CLUB BASTION
The story of the Hunters Crossing Pedalers is one of "if at first you don't succeed, try, try, and try again." It was about four years ago that Linda McMahon agreed to "monitor who shows up" for a new group that would ride from the Millhopper area. The idea was to see if there was interest in forming a group that could fill the gap between beginner and life in the fast lane. McMahon explained that the Sunday morning Newnans Lake rides were taking good care of the novices, and the A and B groups were serving the more advanced riders, "and there was nothing in between." So on that Saturday in September she showed up at the Hunters Crossing Shopping Center and was ready to monitor - but she was the only one there. So she tried the next week, and again, except for her, it was a total no show. The same happened in week three as well. But in week four she arrived to find 10 people wanting to ride, and that required a change in her job description. "Then all of a sudden I was a ride leader," she said.
McMahon had started as a novice in the Newnans Lake group under the tutelage of the Grand Poobah himself, Chandler Otis. What she found was a helpful and gentle approach to cycling. "I think that's what makes our club so good is that there are so many people there to suggest things to the riders with no experience at all," she said. Four years later she's still leading rides. Some who join the group use the Hunters as a stepping stone, others find a home there. "There are a lot of people who've been with us that have gone on the B-rides and A-rides," she said. The Hunters typically ride at a 12 to 13 mph pace, take frequent stops and usually keep the distance under 40 miles, or if there are longer rides, they'll offer shorter options. She describes it as more of a "touring group." "We're not out there to see how far we can go or how fast we can go, but just to enjoy the sights," McMahon said. McMahon has nearly a dozen routes she chooses or combines in rides to Alachua, High Springs, Hague and Lacrosse. And once a month, for variety, the members will take a road trip. Recent rides have included a ride through the Keystone Heights and Melrose areas, the Withlacoochee, Gainesville-Hawthorne and St. Mark's state trails and wildflower rides around Micanopy and Evinston. Many of the out-of-town adventures also include a group lunch. The group meets at 9 a.m. (8 a.m. during daylight saving time) at the Gainesville Regional Utilities Office, on the northwest corner of Millhopper Road and NW 43rd Street. The ride generally begins about 9:15. As the group rolls down the highway, the words fly almost as fast as the miles. Favorite topics include birds, butterflies, wildflowers, trees, movies and TV. McMahon recalled one trip through Alachua that required some improvising. The group rode into town to find the streets blocked for a holiday parade. It called for the "if you can't beat ‘em, join ‘em" approach. "We ended up being on the tail end of the parade," she said. "We had a great old time."