Lake Mary, FL – PCC 10 – TeamOne Cycle

This past Saturday morning May 20, 2017, TeamOne members (Dawn, Diana, & Z) joined other cyclists for the Peloton Cyclist Club (PCC) Ride #10. Yes…the PCC events are up to 10 rides now!

The ride was not slated to start until 8:45 am, so the cyclists had another well-deserved sleep-in before the meetup site in Seminole County.

PCC (http://pelotoncyclistclub.com) is a fun and unique company that has set out to unite the cycling community. TeamOne members joined in for the 37-mile course of beautiful riding through Lake Mary, north of Orlando.

All PCC rides are fully supported with mechanical and nutritional support before, during, and after the events. PCC has designated fully stocked SAG stops along the route to meet every rider’s need.

The Ride

The weather was going to be HOT! Sweltering HOT! Even though it was a treat to sleep in, and not have a 4 am wake-up time, the later start made any extra sleep null and void. Still, a luxurious 6 am wake-up time for this ride gave members a little extra sleep that no one complained about.

The day was starting off warm at 82 degrees. The park site in Lake Mary presented tree-lined views. Cyclists gathered around the PCC trailer, gearing up for another great ride. Hydration was the word of the day. Breakfast always starts a ride off right. Today the set up included bagels, juice, and coffee.

On PCC Ride #10 the course choices were either 36-mile or a 46-mile course. One of the members had volunteered to lead the 36-mile route.

The first group of riders left on time for the 46-mile route. Our group left a few minutes later for the 36-mile route. Unfortunately, after just a few miles, one of the riders suffered from the heat and humidity. The air was so thick, and it was only 9 am. He headed back, and the rest of the group continued on. While there was some shade on the tree-lined streets, the wind and humidity negated any relief the cyclists might have gotten.

The first SAG stop was about 19 miles into the ride. The PCC trailer was ready and waiting for the group. Our group was the first ones in. Water and Gatorade were top of the list. Next fruit buddy packets, pickles (a popular item with riders), bananas, trail mix, snack bars, cookies were quickly consumed. The next few groups of riders came in. It was time for a group shot below the Beck Ranch Park sign.

After the SAG stop, the TeamOne riders started back for the last 18 miles. It was HOT! The group of 6 switched every mile or so to keep legs fresh. Every stop at a red light was just a chance to get a quick drink and try to keep cool. The finish was a respectable 18 mph. As summer approaches, even though riding a lot in heat can get you acclimated, it still demands vigilance to keep hydrated and respect the heat and humidity’s effects.

After the ride, as usual, water, beer, soda, and food were waiting for hungry cyclists. Today’s menu, provided by Crave & Eat catering, included Chipotle grilled chicken topped with cilantro butter sauce (two thumbs up, chef!), Roasted corn salad, and black bean quinoa. For those who may not know what Quinoa is … it is a protein-packed grain which looks a bit like couscous, is as versatile as rice, and tastes delicious on its own or with beans, red pepper, and nopal like today. This day was filled with great conversation, camaraderie, and the beautiful HOT weather.

As always, PCC made sure cyclists had a great day!! Tim, Eric, and Rustin plan out the event, including providing course routes pre-ride, to make each ride so much fun. The ride is worth every penny. Where else can you get breakfast, lunch, snacks, a ride back if you need it, route planning and full SAG support for minimal cost? Check out what they have to offer at their website: http://pelotoncyclistclub.com