2 Burgs & a Ville Ride

Had 40 people arrive for the COP Roving Ride which someone said should be named the "2 Burgs & a Ville" ride because the route went through Martinsburg, Bladensburg and Granville, as well as Utica and St. Louisville.  Prominent attendees in the "is or used to be strong rider" category was of course, the inimitable Retro George, a few of the Thursday New Albany A riders, Farmer Mike, Savage Hill's Woody, Larry P & Lisa, Super Dave, Jeff S (work was to make him a late arrival so we left a map), the entire crew from Kenda Mark V and others, whose faces I recognize, if not the names.

We headed out Concorde, north on Castle and then began the hills, first Sportsman Club, a screaming downhill on Chatham and instead of turning left onto Marion, the traditional route into Utica, we make a right and a quick left onto Preston and that long, uphill road before turning left onto Weaver.  By now, our lead group had George, Woody, Larry, Lisa, two New Albany guys and me, hanging on.  After turning onto Weaver, I clearly stated we would be making a left at the bottom of the hill and George, flew by the turn with everyone screaming for him to stop.  This was a pattern soon to repeat itself many times until finally I just stopped telling him the turns because said information was of no use to him anyway.  As an aside, his chatter was noticeably, and refreshingly, bereft of minute-by-minute heart beat updates.  However, having just replaced his 27 tooth cog for a 23, there was no shortage of comment about, "How can a guy with a 23 on back hang with you on these hills" and variations of that theme.  It has to be said, George is very close now to his usual form and soon I will be bombarded with the "I can't believe I dropped you" or, "I can't believe you hung on so long", etc...

We arrived at the foot of Reynolds.  In emails leading up to this ride I had promoted "Cash Prizes" for the first cyclist to the top of this hill but I conveniently forgot to mention it at the start.  Hoping to retain my one dollar, I headed up with motivation  and just nipped a fast charging Larry, with Woody having chosen to take the climb off.  We took a break in Utica and watched the others arrive and discuss their rest of route intentions.  Seemed like many were doing the entire 76 mile route.  We headed out Blacksnake, north on Hull then east on Bell Church before cruising into Martinsburg and then onto Divan and Henpeck into Bladensburg.  We arrived at Butlers Restaurant and, dripping with perspiration from the humidity and effort, sat 2 to a booth, with 8 of us occupying 4 booths, rather than squeezing 4 to a booth, as is normal.  The waitress didn't seem to mind and in fact, provided story-telling entertainment

The return route was new to most of the riders.  Once south on Henpeck we turned left onto Long, then Pine View, south on Purity before the knee buckling hills on Loches.  Lots of super rollers on the return route, and after passing through St. Louisville, we began the long and steep climb up St. Joseph Road.  I had forgotten how hard that is and believe it comparable to Rocky Road in Circleville.  Woody pulled away from Larry and I to get the KOM points.  At Dry Creek and New Burg, I took a more direct route to Johnstown while Woody, Larry, George and Lisa stayed on route by dropping into Granville.  I finished with 67 miles and 4800' of climbing.  I checked in with the crew who had driven to KY for the Horsey Hundred and sounded like they were having a great time.