Loco Gringo Adventures

Grava Fork Mount Bags - Installation guide

2023-12-01T11:12:00.004-05:00

I found these Grava Fork Mount bags on Back Friday. The website info says they are made in Colombia, and I'm a fan of Colombia so I thought I'd give them a shot on our next adventure. Shipping was lightning fast and the quality looks great. The installation video provided on the website noted that they can be a challenge to install, so I thought I'd share my experience and possibly some tips.

Miami to Key West on a Bamboo Bicycle.

2021-11-14T08:58:00.001-05:00

Here we go again. Life without a plan slips by to easily. So I'm formulating another ride. Miami to Key West.

Night 1

Since I'll be getting to Miami via Amtrak around 6:30 pm, I'm going to overnite in the Miami area. The farthest south I can get via public transportation (with my bike) is the Dadeland South via the Metrorail. So all I need to do is make a quick 5 mile trip from the metro station to an AirBnB.

Day 2

This route will include about 15 miles of off road gravel riding along a levy. I'll split the trip with an overnite camp at Long Key. I'm thinking hammock camping. That'll be a first.

Day 3

Once I tear down the campsite, I'll get to enjoy a nice 70 mile ride across 7 mile bridge and on down to the Southern most point.

Doubling down

That sounds cool right? I'm thinking if doubling down and doing it out of my comfort zone, not as a MAML (Middle Aged Man in Lycra), but as a human in regular clothes. It's Key West right. How can I not roll in in a tutu or thong.

Tripling down

But wait, let's triple down. I think I'll do it on a bike I build. Why not Bamboo?

Did I mention this is all happening as part of our New Years Eve weekend. Ya'll are really going to want to subscribe to this one.

Pikes Peak! Almost.

2021-09-24T15:32:00.004-04:00

Pikes Peak! Almost.

I finally got my chance to tackle Pikes Peak. Just after my 55th birthday, we had planned a trip to Colorado Springs for my daughter's post COVID wedding celebration. Being that close to Pikes Peak, this bucket list ride was going to be part of the itinerary.

However, due to a lingering side injury after my Mount Mitchell ascent, training did not go as planned. The injury was probably a result of gearing while riding in Mount Mitchell. I think I averaged a 60 cadence on that one. I was strong at the time, so it didn't really bother me during the ascent, but weeks after it crept in.

Lesson learned, I thought. For this attempt, I went out and purchased a new/old steel Fuso with gearing more suited for climbing. Upfront, a 39 tooth chainring, and in the rear a 6-speed 17 - 28 freewheel. I serviced the bike, replaced cables, and put proper width (46 cm) bars on it. For about two months I trained on this bike only in prep for Pikes Peak. Other than that some Christine D'ercole climbs on the Peloton. Unfortunately, it was not enough.

Here is the video. It's @ 23 minutes long because I left a lot of the downhill clips run in realtime. You can skip past them if you want.

https://youtu.be/SEheLuW5a3Y

Paddle Boarding in Downtown Tampa

2021-05-05T15:20:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone. It's been a while and even though COVID screwed up most of your travel plans, we remained out and about (albeit safely). I'm going to start loading some of our adventures as time allows, but here's a quick video I shot this morning in downtown Tampa.

5 tips to surviving your first century ride.

2021-01-12T20:00:00.002-05:00

I’ve been an avid cyclist since the day I learned to ride. I did my first long rides in the 4th grade during summer break with my friends. We would ride the river channels in Southern California to the beach, or north into the mountains. These were all-day affairs on BMX bikes, with whatever snacks we remembered to bring. Often we would pool our spare change for a small box of cake mix to share as our in-ride energy boost. I remember one ride we did from Cerritos to Lake Irvine, The last few miles include a pretty steep grade and descent into the park. Here we would get a snow cone, turn around and head home. Turns out it was 50 miles round trip.

Later I was a USCF Cat 4 racer and raced for Orange Coast Community College. It was during this time that I tackled my first century. I was a bit more prepared being a racer with a pro-level 12 speed, lots of miles under my belt, and a better understanding of nutrition, cake mix was no longer in the mix. Century rides in So Cal inevitably contain lots of climbing, which at the time I could handle with ease. At 6'4" as a racer, I wasn’t the fastest. However, I had endurance and if the race was long enough (flat or straight up a mountain) I’d catch the leaders before it was over. So naturally, I gravitated towards longer distance events.

In my 30’s I moved to Phoenix Arizona, actually Anthem north of Phoenix. I was at the foothills of the mountains to the North, and a short distance from, Prescott and Flagstaff. With time on my hands and a love for adventure, I’d seek out long rides in the mountains many in the 100-mile range. From Wickenburg to Prescott, Prescott to Jerome, Jerome to Strawberry, Jerome to Sedona. I miss those rides.

Today, in my 50’s I live in Tampa Florida. The cycling community is a bit different. Tons of triathletes mixed in with snowbirds who enjoy cruising about on one of the many dedicated bike trails. In the winter months, cyclists ride between cities on the Pinellas and the Withlacoochee Trails. Another trail, the Suncoast runs along the toll road from North of Tampa to towards Brooksville. This is a favorite of the triathletes as it never runs into a city and has few road crossings. These trails run from 50 to over 100 miles in length, and as I mentioned before they are busiest in the winter months.

Florida is a pretty good place to ride, I personally cross the bay many times a week on the Courtney Campbell Causeway Trail which takes you from Tampa over across the bay to Safety Harbor, Clearwater, and the beaches. I never get tired of riding along the ocean, especially when you can see it.

Both coasts are great for riding. You’ll see more people on the East coast riding up and down A1A, but it does get pretty congested the closer you get to Miami. It seems there are more local bike shop rides in these areas. On the West coast, it's way more laid back with longer stretches of road and less traffic. I’d say better suited for longer rides. Then there are the Keys. I’ve ridden from Key Largo to Key West 107 miles. It’s a bucket list ride.

Here are my tips to help you choose your first-century ride.

1. Choose The right century

Your first century is a personal achievement. As such you should not feel obligated to sign up for an organized event. In fact, a solo century has a lot of advantages. Honestly, I prefer solo centuries. There is no pressure to keep up with anyone but yourself, giving you the ability to ride at your own pace. However, if you’re the type of cyclist who does not like to ride alone and needs the motivation of others a mass start ride might be the right way to go.

Either way chose a century ride or route that has terrain similar to your local rides. If you do choose a bucket list ride, make sure you take into account travel and lodging on both sides if necessary. Picking a century route that starts from your doorstep is always a good option, especially if you're going solo.

2. Training

There are a lot of training programs published on the internet to get you through your first century ride. I’ve followed 6-month programs, 4-month programs. These are great for beginners looking to complete a century with little distance riding history. A rule of thumb is this: whatever you can ride in a week (total miles), you can do in a day. So if you're just getting on the bike, I’d find a 6-month program that builds gradually to your century goal.

Choose a training program suited to your current riding capabilities. This past year I was putting on a ton of daily miles due to a COVID-19 layoff. Probably around 100 to 150 a week consistently for around 4 months. When I decided to knock out a century before the end of the year, I gave myself two weeks to prepare.

I reduced the number of rides per week to 4. On Monday I’d do an easy 25 miler, Tuesday I would ride between 40 and 50 miles, Wed an easy 25 miler, Thursday I would do between 60 and 80 miles. My goal was to increase time in the saddle on the longer rides while recovering from the weeks' overall effort in between these rides. It worked, as I PR’d my solo century and felt great afterward.

3. Nutrition

For such a big effort, you must eat and hydrate to keep the engine running. Drink more than you think you can. At a minimum, drink at least one bottle of water per 20 miles. You can stagger this with Gatorade (or your preferred energy drink), every other 20 miles. I carry two bottles one filled with each and try to drink them both per 20 miles. Plan your route so that you can stop along the way and pick up more as needed.

I typically eat something every 20 miles as well. Eat a good light breakfast before heading out. Once on the road I start with bananas, or squeeze packs of applesauce then in the last part of the ride I’ll switch to gel packs. I plan my routes so that I can stop for lunch some time beyond the halfway point. Don’t eat to fill up, just have enough to get some fuel in you. Also, make sure you eat something that’s not going to upset your stomach. Mexican is my fav, so I’ll stop for some carnitas or tacos and a beer. While you're sitting down waiting on your meal, take this time to stretch and massage your legs a bit.

4. The right bike

Above all the bike you choose for your first century ride, should be comfortable for long distances. Preferably you already have this bike and use it as your daily ride. Cruisers, City Bikes, Mountain Bikes, or bikes with flat bars should not be considered Neither should E-Bikes, or Fixed gears. Although I have personally completed a century on a fixed gear, I wouldn't recommend it for first-timers.

If you are shopping for a bike please consider a used bike. Just like pets, you are doing the world a favor by adopting rather than creating something new. The term “Steel is real” rings true here. There are tons of steel bikes on the road still from the 70’s through the early 90’s. Look for Colombus tubing and mid-range Shimano or Campagnolo components. If you are buying new, make sure the bike is set up and comfortable for long-distance riding.

Avoid aluminum bikes as they really transfer bumps right into your body. Be cautious with Carbon as they tend to do this as well. It does not have to be a super light $5000.00 racer, with electronic shifting. In fact the less technology the better. You want to be able to repair or continue riding if something fails along the way.

5. Recovery

You will have undoubtedly built up some lactic acid during this effort. Your rear end may be sore as well as your upper body neck and shoulders. Be sure to stretch again right after your ride. Drink plenty of liquids, water, anything with electrolytes, beer is good as well for recovery. Eat as needed and consider massaging out the lactic acid you’ve built up in the legs.

I usually massage my legs in the shower or Jacuzzi. Soap and water seem to make the massage processes easier and face it you’ll be pretty dirty from your ride anyway. Knead the calves, and quads working upwards towards your heart. You will feel the lactic acid breaking up as you do this and your recovery time with be greatly reduced.

Try not to be sedentary after the ride. Keep moving, and go about your daily business. Keep replenishing your fuel along the way. The following day, go out and get in a short recovery ride. From there get back into your normal training routine and or start planning your next century.

This post was also published with additional content on Medium. Here is a link. If you are on Medium, please subscribe and like the article.

Phoenix's South Mountain Preserve

2020-05-04T16:13:00.000-04:00

Greetings all,

We're back with our first post in 2020. As I write this the world has changed. Covid 19 is wreaking havoc and we're all a bit stir crazy, but I am posting a ride from our trip to Phoenix in the weeks before the Virus put us all in time out. Our intended trip to Phoenix for a hockey game and to visit family, unfortunately, it became a stop on my trip to So Cal for my brother's funeral. He passed away in an accident after we had scheduled the trip. I continued on to So Cal with my mother and sister afterward.

While in Phoenix I was sorting out what happened to my brother and how this would affect all of us, and cycling is my therapy. It always has been. So I brought my bike. I figured I'd be able to ride in Phoenix, So Cal, and my final destination New Mexico over the next few weeks. I had quit my job about the same time my brother passed away. Unrelated, but still warranted. I'm so happy I was able to walk away from my job, take some time to concentrate on family, and reset.

We stayed at an Airbnb in downtown Phoenix. Our hosts Doug and Patty were awesome. Not only did they have an awesome Airbnb, but they owned a yoga studio and a vegan restaurant the Giving Tree around the corner.

In the evenings we walked down to Rosevelt Row where are the coffee shops, breweries, and restaurants are. It's about one mile each way. but the city is very walkable and safe as long as you stay on the busier streets.

One place that really took it to a new level was Undertow which is right below Sip Coffee. Find it, and book a visit to Undertow. It is the best themed Tiki Bar in the country. It only holds about 10 people at a time, drinks are expensive, full of rum and very sweet, but the ambiance is worth it.

As I mentioned earlier another reason for our visit was to go to the Hockey game. Our team the Tampa Bay Lightning happened to be in Phoenix that weekend playing the Coyotes. We made the trek via Uber to Glendale where the arena is. It was a dreary day for sure with pouring rain most of the day. Coyotes arena is surrounded by chain restaurants and bars; Bar Louie, Yardhouse...a Piano Bar. We went early to pre-party of course, meet Elise's brother who came down from Canada and explore the area. We had a blast. Not so much at the game as our team got spanked, I believe Steven Stamkos said later that night when we caught up to him at the Piano bar "We sucked". I didn't want to say it but yes they did. Oh well, we had a great time anyway.

On Monday morning, Elise headed to the airport and flew back to Tampa. I packed up my stuff set it aside and headed out for my ride up to the top of the South Mountain Preserve. As a kid, I'd been up here many times with family but I've only ridden it a few times. I know the route well. it's a grueling climb with a few false flats and rolling hills with steep short climbs to the lookout. From Central Phoenix to the start of the preserve is @ 8 miles, with a relatively easy climb straight to the preserve. This is where my video begins.

A couple of Sharks spotted in Tampa Bay

2019-10-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

Day drinking is fun, right?

You get out early on the bikes, hit your favorite brunch spot. Mimosas start flowing... That's what Sundays are for.

I'll have to admit I have a problem though. Not in an AA way. I am a friend of Bill but on the other side (AlAnon). That's a darker deeper story for a Medium article.

Back to the day drinking and my problem. Cell phones and the Internet. They are just right there ready to be your wingman when the conversation stagnates even if only for a minute. Who's on FB right now, what are they up too? Are they having more fun than me? Why does my crazy Aunt post this shit...and should I respond to get someone riled up?

That's the trap I used to fall into. I've learned my lesson. Nothing good comes from posting or responding to posts when you're day drinking. You will offend someone, or make yourself look stupid, or give someone an opening to post a pic showing that they are having more fun than you. Blasphemy!

No, my problem is now worse. I don't make it to the "F's in my App list. I'm usually on "E". As in eBay. eBay? Right? I'm late to the party. Most people use eBay to buy stuff they need now. I've found that you can use it to buy what you needed then, You know, back in the day.

What do I mean by this? Things I wanted back in the day and couldn't afford, I can afford now. Records, old concert posters, easy bake oven's (not me, my neighbor)...and my personal downfall, Bicycles. I want that bike I couldn't have back when I was racing in the 80's. Another Celo Europa, or Colnago, De Rosa, another Lankdshark, hell even a Specialized Allez. It's got to be 63 or 64 cm and steel. When I get bored on our day drinking adventures AKA Fin De Semana Destruido, I start shopping.

I haven't found what I want for myself yet, but that doesn't stop me. I'm pretty sure my wife needs a road bike. Bam there it is. A gorgeous 80's steel Landshark in just her size. Two weeks later it's in a box in our garage. What's in the box she says. We'll it is a gift for you I say. Really it's for both of us as I want the both of us to be able to go on longer rides this winter and the cruisers aren't going to cut it.

So now we have two Landsharks. His and hers. Has she been on it yet? No, but it's coming.

I can't buy bikes all the time though...not enough room in the garage. Must stop. Stay away from the Apps in the "E" row.

Wait what's this AliExpress App? Right here at the top of my phone in the "A's". Stuff direct from China at cost. Swimsuits, Racing Jersey's, Underwear, Robotic Vacuums? I'm in!

Bogota 2019 - Day 3 Monserrate

2019-06-18T15:00:00.000-04:00

There are three ways to get to the top of Monserrate, the tram, the funicular (a small cog rail), and of course a nice hike. For one of us, the hike was a no go, and the tram was out of service. This left the funicular. Unfortunately, our first attempt to go to the top two days earlier was dashed by the long line of folks in the queue. It was, after all, a holiday weekend and we were late to the party arriving at the base around 4:00pm.

View of Bogota from Montserrat

On this day, our second attempt, we decided to get an early start. We had the buffet in the morning to start us out then grabbed a cab that took us up and along the top of the city over to the entrance. It was a great cab ride and the cabby even pulled off a few times to show us great views of the city.

One of the two Funiculars

We arrived just as it was opening and after buying tickets for the funicular we were able to board within minutes. If you haven't been on one, it's a treat. It's basically a single rail car built at about a 45-degree angle with staggered rows of standing or seating. A cable pulls the funicular up the track and as it ascends (or descends) you get a full view of the city via its glass roof. In this case, the funicular runs perpendicular to the tram. Probably a cool sight to see when it's operating. Unfortunately, not at this time.

Once at the top the views are awesome. On the day we went, the sky was clear blue and you could see all the way to the horizon in all directions. It was cool at the top as well so be sure to bring a jacket. Plan to spend a couple of hours up there if you want to see and do it all. Start with a stroll through the Sculpture Garden.

Looking south along the Andes

As you pass the church on the right, there is a path that continues on to the top of the Mountain. It's lined with makeshift shops full of souvenirs. A bit further up you come into some restaurants with a variety of local foods. It was early and we had already eaten, but everything smelled delicious.

The church at the top

Entrance to the market

Squeezing through the end of the market it opens up to the top of the peak. The top is very top is bald and you can see stumps where trees had been cleared, probably to make room for the nearby radio tower. Regardless, you can get a great 360-degree view of the surrounding hills and the city.

The Andes to the East

View to the Northwest.

Looking West over the City of Bogota

Here, you will also see the burro's being loaded with compressed bags of trash or empty propane tanks heading off down the mountain to a nearby road where the trash is transferred and then hauled away. The burros, in turn, are then loaded with goods and sent back up. Very efficient.

Burros on the path down the mountain

Lastly, while you're up here take time to visit one of the restaurants and enjoy a snack and a beverage. It can be very quiet and peaceful up here and there are plenty of butterflies, hummingbirds and other airborne acrobats playing in the tree canopy. Grab a cold one and appreciate the day.

Well deserved break on top of Monserrate.

Bogota 2019 - Day 2 Cyclovia

2019-05-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

Cyclovia Sunday

Being avid cyclists, one thing we love about South America is Cyclovia Sunday. Cyclovia is where local roads are closed to automobiles and opened for cyclists, runners and walkers to safely enjoy their cities. Many South American Cities celebrate cyclovia. We knew from our research that Bogota was one of them.

Cyclovia is a great way to see Bogota

We learned about Cyclovia on a trip to Panama. I woke up one Sunday morning and was looking out from our high floor at the Hard Rock onto the main thoroughfare. To my surprise, there were no cars hustling about, but rather cyclists, runners, and walkers out enjoying themselves on a nice sunny day. We were too late to participate in this one, but we learned that in most cities you can rent bikes from local bike shops or local entrepreneurs on the street and ride from one area of town to another in an almost a parade like atmosphere. When we made our first trip to Colombia, Medellin a few months later it was one of the highlights of our trip.

Signs and barricades block the main route

Bogota, being the Capital city is a very pedestrian city with many miles of separated bike lanes, dedicated bike paths and drivers that respects and share the road with cyclists. It's almost shocking how bicycles and automobiles coexist in Bogota and Colombia in general. Bogota now has a bike share program as well. It is called MUVO and while limited in size and footprint we were able to download the app and rent electric bikes (e-bikes) this time for cyclovia. E-Bikes are a good thing for us travelers, as Bogota sits at a breathtaking 8000 plus feet of elevation and is fairly hilly.

For the more serious and in shape cyclists, there are some very good climbs in the area. A little farther to the west, if you're up for it you can try and tackle one of the longest continuous climbs in the world Las Altos De Letras! 50 plus of continuous climbing. I'm going to come back for this one myself. Check out this YouTube Video of the Climb courtesy of Oh Que Bola!

Bogota 2019 - Night 1

2019-05-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

Rested and Ready

Back at the Casa Dan Carlton we freshened up and headed out for a bite to eat and then check out a few bars. Our first meal actually in Bogota was actually a little Mediterranean place near the hotel. Nothing spectacular, but good overall. Locals tend to eat dinner much later that we would, so we pretty much had the run of the place. We ate outside on a patio, that had a view of the park which was still decorated for the holidays.

View from Inside Apache bar on the Rooftop of the Click Clack Hotel

After dinner, we went to a rooftop bar called Apache. It was above the Click Clack hotel opposite the park from our hotel. The hotel itself has a unique modern character, similar to the POD hotel in DC. Apache, the rooftop bar was very small but had a great view, good cocktails and a DJ playing 80’s alternative music. The Cure, Depeche Mode, Baltimora...It was heaven for me. We stayed and checked out the skyline hoping it would be a good place to see the NYE fireworks the following night. However, unlike Medellin, Bogota is on a high plain so you can't’ see much even from the rooftops. You have to go up Monserrat for the views, or at least further up the hillside which is primarily residential. Medellin, on the other hand, is on a Mountainside side looking down into essentially a ravine and across to another Mountain. The views there at night are amazing.

Holiday lighting in Bogota

Our travel partners tired out and left us to explore on our own. So we decided to walk down to the next area full of nightspots, It was probably a mile walk down through a quiet business district. It was well lit and at no time did we feel unsafe making the trek even at 10:00pm. Everyone we passed was out having a good time and had little interest in our doings. We ended up in the main entertainment district. It was full of restaurants and bars anchored by a high-end shopping mall and plenty of street vendors. It was very festive with holiday decorations still up and a gorgeously lit Bogota 2019 sign which was a very popular place for selfies.

Happy NYE from Bogota

After walking around a bit we found ourselves at a nightclub called House in the Sky where again we were early and beat the crowds in. We were ushered into a table with bottle service, which was very reasonably priced. The host brought over the one bartender that could speak English and she took care of us. Apparently, we walked in just in time as a live salsa band would be taking the stage very soon. It only took about 30 minutes for the place fill up completely to enjoy the band.

Three Generations of Fun

Aguardiente is the drink of Colombia. It tastes very much like Sambuca (a bit less sweet) and they drink it with water. One shot of Aguardiente followed by a small glass of water. The neighboring table spanned about three generations and they were having a great time enjoying the show, dancing, and downing bottles of Aguardiente like crazy! They pulled us into their good time generously handing out shots as the night went on. What a great experience. I highly recommend going to this club if you get the opportunity. Just look for the House in the Sky.

Waiting for our Late Night Street Meat

It was getting late for us and we were getting snacky so we left the club and headed out for some late night street meat. Never to disappoint Colombia has some crazy late night foods, and we were on the hunt for a Colombian hot dog. Within a block, we found our spot. My wife was in hot dog heaven and I found a delicious skirt steak accompanied with a large pile of fries covered in some mysterious gravy. After refilling our tanks, we called it a night and grabbed an Uber back to the hotel.

Transportation is always available in Bogota, with plenty of options from taxis to Uber. Most hotels have taxis waiting outside, but be prepared to squeeze in because as with most South American countries the cars a very small. Know you're Spanish or have your Google Translate out and Ready as the majority of cabbies do not speak English.

Tomorrow is Cyclovia Sunday!

Bogota 2019 - Day 1

2019-05-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

Bogota Colombia

Our first trip to Colombia was about two years ago. We drove from Tampa to Fort Lauderdale and boarded a flight to Medellin in February of 2017. It was an incredible trip and we knew we'd have to come back and see more of this great Country. Our second venture into Colombia was to Cartagena May of 2018. We were debating over going to Bogota at that time instead of Cartagena but heard from another traveler that Bogota wasn't that great so we opted for Cartagena. We knew all along that we'd get to Bogota, the question was when.

E-bikes in Bogota

As is typical for us, one day we found ourselves with too much time and started weeding through travel vlogs on YouTube. Knowing how much we loved our experiences so far in Colombia, we began revisiting Bogota vlogs and decided it was time to see Bogota for ourselves. We were looking for travel options for New Years Eve 2019, and nothing in the US was jumping out at us. hotel and airfare were way over inflated and we weren't about to put ourselves in a crowded place where our safety might be in jeopardy. Kind of funny, we leave the "comfort" of the US to go someplace safer for NYE, and that place is Colombia. So we booked JetBlue flights direct to Bogota from Orlando and headed south two days after Christmas.

Arriving in Bogota at around midnight on the 28th we had arranged with the hotel to have a car pick us up. This service was about $40 US for the four of us. Since it was late at night we did not want to chance to find a local cab that could carry the four of us and our luggage. It's hard enough to fit four American adults in South American cabs, let alone luggage. The airport is first rate and a 20-30 minute ride from Downtown.

Curbside at the Airport

We chose Casa Dann Carlton as our Hotel for the trip. Casa Dann Carlton was selected based on the price we wanted to pay per night, the proximity to restaurants, bars, nightlife and the attractions we wanted to see. In addition, we had stayed at a Dann Carlton property in Medellin, so we knew what to expect. When looking for a hotel in a foreign country, one way to know its safe is proximity to nightlife. If there is nightlife surrounding the hotel, it is most likely in a safe location.

View from our Balcony at Casa Dann Carlton

Our first morning we decided to venture out a bit and find some of the noted attractions of Bogota. First up, check out our neighborhood Parque 93. Plenty of restaurants surrounding a small park which found out later would be lit up at night with Christmas decorations.

Holiday Lighting in all the Parks

From here we took an Uber (yes they have them) to the Museo De Oro or The Gold Museum. The ride over was interesting as we skirted along in the foothills of the mountain dropping down into the city on occasion. The cost to cross the city via Uber was approximately $5 US. We found that most cab rides were similar. Uber does not have a large number of drivers so in many cases we found cabs were the better option.

Ancient Gold at the Museo Del Oro

The cost to enter the Museo Del Oro was about $4 US per person and it was a great experience. In total, we explored the museum for about an hour and a half, and it wasn't very crowded except for the occasional paid tours. You are welcome to take photos as long as you are not using a flash. After the Museo Del Oro, we headed over to a local cafe for a little pick me up. Not being very fluent in Spanish and only in the country one day, we did face some challenges purchasing our first meal. Fortunately, two of us had been practicing our Spanish via Duolingo and had Google Translate ready on our phones as our back up plan.

Street performers at the Plaza De Bolivar

Cathedral at the Plaza

From the cafe, we took a short walk down to the Plaza De Bolivar. The Plaza is basically the old town center and in my opinion overrun with street performers, beggars, and pigeons. It's worth seeing, just be prepared to say "No Gracias" a lot. On the East side, there was a Cathedral that was impressive and heading North a pedestrian mall that had plenty of local shops and restaurants...and more street performers.

VIP Capitol Bar

Here we found a bar called VIP Capitol where we successfully ordered many Bogota Brewing Company (BBC) Beers. We quickly found out that Bogota has more Bogota Brewing Company locations than gas stations. Unfortunately, there is really nothing special about BBC beers, other than they aren't Colombiana. This particular bar was nice and cozy and on the second floor of a building looking out onto the pedestrian mall. In addition, the staff was very friendly and it had a clean restroom for guests. The two days we spent in this area had us coming back to VIP for these reasons.

Our plan at this point was to take a short walk uphill to the entrance to Montserrat and take the Fernicular or Gondola to the top of the Mountain. Unfortunately, the Gondola was closed creating a long lineup and wait to get to the top. We opted for a quick bathroom break some Graffiti art sightseeing and a cab back to our hotel. From here, we could regroup and get ready for our first full night out in Bogota.

Bogota's Grafiti Art

Bogota's Grafitti Art

Some People Rescue Dogs, I Rescue Bicycles.

2019-05-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

About two months ago, I was scanning the local FB market and came across a Raleigh Racing Competition USA bike from the 1980s. There's nothing super special about these bicycles, except for the fact that they were marketed in conjunction with the 1984 Summer Olympics in Southern California. I actually lived in the OC and was near the road race course. These Olympics and Greg LeMond's inroads into professional cycling and his Tour campaigns reeled me into the sport.

Raleigh Racing USA

After a bit of negotiation with the seller who was no longer using the bike, I picked it up for a reasonable $200. It was in good working condition with no mechanical issues and all the original parts. It's too small for me, but I knew if I cleaned it up I could probably pass it along to someone looking for a cool steel ride from the past.

Friction Shifters

So many of us have transitioned from Steel to Aluminum to Carbon Fiber, that we have forgotten how much nicer steel framed bicycle rides. In fact, I'm guessing the millennials (excluding the hipsters) have never even ridden a steel framed bicycle. Steel bicycles are so forgiving of every bump in the road, unlike aluminum ones which transfer every bump directly into your body. Carbon fiber ones are just as ridged if not more, they even seem to transfer the sound of bumps.

My latest bicycle is an Electric assist Faraday Porteur. Sure the electric assist is cool, but the fact that its steel, rides like butter with or without electric assist is my favorite part. Not to mention it looks as cool as hell.

When you ride older bikes, you're more dialed in with them. No click clack shifting precisely between your 8 speeds. Bicycles of this generation have friction shifters. They are the equivalent of a stick shift in a car, and not everyone gets them. This one came with toe clips as well, although I did not pass them along. The owner can have them if he wants them.

I cleaned it up, adjusted the bars and saddle, and made sure the drivetrain was well oiled. My Co-worker TJ bought it. I sold the bike for what I bought it for, it was never about profit. I just thought it would be cool to have this bike out on the road again.

So ride on over to Buddy Brew, new owner, or through Seminole Heights over to Red Star Rock Bar or just down the street to your new local bar Hooch and Hive, and get the attention you and your new old steel ride deserve. Let's just hold off on the handlebar mustache as that's a bit much. I'll see you on one of our commutes to the office!

TJ picking up his Raleigh

A Weekend in Dunedin 2018

2019-05-16T09:30:00.000-04:00

Its that time of year again on the West Coast of Florida. Time to get your riding in before it gets way too hot and everyone goes into hibernation.

Around this time last year, we decided we needed a break from the hustle and bustle of Tampa and head over to Dunedin for a weekend of fun. If you're local, it's about 45 min Northwest of Tampa near the ocean, but away from the crowds of the coast. For those of you that live outside of Florida, fly into Tampa or St Pete (West coast is the best coast), drive 30 min Northwest.

Dunedin is known for 4 things; it's small-town feel, it's spring training baseball (Blue Jays), it's breweries, and the bike trail (Pinellas Trail) running through it. The last two are our reasons for heading over. Breweries right in the bike trail?...yes, please.

The bike trail actually begins in St Pete downtown goes through Clearwater, then Dunedin, and ends in Tarpon Springs. The trial is pretty much flat and has plenty of vegetation to provide some shade along the way. Dunedin is at just about the halfway point of the trail, but its the center of brewing activity. Also, Dunedin is pretty much the only place where you can grab a bite to eat without diverting some distance off the trail.

Tip: It can get pretty hot and humid here in Florida, the best time to hit the trail is between late October and early May. Expect to see a lot more activity on the trail during these months.

Where to stay? Dunedin doesn't have very many hotels. There's the usual chain hotel (Holiday Inn?) and one on the Ocean...not that great, but pricey because it's on the water. We're a bit more adventurous than others so we opted to go old school Florida and stay at the Palm Court Motel right across from the trail.

What a find. The Palm Court is a well-maintained slice of the ’50s. There are very few rooms (probably less than 50), all in a row with a sitting patio spanning across the front of the entire structure.

The rooms are updated but modest with a comfortable bed and a little kitchenette.

There is also a pool and a separately owned restaurant on the property.

The owner is pleasant and will offer suggestions for daily activities. He also has bikes for use/rental in the event you didn't bring your own. If you're adventurous, give this place a shot. The motel is just North of Dunedin about 2 miles and right by the turn to Caladesi Island.

We arrived on Saturday mid-morning, offloaded our luggage and bikes then hit the trial immediately. It was pretty hot out by this time so we went North heading towards the nearest brewery for some liquid relief. This place is right off the trail on the right if you're going North. There's a bike rack to lock up your bikes and an outdoor patio space with some community seating. This place is not big, in fact, you walk right through the brewery on your way into the tasting room. The variety of beers is great and always rotating. Do the usual and get a sampler before you dive right into your first pint. Goes easy though, the next brewery is only a few blocks up on the right.

This brewery has quite a bit more space and has a stage for bands or Karaoke, video games for the kids and a really cool view for the trail in the brewery. From here you can chill and drink while watching the cyclists, runners and walkers go by. Bike racks are out front.

At this point, if you continue North you'll pass an animal rescue facility with plenty of exotic animals backing right up to the trail. However, you ride quite a while before you get to another destination for a break, so make sure you have water. The trail ends at Tarpon Springs. If you haven't been here before, it's known for having the largest Greek population in Florida. They came for the fishing and the sponge trade originally and turned this area into an exact replica of their hometown fishing village. This means plenty of choices for some outstanding Greek restaurants and pastries.

Our day did not include riding this far North. Instead, we opted to visit a couple bars across from the trail and have some outstanding barbecue. The bars were typical West coast Florida bars, a little bakery (ZZ Top would fit right in) with nice patios to sit out on and cheap cold beer. Then we went over to a new barbecue joint for some brisket nachos. We were pleasantly surprised.

After this, we headed back to the motel for a dip in the pool before getting ready to go out for the evening. There might have been a little nap in there as well.

Ride with me. 10 Tips for Bicycle Commuting

2019-05-15T15:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I commuted to work. I also recorded the entire trip, real-time using my Garmin Virb Ultra 30 action/sports camera. I did this to show how easy it is to commute to work for those considering their own commute on Bike to Work Day, which is this Friday, May 17th. During the ride, I offer 10 tips for commuters to help them arrive safe and ready for the rest of their day. These are not all inclusive, just some of the ones I could think of during the ride. You can watch the video below

Or if you'd rather read them, here they are.

10 Tips for Bicycle Commuting

1.) Plan Your Route.

The way you drive to work, may not be how you want to ride to work. Know your local streets. Know where the bike lanes are, or more specifically where they abruptly end. Know where the streets with wide shoulders are. Know where (as a last resort) streets with sidewalks are and if necessary, you can safely ride on them. avoid busy streets if there is no wide shoulder or bike lane. You may even want to know where the streets with tree cover are for shade. Regardless, planning your route ahead of time with these factors in mand will take a huge amount of stress out of your ride.

2.) Prepare for Your Ride.

Know the weather forecast for the day. Wear a workout shirt, and carry a change of clothes. If you're going to get wet either from rain or sweat, carry a wet towel inside a ziplock bag. You can use this to clean up and refresh yourself. If it's hot out, put the ziplock bag in the fridge the night before, this way it 'll be nice and cool when you arrive at your destination. This is very helpful if your office does not have shower facilities.

3.) Make Sure Your Bag or Backpack is Waterproof.

Nothing sucks more than getting stuck out commuting in the rain, but it happens. Here in Florida, from May through October we are most likely going to have a rain shower. You don't want your work clothes, lunch, laptop, and phone getting soaked. I use an Ortlieb Backpack/Bag. It fits nicely on my front rack, and I can carry it or wear it as a backpack from the bike rack into the office.

Ortlieb Backpack

4.) Avoid Unnecessary Stopping.

Nothing makes you sweat like sitting at a sitting at a stop light with the sun-shunning down on you and no shade in sight. Some lights can take upwards of 5 minutes to change, or at least it seems that way. Remember this is why you decided to ride to work instead of being one of those folks in the cars who's blood pressure is creeping up as they wait impatiently for the light to change. If you see a light ahead and its read, slow your roll. If it's green, how long has it been green? what are your chances of arriving at the light while it's still green? Think about these things.

5.) Wear a Helmet.

It only takes one car or one bump in the road to take you down. Without a helmet on, it may put you in the hospital or worse, 6 feet under. We all have heard stories or know of someone, who has gone down on a bike. Pick a helmet that fits, and feels good. Then wear it, every time you ride. It's that one time that you don't, that something will happen and you go down. As someone whos been riding for over 45 years, I can say that there are still times where I don't wear one, but if I'm on or near the road I usually do. I always do when I commute, because I bought a nice helmet to match the colors of my bike. It's a fashion statement and that works for me.

6.) Don't Forget Your Lock.

Very few of us have the luxury of being able to park our commuter bikes in our office building. That means you will be securing it outside. Invest in a good lock and wrap it around your front bars or seat post. I prefer the combo ones or keyed ones. No need to worry about carrying the key around. Always have it with you, as you never know where you night wat to stop for a coffee on your way in or some social activity with friends after work. Bring a lock.

7.) For Us Electric Bike Owners.

Some of us have gone electric with our commuter bikes. Most of them have a 20-mile range under a full load. For me, this is good for about two days of commuting. I recommend carrying a charger or having a second charger available at your destination.

8.) Bring Some Water.

Your commute might be short, but its always good to have something to hydrate with. Also, you might get a little flying nuisance like a mosquito or lovebug in your eyes or swallow one of them. Water can be used to wash them out allowing you to continue on with your commute.

9.) Get a Commuter Bike.

Road and Mountain bikes are great, but they are designed for a specific purpose. Just as they are, so is a commuter bike. Get something comfortable, more upright, and with racks for bags to carry the load for you. Also, some of them come with integrated lights to make you more visible to drivers. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it should serve the purpose.

Front and Back Racks with Fenders.

10.) Fenders Are Your Friend.

Where I live it rains often and the streets are wet. You can't stop what's falling from the sky, but you can keep it from making a second run at you from below. Dirty water gets picked up by your tires and sprayed straight up your backside. Do yourself a favor, and eliminate this problem altogether by adding a set of fenders.

I know I didn't cover them all, or for your unique situation or climate. If you have some favorite tips, please feel free to add them in the comments section.

Happy commuting.

Bike to Work Day is this Friday, May 17th.

2019-05-14T22:07:00.003-04:00

I've commuted off and on for most of my life, but recently I've kicked it up a notch. Living within a few miles of my office is also a help. We live in Florida which gets hot and humid in the summer. So, fortunately, the office complex I work in has a gym complete with showers. To make life even easier, I purchased my first Electric bike to minimize the amount of sweating on my way into work.

My Faraday Porteur, a great commuter.

You may not have any of these to make your commute to work easier, but you can still do it. When I started commuting I lived in Southern California. My daily commute was from Mission Viejo to Santa Ana. Either by car or by bike, the commute was about an hour each way. In the car, it was stop-and-go traffic on the 405. On the bike, it was 10 miles of rolling hills followed by 10 miles of city traffic. At least California had plenty of bikes lanes the drivers were accustomed to sharing the road.

Yesterday I recorded my entire commute into work using my Garmin Virb Ultra camera. Total time was just under 16 minutes. After some editing, I will be posting it to on the blog this week. In this video, I also share10 tips to help make your commute a success. I will post these to the blog as well.

Anyone can commute if they wish to. To save the environment, to stay fit, to lessen your angst with sitting in traffic, to look cool on your new ride. You pick the reason. Hopefully, my video and tips will encourage you to give it a try this Friday.

5 things not to do when approaching a dead deer in the middle of the road while driving

2019-05-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

Recently we were driving from Fayetteville Arkansas to Kansas City Missouri in the early evening. Traffic was light and we had two lanes going in our direction. It was twilight and getting dark fast. If you've ever driven at night in the midwest you know to be on the lookout for wildlife. After all, Armadilloes are the State of Missouri's official speed bump.

Yay Mustang for the weekend

In the great scheme of things, Armadilloes are pretty small, its the Deer you need to watch out for. Traveling any road in the midwest affords you the opportunity to see the remains of Deer that have lost the battle with a vehicle. It leaves you wondering what happened to the car or truck that it had jumped in front of. I wouldn't want to be those people. Unfortunately, we did come close to being one of those people on this trip.

At the rental counter the day before I was given the choice of two vehicles, A Ford Mustang or a Dodge Charger. Both are pretty low to the ground and very fast. I figured the Mustang would probably get better mileage and chose it for this weekends adventures. The trip down was done in the daylight, so although we could see the carnage of armadilloes and deer, we didn't really have to worry about one of them jumping out into our path. We arrived in Fayetteville safely and went about or night.

The next day after my son's college graduation we had dinner and began our trip back to Kansas City around 6:30pm. With overcast skies and twilight approaching, we made it about halfway before we were night driving. Fortunately, there wasn't much traffic and we had two lanes going in each direction down a divided highway. Cruise control was set, coffee in hand and we were keeping pace with traffic at around 80 miles per hour. I had just passed a semi to my right when it happened.

A good deer

Right in front of us was a deer. Fortunately for us, it had already done it's real damage for the night and was already dead. Unfortunately for us, he was still in the middle of the road and there would be no swerving to avoid him. With a ground clearance of 114mm (under 6 inches), our rental wasn't going to glide right over him. I centered the vehicle over to make sure a wheel impact didn't cause a steering issue and take the vehicles control away from us. In less than a second, we were over it with a couple of thunks and nothing seemed to affect the Mustangs handling or performance.

We were nowhere near a place to stop and inspect the vehicle safely, so I monitored the oil pressure, coolant temp, and handling as we made our way to a gas station. There were no strange sounds from detached panels or from anything dragging so I figured we dodged a bullet. Knowing how low the Mustang sits, I feared the worst and was already trying to figure out if my credit card did actually cover the rental for damage as we pulled into the gas station.

To my surprise, the Mustang came through it pretty much unscathed. The rear bumper side panels had popped out, but they popped right back in. The center light at the bottom had popped out and was hanging at an odd angle, and the pins that held the center part of the bumper snug to the underbody had broken. All things I was pretty sure I could fix or pop back into place in the morning.

Outside of "do not drive a car at night in the Midwest", here's what I learned and 5 tips in case you find yourself in this situation.

1. Do not panic

Our situation found us traveling at or near the speed limit keeping pace with the other vehicles. We had just passed a semi going slower in the right lane when I saw the deer in the road. Taking my eye off the deer to verify I had completely passed the semi was not an option as I was approaching the deer rapidly. bracing for impact was all we had time for. My assessment was we'd be better off ogin over this deer rather than trying to stop or swerve to avoid it.

2. Do not brake

Breaking would have caused the front end to dive reducing clearance even more at the front of the Mustang and likely creating a greater possibility of impact to the front. Also, reducing our speed might have put the semi-directly our right again. If impact would have caused loss of control even momentarily, having a semi to close by could become fatal.

3. Do not swerve

There was no time for an evasive maneuver. With a semi just behind and to our right, I feard any maneuver to avoid the deer might put one of our tires directly over it causing a loss of control. Any loss of control could have spun us out or put us into the semi's path. Better to hold the course and prepare for impact.

4. Do not think about the cost of potential damage

Life is way more important than any potential damage to a vehicle, but these things can creep into your subconscious and have an effect on your decision making with respect to points 3 and 4 above. I stayed with my original assessment, we were going to go over this deer.

5. Do not stop to inspect until you've found a safe location to do so

Once we cleared the deer and the vehicle withstood damage. I monitored the vehicle performance and handling characteristics to determine that we could safely make it to the next gas station for a visual inspection. Do not stop along a busy highway at night unless absolutely necessary. You never want to become the deer.

Everyone be careful when your out driving. You never know what situation you might find yourself in. In our case, the deer was already down. Had he been crossing the road, point 1 would still apply, all others may not have.

When a Mustang meets a Deer

2019-05-12T14:00:00.000-04:00

OK this is a teaser. I've written the post, but I cannot share until i've returned the rental and am far away from this town. Suffice to say, I'm writing this blog post so...

Happy deer.

More to come.

Matt Wilpers Power Zone Training made my most recent century ride a breeze

2019-05-10T12:00:00.000-04:00

Living the dream

To be honest I’m a pretty experienced cyclist with plenty of years of racing under my belt. To be brutally honest...that was a long time ago. I am now much older at 52, a bit heavier at 248 lbs, and taking pre hypertension meds as a result of the latter. Am I fit? I like to think so. I ride often albeit at a much more casual pace, and shorter distances, and usually it's between pubs where I do enjoy having a few craft beers. But I still ride.

I have a few bikes these days. My prized custom made carbon fiber Landshark and last years birthday present to myself a Faraday Porteur electric assist bike for the occasional work commute. Gone are the days of 7 bikes, one for each specialty and terrain. No need and no room these days.

My wife Elise rides as well and as long as she can stay off the road on side walks or trails or where she deems it safe, she rides with me. We live in Tampa so we have quick access to the Causeway, the Pinellas trail, and the Suncoast trail, each affording us safe and scenic riding for many miles. We also have access to the beaches where we can go from St Pete to Clearwater and beyond when the mood strikes us. When we travel, we rent bikes. Austin, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Panama, Bogota, Medellin, and Honolulu are all places we’ve enjoyed the local bikeshare programs.

When Christmas rolled around last year I purchased a Peloton for my wife. It was a last minute decision, the barrage of commercials leading up to the holiday reeled me in. That and the fact she was spending quite a bit of money monthly riding at the local spin studio. It's a great studio and I’ve gone there as well, but there has been a lot of turnover in instructors and there’s never any parking. Having the Peloton at home has solved those problems.

We set up the Peloton, created our accounts and were on our way, trying out different instructors and classes to meet our specific goals. I love the Peloton, but I will still head outside and ride in the real world given the opportunity. Opportunity, at least in the case of cycling in Florida is defined as...when its not hot and humid as hell outside. So Mid October through Mid June. Anywhere in between, and you’d better plan on starting your around 5am and finishing before that big red ball of heat cracks the horizon.

My neighbor Jim, who I ride with often also received a Peloton for Christmas, so between the three of us, we kept each other challenged with the social connectivity aspect of the Peloton. My neighbor and I also ride together outside often. We both have the goal of losing some weight and being more fit in general. Riding does this for us. Jim and his wife Lisa also join us on many of our adventures around the world. Besties you could say.

On one of our nights out Jim and I decided to set a goal for a long ride and make it an adventure. I wanted to do the longest climb in the world (Christine D’Ercole...sush) Alto de Leteras in Colombia. 52 miles of uphill fun, but Jim wasn’t ready for that. Oh it's going to happen, just maybe not this year. I had to scale it back a bit. We decided to ride instead 100 plus miles from Key Largo to Key West. Our wives could fly down and meet us in Key West where we’d have a great weekend. If you want to hear more about that story, see my video and blog posts. Search using the keyword: Key largo, or Key West.

Matt, Matt, Matt...

This post is about how Peloton and more specifically Matt Wilpers Power Zone Training helped me prepare for the ride. We picked a date of Mid April for our ride, which gave us about 4 months to prepare. Since Jim and I work different hours we decided to do one long ride each weekend, lengthening in distance as we progressed towards the ride. Basically, we’d add 5 to 10 miles each weekend until we peaked around 60 then taper a few weeks before the ride. During the week it was up to us individually to determine how much riding we needed to do. We were both riding our Pelotons about 3 to 5 days a week during this time, so we were getting enough miles in. How we trained was a bit different.

I can’t speak for Jim, but my training leaned more towards endurance and cadence. I was never a believer in high cadences as professed by the Lance Armstrong era, but rather i’m a grinder in the style of Bjarne Riis or the “Big Mig” Miguel Indurain. Wow I just went Pro Cycling on ya’ll. One the Peloton, I felt good in the 85-100 cadence range. If I went above for a long time or tired to hold that out of the saddle I’d wear out pretty quickly. Watching my heart rate wasn’t going to be enough information for me, so I began looking for options in the classes. This is where I stumbled upon Matt Wilpers and Power Zone training.

I won’t get to into the weeds on the details of the program, except to say that we all work out at different levels of effort and to truly know what level of effort you are training at you need to determine your power zones. Based on a scale of 1 to 7, these zones will help you train more efficiently. To determine your power zones you take a 20 minute Fitness Threshold Power (FTP) ride where you determine your average output over those 20 minutes. Enable Power Zones in your personal settings, then input that number. It will calculate your power zones and they will be displayed as an additional set of metrics the next time you ride.

To ensure you are training properly, You want to be working in zone 3. This is where you can maintain a sustained level of effort for long periods of time and still be able to hold a conversation. This is pretty much the sweet spot. Using power zones, you can concentrate on which zone you’re in adjusting cadence and resistance to suit. What I like about power zone training is that I get maximum benefit out of my time in the saddle.

If you do enough power zone training on the Peloton you will learn where that sweet spot of zone 3 is at any given cadence in combination with your level of effort and speed. Adding a cadence monitor to your road bike will allow you to carry this over to your outdoor riding as well. Sure you could go all out and buy a powertap rear hub, but that’s pretty expensive and not really necessary unless your a pro or hard core club rider. I am no longer either of those.

Again my personal goal was 100 plus miles in about 4 months time. Using Matt’s power zone training and taking his classes I learned over a few weeks that my optimal cadence was between 80-95 on flat roads averaging around 22 mph on the Peloton and around 20 mph when riding outdoors. Cadence is the key, if I fell below my sweet spot of 80-95 I was putting in to much effort and would wear out...change gears. If I was spinning at a higher rate I would also likely wear out...change gears. I became cognizant of what my level of effort was and how to manage it.

I outfitted my bike with Garmin speed and cadence sensors that paired instantly with my Garmin Fenix 5 watch. Using these I set up screens to display cadence, and speed, average cadence, and average speed, cadence and heart rate and so on. Now I could track these metrics real time while riding. What a huge help. Not only in preparation rides, but during our big ride. I watched these metrics, especially cadence like a hawk.

I’ve done a lot of 100 plus mile rides in my days of cycling, but not recently. This one went down in the books as the one that I physically completed with an above average level of energy remaining. We rode hard for 7.5 hours into a steady head wind. We had to adjust for that. My average speed over the course of the ride ended up being 14.4mph and my cadence averaged 79 rpm. Just on the lower end of my sweet spot. Likely due to that headwind.

Looking at a graph of my speed with cadence overlayed you can easily see that the both held pretty constant with little drop off over the course of the entire ride. Meaning to me anyway that I did stay right where I needed to be regarding level of effort. Something I had not been able to do in the past I credit Peloton and Matt with his Power Zone Training program for giving me the tools to understand and manage my effort on this long ride.

The Day After

2019-05-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

Saturday we woke up fresh and ready to go albeit with my rash that was going to make walking around pretty painful for me. We spent the day shopping for the essentials we needed including hats & suntan lotion at Ron Jon. We also stopped by a souvenir shop and picked up some tiny Mile Marker 0 decals for our bikes. At 11:00 am it was time for another meal, fish tacos at Key West fish & chips. This place has a nice little shaded area and the food is prepared and served out of a food truck. Good food and great value.

Mimosas at Willie T's

We moved on back down Duval to Willie T's for some Mimosa's. Not that we are big on Mimosa's, it was more about the opportunity to send a couple of pics back to the wives of us enjoying ourselves. Too many mimosas will do me in so, we kept it classy and moved on after about 4 of them. Time for some more shopping. This time we wandered into Graffiti's a place for swimwear if you're into European style swimwear.

Probably Eastern European swimwear

Are you a lefty or a righty?

Ok, it's primarily a shop for more of the gay lifestyle, there's some adult stuff for sure. However, I'm a Floridian now, a cruise lover, and someone who enjoys shocking people as I care less and less every year I age. European swimwear works for me. Jim didn't buy anything in Graffiti, I'm guessing his Spartan Alum would have found out and taken his "Go white, go green card". Instead, he bought a pair of Costa sunglasses made of recycled material. He lost them two weeks later.

Jim, here's a pic of you and the glasses you lost a week later

Midday Saturday was spent watching the drag races in front of Bourbon St Pub. It was pretty hot out during this event, not sure how they do it in drag with the whigs and makeup. However, it was great fun and the entire street was lined with cheering spectators. I believe they hold this event often in Key West so be sure to check it out when you're in town.

Drag Races on Duval St.

We left Duval and went back to our rooms where we changed into our swimwear and made the obligatory trek down the street to Dante's. From the Heron House Court, it's about 3 blocks to Dante's and the Marina. As expected, Dante's was full of people partying and having a great time at the pool. We bought a handful of beers sat in the water and enjoyed the people watching. It was here that we also ordered our only fruity drinks of the weekend, Strawberry daiquiris. After a couple of hours, we left to get ready for dinner and another run at Duval St.

Good times at Dante's

Normally good BBQ isn't what you think of when in Key West, but a new place near the hotel had just opened The Dirty Pig and was getting good reviews. We dropped in and had some pretty good ribs. It was a very New Orleans style atmosphere and they had a great band playing so we stuck around for a few drinks as well. Overall a very good experience. We capped off the night with drinks on Duval where I ended up on stage at Irish Kevin's doing obligatory "thank's to our active duty and retired service members" shots. That and some baby Guinness's did me in for sure. If I remember correctly we followed this with a late night stop at Wendy's. Late night food at Wendy's can only mean a good time was had and not all of it remembered.

Mmmm Ribs from the Dirty Pig

The Ride

2019-05-08T15:00:00.000-04:00

We woke around 5:30 to drizzle with moments of downpours, but it was warm and we were ready to go. The forecast showed the band of rain stopping by 9:00 am and sliding north with clearing skies over Islamorada. We just had to make it to Islamorada. So we moved the vehicle over to to the Caribbean Club, paid our $20 and struck out in the rain.

From Key Largo to Islamorada there is a bike path completely separate from the roadway. This was a sign of good luck. We moved right at a good leisurely pace with our along lights on as the sun would rise behind us in an hours time. Just as expected the storm broke right as we approached Islamorada. we stopped at the Starbucks in front of the Postcard Inn which is almost complete in its renovations post-Hurricane Irma. I don't normally stop at Starbucks, but in this case, I feared no other options further down the road and we were hungry. Half an egg & Cheese biscuit would get us going.

1st stop Starbucks for a jolt and a biscuit

After this quick break, we motored over the first tow long bridges on to Conch Key where we reloaded our water bottles at the Bay View Inn and Marina. I was really excited about the bridges, but we quickly realized we were going to be pushing into a headwind all day. At that point, bridges lost their luster as they provided no shelter from this headwind, and we still had seven-mile bridge to contend with. All in all though, at this point we're still feeling good and about a third of the way through the ride.

The one other cyclist we came across on this day

Seven-mile bridge, where the wheels came off for one of us. Seven-mile bridge is pretty much the halfway point. We did make a quick stop right before the bridge to fill the water bottles again and sort everything out before continuing on to the bridge. Once you're on it, you're committed. There is no turning back. I lead the two of us onto the bridge. We kept a good gap between us as there would be no drafting this day. About a quarter of the way we passed a woman riding solo. Other than that it was long and uneventful. The cars didn't bother me, but they did my partner Jim. We kept our eyes out of debris and occasionally peaked over the side to see people fishing on their boats. I did see some large Rays swim by as well.

Rays on the right

You pass the 40-mile marker just before you finish crossing the bridge. We're under half way now. I stopped to wait for Jim and when he caught up he said he was starting to feel the effort. add to that the sun was beating down on us and even though it was windy it was still pretty warm out. Jim was feeling the extra effort from the wind as well. We needed some food to get us through the rest of the ride. We just had to cross the bridge over Bahia Honda and we could catch a break from the wind as we veered north for 3 miles towards Big Pine Key. As soon as we rounded the curve into Big Pine Key we found a restaurant and bar to grab a bite and rest.

29 miles to go. Big Pine Key has a nice trail off the main road heading down and it's fairly sheltered with trees to the left and mangroves to the right. This allowed us to keep a nice pace and cruise along in peace. The food helped a little, but the ride was getting long and in our still damp clothes I was starting to feel a bit saddle sore. We took another break under some shade with 17 miles to go. Not much was said during this break, another squeeze pack of apple sauce and some water that's all. I did mention that we should try and knock out seven miles, then we could split the last ten into two manageable fives, one of which would be through town and go quickly.

We did just that, crossing the road, as usual, finding the trails as we could and hiding from the wind and sun until we reached the outskirts of town. From here five miles out, you can smell the finish and the brain takes over. We rode the wide sidewalk along the water into the heart of the town on along Roosevelt which turns into Truman Ave. Once it becomes Truman the sidewalk becomes too narrow and full of pedestrians. So back onto the road, no worries the speed limit is ten miles an hour at this point. From Truman, we made a left on Whitehead and within minutes we were finished with the ride taking a selfie at the Southernmost point in the US.

We did it!

Garmin says 107 miles

Whew, it was over, and boy does my ass hurt, not from the ride necessarily, but from the saddle sore caused by the wet clothing. I'm going to have to solve this problem soon, but not before a couple of beers to rehydrate at the Tipsy Rooster. I'd met the bartender on a previous trip while paddle boarding. He was previously a chef in New York, but had burned out and dropped it all to move to the Keys. While paddleboarding he told us about the Tipsy Rooster and said that even though he wouldn't be in the next day, he'd let the staff know and that they'd take care of us. True to his word they did! That's the main reason for the stop there after the ride, the other...its the closest bar to the Southernmost point.

First stop after our ride, The Tipsy Rooster

Remember our wives. They were supposed to be arriving at any moment on a plane from Tampa with our clothes and sundries for the weekend. Well, that wasn't going to happen. A large storm (the one we would get in about 4 hours) was passing through Tampa. So large it shut down the airport for 4 hours and canceled all the flights into Key West. We were on our own for the weekend in Key West. Much to the dismay of the wives who were going to miss out on the fun.

This same storm shut down Tampa International earlier

Knowing we would be on our own, no clothes except what we are wearing we had to modify our plans a bit. After a couple of beers, we headed to the Heron House Court to check in. Jim stayed and showered while I headed back out on the bike to find us some clothes. Two swimsuits, two T-shirts, Two pair of flip flops and I was back on the bike headed to our hotel. Mind you I did not sit on the saddle the entire time. My saddle rash was getting painful. I took a quick shower, met Jim in the lobby and handed the outfit just purchased. The rest of the items we'd need could wait until later.

Once changed and ready we visited with our host at the hotel who told us there was a happy hour still going on at the large property, the Heron House. Free drinks in Key West yes, please. We walked over gingerly and met up with the host of hosts at the Heron house properties, Roman. Roman was pouring the wine as the happy hour was winding down. I introduced him to Jim and we told him and the rest of the guests at the happy hour the story of our ride and our wives missing their flights to Key West. We all had a good laugh.

We ate the Pizza before I could take a photo

By this time it was around 7:00pm and we were ready to replenish some of those 5500 calories burned earlier on our ride. As we walked towards Duvall we came across Clemente's Trolley pizzeria. Wow! We had one outstanding pizza. We give it 4 thumbs up. It is a very small place so don't expect to bring in a party of eight and find a table quickly. While we ate, the storm that had ended our wives plan to fly down from Tampa was just hitting Key West. When the rain subsided for a few minutes we darted in the bar next door, The Roost where we had a very nice old fashioned. After this, we paid a visit to CVS where I bought some very necessary Gold Bond to make it through the night.

One necessary stop at CVS

Our last stop of the night was Margaritaville, where we had two before calling it a night.

One last drink for the night.

Planning our ride

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First off we had to find a date that worked. With our busy work and travel schedules, this was a challenge. No way would my riding partner Jim be able to go before April 15th as he and his wife Lisa own Twin Management a Tax accounting service. Any earlier than April would be a bit to tight on the training schedule. So we opted for April 19th, which was a Friday. I put together a "long mile build up" training program that we could follow on the weekends. It started with 20 miles (no problem) increasing by 5 or 10 every weekend until we reached a 60 miler, then tapering the last couple of weeks before the big ride. The rest of the week, we were on our Pelotons riding 30 to 45 min per day with the Peloton instructors.

Ready to roll

Off the bikes, the big challenge was logistics. I didn't realize the weekend we had chosen was Easter weekend. This really added some challenges to the planning. Hotels, no problem. In Key Largo, we booked Amy's Dive Resort, sight unseen. We were only going to be there for the night and it turned out to be a perfect spot. Right on the water, close to food and pretty much across the street from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. For us, it was a meal, some beers, a sunset, and a good bed to get some rest in before our departure at 6:00am.

In Key West, we booked the Heron House Court where I've stayed previously. The Heron House Court is small with a limited number of rooms, a pool, and a jacuzzi. It's walking distance from Duval Street, but you are not going to want to make that trip multiple times a day. It's very close to Dante's and the waterfront area with plenty of dining options nearby. Okay so place to stay all set. So far so good.

Roman our host at the Heron House Court

Transportation was a bigger challenge. The wives opted for round trip flights from Tampa...this would turn out to be a big mistake. We could either rent a car from Tampa to Key Largo, then rent another in Key West and return it to Tampa. Those options we soon found out were not going to work because of the Easter holiday. There's no place to drop off a rental car in Key Largo and in Key West, the car rental places were not open on Easter Sunday, the day we were planning on returning. Another option for getting out of Key West...the Key West Express ferry was also closed due to Easter Sunday.

Here's what we came up with. We decided to drive down to Key Largo, spend the night then move the vehicle in the morning over to the Caribbean Club where we could park it over the weekend for $10 per day. We'd start our ride from there. In Key West, we'd rent and pick up a vehicle on Saturday when the Rental facility was open, park it overnight and drive back to Key Largo with the bikes on Sunday where we'd pick up our vehicle. Unfortunately, the only place to return the rental was in Naples, which was on our way back to Tampa. So we did have to drive two vehicles for a portion of the trip. We later found out that there is a bus service through the Keys and they do have limited spaces for bikes on the front of the bus. This could have been an option.

Our goal was to make this trip without hauling all the weekend's necessities with us on our bikes. We were only going to take our water bottles. spare tubes and tire changing equipment and some form of protein. This meant we'd either have to ship a weekends supply of clothing and sundries to the Hotel in Key West ahead of time or have the wives bring these items along with them on their flight in. Having the wives bring our stuff only had one problem, what if they didn't make it due to weather. We went with this option figuring we could take the risk and worse case we'd have to buy these items if they didn't show.

From Tampa to Key Largo took us about 6 hrs. We left on Thursday around noon. 75 south to Naples and then drop down to 41 (bypassing alligator alley) through the Everglades to 991 which turns into US 1 near Homestead FL. We arrived in time to have a couple of beers, do some carbo loading and watch the sunset. The forecast called for rain in the morning, so a good nights sleep was all that we could think of and after a full day of driving that's exactly what we did.

Amy's Amoray Dive Resort in Key Largo

View from the beach looking back at Amy's

Cycling from Key largo to Key West

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We did it! Our goal for the beginning of the year is now in the books. After surprising the wife with a Peloton for Christmas, and my neighbor doing the same for her husband. He and I set a goal of riding from Key Largo to Key West, a hundred plus miles in a day. I've finished the video and it is available below for your viewing pleasure.

Subscribe below or to the right for a more about our ride. Where we detail the logistics involved, the ride itself, where to stay and what to do in both Key Largo and Key West. We'll also cover tips for those that want to try this trip on their own, and our plans to do it again later this year if you'd like to join us.