out for miles. Racers are running 28mph in January and the t-shirts are running 15mph.
So come on down and get a taste of the scene. I'll have the vodka and beer waiting cuz you'll need it.
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7 comments:
beautifully said
~c-madone
YEAH, BUT WHAT IF YOU ARE JUSTIFIED IN COMPLAINING?
have Vodka waiting? Martini's apres ride!:
1)chill vodka (Grey Goose only).
2)take martini glass, swish with dry vermouth and then immediatley put in freezer.
3)pour 5 jiggers of vodka into shaker with uncrushed ice and less than a capfull of vermouth.
5)shake furiously.
6)retreive glass and immediatley strain vodka into glass.
7)add two olives and one sliced jalepeno.
8)drink immediately.
repeat as many times as necessary.
you forgot to address the winter warriors who like to try and light the morning rides up while everyone else is in decompress mode...but then fade away once the "racers" and "tri-geeks" start pushing the pace again
even our worst ride is better than the Destin Bike shop ride.
I seriously want to ride the DBSR, but would need backup. To be the only one laughing at the ride leader out loud is lonely and probably dangerous.
true, but he feeds you cookies & ice coffee at the turn around..makes you forget what a douchebag he is...temporarily.
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