Hated brussel sprouts for decades. Then my wife convinced me to try them at a restaurant where they were deep fried crispy, with bacon shreds, and Gorgonzola cheese. OMG, they were delicious because the bitter had been taken out and replaced by wonderfulness.

Were you exposed to the frozen kind? They can be bitter. But fresh they are much better. One simple way I like to prepare them is caramelized. They are also good roasted with red onion and balsamic.

False. Bussles sprouts are inedible, no matter how much you try to hide their poison.

Ranch dressing is good on everything.

Except ice cream, cookies and cake.

And it's this that sometimes bothers me.. I guess it's protection for the inexperienced, but sometimes the guideline enforcement is somewhat militant. A 3hr ride with constant "slowing", "car back", "stopping", and the pointing, waving etc.. is not at all a zen type of ride. Can people not see for themselves?

Entirely fresh

I HATE liver. Not pate but cow or sheep or any kind of liver. Nothing can cover that flavor.

Depends on the group and how closely they're riding together. With the folks I ride with most often, it's a fairly tight bunch. Unless you're on the front, your view is pretty obscured, and not seeing road hazards is a real issue. Verbal warnings are also helpful. I was taught from my early days of participating in fast group rides that we look out for others in the group. Visual and verbal warnings are one of the ways we do that. All that said, the rides I do aren't about "zen". They're social when we're going easier, and competitive when it gets fast. I understand that other groups do things differently, and people have different preferences.

Agreed. I won't eat any organ meat.

Also not a fan or organ music. Especially the posterior type.

Liver in most forms is bad. But my Dad had this recipe for lamb kidneys stewed with mushrooms.... Talking about this among my family members we all start salivating.

wine must be involved, one way, or both ways, or the other

Maybe with enough Ranch dressing.

I like pretty much all vegetables. I tried to get Mrs. GJ to like brussels sprouts. I selected only the smallest ones at the store. I blanched them in salted water until just done, and tossed them in a hot pan with olive oil and garlic, and then grated Parmigiano Reggiano over the top and finished with freshly ground pepper.

She ate her portion, and told me, "Those were the best brussels sprouts I've ever had! Please don't ever make them for me again."

Well, I tried.

There's some sherry, and chopped shallots, and a little Kitchen Bouquet. Serve with fried eggs with solid whites but completely runny yolks, and toast. Mix the gravy with the yolk and blot it up with the toast.....

MMMMMmmmmmmmmmm.........

Depends on the group. The club I rode with, we were in a double line of 30 riders, each following the wheel in front closely, so you wouldn't see things till you were on top of them. The C&V ride is a lot looser and less formal, so mostly we just use hand signals. If I'm at the front, I'll often show them where the bumps are by hitting them and getting kicked up out of the saddle.

Not intentionally, mind you.

You’re not going to make it when the zombie apocalypse hits.

Calf liver with onions and bacon is divine.

You are more than welcome to my share since I gave up beef and especially calfs (veal). Enjoy.

I’ll be on a boat in the ocean eating fish. Zombies can’t get you there.

Unless you drop anchor. Then they can walk across the ocean floor and climb the anchor chain...

My Dad used to make that. The onions frying smell so good. But the liver.... *shudder*.... fried nosebleed.

The best brussel sprouts I have ever eaten: candied sprouts with maple bacon, at Liquid Assets in OC, MD. I have since figured out a recipe for making them at home.

IMO, not even bacon helps calves liver, searing most anything does produce a nice aroma.

I won't use the word hate, but group rides are my least preferred way to spend my bike time. I have not done one in years. I prefer solo riding, but don't mind hooking up with one or two other riders if the mood and the situation gel.

30 in one group is wild

I love group rides. 100km seems to pass much more quickly and then you’re at the pub.

I agree that solo rides can be more zen but they also feel like more of a slog. I don’t really like riding below zone 3 although I’ll do it in a mixed levels group.

I hate ranch dressing with a passion, likewise with mayonnaise.

Most of the current Taco Bell menu has been ruined by ranch dressing. I miss the Taco Bell of the 90's.