Fifty Plus (50+) - Ride Report - Clermont, FL March 9, 2011 - Part 2 (long)

(Continued from Part 1. Just ascended Sugarloaf Mt.)


As I round the corner at the summit, I come across a sight familiar to anyone who has taken on Sugarloaf. A neighborly resident has a water cooler, always filled with fresh Icy water. On the weekends he stays pretty busy. I actually got to meet him during the Horrible Hundred. He's a former POW, so I guess he really knows what thirst is.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_009.jpg

From his home he has a beautiful view of Lake Apopka in the distance.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_011.jpg

Looking on, in the distance I see the back side of Sugarloaf. The past two times I've ridden this hill I've gone over 40 on the decent. I will take it easy as I have some old training wheels on that I don't trust. I hit 39.1 with out trying. NO problems.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_012.jpg

Another scenic vista with some abandoned orange trees in view. My lousy camera phone does not do justice to the beauty of the view.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_013.jpg

I stop at the corner of scrub Jay and citrus to snap a shot of yet another lake in the distance. It's grassy lake. No wonder they call this lake country.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_015.jpg

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_014.jpg

I'm about 26 mi into the ride. One more decent acent lies just out of view.


Soon I'm on US 27, a signal that I'm very close. I soon turn right on to lake Minniola Shores road. I'll be going about 1.2 way around the lake to get back to my car. I stop to take a few more pictures. If you look very closely you can see the Citrus Tower in the center of the picure on the far shore. My car is very close to that.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_016.jpg

As I turn back to continue, I realize I have not taken a pic of my trusty steed that has brought me this far. I snap the perfunctory bike pic. I'm not happy about the shadow from the pole over my shoulder, but I'm running a bit late. No time for a retake. As I head back to my bike, two guys ride by. Where have they been all day? I would be nice to have someone pull a bit, but they are too far ahead by the time I mount.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_017.jpg

As I cross over a bridge, I see some others enjoying their passion on this beautiful day. I must have his shot.

http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac46/handsonpromos/Photo_030911_018.jpg

By now I'm quite a bit behind schedule, but a text from my niece buys me some time. I head back toward that tower in the distance. I decided at the last minute to take a little detour though "Historic downtown Clermont" in search of a bottle of post ride chocolate milk. It is quickly apparent that these quaint little shops have every thing but chocloate milk. I decided to go even more out of my way and stop at a gas station on near by Route 50.

It's rush hour and route 50 is packed. I realize I'm 2 blocks west of the gas station. There is no way I'm riding in this traffic. I wait on the light, cross the road, and get on the sidewalk. I ride the 2 blocks, cross again at the light, and score a nice quart of chocolate recovery.

The ride back to my buddy's place goes quickly and I'm soon chowing down on a banana and that cold chocolate milk. A fitting end to a great solo. I hope next time I'll have some company and a little more time.

Looks and sounds like a great ride. I really enjoyed your captions which tell the story along the way.

It looks so peaceful out there. Thanks for the glimpse!

Good on you, Bob! Nice little Cycle Travelogue.

Putting a water cooler out - that is just such a nice thing to do! It made me smile when I read that.

Your pretty yellow bike goes well with the bright blue sky & all the greenery. :-)

Looks like a great ride! Good to hear/see there are hills in FL too. How many total feet of elevation gain for the ride?

Good looking bike too, but I couldn't read the name; what is it? Yellow bar tape looks good too!

Rick / OCRR

Good looking bike too, but I couldn't read the name; what is it? Yellow bar tape looks good too!

Rick / OCRR

That bike is the top one in his sig line, the '09 Motobecane Immortal Pro, with lollipops.

I've been meaning to ask Bob, what does "with lollipops" mean?

Here's more info about his bike:

http://ridewithgps.com/gears/303

I've been meaning to ask Bob, what does "with lollipops" mean?

Speedplay pedals?

Speedplay pedals?

Aaah probably. I remember that he has SpeedPlays on that rig. I didn't realize that was their nickname. Makes sense after seeing them, though.

Bob,

Glad you had a good time on Florida's "mountains". Riding out that way is nice. I don't get out there as much as I used to. Anymore, I only get out for the Horrible Hundred. Like you, I hold it in on the descent. You can get over 50, or so I understand, on the front side. Since you know the "front side" from the "back side", you must be pretty familiar with the ride. Your photos are well chosen.

Thanks for the report.

Florida's got mountains? :)

Nice report, thanks for sharing.

Very nice report!

I did the hills in San Antonio (the other hilly part of Florida) last weekend. Just for reference for others; 47 miles and 2000 ft +- of climbing. Good practice for the Central FL MS150 in May. Nothing compared to other parts of the country, but in the spring there is always the wind to keep you company too. :)

Mark

Florida's got mountains? :)

Hey Sugarloaf Mountain is 312 feet above sea level! It's the 3rd highest point in the state.

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BorQ_ULcvss

Not Safe For work

weeeeeeeeeeeeee

Speedplay pedals?

Bingo! You win the prize. Light Action, fyi.

And Garilla, thanks for the other updates. I've been tied up in Labor and Delivery awaiting my 2nd grandson. He just arrived, Brayden Robert, 7 lbs. 13 oz., 23"

Bob,

Glad you had a good time on Florida's "mountains". Riding out that way is nice. I don't get out there as much as I used to. Anymore, I only get out for the Horrible Hundred. Like you, I hold it in on the descent. You can get over 50, or so I understand, on the front side. Since you know the "front side" from the "back side", you must be pretty familiar with the ride. Your photos are well chosen.

Thanks for the report.
Pat, I never descended the front side yet. Hit 43 on a HH practice run in Oct. I didn't want to press it in my old wheels because I had the shakes on them at 37 a while ago. :eek: