Sunday mornings are for bikers in Coconut Grove. Saturday has a lot, but that's usually reserved for runners and walkers, but early Sunday, it's a different world out there.
There are so many different groups in different sizes that congregate in Center Grove. Just this morning there was a "traffic jam" of three groups in front of the Playhouse. The groups all have their own speeds (some do 10 mile an hour rides, others get up to 40 mph) and they all know each other. They have the run of the streets since there aren't many cars out very early on weekend mornings.
I have friends who take off from Starbucks at CocoWalk for long distance rides, they meet between 7 and 7:45 a.m. and at exactly 7:45 a.m., they take off for their rides, going north or south, but going far. I usually stop by on my way to the gym, about 7:30 a.m. and we kibitz until it's time for them to take off.
While they are at Starbucks, there are other groups there, too. A group of lawyers and doctors, maybe 30 strong congregate there. This week they asked one of my friends to take their photo, so the group lined up. If you pass by GreenStreet or Lulu early, that's where there is another large group having breakfast. And you just need to stand on Main Highway or South Bayshore Drive to catch a glimpse of very large groups passing through.
Sometimes I'll see one person riding solo. I feel bad for them, I don't know why, I feel like they don't know anybody, but most likely, they just want to be alone on their morning ride. Small groups tend to end up at the Starbucks next to Monty's, usually groups of two, three or four.
I had to laugh this morning because one of the ladies who works at CocoWalk was complaining about "all those kids." I told her that those kids were her age, about 45 to 60. But in Spandex, everyone looks younger. Don't they?
This is the scene all over the county but for some reason, they all congregate in Coconut Grove on Sunday mornings.
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