Since yesterday, I'd been salivating about the real fruit milkshakes at Robert's, but I wasn't excited about the wind and cooler temps...
So, this a.m. I put on my Rapha 3/4 bibs (quite possibly the most comfortable pad out there), a long sleeve base layer and a Nike windstopper jacket. I turned my Ipod to the Biggie Smalls playlist and set out.
It seems that I dressed perfectly for the temps. The entire ride I modulated my body temp by zipping or unzipping the jacket less than half-way.
Once you get past Black Point (about 18 or so miles into the ride) things really open up and you find yourself in the midst of tree nurseries and canals. It really is some of the most peaceful riding you'll find. Of course, with the lack of buildings, you're exposed to the wind. Luckily, at this point, the wind wias either a slight crosswind (heading west) or a slight tailwind (heading south).
In addition to the nurseries, I also encountered some "road furniture"... albeit, not the kind the Phil and Paul mean when they call the Grand Tours...
After this, you wind by some more nurseries and then you come to the "Flashing Light," which gets its name from the fact that its a light that... flashes. Turn left, and you go to Biscayne Nat'l Park and Hoover Marina. They have a nice bait-n-tackle store and gas pump for boaters. The sanck shop is a frequent stop for cyclists during the weekends. Turn right and head to... well, I don't exactly know, but you'd end up in Homestead somewhere. Go straight and you head to a "T" intersection, which is the way I'm going.
Once you turn left at the "T" then you head west towards Homestead motorspeedway and through some planned developments and into Florida City, which, BTW, is the last semblence of civilization before the everglades to the West and the Florida Keys to the South.
Then you come to an open air fruit shop to the left and you are greeted by the sign "Robert is Here." Not sure why it says that as opposed to "Robert's Fruit Stand," but we'll go with it. Finally, I get to indulge in a strawberry/banana milkshake made from real fruit (not that syruppy stuff) and get to check out the really cool... animal farm?!?! Quietly, this woulkd be a nice place to get fresh produce, jellys and marmilades if it weren't 36 miles from where people actually live!
YUMMY!!!
The goods. Those are coconuts...
So now, it's time to head back. Back past all that we've already seen and back INTO the wind this time. I stopped to take this picture at Black Point Marina (another pit stop for some weekend warriors).
Now back through the more residential areas of South Cutler, Cutler Bay, Pinecrest and into Coral Gables/South Miami. Its about mile 66 and I decide to stop a one of my law school favs... Chicken Kitchen! I order the Cuban chop-chop, with white rice (not yellow) and have a Pepsi. I'm only about 6 miles from the end of my planned ride... Once I get back into the Grove I assess, and I decide that I'm feeling good enough for a loop of Key Biscaynce, which includes out and back climbs of the Miami Mountain (just a bridge), and provides great views of Brickell Avenue condos which are just soout of downtown.
After this, its back home through Miami traffic which peaks right about... ALL THE TIME. Really, evening rush hour can be anytime between 1p.m. and 8p.m. and all hours in between.
So, today was maybe the most fun I've had on a bike. I really enjoyed my milkshake and taking in the sights on the way. I pushed myself beyond where I've been before. I never did a ride longer than 76 miles or so, but today I logged 5 hrs and 14 minutes and 91.22 miles on the bike and burned over 4,500 calories. I more than earned that milkshake. I'll sleep well tonight and wake up to to the group ride tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. Yay!
