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!

Down the Pipeline

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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!

Key West, Anniversary trip!

  After an adventurous year with Samantha we decided it was time to share an adventure together. We decided to head to Key West to celebrate a year of tolerating each other's quirks and kinks! Hot dog! So, at the crack of dawn and a cranky wake up, we hit the trail south. I made sure to find and take pictures of bicycles along the way!

Beautiful scene. A bike on the way!

After and uneventful drive through South Florida we hit the everglades. Mindful of Sam's test the day after our vacation, we opted to listen to her professor's lecture on the way down. I did not know genetics was so interesting and boring at the same time.

So fascinatingly dull...

As we listened we marveled at the amazing floral and fauna and quickly expedited our way south through the major islands. The amount of fascination I had with genetics did not surpass the monotone droning of her professor, I began nodding off.

Me, starting my Novembeard

Sam taking over, so I look for cool bikes

We switch seats. But what stole the show was the scenery, that, and the pristine weather.Clear skies with wispy clouds and clear water reminded me of the paradise I have in my own backyard. It was good to get away from the hustle and bustle of Miami, especially It's awful drivers.

So blue, so wispy

Swag and Swop

While learning about RNA molecules and translation we hopped onto the 7-Mile Bridge and we came upon a gentlemen tourist heading south. As we passed I noted his jersey read Maryland. Now that is a bike tour! I didn't see that tourist again but I hope he made it safely to Key West. Samantha and I continued to Bahia Honda.

 The Tourist from Maryland

After arriving to Bahia Honda we spent the better part of the morning exploring this beautiful park, with free entrance (Thank you Veterans). We quickly found our way off the main trail and exploring tidal pools, and tidal flats.

Sam making her way down to the beach

One of the many tidal pools

The Tidal flats where very interesting, nothing but powder soft sand for hundreds of feet, it was almost magical. 

Tidal flats and yours truly

More tidal flats

As beautiful as Bahia Honda was, we were unable to kayak through its sexy mangroves because of some really sick winds whipping around the islands. needless to say we decided it would be best to try and check in early at the hotel. 

Made of magic

  We found our way after a short drive into Key West. After an early check in, shower, and a change of clothes, we were off to Duval Street. We still had some time to see the sunset and did a little exploring before our reservations at Latitudes.

Sam's exploring face

The sunset was beautiful but paled in comparison to the company. We walked around and grabbed an espresso while awaiting the ferry to the island restaurant. When we get there it is very luxurious and well pricey to say the least, but being our anniversary I felt it was OK to spend some money (hard money) on this dinner. The food was amazing.

Cool Menus

Hard prices....

After an amazing dinner and some drinks we caught the next ferry home and did some bar hopping around the island. Being Veterans Day we ran into a lot of drunken sailors from the nearby Coastguard base. We ran into some cool bars with very fancy games. Those poor ladies getting hit on by really drunken sailors.

The fanciest tic-tac-toe board I have ever seen.

After some Desert at betterthansex we found our way to the hotel after a mad dash to catch the last shuttle home. We find out later that we were misinformed and where right next to the second stop. We where upset to say the least.

The next day we woke up, and begrudgingly rolled out of bed. We packed up and checked out. we had whole day still in the keys and I had insisted we rent a tandem bike to explore the Island and see the sights. The concierge at the hotel gave us a good deal on the rental and when the guy got there he only charged 20 bucks for the whole day! So excitedly we hopped on and after some tense moments got the hang of the beast.

The Beauty

The Beast

A quick selfie with my anniversary Oakley's!

It seemed cool, but ended up being a short boardwalk to a random beach.

Pretty cool, nice to have a giant compass in case you get lost.

Mile Marker 0! Yay!

After Mile Marker 0, we end up heading into Fort Zachary Taylor, after off-roading the bike we tenderly named Gertrude, we ended up with a spectacular view of the fort.

Dem birds

Muh Freedums Dufended

Gertrude, being glorious

Fishermen

The ride back gave us another sunset and a lovely breeze. The two-day trip could not have been any better. With romance in the air and tired legs under our seats we pedaled on back to the car and look forward to a restful sleep.

Entering Dade-County

Until next time,

-Carlos