Where has the time gone? As you might imagine, due to my lack of posting, that I have been in a crunch lately. There is plenty to talk about, but to stay on target this post will focus on SMARTRIDE 2010. On July 4th a group of riders headed out from Stay Fit Studio at 7am for a training ride with Rider Rep Coordinator Chris Halenar, who happened to be in town for the weekend.
Moe, Warren, Elaine, Phil, Charles, Chris and Rick
Shortly after leaving Stay Fit, we picked up Bruce, Chris and Deirdre and continued on the ride to Baby’s Coffee.
Once again it was an absolutely beautiful morning in the Florida Keys. Slightly overcast skies with an occassional spot of sun poking through the clouds. We even encountered a light sprinkle while riding on the trail causing rainbows to form over several islands in the distance. How I love cycling in the Conch Republic!
Chris Halenar, me-Clinton Curry and Phil Anderton
Make sure to check out the Photo Gallery and YouTube sites for more pictures and videos. Til next time. Remember to drink lots of water and ride safe!
On Saturday, May 29th myself and a group of cyclist’s, led by Christina Lindley, went for an extended bike tour of Henry Flagler’s Over-Sea Railroad’s impact on the development of Key West in the early 20th Century. The tour included stops at the Monroe County Library for a discussion with Key’s Historian Tom Hambright, an overview of Pigeon Key by Pigeon Key Museum Curator, Thomas Lockyear at the Sculpture Garden in Mallory Square, seeing the future plans of a new exhibit at the Key West Art & History Museum by Executive Director Claudia Pennington and followed up with a visit to the Flagler Station Historeum.
While cycling between the destinations above, we rode throughout the quieter parts of the historic district surrounded by an array of May flowers, while visiting sites that at one time played a role in the rairoad nearly a century ago. Of particular beauty were the full bloom Royal Poinciana trees. The vibrant red blooms atop these trees has given them the nickname of flaming tree. They certainly are a thing of beauty.
Make sure you check out the photo link here and check back for the next time the tour is offered.
Our Sunday ride was a great one! Six of us headed out for a 30 mile roundtrip to Baby’s Coffee. This was Phil and Dean’s last ride before heading off to California later this week for the AIDS LIFE CYCLE ride. Best of luck to you. Of course, best of luck to Elaine as well. I can’t wait to hear about your experiences.
The time has come now for a special announcement- Moe has her MOJO back! Check out the video of Moe riding Sunday. She kicked it into high gear. Here is a great big WELCOME BACK.
We will be riding this Sunday, leaving from Stay Fit Studio on White Street. Remember 7:30am, bring water, check tire pressure and have all flat tire repair gear. See you there!
This Sunday, May 30th is the next SMART Ride training ride. As always, we will depart Stay Fit Studio at 7:30am. The ride will include the 30 mile Baby’s Coffee route and possibly a continuation for the 46 mile Sugarloaf Road route. As always, remember your approved cycling helmet, water and a tube repair kit. Hope to see you there!
Map My Ride allows you to do just as the name states, map your ride. I just mapped the Stay Fit Studio to Baby’s Coffee ride that myself and many other cyclists ride on Sunday mornings. I am going to add several more mappings throughout the Florida Keys in the near future. In the meantime, let me know your thoughts on this one.
If you haven’t heard, registration for the SMART Ride 7 in November 2010 has opened. With that, training rides are getting underway. There is a group of cyclists who leave from Stay Fit Studio on White Street every Sunday at 7:45am (Time is subject to change and ride depends on weather). The rides vary in distances from 30 to 60 miles. This is a great way to meet other road cyclist’s and to begin training for the two day, 165 mile ride from Miami, Fl to Key West, Fl. All riders need to have water, an approved helmet, gear to repair flats and of course, be willing to ride at your own risk. Contact me if you have any questions at conchrepubliccyclist@yahoo.com. As always, ride safe and drink lots of water!
As part of the 28th Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration, a Giant 7′ Key Lime Pie was baked to benefit the Key West Historic Memorial Sculpture Garden and Military Memorial in Mallory Square. Supplying an estimated 750 slices, the pie was made with over 1200 key limes, 20 pounds of sugar, ninety 14 oz cans of condensed milk, and 1300 eggs. This was certainly a pie for the record books.
That's Bob Bernreuter with the chef's hat.
Bob Bernreuter, pictured above with the Chef’s hat, baked one of these pies in 1984 for a “Conch Day Event” at our State’s Capitol in Tallahassee, Fl. Click on the link below for a newspaper article on the event -
I enjoyed one of those estimated 750 pieces and it would appear that 749 other people did as well. When I went back for a second piece an hour later the baking pan was empty!
Empty 7' Key Lime Pie baking pan
Check out the Photo Gallery for more pictures from the event. Below is a little legislative jargin regarding my favorite dessert, Key Lime Pie and its importance to Key West and the State of Florida.
In 1965, Florida State Representative Bernie Papy, Jr. introduced legislation calling for a $100 fine to be levied against anyone advertising key lime pie that is not made with key limes. The bill did not pass.
In 1994, the State Legislature officially recognized Key lime pie as an important symbol of Florida. The road to becoming the official state pie, was not an easy one. Since the 1980s, North Florida lawmakers have debated that a pie made of pecans, grown in Florida, would better reflect the state’s history. House Bill 453 and Senate Bill 676 of the Florida Legislature’s Regular 2006 Session made the Key Lime Pie the official Florida state pie as of July 1, 2006.
We are 7 days into the 28th Annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration down here in Key West, Fl. One of today’s featured events, the “World’s Longest Parade” just made its way down Duval Street, onwards to the Schooner Wharf Bar. One of Duval Street’s claim to fames is that Robert Ripley of Ripley’s Believe It or Not, said that Duval Street is the longest street in the world because it runs from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. This 14 block street is just under 2 miles, but who is counting!
The parade started at 8pm and moved at a snails pace, no pun intended. We finally arrived at the Schooner Wharf Bar shortly after 9pm. I joined in the bicycle section of the parade with about 50 to 75 other cyclists. It was quite an eclectic group of riders and bikes (check out thePhoto Gallery).
"World's longest Parade"
Kudo’s to the folks from Eaton Bikes for supplying all sorts of goodies for the cyclists to give out during the parade and to ChillWill for keeping the tunes flowing! Make sure to check back for more updates on the Independence Celebration and for pictures from tomorrow’s key events, the Giant 7 foot Key Lime Pie in Mallory Square to benefit the Key West Sculpture Garden followed by my favorite event the “Bloody Battle”. You’ll have to check back to see who wins!
Registration is now open for SMART Ride 7. The 165 mile bike ride from Miami, Fl to Key Weest, Fl benefiting AIDS Awareness service programs in Florida will take place between November 18-20, 2010. I have accepted the challenge once again this year, with the added priviledge of serving as a rider rep for Monroe County/Florida Keys riders and crew.
Consider joining us for this truly amazing experience and remember the famous quote by anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
