What a great ride, route and weather.  Unfortunately, the experience was marred when two creatures, having about the same BMI (Body Mass Index) collided west of Millwood.  Only one of them was able to walk away.  Much more to come, as well as working on the Gran Fondo New York report.
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On Wednesday, I resumed my volunteer work at the son-in-laws fence building project. For some reason, I could not be the "Cut Man" who stands at the saw and cuts the posts to length, I could not be the "Hold the Post Vertical Man" who stands next to the post and makes sure it remains exactly in place, no I was the "Carry 80 Pound Concrete Bag Man." This guy picks up 80 lb bags, places in wheel barrow, distributes bags to each of the 45 holes. Later picks up each bag and opens in the wheel barrow, adds water, shoves 80 lbs of concrete around to mix it, shovels out 80+ lbs of concrete into each hole and when enough is in the freakin hole, told to cap each hole off with dirt. Oh yes, and when a hole was off center, I had to shave it with the post hole digger. After 6 hours of this, I short cutted the project and left them with 10 holes to fill. I was beat and today I was stiff and tonight I was not so good so I asked Young Phenom Nick to provide his version of the ride, which starts a couple of captions below.

A very light turnout early with some of the usual suspects already off to New York yet a couple of new guys showed up, Nick of course but also Euro Patrick making his first visit to join in with Shannon, John G, Doug M, Mick, Terry, Rick (first time this year), Tym & Lisa T, Gus & Peggy, Steve Nelson, Dave C, Poobah, around 22 who left the parking lot.

John Gorrilla in the middle became a first time father last Friday. Adele and baby girl are doing well.

Shannon and Doug M in the middle, Peggy, Gus and John G in the background. Some how, by 6:00, it was another large crowd and we left the parking lot, out 161, right on Mink, left on Condit then on to Headleys Mill and a left on Alward. I was dropped immediately and even missed the formation of the back-up A group which looked to have 5 people. When I reached the top of Alward I had a 22.5 avg but then soloed around a short route of 30 miles and 20.7 avg. Great route tonight of 46 miles. Now, Nick picks up the action:

We started out and I was a little nervous not really knowing the roads. It was a fast start much like this Tuesday. On the first climb (Alward) 10 miles in there was a small hill. It split the pack In half. After that I just sat in around mid pack just saving energy. The same 3-4 guys were pulling for a long time. ( it was the ride leader, a man in the new Hampshire cycling jersey, and a few other power guys.

Once we hit Raccoon Valley we were down to about 20 riders. It was a long tempo up Hardscrabble Road and I just sat in still conserving fuel and feeling really good. ( using Todd Lee's advice.) We dropped a team 614 rider and a man named John rode home (John Gorrilla maybe). After the climb it was just a speed fest! Very fast.

The last 15 miles I decided to make a move on Miller. Me and the other Tuesday rider (Euro Patrick) with the Eddy Merckx bike rode off the front. We were caught by the ride leader, and about 8 others. We had a gap and we team time trailed all the way to the end with a 24 mph avg. I was very impressed and had a good time. I had a lot of fun!! Which was very nice. It was different to ride with other people. (sorry if I didn't know many names.) it seems a tad more serious than Canal. Not as hilly but very fast. I'll definitely come back again.
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On August 2, 216BC, Hannibal decisively defeated the Roman army in what many historians claim was the most lopsided military victory in history.  On May 15, 2012, the northern hoards from New Albany invaded Palookaville, otherwise known as Canal Winchester and had a grand time.  Gabe the Ringer & Buddies, Marty Sedluk, Jon Morgan, Dave Chesrown, Mitch Tallen, Rick Miller and others arrived to give the old Canal crowd some excitement.  Here, Craig Butler, now with 340 cycling miles on his legs this season and Steve O observe the assemblage of talent.  They, Dustin and Nic were the best hope Canal had to offer.

Pretty good turnout of between 45-50 cyclists, including Mark C, Andrew C, John S, Nathan, Jeff S rolling out with....

....these guys.  The carnage began immediately out of the parking lot.  The warm-up was replaced with burning rubber and of the 17 who left with the A group, after a few miles, we were down to 10.  I think a couple of people just realized too late that there was no warm up and got caught out.  I would have been too except Jon Morgan saw what was happening and paced a couple of us back to the front group.  We got onto Pickerington Road and the group mysteriously slowed way down, which is always ok with me.  Crossing Winchester Road and approaching the hills, the speed picked up and I settled in with Jeff S and Nathan.  No point in riding on the rivet when the outcome is preordained anyway.. 

We approached the left on Alspach and I tried to get a group organized, especially urging my fellow cyclists to hold up for Rick M, who doesn't know the area.  So, we had Nathan, John S, Jeff S, Rick, Mark C and a couple of other dropped A's for a good group.  Except, it didn't stay that way very long.  Rick didn't have his climbing legs on or probably was saving himself for the Gran Fondo NY so he dropped back, as did Nathan and only 4 of us rolled into Amanda where the front group had taken a break.  I soft pedaled out of Amanda with the intent to hook up with Rick and lead him out of this maze of roads but never saw him so headed west on Bowman while the others went up Hunter.  A few turns later and I was back on the route on Fosnough School Road (by the way, this was a great route tonight) and soon, Hannibal's group came by.  I dove onto the back and held Mitch T's wheel until a left at Peters Road and a right back on to Fosnough left me panting and I was dropped a 2nd time.  Still in the group were the usual suspects out of New Albany but also Nic, Dustin and Craig Butler but no Steve O.   

Upon reaching Ridge, I hung a left and then a quick left again brought me onto Cedar Hill.  Looking back, I could see Hannibal's forces approaching yet again!  WTF!  I'm about to get dropped a freakin 3rd time!!!!  Can't these guys stay on the route so I don't get humiliated more than 1-2 times a night? So, I latched back on and drafted for awhile up the long climb on Cedar Hill and then bid them farewell, dropping back.  Some how they had missed a turn back there putting me ahead of them.  I hoped they could navigate the remaining few turns and in fact, their unfamiliarity with the route and roads probably kept the group larger then it might otherwise have been.  Rumor was they even regrouped once or twice, an unheard of accommodation.  

At Sitterley, I came up on a struggling Mark V, recovering from two full days of TOSRV and then soon, a group led by Steve O, with Kevin K, Jeff S, couple of dropped A's who had taken the longer route, Nathan, etc...  came by and I jumped on with them, finishing with 41 miles, a 20.1 avg and 1600' of climbing.  The front group finished with 43 miles, a 22.9 avg and considering the hills, that's smokin. 
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Ohhhh, helped a guy dig 45 fence post holes today.  Had a gas powered digger but it kept getting hung up in rocks or some holes were too close to an electric or phone line so they had to be dug manually.  33" down with a post hole digger. Ouch.  Anyway, running out of time so Saturday's ride report has to be brief.  We parked behind Mark C's house and....

....rolled out into a cool, sunny morning, Dan Farley, Craig Butler, Mark C, Flyin Tuna, Jeff S, John S, Andrew C and head down to Chilicothe, taking in Rocky Road.  Tried to find a Subway but failing that, jumped into a Frish's Big Boy and received excellent service from "Brandy".  Nice kid and we tipped her well.  Ended up with 84 miles and 3600' of climbing.  Good to see Da Boss out and riding again but with only 280 miles, he is not yet the dominating force so more like Da Middle Manager of the peloton.  Craig is planning a 100 mile trail run for this summer.  As usual, we had a good time but missed some of you who were doing TOSRV.  Bet that Sunday return was fun in the rain.
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As some of you know, Steve O and Mark C went on a training ride Thursday as they prepare for the start of their Pittsburg 200 ride in a couple of weeks.  This time, they rode to the northeast, into the wind, eventually picking up the Top of Ohio route.  Early, Steve noted that his feet felt like they were "swimming" on his pedals, which had recently been rebuilt.  Steve's cycling shoes would easily and unintentionally disengage from the pedal and then at mile 25, the right pedal came off.  Fortunately, Mark's in-laws lived only a couple of miles away so Steve one legged it to their house.  The pedal was reinstalled yet too much force on either pedal and the shoe would separate.  Not surprisingly, Mark trounced Steve at every stop sign sprint, and enjoyed doing it too.  The route took them by Bellfountain (spl?) but did not take them into an area populated by food stops so they eventually stopped at a YMCA and raided a snack machine.  From there, they rode with the wind and arrived back at the start point with 200 miles, a 17.4 avg and just slightly after dark at 9:00pm.  Does not sound like fun.  

Meantime, normal cyclists gathered at the New Albany parking lot on a cool and windy evening.  Not too many people showed up early and even by 5:30 the crowd was rather light. After looking at another creative route by Shannon and checking the wind, I had another vision.  It's amazing how these pop up prior to certain rides.  There I am chatting with someone when suddenly, a fog rolls over my eyes displacing the current scene and replaced by an image of a cyclist, he rather looks like me, alone out on Chatham Road, strong head winds buffeting the brave cyclist plodding back to the west, darkness rolls in, cyclist forced to bum a ride on the back of a cattle truck and arrives back at the parking lot at 10:00pm.  Then, the image sequence disappears and I take it as a sign.  Forget that cut throat A group, ride with the friendly B's instead!

Cool start for our ride tonight, forcing the should I or should I not wear arm warmers decision.  Here, Dave C decides to put them on. .

The A's, which is really a misnomer as the name of a group.  This group should be renamed something like the "Juggernaut" group or "Giro" group.  Combining 6-9 Cat 3 guys working together at the front spells TROUBLE for those of us who have a job, a wife, kids, a lawn to mow, are elderly, sick and weak.  Here, Terry on the left with Dave C, John G, Marty, another Terry and unknown dude.

Shannon's routes tend to break the mold of routes we typically ride but sometimes there is a road that looks a little sketchy and tonight, a few people had misgivings about getting out on Mink for 4+ miles.  Farmer Mike, described an alternative and so after 30 people left the lot in the A group, around 30-35 of us departed with the B group. 

In all, there were around 70 people who eventually shoved off so another strong turnout. Now I know, no one gives a damn about the B group but the B's do and so it is for them that I describe what happened last night, in brief.  Christian, Dennis, Katherine, Mark V, Jon & Kim Sada, Peggy, Denver Dan, Farmer Mike, Gary and many others cruised through the countryside, sometimes paused to regroup and frequently watched Sada jump out of the pack any time there was a rise in the road to claim those KOR (King of Riser) points, before folding back into our group.  Even with the efforts to regroup, we were down to around 7 people by the time we emerged from Jersey Mill onto old 161.  We arrived back at the parking lot with 37 miles, a 20.9 avg and 1100' of climbing.  The difference in intensity between the A and B group is vast.  I believe the gap has grown in recent years.  Now, about that A group.  They pulled in right after we did but with 45 miles and an average around 24.  I've asked for additional details and may have more to post later.
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 Around 40 people showed up for the Canal Winchester ride, with temps around 70 and about perfect, other than 15mph winds out of the west. which consumed Poobah's attention for the duration of the lead up to the start.  Mitch Tallen, on the right, forgot his water bottles but successfully cruised the parking lot to find an alternative.  It's always good to see Mitch show up for the Canal ride.  He raises the intensity level just enough to ensure I get my ass kicked..

By the title of this ride report, naturally you assume Poobah put me into the gutter again but no, easily the second worst abuser of the practice is Steve O, who does it not because he needs to because he does not, but because he likes to make me suffer.  More on that later.  Among the 17ish A's leaving the parking lot were Muscle Dude, Euro Patrick, Steve, Mitch T, Younger Phenom Nick V coming off a nice spring series of racing, Mark C, Poobah, Tri Tech Scott, Nathan, Jeff S, visitor Jeff from Indy, John S, Reynoldsburg Dan, Ryan R (Attempting the daunting leap from the C group to the A group) and a few others.  Good B group too with Mark V (ordered a new Jamis bike on Monday) leading a largish group that included Dean, Kevin K and others.

So, we rode out Basil Western, making a left on Carroll Northern and then a quick right to get back on BW and here my difficulties began.  Indy Jeff dropped out so I closed the gap and found myself behind Steve.  Earlier, Steve voiced concern about the route because there had been a crash on the same route last year.  He mused that he was not going to stay with the A group but he did, while keeping a 4-5 bike length between he and the cyclist in front of him.  So get this, he wasn't drafting yet still rode on the white line....what the.....  With Mitch T and Nick taking turns turning the screws at the front I don't need to be out of the slipstream.  I pulled out of the line, looking back at Nathan who was sitting comfortably behind me and shouted, "Why is that guy guttering me, he's not even drafting?"  Nathan urged me to retake my place and shut up, which I did.   

If your energy level at the start of a ride is equivalent to $1, by the time we arrived at Bader, turning right, I had spent $0.99 of it.  After a short distance, we turned left on Leonard where I soon dropped off at the hill. Not sure how many remained in the front group, maybe 8-10.  Riding alone for awhile, I reached #37, turning right, picked up Indy Jeff and turning left at Leitnaker, Jeff S and Ryan R closed from behind and now we had a good working group of 4.  Quite a few turns later and around Election House Road, we picked up Mark C and John S.  The main climb on the route was at Brandt and here, Mark C and John gifted me the KOM points, we regrouped and rode in together, finishing with 42 miles, 21 mph average and 1200' of climbing.  The lead group of 5, Mitch, Scott, Nick, Euro Andrew and Gutter Boy, finished with a 22mph average.  

A couple of people have asked about an alternative ride for Saturday.  There is one, leaving from around Lithopolis at 8:00am, led by Mark C on a rolling route to Chillicothe and back for 100 miles. Those already saying they are coming is Nathan, Flyin Tuna, Dan Farley and anyone else is welcome but there will be no maps.  Seeing that this ride follows 2 days after Mark and Gutter Boy are riding 200 miles, this has been deemed a relaxed pace ride.  If interested, let me know and I'll send you more details.
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The signal went out on Friday for a relaxed pace ride out of New Albany and quite a few bats showed up, Billy Campbell, Kenda Janet, SuperDave, Dennis, David, Marty & Elenor, Poobah, Brad the Dentist, Kevin Kramer and Kenda Paul.  Of course, Billy & Marty are racing on Sunday so the ride description fit what was their goal for the day.  We shoved off but without Poobah, who had forgotten his jersey and had to drive home to retrieve it, missing our start.  

We emerged from the thick fog and some mist at the top of Caswell in Johnstown to discover that Kenda Paul was not with us.  Here, Janet looks worried and conflicted, wait for husband Paul or ride with us.....she chose wisely (Paul had taken a longer route) and hung with us.  Billy C dropped off after a few miles as he had something to do so we arrived into Granville with nine and stopped at the "uptown" coffee shop.  After recharging, we decided to head west on Moots Way with Marty and Eleanor leaving earlier.  Arriving in Alexandria, we debated whether to turn south and take old 161 into NA or go north and head in via Jersey Mill.  Janet urged the north route and within a few pedal strokes we were in the sun, finally.  After 10 miles or so, Janet stopped boasting about the wisdom of her choice, geeesh.  

We finished with 44 miles.  Kevin brought us a cooler that contained small bottles of Coke and root beer.  Tasted great for a post ride drink. Sounds like a large group departing at 8:00am out of Hilliard for the Top of Ohio ride, then there is John Marten's ride out of Granville at 9:30 from the River Road Coffee House. 
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