Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Marsinski A Road Fla

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Marsinski A Road Fla

Wake up in the dark with about 56F outside. I think about what I would wear in NJ which would be long pants and a base layer, but not in fla. I step outside to justify my thoughts and, yep.....it is a warm 56F if you can understand that. Normal shorts and SS jersey. Get on the bike and off I go to the beach. The road group meets at the intersection of Marsinski Dr and A1A in Jupiter Fla. The ocean is right there and there are a few riders warming up in the area. Each of us with our rear flashing lights. I have my Nite Rider Cherry Bomb flashing which I know can be seen all the way down the beach. Many of you riding behind one of these always complain about the insanely bright mesmorizing flashing light. As the time approches 7am the riders start to bring it in and say their morning greetings. I ask if it is OK if a norther joins the group. Out of the 10 standing there about half say they are from the north also. Now I know that i will have someone to hang with when I get dropped of the back. This is a fast group, what do you expect from riders who have 365 days of riding weather. By the time we start the group is about 20 strong. The first stretch is a warm up of about 5 miles along the beach. The chit-chat and banter starts as we move along at a comfortable pace of 20mph. We cross the bridge of the Jupiter inlet and over to the Jupiter Island road. This is the very weathly area where the homes have service entrances. This is where Tiger Woods lives. This area thought they had enough money and political pull to try and stop the bike riders from cruising thier streets but they lost that one with no appeal. It is not just Fason Lakes of Kinnelon who tried to stop riders. It happens all over the place.
The ride at this point is up to about 30 riders due to people joining in along the warm up ride. The pace picks up to about 23mph and the rotation of the riders in the front starts. This is when you need to be on your toes, or on your pedals because the pace very quickly goes to 25mph. A few more miles and the pace goes up again to a cruising speed of 26-28 with peaks of close to 30mph. I start to tuck myself into the back of the pack along with the other northerns. We are laboring to keep up at this point. A few more miles and the front group pulls off strong, I am sure they are 30+ mph. It is OK though, we know that when they reach the end point they will turn around and head back. This is when we get a chance to recover the legs and drink some sugars/fluids.
Here they come we see them ahead so we get ready to turn and grab on. They are moving in the low 20's mph until the group is all to gether again. Then it happens again. The speed picks up to the high 20's and I can feel my legs start to get heavy. This time there is no holding back. I stay on as long as possible as I notice people dropping of the back. Soon to be me. A few miles more and my spped goes from 28...27...26...25................alway down to 18. The head wind seems very strong about this time or maybe it is just me. I slowly make my way back to the inlet and sit my ass down on a bench to enjoy the sights of the boats going travling in and out of the inlet. By the way the Jupiter inlet is known as one of the worst inlets on the eastern seaboard. I have seen swells of 10-15 feet at the inlet with an ocean as smooth as a baby's behind just past it. After a phone calll or two I hope on the bike and head home down beach at a comfortable 18mph, sun shining, and temps in the high 70's. Now that is a ride.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for John Dickinson Mtn Fla

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for John Dickinson Mtn Fla

First ride in Fla. Shipped my bikes in boxes by freight Co. Picked them up as soon as I got off the plane and got them assembled. The weather was 78F and sunny. Headed of to JD state park to try out florida's mtn bike seen. Fast twisty single track. Lots of roots, banked turns, and patches of what they call "Sugar sand". I ran across a rider named Toby. Go figure, he was riding a Jamis Dakota from 2005, he said he loved it. My 4 inch suspension bike was not used to it capacity at this park, but it was a lot of fun. I followed him for an 8 mile loop, which happened to be most of the park, except for a few extra loops that would have made the ride 10 miles. Heading off to shower, renurish, and then rehydrate at a waterside bar on the Jupiter Inlet. Have to get my sleep tonight as I am going to ride with an "A" road group in the morning @ 7am. They are a fast group, 25-30mph for 25 miles.

Getaway Cycle Center Club Meeting

We here at the Getaway Cycle Center would like your attendance
next Thursday Evening @ 7pm(Jan 21st) at the store for a Winter Gathering.

The weather is cold & windy making getting outside on your bikes a bit of a stretch. But we all have cycling on our minds.
Join us for snacks & drinks (Pizza/Beer/Soda – please feel free to BYOB) while getting a chance to meet and socialize with other riders.
Our groups of riders from Road, Mountain, Cyclocross, & Recreational disciplines have grown substantially over the first year.
This is our opportunity to meet and greet each other before the new season starts.
Also gives us the opportunity to brainstorm and discuss ideas for riding in 2010.

Evening Topics will include;

Upcoming events
Team & Club Jerseys
Ride Schedules
Weekend Trips

If you want a jersey please be ready to pay $45 for the Jersey that evening.
You can also order any other specific item such as shorts, ladies, long sleeves……
Please check out www.champ-sys.com for prices and styles.

Hope to See you there

Nick
www.getawaycyclecenter.com

Cyclocross Fever

Ok, SO I did my first cyclocross race this weekend I am hooked. The mix between mountain biking and road cycling goes beyond the changes in terrain. Mountain biking has many short bursts of power where road cycling is more high cadance spinning. Cyclocross combines the constant spin with more power. Now I understand why it is a great training program extending the season so the winter recovery brings ytou right into spring. When you are moving into the sea of mud that is a thick as wet concrete, you learn to keep pumping hard without mashing so you wheel does not spin out. Also remember that you are not on a mountain bike. There are times when you want to rip the bike around the corner but having less rubber to grip the turn does give it an element of danger to raise you heart rate just enough to keep it exciting. One thing that is worth learning is the proper mount-remount because many people get passed like they are standing still.

I road my new Jamis Supernova. It felt great in all the conditions thrown at it. This bike is also been my commuter bike for the past few weeks. The wider softer tire is great on a road that is full of potholes and piles of leaves. The bike just rolls on through it. Especially at night when even the brightest of lights doesnt show every bump in the road. http://www.getawaycyclecenter.com/

Offical fall weather moves in

That special weather that chills you to the bone. The kind of cold that you just cant shake until you are in front of a fire. Hot choclate, Tea, Coffee, Soup, or Brandy......anything to take away that chill. We have been riding all season and we fell on top of our game then we deal with the season end. Truely the season never ends for cycling it just gets harder to get out there and do it. Certain items can keep you rolling thru the fall.

1) Lights - front & rear.....do not be shy....the brighter the better.
2) Waterproof/Windproff/Thermal Jacket & Tights such as various Pearl Izumi's "Barrier" or the "Pro" lines
3) Gloves, Hat/Balaclavia, Shoe cover with the same qualities as 2) above
4) Wider/knobby tires, maybe even metal studded
5) Fenders - the roads are just messy this time of year

This equipment in not cheap, but it will last season after season and keep you smiling because you will be riding comfortably all year long.

Go slower then normal, watch wet leaves, and caution on corners. Wet leaves on a corner is the last time I fell on the road (20yrs ago).

H2H Mountain Series - Blue Mountain

I am preparing for the next race in the Campmor H2H Mountain bike series. Blue Mtn is a fun place. The climbs are fire road long and the down hills are rocky fun. I am going to bring the Jamis Xam Bicycle. This bike is plenty plush (6 inch) to absorb all that Blue can throw at it while keeping the ride and the handling XC like. I hope I do well this time, the past few races did not go so well. Keep riding and smiling.

Cool Weather moves in

So I get on my bike this morning in wayne new jersey and take my 10 mile ride to work. I see temperature before getting dressed, then say it will warm up when I get to the pompton lakes flatlands. Well it didnt, I put shorts and short sleeves on and I froze all the way there. After being used to the warm summer months the roll in of fall sure caught me off guard. Needless to say I ordered some cool weahter gear today. I chose Pearl Izumi's Pro softshell long bibs with a elite Long Sleeve jersey. That combo with a short or long sleeve base layer should take me into the upper 40's. I have time to choose a jacket, gloves, and winter riding shoes. I have my eye on the pro soft shell jacket, the new lobster claw full finger glves from Pearl Izumi. The shoes are the barrier GTX from Pearl Izumi, I have had a pair in the past and they are great. Prepare with smart layers and your riding will roll strong.



"bicycle, new jersey, nj, jamis, mountain bike, getaway cycle, ellsworth, ski, tune up, bloomingdale, wayne, kinnelon, oakland"