Anatomy of a Group ride, Part 2

The sequel!

The hardest part about a group ride is the ungodly hour. Let's be honest; waking up at 5 am to be out by 6 am so you can "warm up" (get your ass to the ride without a car) and then start the ride at 6:30 is a bit rough. It is the lord's day and, granted,  this year I have gone on more group rides than paid visit to his house, but still. 

Don't forget your water you used in a still life drawing!

When the ride gets going, you notice that many things in the cycling world are circular, cyclical, and chain-like, dare I say it.  As you are spinning the pedals, turning the wheels, you're following a paceline that cycles through riders. Everyone is taking a turn at the front, but only for a short time until he or she falls back. This creates a slipstream that the other riders draft at a high momentum. Since we can push harder in bursts then cycle back into the shelter of the group, the group (or peleton) travels much faster and can go really far, really hard.

Pace-line, also called a chain gang, get it?!

I was able to get in some good miles with the guys up in Broward. But, this time, I got to take a bit of a gander at the way they roll here in my hometown, Miami. The Broward riders are a bit more constant; the guys up there seem more interested in the miles than staging a mock race. The Cycleworld ride's pace gets pushed hard and there are even brake-aways that form. 

Broward Ride!

After taking a bit of time to tune and tweak my baby Phil Jamis, my bicycle (that video will be posted later), there was another Cycleworld  ride that I just managed today. Also, I am going to be taking a break from the series "Almost Hit." The whole project is very taxing and time consuming. Simply put: way too much material daily to sift through. I might return to it, but unless an accident or something really dramatic happens, I will only be posting the highlights and the worst of the worst.

Miami's turn! And more to come!

On that note, take care out there. If you find yourself driving around the South Miami area, you best look out for cyclists because you can lie and I can lie, but the camera never fibs. Until next time! Like, Subscribe and follow!!!!

See you space cowboy...

Anatomy of a Group Ride

When I ventured forth into my very first group ride, the first thing I learned was: this is fast. Not just "wow we are pushing," more like "holy shit we are hauling ass." And when the hammer dropped, it got hairy. 

too.... close....

The second thing I learned was: don't be afraid of grabbing the wheel and sitting in close. Real close. So close that you can scarcely believe you should be doing this and everything in your head is screaming for you to just get the hell away. For some reason, you don't and it feels good. "ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT COCAINE OR SOMETHING?"

No, its cycling...

The last thing I learned was: hand signals are the best and easiest means of communication. There are some moments when you can scream simple commands like left, right, or clear. But, with a deafening wind and the rush of drafting another cyclist, sometimes you will not get the message. 

No ears on this guy.

I will be the first to admit, I was as squirrely as it gets on my first group ride. I am thankful for my adopted riding mates from The Pembroke Cycle Ride for their patience. Their route usually starts a bit on the south side for Broward County, but I caught them on their turn around point close to Sawgrass and we went from there. The speed gradually crept up and, when we made the turn onto Florida State Road 84, the hammer dropped. Holding at around 21 mph, we quickly gained pace to 25 mph. This being my first group ride, I was struggling to keep in the draft and to overcome my fear of the rider's wheel ahead of me.

terrifying

Aside from the art, not to many OC images this time. So I'll just leave the video here. Let me know what you guys think, and make sure to subscribe and like! 

This Asshole is in Your Lane

actually it is my lane by law, wank off!

 

After a long hiatus I am back to work, issues with my computer, as well as a stacked, and busy summer, have made for a difficult posting season. This Fall, I hope to change that and get back to regular updates, not to mention some planning of some tours. Also, I am moving to finally make those other posts of the Key West tour, and the Everglades tour, so look forward to that.

 

At the moment I am without my gopro, so no new video updates. I will be doing my best to post more pictures and get a bit more involved with the cycling community at large, getting a bit lonely doing the "Lone Wolf" cyclist stich.

 

I will never be this majestic

  

I have a couple of minor news, some of it is travesty. A bit disheartening when you get rear ended by a hit and run and your bike happens to be hanging off the back. More on that later.

 

Dat ruined front wheel doh...



 

  

 I picked a pretty lovely day to commute to work and after I ended up going to a friends house, who also wasn't home.
I figured while waiting I would explore Calle Ocho and see how close it was to the city and beach.

  If anyone is wondering, it is very close. enjoy the next couple of images of this magical journey.

American Airlines Arena!

The Julia Tuttle Causeway!

I feel so welcomed!

It is really hot!

 

                                                                    Stuck at a bridge with everyone else!

 

Awesome tourists!

a slug sticker!

 

it is so hot!

 

anyways, now it is about to monsoon!

 

If you guys are interested I did make one final video before I disappeared, I actually really like this one. So please let me know what I can do to improve and what are some things I missed, enjoy! So here is another addition to the "Almost Hit" series.

 

There is an interesting piece of road that always seems to slow traffic a considerable amount. I'm sure its just all the tourist heading into the mall.

 

And Florida sleeps soundly

 

Until next time make sure to head over to Rozik Wear and when you type in "dirtbag" into the promo box, you get an additional 20% off your entire order! I am not even sponsored by the company, but the gear is just so good, and made in the states, so check it out!

Stop Last

When I first set out on my bike, I was a hefty 230 pounds. I could barely run for 5 minutes straight and getting around on the bike was a planned affair. To traverse the 3 miles on my commute to work would take a grueling hour, not to mention the massive bag I lugged around that slowed me down. I was constantly on the sidewalk ruining my fragile Fuji "Adonis".

...He has seen some shit

In the one year since I've started cycling, I have done two long tours: one to the Everglades National park and the second to Key West, which sent me to the hospital. Now, with more than a year's biking experience behind me, I can pedal 7 miles in 30 minutes while taking it easy and I can crush 3 miles in 10.

Video of the Everglades tour

Everglades! 

Currently, I stick to the road to preserve my steed, "Phil" Jamis. Commuting on the roads day and night has given me a totally different and unbecoming challenge here in Miami. It is one in which both officials and citizens seem completely apathetic and uncaring to; one I didn't realize as a driver myself. Cycling is looked down upon, scorned, and, depending on your bumper sticker, hated...

Mmmm cheeky...

Only once in my entire time cycling did I ever witness a driver getting pulled over after passing way too close. When I caught up to the officer, the driver was getting a ticket, not for endangering my life, but for illegally sharing the lane next to me with another car. I was the catalyst, but not the reason for the infraction. The officer argued that he may pass and that what he did was not illegal. When I countered with the 3 foot clearance rule, he disregarded it. This is a problem.

The Good ole days before my GoPro 3

I feel like this blog really isn't changing much and I have no idea how to move ahead. I guess the best thing I can do is record these license plates, send them to the proper authorities, and post them online. Is this a solution? No, but it is illumination, shedding some light on many who cannot afford a car payment, or, like me, want to be healthy and hate the hassle of a car. The solution is hard; it will take time and take convincing. We will need infrastructure, but for now education will have to spearhead the change. 

TL;DR: More bike lanes, I am healthier because of cycling, and 3 feet PLEASE!!!

Until next time!

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P.S. The 20% promo code still works at https://www.rozik-us.com/, Just type in DIRTBAG into the promo dialogue and get some pants!

Death, Adventure, Cycling, and Chemicals

  Well I am no longer sick but here is what I did over the holiday season and recovery. Also, living in southern Florida has afforded me a wonderful year round cycling season, I have to admit I have never seen snow, and as of yet, have no plans to.

Underarmor and LEVIS Commuters jeans

Before I became deathly ill, (and yet not deathly enough to endear the sweet release of death). The better half and I, went to and explored the largest lake in Florida, Lake Okeechobee. 

finish what you started douche bag

  I don't really blame Death though, as every cyclist in Miami knows, if you make it to your destination riding a bike, you pretty much gave death the bird the whole way over. It honestly feels like a constant scene from "Final Destination" but you keep wiggling out of it, only making Death more determined. Every ride is like a metal song blasting into my soul, or a butt clenching potential shitstorm. Enough about bowels, onto the lake!

Sam being guided by the guardrail

  She decided to, one day, instruct me  to just drive into the northern part of the everglades, I continued to follow her directions and didn't ask too many questions. She didn't tell me where we were going until I saw the sign "Lake Okeechobee turn left", and couldn't help but notice, the whole drive up, how ill-marketed this lake is. I guess if we as a people visited this icon of Florida more often we would be far more concerned with the sugar cane plantations polluting our largest reservoir of fresh water. Eh, I guess we prefer our sugar like our politics, corrupted! 

The park around the lake

We found some state parks within the lake and hiked them, it was a bit on the late side, so not much wildlife. The trail was fun regardless and the setting sun against the reflecting lake was picturesque.  But we found a bunch of concerning things, a lot of trash and even some spent cartridges from a some rifles...  Didn't even know you could hunt here. We grew tired of walking, and headed back. All around it was a lovely day topped with amazing company. Then the holidays and this crazy cough/cold hit me, well after the New Year that is, Also I got a GoPro from my Mom and her family, now I can capture License plates in HD!

The best part of the party was editing it together

Did some tests and my first video utilizing the GoPro Hero3+, Really nice product and I hope to make some more upbeat videos with it. I know the whole "wow I almost died again!" can get old and worn, so I'll switch it up from time to time. But until I get that footage....

              There is no need to be upset

I also managed to purchase some vintage bikes from a good friend of mine, Matt. His family had a pair of 3 speed city bikes in his garage, little did I know the trouble I was getting myself into.

look at that trouble...

  That is what the inside of the rear wheel looks like. The thing has a freaking clutch, like a car or motorcycle does. Now I did a bit of research and it certainly looks more complicated than it is. I wanted to take apart the mechanism to clean and re-oil it. Now I am not so sure. Still I dipped all the rusted parts into rust removing solution and might repaint it. They both only need new cables and tires and for the most part are good to go.

she devil 

The hatchet is for camping... Promise.

This isn't even my final form

Still in the works is the second one which will be a whole hootenanny of a post, more DIY and steps I took, the red girl already is a getting a home so I am expediting  the process on her. While I was waiting on her parts to de-rust I turned my attention to a munch needed addition to Phil Jamis.

  A friend of mine sent me an awesomely beat up box all the way from the United Kingdom.

awesome, hope it wasn't fragile

Fenders for a racing bike! 

I have to admit I was a little skeptical of these guys, and until they are tested in Miami's monsoon like conditions I will remain skeptical. However they do look really cool. So while I was still sick and waiting for the rust to peel of the red bikes parts I installed these guys and took the time to re-wrap my bar tape!

 Phil Jamis with swaggy orange tape and sleek fenders

In all an interesting couple of weeks. With much work and much coughing i made it, more post to come, try subscribing or following! More to come!

The Everglades Tour 2012

Finally, after a year, I compiled and edited this project together. Thanks to a good friend's Gopro loan, I was able 

to capture the majesty that is my beloved Everglades. Have a look. More of the story and the route we took next 

week!