Tuesday Pizza Ride
This Ride: 33 miles
Month: 124.2 miles
2011: 4,398.6 miles
Total since 1/1/2010: 10,518.3 miles
There is nothing slow about the Tuesday Night Pizza Ride. It has been a while since I’ve been able to ride with this group for this ride, and I had forgotten how fast it can be.
I went out a little early and took it relatively easy. I met Jim along the way, and we rode slow together, being a little early and it being 97 degrees F out. At least the humidity was low, and even a slow speed brought enough breeze to keep us cool. Soon we were ready to go … with 14 riders. We soon lost one to a mechanical, and Ann B rode with us a little while but I think the pace was a little fast for her. We were up and down with speed on the trail, there being a lot of foot traffic. I was a little concerned when we passed a park ranger in a vehicle. We were doing about 20 mph and the trail speed limit is 15. Not only that, but there have been some letters in the newspaper complaining about fast riders. The ranger waved as we passed.
We pressed on. On Holly Drive, we saw a herd of deer … about 6-7 animals. We breezed through the loop there above 21 mph. The hills on St. Margarets Road split us up a bit, but we regrouped along the trail, and headed back at an easy pace. Clint joined us on this stretch of road, but couldn’t stay for dinner.
At Squizitos, we polished off more than 3 large pizzas, a 12 pack of beer, a lot of water, and a few other meals. Jane and Mike B joined us. By the time we left the pizza place, the temps had moderated even more and it was quite a pleasant evening. Some suggested that we keep riding, but no one seemed very serious about that.
One of the statistics I keep on my rides is a moving 30 day distance. In the past 30 days I’ve ridden 975 miles. That is the most I’ve ridden in a 30 day period of time ever.
It was a nice night.
Rev Rider 
Your comment regarding the speed of the group and the trail speed limit is, to say the least, interesting. Has their been any discussion in the peloton on this subject?
Yes, there is always discussion about this, and recently two newspaper letters to the editor have complained about fast cyclists not giving warning and going very fast. Members of our club give warning and will avoid the trail when it is full of people. We have been told to get off the roads and onto the trail by people driving motor vehicles. We’ve been told to get off the trail and be on the roads by people walking. It is a delicate balance.
A delicate balance, yes. Sometimes like being on sword’s edge. The opinions and exortations by drivers and trail-walkers will never end. Best of luck on your rides.