2011 Cross Florida
East Coast to Gulf Coast
170 Mile Bicycle Ride
1 Single Day Event
Cocoa Beach to Weeki Wachee
click here for the
Spacecoast Freewheelers
official website.
The Cross
Florida Ride
Micky's first 9
years.
Micky Dee
A beautiful dawn greets the beautiful day.
It's a wonderful day for riding across the state of Florida.
The first "Cross Florida" began the same year as the "Assault on Mount Mitchell".
1976
There was a change in the format. It became a "licensed race" for a few years.
"Cross Florida" even took a sabbatical.
It's so good to see it back in full swing and growing.
170 MILES - 1 Day - Coast to Coast
"Cross Florida" is a Classic!
Sallie finds the perfect hat for shading the sun. Tinkerbell is spreading some fairy dust.
Tough As Nails!
She's a kewl kewcumber,
But a hot tomater!
And she can ride 170 miles,
In the land of the alligator.
It will put you through a test.
The road is long and hot.
It will test your very best.
And take all that you've got.
This is the little engine that could.
This miss "Sallie Whitmore".
When it gets hot, she gets hot,
And puts her pedals to the floor!
She keeps the cadence smooth,
As she spins her pedals around.
She floats just above the asphalt,
She glides from town to town.
She has that "strength to weight ratio",
Working for her side.
And oh my Lord, dear Lord,
How that girl can ride!
I gave my best. I finished in a mess!.
The ride took it all.
But when this lady finishes-
She's still standing tall.
Sallie still has her elegance!
Such a cool demeanor!
And she makes Micky Dee,
Feel like such a weiner!!!
~Micky Dee~
Our Cross Florida "support photographer" took this picture, several others, and sent them to me.
It's check in time. There are quick snacks for the riders before they "launch".
Sallie lost a lens for her glasses. I trace back to the car. Sallie takes off to the hotel.
She finds her lens!! Plenty of time! Whew!
Staying off the legs is a great idea. The engines are idling.
Use the bathroom one more time!!!
The "cue-sheet" tells us the "turns" at what distance, total mileage, and the direction we will be riding.
(The "Linda Pedersen Park" is also "Weeki Watchee Gardens".)
The engines are revving!
The "rest stops" supported by "Cross Florida", and convenience stores along the route.
The "Linda Pedersen Park" is also "Weeki Watchee Gardens".
And they're off!
Follow the yellow arrows!
This is how it's done.
Uniform arrows are painted along the route -not too large - not too small.
Two before the turn for the "warning".
I also like a "conformation arrow" or a "smiley face" after the turn.
Some are "more off" than others- but most will be "way off" later today!
Last chance! Don't do it!
Ah! They just couldn't see the signs.
We're heading to Merritt Island and then Cocoa..
We'll have plenty of traffic lights for the first 10 miles, maybe.
We have a "peloton" is and it sticks together through the intersections.
It was a very cordial group.
However, we find out later that a few guys actually did attack and were out of sight.
Not "cricket" really - to attack through the intersections while the group waits.
But, there's comfort in a large group. It's a beautiful day!
If they could get shed of all the water...it would be a great place.
It's just slightly cool as we leave
We're expecting temperatures in the lower or middle 80s for later today.
There's a bit of a "cross wind" but not bad.
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.
The plan for most riders, early, is to spin the cranks pretty freely and cover up from the wind.
A lot of us will take a pull at the front - somewhere.
Most of the riders who show up for "Cross Florida" are seasoned.
Most of the riders know what to expect.
It's all "self inflicted".
It's all good now.
It's nice having some cushion from the wind and being fresh.
Life is so beautiful right here, right now.
We're basking in the sun and our "peloton peace accord".
But is there danger ahead?
(Here, we rode through a fog. I added the "eyes" but the rest is real- according to the camera.)
We leave our busier highway. Now the horses take control.
The pace goes to 26 or so MPH, consistently.
It's still fine. The wind seems to be from out front right. Some of us "echelon" to our left.
This friend asked if I wanted a picture taken of me. I said," thanks, but I know what I look like."
But our pace slowed and it was safe, so I relented. It's nice to show off my Charleston "Coastal" kit.
This is what you can't see on that interstate.
Here is our heroine!. Her smile says that there is no peril at hand.
(Compliments of the "Cross Florida" Ride Photographer.)
Here we take a pretty excursion around a lake with walking and cycling paths.
A local fair or other "gathering" was taking place.
Don't eat the corndogs and ride!
Looks like a nice family event.
Very clean and pretty area.
That's it! Animation!
Peacocks! -(They taste like chicken.)
We took a "Gilligan's Island tour in Kissimmee.
This added mileage. I went out of the way from the way most people went out of the way.
This was really where I "lost it". The road was brick and potholed. It finished my shoulder off.
Soon I would be riding alone for most of the day. This was at about 75 miles maybe.
I would catch groups that would stop at rest-stops.
But they would soon catch back and pass, dropping me. I just had to "spin my spin".
Orange groves dotted the countryside.
This young man kept a great "spin".. I couldn't help him much though. He would drop me later.
It's nice out here.
The cows seem to like it.
The horses like it.
My average alone into the wind was often below 14 mph.
Still- there was still a long day ahead.
I would stick to the only safe "game plan" I know.
I will try to spin at about 90 revolutions a minute.
If my effort goes to "pushing" or "mashing" the pedals - all is lost.
I would lose a few groups because the effort was too much muscle.
"A man's gotta know his limitations".
There will be hills ahead that will require enough muscle.
Most of the riders ahead know the rule of "spin to win".
But the folks ahead of me can just spin a harder gear.
I'll spin and go into the "pain management" phase.
This picture was taken by the Cross Florida "support photographer".
(He never got my "good side" though.)
Notice the reflections in the water.
Alas, it was another group I couldn't hold onto.
I was down to 14 miles an hour. My shoulder was killing me.
I may have started hallucinating!
It was here, at the 109 mile SAG, I was able to get a coke and a cold bottle of water.
I "iced" my shoulder a bit with the cold coke and cold bottle of water.
I was amazed at how better I became, instantly, when I climbed back on the bike.
The hills tax the legs though.
A field of red "sour-grass".
An old church as the route closes in on San Antonio.
My Garmin "GPS" quit at 118.99 miles.
I walked 10 feet with the Garmin recharged and it turned over to 119.00 miles.
The time elapsed for the 119 miles was 6 hours, 8 minutes, 47 seconds.
The Garmin says that I averaged 19.4 miles per hour.
We climbed more toward San Antonio.
Our assent accumulation was 1234 feet.
Our descending accumulation toward San Antonio was 963 feet.
What I thought to have been nostly a tail-wind for a stretch may have been "descending" more.
We definitely rode over a "hill".
Before here, an angel filled my bottles with cold water. I "ice-watered" my shoulder.
I put the cold water on my misery and the inflammation subsided.
In San Antonio I caught up with some guys at a stop light.
I turned right, then left into a convenience store. More ice and coke.
The inflammation and pain, in my shoulder, subsided. I was a new man.
I had asked the convenience clerk how far it was to Weeki Watchee.
He said, "Weeki Watchee- very far!"
Seems like "very far" in San Antonio equals 40 miles!
I was making good time again. Maybe 18 or better quite a bit.
I may have had a tail wind out here.
But some of the hills were like the piedmont of North Carolina.
Believe me. This wasn't a hard one. But they all get hard after 50 miles. This is past 100.
My Garmin GPS died on me. I have no idea how far I have to go.
I can't get a Garmin to stay awake for 8 hours.
I think I catch up to these nice gentlemen at the intersection. It's all a blur.
I struggled in on vapors for the last several hours.
I saw a "painted '5" denoting "5 miles to go".
I rode an eternity and came to a "4".
I rode another eon and came to mile marker "3".
Is there really an end?
Can I really get off this bicycle now?
Thank You Sweet God!
I could only lean my bike against something sturdy and sit my butt down on something sturdy.
I sat at a picnic table inside the pavilion.
I tried to drink a soft drink. This elixir seems to save me quite often.
I sat for a long time. I didn't get past half of the soft drink. I headed for a tree.
I called to the "Buick" for quite awhile.
After getting shed of all contents, I headed for my cold shower which was very rejuvenating.
(Photo by Debbee)
Now I could take more pictures.
My weight, in recent years, has been work to control to 145 lbs.
Late into Friday evening, I weighed 137, which seemed a little low.
But Saturday was "drive to Florida day" and we drank a lot going down.
I even brought coconut juice which is a good "hydration".
Regardless- 24 hours after riding Florida, and driving back to North Carolina, I weighed 132 lbs.
All the during the drive back to North Carolina, we were eating and drinking all the way.
~Just trying to "guesstimate" how much weight I lost. Maybe 10 lbs. - mostly water.
God bless this family. This little lady saved me with 2 bottles of cold water.
My shoulder needed it, externally, as much as I did internally.
I rode with fine gentleman and another for a few miles in.
God bless!
Happy campers!
And the ride "camera-man" has worked ALL day!
Yes sir! This is the "sweet-spot" right here!
Take the rest of the day off!
"Ride workers", family, and riders cheer for the finishers.
Hard workers make these rides possible.
What's this? More riders! I see flowers on a helmet!
Here she is! Sallie Whitmore!
Piece of cake!
Did these folks really ride two days - twice the mileage? Say it ain't so!
Look at the salt on Jon.
Great job son!
Oh my! I can't remember this fine gentleman's name! I have "magnesia"!
Now for a drive back! Feels good!
Our bikes roll in with our "photo-guru"!
God bless these tireless workers!
They make it look "tireless".
These people have had a very long day.
But- there has been a LOT of WORK that is UNSEEN.
God bless the "Cross Florida" ride laborers.
God bless all the helpers who make these "fun rides" possible as well as FUN!
Sallie and I are dining under the stars and neon just the way they do it in France.
I chase the sunrise- and then a "salmon and spinach omelet".
The day after is much warmer. We were lucky with the temperature.
But the asphalt heated up to melt your tires anyway.
We're "easing" into the day.
Now look at this! We can't "drop" this guy!
This is a pretty couple. They are a fast couple. They are pretty fast!
They're so nice - I had to put them twice!
You should see Ron Jon's Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach as long as you're there.
It's a nice place to shop for interesting items, not just surfing gear.
Looks like everyone is wearing "platform" sandals but me.
Isn't this lady delightful?
It's very spacious.
The temperature is perfect.
You might see a hotdogger or something.
Ron Jon's has a lot of nice summer clothes.
It will be more bustling later in the day.
Can't sleep? Ron Jon's is open 24/7.
They may have some sunglasses for you.
Sandals!
They'll have things that you will be unable to identify.
Ever wanted sandals that look like shoes? Ron Jon's has them!
I'm showing the lofty ceiling because it does give one a sense of space even when crowded.
The walk-around is very pleasant.
Yes! I bought a lighter that looks just like this!
It has little red LED lights that light up when you "light-up".
I may have to start smoking just to watch the lighter!
(My $3.99 Ron Jon "lighter" lasted about 50 lights. The "eyes" still light up though.)
My favorite bicycle shop down here in Florida, Adventure Cycles.
Carol is the perfect sales-person. She is so delightful!
She and her husband David let me work for them one winter.
Thank you Carol. Say hello to your brother Bill for me.
The long 10 hours to and fro take us over the Santee in South Carolina.
The drive takes you over the Savannah River in Georgia
And again the water and the east is to the right over the Santee.
We were mostly on I-95 after jogging around Raleigh with I-40.
One of the best traveling companions of all time!
Sallie has found some new flowers!
That Alan is a lucky guy!
God bless you Sallie!
Odes to the Bicycle by Micky Dee:
Descending 101- The Very Essence!
Mick's Picks For Professional Cycling Moments On Video
Friends Don't Let Friends Ride Junk!
Assault On Mount Mitchell 2010-
A Virtual Tour
Micky's
Favorite Cycling Movies
I Miss Your Rooster Tail!
Marquis de Sade
Bob Scofield's Ride 2010
Stars And
Watercarriers
Don't Try A Track
Stand On Three Margaritas
Charleston, Wonders Way, Mt. Pleasant, Cove Inlet, Sullivans Island,
Isle Of Palms, SC With Cue Sheet
Why Cyclists
Wear Lycra!
30 Years Of
Assaulting Mount Mitchell
If Mona
Lisa Had A Bicycle!
Mountain Biking
Unaka
She's
Even Faster In The Nude
Instructions
For Having A Bicycle Ride
The Long
Distance Man
Cycling-How To Ride Rollers
When a
Cyclist’s Chamois Freezes
Major Taylor-A World Champion
1878-1932
Yearly
Cycling Training Regimen
A Poem of
Cycling-What Can I Say?
Beginning Competitive Cycling-
Keys To The Kingdom
Bicycle,
How Do I Love Thee?
Eddy Merckx-the Sphinx
Breaking The Wind In A Pace-Line
Food For Fueling
Paris-Brest-Paris 1995
Dressing For Cycling
In Cold Weather
Bicycle Pace-line Etiquette
An INDEX for some
TARWHEEL CYCLING 2010:
And Attacking 2011
Micky Dee on hubpges!
Email
Michael
Email
Michael
And everybody is singing again!
