Taco Tuesday Fitness Ride, every speed

Ride as fast as you want (well, unless you’re like me, and are limited to only as fast as you can, not as fast as you want to be able to), up to 26 miles. It’s an out and back, almost guaranteed to have wind in your face one of the two, where you are allowed to ‘break away’ the whole entire ride. Yes, sometimes there’s someone near your speed and you can draft each other, and sometimes similar speeds gaggle up, but also possibly you’ll ride unescorted. No one could ride as slow as i did last time i signed up for this ride, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. Heck, I didn’t even ride the full 26 miles, but turned around at the top of the Bridge of Doom.

It’s not a competition, it’s not a race, it’s just a chance to burn the carbon out on a supported ride. When i host, i sweep, and no one gets left alone out there. If you cramp up or flatten a tire, eventually i’ll be there to either watch you writhe in pain or listen to U swear at your spare tube. (-;

Socially, the ride itself leaves a lot to be desired, but surely U noticed the title, Taco Tuesday. After the ride we all go to BarFly and most of us choose the Taco Tuesday special options. Great tacos, decent price, and because it’s not part of the ride, we can drink cold, refreshing, calorie-replenishing, beer. Or wine or cocktails or iced tea or water. And at that point it doesn’t matter how fast U did or didn’t go, it’s just fun to hang out with other bicyclists post-ride.

We start in Safety Harbor, and when they finish remodeling the marina, we’ll meet at the bathrooms there. But during remodeling we meet at the fountains with all the sculptured birds at the turn-in to the marina. Then down along Bayshore to 60 (Gulf To Bay) and left along the Courtney Campbell Causeway for its full length. When we get to the Grand Hyatt driveway, we take a left under Route 60 and follow the bike path to SkyWay Park for restrooms and water fountains. That’s halfway, and all U have to do is pedal back.

Helmets are required, as is a reasonable expectation that U are physically capable of doing the pace and distance U choose to do. Please also be prepared to deal with typical bike maintenance issues along the way, especially flat tires. Politeness and courtesy in riding is required, too, especially since there are often a significant number of people along the CCC between the bridge and the hotel. Any and all Tampa Bay Cycling Meetup rules and restrictions that i didn’t mention are still applicable, too.