2015 Gallery | star-event

Pre-ride BikeMS talk. Prior to the ride, we were able to have a meet and greet with the BikeMS sponsor representative, Mike Robertson. Mike is the manager of Corporate Relations with the Mid Florida chapter of Bike MS/National Multiple Sclerosis Society.	2015.03.15 - 0755.2 - S.T.A.R. V - Pre-ride_edited Faces both familiar and new showed up.	Pre-ride George, Laurie, Mitch and Sharon.
Pre-ride. Mike Roberston speaking to us about BikeMS.	Pre-ride. Bidding us a safe ride, Mike headed north to Anderson Snow Regional Park, a much better location for our SAG Stop.	2015.03.15 - 0756.2 - S.T.A.R. V - Pre-ride_edited Blurry about captures the way CJ was feeling. In case you don't know it S.R. 52 doesn't lead to Target, but after a U-turn, Moon Lake Road, Starkey Blvd & S.R. 54, CJ found the starting line.
Pre-ride group photo. Cropped Early Birds photo.	2015 Early Birds. 2015 official S.T.A.R. Event Early Birds photo.	...And they're off! Into a light mist, that only lasted a few minutes, the Early Birds headed south to Lutz-Lake Fern Road.
0800 hours. The departure ran a bit later than expected but, other than that things ran smoothly.	Sleepy Birds. Mike Robertson of BikeMS is in the orange shirt. As for the rest? Questa è la mia famiglia. Non lascerò mai la famiglia mia.	At the S.R. 54 Trailhead. Stanley Urqhart came on at Lutz-Lake Fern Road.
S.R. 54 Trailhead. Ready to roll.	S.R. 54 Trailhead. The adjusted departure time was 0830 hours.	0828 hours. S.R. 54 Trailhead. Grisel, Lenny, Laurie and TJ.
S.R. 54 Trailhead. TJ & SPBC's sole representative Russ. Russ honorably turned the cranks and stretched the S.T.A.R. Event V his first ever century ride. Congrats to him! We couldn't have had better conditions!	S.R. 54 Trailhead. Mitch, Laurie, Stanley & TJ.	Team CWD with TJ at Anderson Snow. TJ poses with 3/4 of Team CWD a.k.a. The "Starkey Birds" (More on that before next year's ride). PS: Only Zach was missing.
TABLE #1: BikeMS sponsored SAG Stop. Special thanks to Mike Robertson who manned our support station (and to his wife, who prepped the PB&J). Look at all of this!	TABLE #2: BikeMS sponsored SAG Stop. CJ at the support station. This was a nicer choice than 2014. First of all it allowed for the half distance riders to refuel and the long haul riders to utilize it twice. Also, it was shaded and had adjacent restrooms.	TABLE #2: BikeMS sponsored SAG Stop. If you left hungry if was your fault.
TABLE #1: BikeMS sponsored SAG Stop. Aerial view.	2015 Pay Station @ U.S. 98 Three bucks to park at a major trailhead. No amenities or shade and the picnic table we utilized last year is gone. I don't get it.	The Northern Terminus. A flawlessly beautiful day 41.3 miles from Lutz-Lake Fern Road.
Alongside U.S. 98. The wildflowers were gorgeous.	U.S. 98 Trailhead. Nearly surreal.	CJ's walk @ U.S. 98. The butterflies were plentiful.
Trailside @ U.S. 98. The hills are alive with the sound of ... Chainrings?	Near the Southern Terminus. STILL a gorgeous day. Sorry, Yep! Just had to say it again.	Northbound near Target. Driving to the S.T.A.R. event in 2016? This is your Suncoast Parkway exit.
CJ and a grumbling stomach. Planning S.T.A.R. Event VI started now.	Made it. Done!	Anthony's Italian Restaurant CJ settled on "Ant'nee's" (As they say in his jersey neighborhood) for dinner. It was the perfect relaxation station. Wouldn't you know it... He still couldn't stop bringing up how good the weather was.