A place for the A Cyclists

Famer Mike on the left just bought a new van and awaiting a new bike, wished he had the good luck of Jeff, finding a $20 on the road while riding to the start.

So, the New Albany/central Ohio A's have been roaming the earth, looking for a place to call their own on Tuesdays.  Their odyssey began at the Canal ride but they came, they saw, they conquered and it's a long drive so then they began visiting the Dublin ride but as I was told, their kind was not welcome.  Now they have begun to gather in our shaded parking lot.  Initially, Marty would slot in and ride middle of the pack, then Jon Morgan, then Doug McConaha and tonight others arrived such as Tym Tyler, Rich Lewis, Muscle Dude and Ron Budzig, along with a couple other guys sporting team kits.. 

I hope the Cycling Club embraces this misunderstood, mistreated minority and welcomes them to our Tuesday ride.  Probably the club will but then the question is, how can the ride remain a "B" paced ride.....it can't, it's not realistic to expect all that pent up power to pedal so slowly.  Just last night, our average speed went from a previous high of 19.3 to 20.3 so there was restraint but the addition of the fastest made our ride faster.

George doing what he does best, talking.  Last week he doubted he could hang because he had ridden three consecutive days.  This week, he doubted he could hang because he had taken a couple days off.  What's the answer?  "Hincapie" got his Trek back with the metal sleeve for the bottom bracket and must now go through what is usually the pointless exercise of having that part fail before he can apply for a replacement frame.

Marty, on the left, rode a gravel ride earlier in the day so just came out to socialize, above with Craig Rice, Rich Lewis, Farmer Mike and Gus.

Gus let us know that a local cyclist, while riding in Montana this week, descending a hill, died when a car pulled out in front of him.  I did not recognize the name so can not type it here but saddened to know that another husband and father has died while participating in cycling.  Gus used this as an opportunity to warn us about running stop signs and safety and with that we took off.  Jay P immediately fell off his bike, above straightening back to the upright position.  Odd timing.

And so, a group of 40 B's with another 10+ having already departed in the C/D group, left the parking lot in a long line.  The group was split at the New Albany light and I don't think we ever regrouped but that was ok as we hurtled out old 161 and arrived in Alexandria with a 21.9 average. We rolled through the village, hit the Mounts hill, right on Lobdell with some very dicey loose gravel, emerged at Hardscrabble but did not regroup, soft pedaled out Battee to Louden where we regrouped a little and then hit Stone Quarry with a regroup there.  Then back to the parking lot with 38 miles and as said before, a 20.3 average.  With the influx of strong A's what is the best course forward, split off a real A group at the start or continue as is with some restraint shown and a couple of regrouping points?