GCC Member? Visit The Village (or downtown) and Get A Deal

As a response to the completion of Archer Braid Trail’s extension through Haile Plantation one of the regular vendors at the Saturday morning Farmers' Market has created a product with bicycle riders (Gainesville Cycling Club members in particular) in mind and is encouraging them to visit the Village.

I have never been much of a fan of mustard, except for when I was a kid and went to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore where all hot dogs came with bright yellow mustard. As my tastes have become moderately more sophisticated I have appreciated the more robust flavors of what might be called "real mustard". I may never become a dipper and use a jar of mustard like hummus or guacamole, but I have learned that mustard . . . some mustards . . . deserve a place in my kitchen.

Nana Pat’s Goodies is one of the vendors at the Market who has embraced the idea that people on bikes is good for the Farmers’ Market.


Nana Pat makes both sweet and savory things, but it is her mustard that matters here. Her newest addition to the line of savories is Fat Tire Special, which uses, can you guess, New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale as its base. That, alone, would be reason enough to visit Haile Village on Saturday or Union Street on Wednesday, BUT . . . are you ready? . . . GCC members get a discount. A check of Nana Pat’s website blog says it all; she doesn’t commonly offer deals. What’s the deal? Fifty cents off the usual $7 large jar or two small jars (usually $4 each) for the price of a large one, should you want to share the joy. The blog posting also says that this is a limited time product, but I bet demand would win out.


Anyone wanting a seriously good taste treat and wanting to buy locally should try Nana Pat’s stuff. For those of you who like to favor things on facebook and encourage others to treat themselves to something worthwhile, you can do it there, too.

Even if none of the regular merchants in The Village see the marketing value of encouraging the use of ABT, at least one Saturday morning vendor does.

Being Memorialized

I’ve been remiss in keeping up with postings here while I resolved some of the questions raised when I was asked about aging in Gainesville. A moment of indignation turned into months of introspection because the concept of aging isn’t the same as the reality. Eventually, something of worth emerged and had been published in the May edition of "Senior Times" magazine. There’s a link to the digital version on their home page
 (http://www.seniortimesmagazine.com/). Free, analog versions of the magazine are widely available locally at Publix and other locations.

An editorial observation about the piece in Senior Times; the images are not mine. They are stock photos.

Unrelated news is the 2014 version of the National Bike Challenge, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists. From May through September individuals record their daily mileage. Affiliation with bike clubs, workplace and community is recorded and, especially with bike clubs, competition becomes fierce. Gainesville Cycling Club buried all competition last year and is maintaining a firm grip on first place.

Archer Braid Trail makes Haile Village more accessible

Getting to Haile Village is a three mile ride mostly on the paved path winding its way through the Plantation’s neighborhoods and I do it boldly, despite the warn sign telling me the path is a benefit for residents and guests, only. I figure the Farmers’ Market in the Village is an open invitation.

When the current extension to Archer Braid Trail is completed access to the Village will be dramatically easier as will the ride to Archer. Memorial Park will be a fine alternative to using the YMCA parking area on Archer Road and the new section will add an additional couple of miles.

Haile meets ABT

Ninety-first Terrace is the Main Street of the Village; it’s where the Market appears on Saturdays and where much of the Village’s other “content” is located. With improved access provided by ABT it makes the eateries located there much more convenient destinations for anyone wanting to venture out on a bike. It’ll be possible to ride to Haile, indulge in snacks, a meal or just dessert and work some of the calories off getting back to the Park.
Haile Village may not be specifically bicycle friendly, but traffic is seldom a problem, amenities are easily accessible and there are widely spaced racks and abundant flyparking options. After the Market the most relevant amenity I might consider using me is dining, though it’s been a long time since I have availed myself of the opportunities.

Haile Village Bistro is a starting point for many Gainesville Cycling Club (GCC) rides so you can assume they are friendly or tolerant of bicycle riders. They’re open daily at 0700 offering light breakfast and complete lunch and dinner entrees until 11pm weekdays and 1AM on Saturday and Sunday. Their menu runs from deli sandwiches to Middle Eastern inspired Kabobs. English Pub food is also on the menu, but in my opinion it should only be ordered in the attached Queen’s Arms Pub; Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Bangers and Mash have always been very good. Fish and Chips’ll cost you $12 and will be worth the price.

Queen's Arms Pub

Haile Village Bistro

There is a rack across the street from the Pub and a wrought iron fence around the outdoor seating of the Bistro. Neither is the ideal way to accommodate bikes, but both serve the purpose and unless the weather is oppressively hot or unpleasantly cool, outdoor seating is a good thing.


Sisters is no longer open for dining. It is catering only. Alas.

patticakes is a confection destination but not nearly as bicycle friendly as it oughta be. With an abundance of carbohydrates available it’s a great place to indulge in extremes. Haven’t visited since soon after they opened so I’ve no idea how much a designer cupcake goes for. I do recollect that whatever I paid was justified by the taste.
Only flyparking is available using various trees and signs, but this is less than ideal.


Cacciatore is an oddity. It’s a catering company that makes pizza and other typical pizzeria fare from 5pm to 9 mp on Thursdays and Fridays. Its prices are competitive and reviews suggest they make good stuff. It fits outside the general idea of bicycle friendly. Maybe I’ll stop by for a piece some evening and have more to say about it. I'll even add a picture when i do.


Limerock Road used to be something else and it was something else when I ate there. Billed as “the Neighborhood Grill you’ve been searching for” it may be just hat, preposition notwithstanding. Like any good Neighborhood Grill in the Home of the gators, it offers Happy Hour whenever the Gators play. It’s not clear whether that is just football or includes lacrosse, softball, basketball, et cetera. The lunch menu shows a host of handheld Grill-type options for lunch and more worldly items for dinner. Lunch will cost about $10 and for dinner you’ll need more than $10 and less than $20 for a meal.
Limerock has an adequate bike rack and there are numerous flyparking options should the rack be full.


South Garden and Limerock Road are in the same nook at the North end of the Village. South Garden offers typical items at competitive prices. As with Cacciatore, I’ll ride by some afternoon and taste what they offer. They’re open Tuesday through Friday for lunch (11am – 2pm) and dinner (5pm – 8:30pm) and for dinner only; Monday, Saturday and Sunday (5pm – 8:30pm).
Adequate flyparking is available and Limerock’s rack is nearby.

With parking available at Memorial Park, ABT should become more heavily used than it is already and the possibility of a stop in Haile Village makes it even more appealing.

Veterans Day, 2013

One of the recurring activities of the Gainesville Cycling Club is the annual ride during Veterans Day. The first stop of this year's Poker Run was at Veteran's Park in advance of the Veterans Day activities. Registration fees will be donated to Fisher House now under construction at Randall VA Medical Center.

The event was well attended, the weather was fine and the riders added a wide range of color options to the pre-event activities.

Below are some photos from the event. Clicking images will open a much larger image.

The first arrivals.

And then the Peloton . . .

Being patient for a good cause.

Parking made simple!

Fashion sense, two-wheel style.

Preparing to roll.

On the road again.

And event is only as good as the people who help make it happen.

Where have I been? Why? Miss me?

Spent too many days enveloped in unrelenting purposelessness. At irregular intervals I recognize another uncomfortable inevitability of aging which always pushes me into a doldrums. Usually it's the consequence of finding something new I cannot do as well any more. It can also be related to having to accept that I lack the time for something I'd hoped to do. At these times is when the words form a song ring truest. "Everybody needs somebody, sometime." Thanks to somebody and a something for having helped pull me back from a self imposed brink.

The National Bike Challenge routinely motivates me to ride more than just to the grocery and back. Riding is always a good way to take time to contemplate and process, but, ofttimes, inertia must be overcome. The Gainesville Cycling Club maintains a substantial lead over other 1000+ teams currently logging miles. I manage to hang onto a place in the high 900s to mid-1000 of the 20000+ riders. As I mentioned in May the Challenge appeals to my competitive nature and I enjoy contributing to the team effort.

The Challenge continues through September.

Archer Braid Trail, Grand Opening, June 15, 2013

The Archer Braid Trail Grand Opening happened and it was probably exactly the kind of event it should have been. It was like a carnival, but where all the games were rigged so everybody won something. Ultimately, it was about families and kids and the common folk of Archer who'd be the most frequent and daily users of the first mile and a half.

There were speakers who kept their comments brief and relevant. And there was music, at least until the raffle started. There wasn't any money needed for the raffle. If you were there you could have a ticket. The number of generous donations was staggering; bikes and lights and locks to tune-ups and and flat repairs kits and soap. And there were the helmets. More than a hundred helmets were fitted and given to anyone who took the time to stand in line to get one. Adults waited patiently and without complaint as kids moved to the head of the line then smiled just as broadly when their turn came and they received their spiffy new bicycle helmet

Lots of riders came to the event and stood out in their bright garb, but the Grand Opening was much more about the basic, grassroots appeal of bicycles and Archer was probably the perfect place for it to happen.

It took a good imagination to see what the Trailhead would become.

Grass and asphalt and people at the completed Trailhead.

The Gainesville Cycling Club was at the center of making the event work.

Chain Reaction Bike Shop, Santa Fe College, Chamber of Commerce and the Alachua Sheriff's department werre on hand to share information and join the fun.

Can you say Helmets?

Receiving your first helmet, having it fit properly AND remaining stylishly coordinated is serious stuff!

"Number 42056!" "Number 42038!" "Number 42089!" No matter how long it takes and no matter how tedious it becomes, giving things away just feels good.

And it was about the bikes and the kids and people being glad to share a morning in the sun.

It's all black and cool AND I have a helmet!

It goes wherever I want it to go.

Sometimes, "cool" is a state of mind.

Sometimes "cool" is your state of mind.

There's this thing known as style.

Bikes come in all sizes and are fit for fun for everyone.

Care to define "cute"?

She came to the Grand Opening and went home with a spiffy Schwinn, a new helmet and a big grin.

Getting a good start on a lifelong activity.

Pleanty of room for skaters, too.

What's Next for the Archer Braid Trail?

Now that part of the Archer Braid Trail (ABT) is a reality when will enterprising people take the next step in elevating G'ville (and environs) from bike friendly to bike embracing? How outrageous (and outstanding) would it be if a bicycle themed pub appeared in Haile Village?! Silly idea?

Gainesville was ranked #37 among "Bicycling Magazine's" Top 50 Bike-Friendly Cities in America in their 2012 listing because of "a robust cycling culture . . . anchored by the University of Florida, daily group rides, and the 16-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail" and "the Gainesville Cycling Club . . . an annual ultradistance brevets series." The League of American Bicyclists says that 5.25 percent of G'ville's residents commute by bike and awards it Silver status

Obviously, there is much more to riding in and around G'ville, including being a significant point on the transcontinental Southern Tier Route of the Adventure Cycling Organization. The growth of ABT will only serve to make riding more accessible to more people. This may be contrary to the desires of resident denizens of Haile, but could prove to be a boon to Haile Village, which is a truly delightful place to ride. The Saturday Farmers' Market is among my favorite places to go and spend money. Would I go to a bicycle themed eatery/watering hole? damn straight!

The OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe has successfully satisfied the palate and thirst of riders in Pittsburgh for more than four years and is expanding to Pittsburgh's northside. The relationship between bicycles and carbohydrates is well known there. Just a thought.

Joining When You're Not a Joiner

Never been much of a "joiner." Joined the Army in 1965 rather than be Drafted. Not sure whether being Drafted would have been better. Survived and I guess that's the among the better things for which you could hope. Decided, recently, to join the National Bike Challenge as part of the feeling that I need to advocate bicycle riding. Don't like admitting that I have gotten into the competition part of it.

I've always been competitive, but mostly against myself. When I lived in Atlanta and ran alot back in the late 70s and early 80, when running was very much a part of my life experience, I knew I could not keep up with whippet slender real runners. I was a plodder, a sub 10 minute miler most of the time, but I could run for hours. I ran because it felt good. Thirty years later my knees reject the idea running while readily accepting the limited stress associated with sliding onto a B-17.

That competitive sense has been stirred by joining the National Bike Challenge. I joined to add my mileage to the team (Go Team!), the Gainesville Bicycle Society (Gainesville Cycling Club to use its proper name) to which membership gives me a 15% discount on parts and accessories at my FNBS. Now, I am drawn to the local and national rankings and like seeing that of the 22K plus people registered, I rank in the top 1500 or so. I tend to ignore the hundreds whose names appear but have logged no mileage.

It's a good deal for someone like me since every time I slide onto my Brooks or FrankenBrooks B-17 I garner 20 points plus 1 point per mile ridden. A single trip to Publix totals 20 + 3 and I make that trip three and four times a week. This is about the promotion of bicycles as a way to make the Earth a healthier place or, as the website suggests, "the power of the bicycle to build healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy planet" (National Bike Challenge), so those of us who live the bicycle lifestyle might represent the "ground roots" of the Challenge.

Today I did a 20 something mile circuit that included the Archer Braid Tral and found that all but about one-quarter mile remains to be paved of the six or so miles. The support elements are in place at the Archer Trail Head; parking space, kiosk, sidewalk, and trail. All that remains is to pave over the tarred sand. About a dozen other riders were abroad on the Trail today and I expect it'll become a favorite of many G'ville riders.