• Armada's Turkey Burner Ride

Join the Armada for our annual day-after-Thanksgiving Turkey Burner Ride, Friday, November 27th. Everyone welcome.

This is a great 60-mile ride designed to help you burn off those extra calories you consumed the previous day.

Ride starts and ends at Lakeview Park in Winter Garden. We roll out at 8:00 am.

We tag this ride, as a "semi-social" one since we will stop and wait if someone's bike suffers a mechanical problem or has a flat tire. But that's as "social" as we get. In other words, if you join us and cannot maintain pace with the group, that means that you will be riding alone.

The pace is nothing extraordinary, as this is not a training ride, but it will be in the low to mid 20s for long stretches, with the mandatory accelerations and ocassional sprint here and there. Of course, since the ride takes place on public roads, we will observe all traffic rules.

Here's the turn-by-turn cue sheet. Print out a copy and bring it along, just in case.

You can also access a detailed ride map through MapMyRide.com.

• Ride4Ronald - Sunday, December 6th

Kicking off this year’s "Share-A-Night, Light-A-Light" holiday festivities is the 1st annual Ride-4-Ronald, a 3-mile family bike ride around the College Park neighborhood as well as a separate 50-mile bike ride for enthusiasts at 8:00 am.

All participants are encouraged to decorate their bikes and raise funds for the many children and families staying at a Ronald McDonald House. For more details visit the Ronald McDonald House website.

Each year, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida encourages members of the community to “Share-A-Night” by sponsoring family stays. Although operating costs are $60 per night, per room, families staying at our Houses are only asked to donate $15 per night and no family is ever turned away for inability to contribute.

It is through the generosity of the Central Florida community that the Ronald McDonald House has reached their latest milestone of serving over 12,000 families since 1996!

Join the Ronald McDonald House for their holiday celebration where an entire year’s worth of family sponsorships will be honored. Each holiday light at their Houses will represent a night’s stay for a local family with a seriously ill child in the hospital.

• Sandy Scott's Comeback Story

Note: I just came across a 2007 audio interview of Sandy Scott, winner of 11 Florida State Championships as well as State Record Holder for the 5, 10 & 20K time trial events.

From GrowingBolder.com

Master cyclist Sandy Scott was racing toward his goal of winning the Florida Senior Games time trials when he was involved in a horrible accident.

To avoid a person who stepped in front of his bike during the 10K time trial, he swerved suddenly, sending him flying over the handlebars and landing headfirst on the pavement.

He temporarily lost his memory and broke his C1 vertebrae.

Now, 18 months later, the 66-year-old has made a tremendous comeback.

He talked to Growing Bolder about his long road to recovery, including his controversial decision to forgo surgery.

And Sandy has co-authored a new book with Rose Marie Ray, a State Champion time trialist, road racer and triathlete.

From Broken Neck to Broken Records. A Master Cyclist's Guide to Winning.

The book is scheduled to be released at the end of this month.

A compelling story of an athlete's nearly fatal broken neck, his recovery, and triumphant return to racing AND a great "how to" book on riding, racing, and winning cycling competitions from one of the great masters cyclists in the USA.

• Horrible Hundred Recap

The 30th Anniversary of the Horrible Hundred was, without a doubt, one of the best HH ever.

Incredible rider participation (I heard that over 1,700 riders were there), combined with fantastic weather, made this edition of the Horrible Hundred one that will be talked about for a long time. Of course if you were there last year, you probably remember trying to bundle up to fight the windy and cold conditions.

Not so this year. The century riders rolled out at 8:00 am and the temperature at the time was in the 60s and on its way up. The wind was really more of a breeze which made arm and leg warmers overkill.

The start of the ride was lead out by newlyweds Jose and Lacy Castillo (photo below), who tied the knot right before the start of the century ride, as well as two riders who had completed every Horrible Hundred for the past 30 years. One of them at 92 years of age!


The Florida Freewheelers do an incredible job at running this event. From parking to the variety of vendors present, from well-stocked SAG stops to police presence at every crucial intersection... throughout the entire route! And the marked increase of riders from other states and even other countries, proves that the Horrible Hundred is THE RIDE everyone must do in November. Some of us Armada guys had the pleasure and honor to help in our own little way by leading a Familiarization Ride the day before the century, and I'd like to thank Tracy Mullins for mapping out a great 40-mile route for our group which included some of the famous climbs, plus Rick Wolfe and Bill Pace for running sweep and staying with a smaller group of riders who rode a little slower.

But back to the ride; as usual, the fast guys got underway almost immediately which allowed the rest of us to get into a comfortable rhythm. I have to say that I saw a lot of riders taking the oposite lane just to be able to move up, which was foolish considering that the Century takes place on open roads. Fortunately no head-on collisions but I wonder what car drivers might think when faced with those situations. I think many riders believe that drivers will see them and take appropriate action, but I rode motorcycles for years, with the headlight on, and still car drivers sometimes do not see you. Don't get me wrong, I love to ride fast, but safety to me is always a top priority, especially when riding with a large group during a social ride, and to be honest, taking risks for the heck of it, only increases my chance of being the first one to arrive at the scene of an accident. That is not my goal.

I only saw one spill during the ride; a rider went down due to some sand on the road, but I later heard that she got back on her bike and finished the ride.

I decided to skip the first SAG since I had plenty of water and I was feeling strong, and I think most of the riders who were in our group did the same. At the second stop I refueled with some oranges, a couple peanut butter-and-honey sandwiches, and some trail mix. My water bottles were still almost full so I did not need to top them off.

At this point I left with a smaller group of riders with intentions of maintaining a steady 20mph pace. That idea quickly went out the window as the Team 19 and Colavita trains came by. At that point we decided to join them and started cruising in the mid to high 20s. At one point the front of the group slowed down suddenly due to a turn and I had to grab a handful of brake to avoid a crash. Some of the guys riding with me said that I literally smoked the rear tire as I slowed down. Fortunately, I managed to stay upright and no one touched my wheel. So, after that episode, I just slowed down a bit in order to allow some additional room in front of me. After all, I was trying to have a fun and safe ride.

By the time my group arrived at the before-to-last SAG, my water bottles were almost empty, and I was starting to feel the onset of leg cramps, so I topped off the bottles with some ice, water and 2 packs of Heed, and took a couple of Endurolytes and an Anti-Fatigue cap by Hammer Nutrition. I also drank plenty of plain water and some trail mix available at the SAG. I finished my nutrition for the final leg of the ride with a Hammer gel and an energy bar.

We left the SAG again, as a group, and this time the pace stayed pretty reasonable, mostly in the low 20s. The temperature had reached into the low 80s so it was warmer than the day before, but still quite nice with low humidity.

By the time I crested Sugarloaf, I waited for some of my riding buddies while I drank some water courtesy of the gentleman who always makes sure there's water available to riders. As a matter of fact I had the opportunity and pleasure to meet him as he was there making sure there was enough water. I shook his hand and thanked him for doing this for all riders in Central Florida.

From that point on, you start feeling that the end of the century is in sight. Of course if you've done the Horrible Hundred before, then you know that you're not done with the climbing, but if you've made it this far, you will manage.

During the last couple of climbs I saw a lot of people walking their bikes up those hills, and no one can blame them for doing so. My quads were really starting to burn at this point. During the final climb a rider next to me said, as he slowly turned the pedals, "Was adding this last hill "really" necessary?" Classic!

And so, after five hours twenty nine minutes, and ninety nine and a half miles, I crossed the finish line.

A big THANK YOU! to the Florida Freewheelers, all the volunteers and police officers who made this year's Horrible Hundred the best one to date.

• Groom is Taking New Wife for a Ride

By Lori Carter
Special to the ORLANDO SENTINEL

CLERMONT — They'll say "I do" surrounded by 1,500 of their closest friends.

José Castillo, 40, will give his fiancée, Lacy Smith, 27, a lift on his bike as he pedals down the aisle, with cyclists lining both sides. Handlebars will be adorned with flowers.

It just so happens that the 1,500 cyclists are in Lake County this weekend for the 30th anniversary of the Horrible Hundred, put on by the Florida Freewheelers.

The couple, who reside in Minneola, will tie the knot at 7:30 a.m. Sunday at Waterfront Park. She will wear a black jersey and shorts with white and red accents. He'll wear a white jersey and shorts with black and red accents.

Smith, who has been cycling for nearly two years, said she and Castillo, a native of Venezuela, were having trouble trying to decide on a location for their wedding.

"It kind of started off as a joke,"she said, of the possible Horrible Hundred nuptials. But it made sense because a lot of their friends, who have traveled from Miami, DeLand and Deltona, are participating in the event.

"Everybody is in town," she said, "and we get to spend the day doing what we love."

[ Read the complete article + ]

• Reminder: Armada Pre-HH Ride

This Saturday, November 14, Team Armada will be leading one of several planned Pre-Horrible Hundred Familiarization Rides, for event participants who want to stretch their legs the day before the 2009 Horrible Hundred Century.

The Armada Pre-HH Ride will be a no-drop, 40-mile ride which will take us from Waterfront Park (the place where the HH starts), around Lake Mineola, and then through Montverde and Ferndale, where we will climb all the major "hills" in the area, including The Wall, Buckhill Road, and the granddaddy of them all, Sugarloaf Mountain, among others, before returning to the starting point, just in time for day 1 of the Expo, featuring national vendors—including Trek—live music and great food!

For a detailed route map, visit MapMyRide.com. And you can also print out the smaller version shown below, along with the cue sheet with turn-by-turn directions.


If you would like to join us, plan to be ready to roll at 9:00 am on Saturday, November 14.

Make sure your bike is in good condition (now may be a good time to take it to your local bike shop for a tune-up), bring plenty of fluids, at least one spare tube, CO2 cartridges, a nozzle, and some basic tools.

Even though the Armada Pre-HH Ride will be a no-drop ride, we expect participants to be well prepared and familiar with group riding. This is NOT the type of ride to learn group riding skills. Additionally, be aware that our pace will be in the 16-20 mph range (considering the terrain), so if you're not capable to maintain such pace (which is really quite enjoyable), you may want to consider joining a slower ride.

We may make one stop to regroup, but specific details will be decided before we start the ride.

Last but not least, this ride is NOT a race! If racing is what you want to do, you may want to consider the Drew Landing Criterium Winter Training Series in Clermont (see the Armada Calendar for details).

So, if this sounds like a ride you'll like to do, come join us Saturday, November 14 at Waterfront Park. It will be a lot of fun and a great way to get your Century riding legs ready for the 30th Annual Horrible Hundred. Remember, the Armada Pre-HH Ride rolls out at 9:00 am.

For complete event details and to pre-register, visit 2009 Horrible Hundred.

• What is The Taste of VQ?

What are you doing this season as the temperatures chill and days grow shorter?

Hopefully, winter hibernation isn't the answer and instead you're looking to get one up in the off-season rather than be the one left behind. Look no further than Taste of VQ's eight-week session to keep your legs busy as temperatures cool down.

"Oh... but what about the holidays?"

The winter session starts the week of November 30, takes two weeks off for the holidays (December 21 to January 2, resuming on January 4) and runs until February 6. With the holiday time built in, there's no excuse for letting your training suffer at the hands of all that good cheer. In these eight weeks, you'll work hard and get a sample of everything to keep you fit while getting a jump start on next year's goals.

The next Taste of VQ Sessions start the week of November 30th.

This offering is one of the most unique training packages available on the market today. This package allows you to get a taste of what Vision Quest Coaching has to offer, before you commit to one of our Membership Packages. You get full use of the Performance Training Center at a designated schedule for eight weeks.

So, once a week, at a time set up by you and the VQ staff, you can come and train using VQ equipment and have access to the staff. This package is perfect if you are unfamiliar with the benefits of a performance center versus a gym or if you are unsure of whether structured workouts really make a difference. We are confident that once your eight weeks are complete, you will be excited and proud to be a member of Vision Quest Coaching.

Don't hesitate! The goal of this session is race-specific preparation with a closer focus on comparative data, using reference points to push training to new thresholds and experimenting with dialing in the pacing strategy.

In order to ensure that everyone is getting the right training for their goals, we are going to focus our workouts on specific types of events:

      • Sprint Triathlon Races
      • Olympic Triathlon Races
      • Half and Full Ironman Triathlons
      • Cycling (road race, crits, group rides & centuries)
      • Time Trials & Climbing

By taking an 8-week Taste of VQ session, your workouts will be scientifically structured with specific loads that focus on improving various energy systems. This type of indoor training will make you a leaner, more efficient, and physically, as well as mentally, stronger athlete. We believe in the process, not the end, and these classes have been designed with a process that will help maximize your end-result!

You'll need to bring:

      • A road or TT/tri bike
      • Heart rate monitor (optional)
      • Proper cycling clothing and shoes
      • Two water bottles
      • A towel

Cost of the 8-week session is only $150. Sign up now as the spots fill quickly!

Classes are held at David's World Cycle, 150 S SR 434, Suite 1088, Altamonte Springs.

To Register go to: Taste of VQ Florida Registration.

For more information email vq@davidsworld.com or call 407-772-2223.

This phase of the Taste of VQ sold out in a few days last year, don't hesitate, sign up today!

• Florida Racing Magazine - Nov 2009

Read about:

• Featured Rider: Phillip Gaimon (Jelly Belly)
  
  
• CycloCross Season (with calendar)
  
  
• BBBB Bash by zMotion
  
  
• Product Review: Bonk Breakers
  
  
• Hank Campbell: How to Finish the Leadville 100 in the Top 100

Subscription is FREE! Get yours by clicking here.

• Cyclocross: Training + Technique

Available from: TheMotorBookstore.com
Author: Simon Burney
Publisher: Velo Press — 2007
ISBN: 9781934030059
List Price: $18.95

Your price: $11.75

Cornering in snow, jumping hurdles, dismounting and remounting, powering through sand, mud, and ice—it must be cyclocross season.

From the expert on cyclocross racing and training comes this fully updated and expanded edition of the only definitive guide to cycling's most exciting and technical sport.

Beginners and cyclocross veterans alike will benefit from Simon Burney's comprehensive presentation of racing techniques and tactics, fully illustrated with photos of elite riders in top form.

Updated coverage of equipment and bike fit will help newcomers get off to a good start with the proper gear, while an expanded training section provides daily, weekly, and monthly planning guidance, with tips for on- and off-road training as well as run training.

[ TheMotorBookstore.com + ]

• LA Road Rage Trial Verdict: GUILTY!

From VeloNews.
By Patrick Brady
Photo: Chris Roberts

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury on Monday found Dr. Christopher Thomas Thompson guilty of assaulting cyclists by abruptly stopping his car in front of them on a hilly Los Angeles County road last year.

Thompson, a former emergency room doctor, was found guilty of six felonies and one misdemeanor and could face as much as five years in prison.

He was remanded and ordered held without bail until sentencing. He was handcuffed in the courtroom after the verdict was read.

[ Read the complete article + ]

• Winter Training Crit Series

The Drew Landing Winter Criterium Series begins this Saturday, November 7th., and will run every other Saturday for 6 Saturdays, weather permitting.

The C Race starts at 8:00 am, The B Race starts at 8:30 am, and A Race starts at 9:10 am.

Onsite registration begins at 7:30 am and will be $12 for Adults, $8 for juniors. There will be a series payout for the top riders in A's 5 deep, B's 5 deep, and C's 3 deep.

Drew Landing is located in Clermont. From the intersection of Hwy 50 and Hwy 27, travel 2.0 miles south on Hwy 27, turn right (W) onto Hammock Ridge Rd., travel 1.6 miles to course on right. Park in the center of the course or across the street in the empty subdivision.

All riders must have a current USAC license, or purchase a one-day license on site. This is a great, safe course, 0.9 mile loop with an uphill finish. Hope to see everyone there.

• Holiday Hundred

Century ride December 5th at 8:00 am from Seminole State College in Sanford. This tour features scenic views of beautiful Seminole County. Work for your personal best or take a leisurely cruise on either the 25-, 62-, or 100-mile route.

Help the Seminole County South Rotary Club meet their goal of giving away 300 bikes this holiday season!

For complete details and to register, visit the Holiday Hundred website.

• New Hope for Kids Century Ride

Sunday, November 8. This ride is for people of all skill levels. Begins at 8:00 am from the Sanford Marina/Civil Courthouse area parking on Park Avenue, and goes all the way around to Wekiwa Spings State Park, through Florida Hills, DeLand, and Deltona and then back to Sanford.

Choose between 19, 57, or the full 101-mile ride. SAG stops and refreshments provided every 20 miles. For more details visit The Wish List.

• Triumph 'n' Ride Century

Sunday, November 22, the Triumph 'n' Ride Century starts in Ormond Beach and loops through Flagler Beach and Palm Coast.

Ride along the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and through the Tomoka State Park for 23, 35, 53, and 100 miles beginning at 8:00 am. All registered riders are automatically entered in the raffle for bicycle equipment, restaurant dinners, and surprise prizes.

For more information visit www.tnrcentury.org. This cycling event is a one-day event, rain or shine. Sponsored by West Volusia Friends of Felines, Inc. a non-profit coaliation in Volusia County.