2009 Florida Team Training Camp
Written by Noah Mabry
Day 1: Thursday, January 1st, 2009: Manny, Jordan Binkley, Jon, and Noah started off early and met in Philadelphia to board their flight to West Palm Beach, Florida. Besides Manny being pulled aside during the luggage check for suspicious material, everything went very smoothly.
At about 1pm, the plane landed and “Uncle Rob” arrived to haul us back to Stuart. (About 50 miles north) As soon as we pulled in his driveway, everyone was out and started claiming bedrooms, saying hi to the dogs, and unpacking their bikes. After the excitement somewhat settled down in the evening, we loaded back up in the Suburban and headed to the grocery store. Several hundred dollars later, we were ready for the next 9 days of riding.
Day 2: Friday, January 2nd: After a solid night’s sleep, we ate our breakfast and were on our bikes by 8:30. Today we planned on getting back into the swing of things and SLOWLY riding south. Unfortunately, we couldn’t control ourselves. We found ourselves pacelining through Jupiter Island at about 25-26 mph. Eventually we slowed things down and took some pictures of the beautiful landscapes. By the end of the day, we had ridden 90 miles and about 4.5 hours.
Day 3: Saturday, January 3rd: This day started early. Very early. Ridiculously early. We were out of bed by 3:30 am, and on our bikes by 4:30. The plan was to meet up with Rob’s friend, “Dougzilla”, ride down to West Palm Beach, complete a 30 mile training race that started at about 7, and then ride home. Not to disappoint, Dougzilla lived up to his nickname and pulled us down to West Palm at about 26mph. As for the training race, we all felt good and strong. On several occasions, we were asked if we were a cat 1-2 team. After the completion of the race, we started to cruise back towards home. We stopped for some much needed food at an outdoor market and met up with some other riders that also were heading back to Stuart. This is were Noah met, and inevitably, locked in a “riding date” with Jackie Kurth, a two time national champion sponsored by Kenda Tires and Tubes. He can’t help it that his boyish charm and wit just melt the ladies. After lunch, we continued our ride back towards home and finished the day with 130 miles and about 6.5 hours on the bikes.
Day 4: Sunday, January 4th: Today we got to sleep in… until 4:30 and on the bikes by 5:30. Today’s plan was to ride south again and meet up with another group training race sponsored by Cycle Circle that started at Juno Beach at about 7. Again, Dougzilla pulled us down to the start at a blistering pace. As for today’s ride, most of us were feeling pretty strong, which helped when the pack reached speeds of about 34 mph in some sections. After this 30 mile training race, wereconviened and started our ride back to Stuart. Instead of spinning easy back, the group we were with averaged about 24-25mph in another paceline. By the end of the day, we ended with 110 miles and 5.5 hours.
Day 5: Monday, January 5th: Today we really go to sleep in. We were on the bikes by about 9am and decided to take a recovery day. We started to ride north and met up with another one of Rob’s friends, Grant. We continued to ride north towards Vero Beach and stopped at a small cafe where most of us ordered breakfast sandwiches and smoothies. Next, we had to face a pretty strong crosswind for 40 miles back to the house. This part of the ride was definately not a recovery. After toughing out the brisk winds, we arrived home with 80 miles and 4.5 hours on the saddle.
Day 6: Tuesday, January 6th: After our “recovery ride” in the wind the day before, we decided to take another recovery day. Today we rode south into the light wind to the end of Juno Beach where we stopped at Village Bike Shop for some power gels and to look around. After our pitstop, we turned around and rode at a comfortable pace back to Rob’s. This gave us 70 miles or recovery and 3.5 hours on the bike.
Day 7: Wednesday, January 7th: Back to business. Today’s plan was to ride to West Palm once again, grab some food, and ride back. This time, we were on the bike a little after sunrise and arrived in West Palm in time for some lunch at The Market Salamander, a small cafe where we were treated extremely well last year, and again this year. After refueling, we got back on the bikes and took some pictures in front of The Breakers Hotel, and also got some of the surrounding mansions, large yachts, and fast cars. After drooling over all of the things that we will never be able to afford, we pacelined back to Stuart, which gave us 101 miles and 5.5 hours on the bikes. At this point, we were all starting to feel the previous miles catching up with us.
Day 8: Thursday, January 8th: Today was awesome. Although waking up early, we lounged around the house until about 10 before we convinced ourselves to get on the bikes. Similar to Tuesday, we rode north towards Vero Beach. Unfortuanately, Noah had to return from the ride early with only 30 miles in to get ready for the upcoming “ride date” with Jackie. The rest of the boys put in a solid 72 miles with a little bit of motor-pacing with Rob’s motorist friends.
As for Noah’s ride, he met with Jackie at the house and rode at a comfortable, talking pace around Hutchinson Island and the surrounding areas. This was the easy part. Next, Jackie took him to “the hills of Florida” which include several developments with gradual and somewhat steep climbs. Besides the time when she blatantly attacked him while he was obviously eating, the two cruised around for about 42 miles and then got some delicious ice cream at Wilwin’s.
In the evening, Dougzilla came over and everyone had a great time watching the Florida Gators beat the Oklahoma Sooners. Great friends, great food, great times. What more can we ask for?
Day 9: Friday, January 9th: Today was declared another recovery day. A true recovery day. Although, Binkley somehow managed to wreck into a front lawn after attempting to throw a banana peal at Noah. The only thing hurt was his pride. After everyone had a good laugh, Bink dusted himself off and we continued our adventure to 7 Eleven and scored some slurpees. Manny and Noah then rode over to the beach and did some people watching. There’s no better feeling than a 30 mile recovery ride at a 13mph pace after a hard week of riding.
Day 10: Saturday, January 10th: Today was the last full day in Flordia for us. We were again on the bikes by 4:30 and planned on doing the West Palm training race. Everyone was feeling great. We rode 50 miles south to West Palm Beach and connected with the other riders. Early on, Dougzilla and Jon took off with another rider in a three man breakaway attempt. Manny, Binkley, Rob, and Noah tried to cause some confusion within the pack and hold them back from chasing the escaped riders. It worked! The breakaway was miles down the road before anyone could coordinate a chase group. After we knew there was no catching them,Binkley led another attack with Manny, Rob, and Noah right on his wheel. Each of us were pulling at about 28mph trying to get out of sight from the main group. Unfortunately, several other riders bridged to us and were not as willing to work. Within a quarter mile of the unofficial finish line, we were officially caught and swallowed back up into the pack. On the plus side, Jon and Doug stayed away and the rest of us got some great high intensity work in. After the exciting finish, we continued to ride further south towards Del Ray. We stopped at a small cafe in town and continued to gossip about how awesome the race went. After our breakfast stop, we rode north back through West Palm, Singer Island, Jupiter Island, then eventually back to Stuart and Rob’s place. Total for the day: 151 miles and just shy of 8 hours on the bike. This is longer than most people spend at their job in a given day!
After repacking the bikes, saying hi to Noah’s parents who were also in the area vacationing, and cleaning Rob’s house, we met up with Rob’s wife, Lori, and Doug for one last meal together. To say the least, the drinks were flowing, the laughs were unstoppable, and everyone was smiling ear to ear. It was a great end to a great vacation.
Day 11: Sunday, January 11th: We were forced to get up early and head to the airport. After a short 2 hour nap on the plane, we arrived in Philadelphia, only to be shocked by 34 degree weather and ice. Manny put it best when we arrived, “Pennsylvania is like Florida… after a World War went through.”
Ride Summary: 9 days on the bike, 834 miles, 45 hours of riding, about 50,000 calories burned per person (Garmin estimated), over 10 boxes of cereal eaten, two dozen bagels, 5 gallons of milk, 2 loaves of bread, about 20 or so burgers, 4 boxes ofpoptarts, only 2 flat tires, and one amazingly good time. The only down side is that we were forced to come home. The weather was absolutely flawless. Each day was about 75 degrees or higher and not a cloud in the sky.
Manny, Jon, Binkley, Noah, and the Shirk’s Team in general cannot thank Rob and Lori enough for allowing us to come down and enjoy their beautiful home. THANK YOU!
PS: The official countdown for next year is already started : )
-Noah Mabry
-Jon Glick
-Jordan Binkley
-Manny Caliz
P.S. Our photos from the trip can be viewed here!
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January 18, 2009 10:31 am | 
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