Windy Is Not Just an Association Song

Sidekick Joe Rodriguez and myself hit the roads today thinking that the weather will surely drench us before finishing the ride to Key Biscayne. We were wrong, beating it back to Kendall before the rains came about 5 minutes after we were home. But the ride was one of extremes -- with wind gusts up to 30 mph on the key, you can image what it was like going into it and what it was like the other way. I love the expression -- let the wind be at your back.
The top of the KB bridge we were struggling at about 11 mph but the other bridge-- Bear Cut -- I was out of gears and rolling, if you call it, at 7 mph. Needless to say it was windy. The white caps on the ocean were large enough to surf on. And with the wind coming at us from 11 o'clock, we had trouble staying in our lane as it buffetted us to the side.
Of course, coming back down the KB bridge, Joe hit 48 mph without really working and I was at 42.7.
We received a gift certificate over the weekend from the ferry company which will transport us from Delaware to New Jersey. It won't cover the entire cost, but I think we can probably find $12 somewhere to pay the difference.
Waiting on word from a national hotel chain to be our sponsor for the trip.

If You Don't Ask......

Welcome Seastreak to the 2012 Cure for Cancer Tour. The ferry company which carries thousands of commuters from New Jersey into Manhattan each day, has agreed to provide me a one-way pass for my ride in June. While the ticket is less than $30, it is the donation which counts. They wrote to me this morning and said "your undertaking is commendable" and that they would be happy to help me get to my destination.
The ferry carries only passengers so Bobbie is going to have to drive around the city, across the George Washington Bridge and meet me somewhere above Manhattan as we enter the final leg of the trip to Maine.

Personal Best

One thing is for sure with all of the miles I'm doing -- I'm actually getting pretty competent on the bike. Today I hit a personal best on the flat -- 29.7 mph. Our little group was drafting behind this one guy with me being last in the line when this pack of about 100 riders came whizzing up next to us. We were about 21 at that point -- the pack was about 26. When the last rider cleared me, I had some energy left (the rest stop was 2 miles away), I pulled out and caught the pack right as we went past the Key Biscayne golf course. I looked down and saw the speed was 29.7. Haven't broken 30 on the flat yet and for sure without the big group blocking the little wind there was, I wouldn't have been there either. But it was a great feeling to accelerate from 21 to 29 -- my bike handled it extremely well.

Mapping It Out

We are in the process of laying out a day-to-day schedule for the ride and we have hit a snag -- how to get around Manhattan. The ride is going to hug the coast into New Jersey and my brother lives due south of the city. If I follow the route laid out by the Adventure Cycling, it would add hills and a couple of days. I'm allergic to hills.
One suggestion is to take a ferry into Manhattan from the area where Bruce lives and then ride the Hudson River Greenway, which looks good. But getting from the George Washington Bridge where the greenway ends to Connecticut across the Bronx appears to be the big challenge.
Anyone who knows the area and can advise, please send in your comments.
Thanks

Key Biscayne

Had a chance to ride with Bruce on Wednesday and he did great for the 28 miles we did, including two trips over the bridge on KeyBiscayne. Glad I don't ride there during the week too often because the traffic was heavy. Probably because of the tennis event going on but car were zipping past us.
Bruce is also helping me figure out a way to get around New York City on the ride in June. In fact one option is not going around, but going through. Waiting to hear from the NYC cycling club as for suggestions.

The First 100 Isn't Bad

The day started out calm and cool. The speed was good as the lead pack tore away from the starting area and kept a crisp pace of 23-25 for the first hour. The Everglades Ride was underway this morning at 7:30 and for the first 30 miles, I was able to average more than 20 mph. with a top speed of 25 as the group had a long straightaway and opened the throttle a bit.
But by 10 when the winds started to pick up from the west and our ride headed west toward the Cheika portion of the Everglades, I was drifting alone at 12 wondering where everyone went?
But the last 50 miles was with a group of about 12 from the leukemia association down here and we pulled in at the finish line after a riding time of 6 hours and 20 minutes. It was a radio station distance. You know, 102.2 on your dial? That was the official mileage and only the third time I have eclipsed 100 miles in one ride.
To say I am numb from the waist down is an understatement. My shoulders are surprisingly not as sore as I thought they would be but my legs are dead. And so is my a-- , rear end.
Probably have another century this Saturday as I might meet some riders heading to the keys from Sebring and I might ride with them to Key Largo.
But I am excited about riding with my brother who is coming into town Monday afternoon only for a couple of days.

A Special Package Arrived

Had a chance to do a quick 32 miles this morning in heavy winds and a short shower down by Mt. Trashmore (the highest point in South Florida; for those who don't know, this is the garbage dump). But the news of the day was the package I received from Pam this afternoon. First of all, my bud Roy was a clothes horse and while he didn't ride his bicycle as much as he would have liked, he was always dressed for the part. So, I now have 4 bright (did I say BRIGHT) biking jerseys to go along with the dozen or so I have gathered over the years. In fact I think I have more biking jerseys now than golf polos. Pam also told me that Roy wanted me to have his Homer Simpson watch which is the most annoying watch you can wear. On the hour, it chimes, "are we there yet, are we there yet, etc., etc., etc." And I thought I had already drained all of the water out of my eyes.