Today it was 6 TeamOne Achieved Champion Level Champions who showed support for the Southwest Florida Tour de Cure in Lakewood Ranch. Dawn, Diana, Gail, Jodel, and Z participated in the ride while Seresaa was sidelined with illness but was there to show support.  The course selected was the 35-mile course (actually 37 miles) starting from downtown Main Street.  Main Street is the downtown shopping, dining, and events center where everything happens.

The forecast revealed a warm day ahead. They were prepared for a day of riding that would start out in the mid-60’s and hit the 80’s. The route took them through the beautiful area of Lakewood Ranch, with mostly straight runs of opened road. Last year the Florida wind was “infamous”. This year it was brutal.

The Ride

The team started the day early by texting around 4:00 am to ensure everyone was up and ready.  At 5:45 am they were on the road for the 2 1/2 hour drive from Orlando to Lakewood Ranch. The day turned out to be clear, comfortable, and of course windy. The temperature did start in the 60’s, but by 9 am it was in the upper 60’s. Perfect for riding!

This ride, only 2 weeks after the Lake Nona Tour de Cure, was once again planned just as a casual ride for the team.  This ride turned out to be challenging in terms of pace — the wind was vicious that day, but the team pushed on while keeping the intensity and speed up.

The two veterans (Jodel and Z literally former military and been riding the longest) of TeamOne where fighting off cramps in their hamstrings and calves respecfully after the first 9 miles. Everyone on the team rallied around them switching lead position every mile instead of every 2.5 miles because of the strong wind which of course since it is Florida seems to whip around in your face the entire ride.

The volunteers kept the energy up! With the temperature going up, SAG stops were a welcome sight. Hydration (water and Gatorade), trail mix, cookies, oranges, apple slices, pickles, and peanut butter & Jelly sandwiches were readily available. Thanks to these volunteers with their wonderful smiles and encouragement TeamOne pushed on!!

Towards the end of the ride, in the remaining 18 miles, TeamOne members and the rider (RM) who recently joined the paceline kicked it up a notch and finished strong. TeamOne members ended up averaging 17.2 mph for the entire 37-mile ride.  What an experience to travel at these speeds in the wind, gusting up to 30 mph at times, and the distance for some riders who are a custom to having a least one replenishment stop every 14 – 22 miles.

New to the team this year, and first time riding in a Peloton pace line,  Gail showed what an outstanding athlete she is. One of the Road Marshall’s commented that “once she was clipped in, it would be impossible to keep up”. That is no exaggeration!

Dawn, finally healthy after injuries in past rides, proved that it would take more than concussions and back injuries to keep her away. She faced the wind and pulled in this group, no simple thing in the headwinds.

One of the best parts in starting the ride from Lakewood Ranch’s Main Street is that after the ride there is a Starbucks less than 50 feet from the finish line. If anyone has trained with TeamOne … they know we love our coffee after a ride.

TeamOne’s main goal was to support the Tampa ADA team. TeamOne is happy to have had the opportunity to participate in the ride and encourages our community to continue to support this worthy cause.

Event Day Statistics

This is the course charted by one of the team members who participated in 37-mile route (Garmin was started late, about .5 miles into the route).

 

Video

Photos

Thank you,
TeamOne