We were good to go at 8:00pm but Alex Y was a little late.  No problem as we patiently wait and get ourselves hyped for what was to come.

Saturday is the very popular "Pedal for Pete" ride.  However, some people would like a hillier alternative so I suggest you send the Pete organizers a check and then join us on a 67 or 87 mile route, departing from the Newark YMCA at 8:00am.  There will be two groups at least.  I plan to ride at a solid B pace with a few regroups.  I know there will be an A group. The routes, your choice, will either be:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27964686

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27712496

At the Tour, the average speed of the winner the last few years has been around 25mph.  At this tour, our tour, the Riveters are in that ball park.  Last night, they covered our 51 mile route at 24.5.  Yikes.  Above, Peggy continues to briskly sell the Cycling Club jerseys with Jon Hastings completing a purchase.  Still a few "M" and "L" sizes.

Shoes have become very stylish the last few years.  I have a new pair on order, solid black of course.  Will Paskett has it all going on in this blue pair.

A flat, with 12 minutes until the start, Mike M's gravel bike.  Flyin Tuna steadies the bike while Don N fixes, Mike watching.  

The numbers were down from last Thursday, probably only 60ish.  Rain was a threat, coming in from the northwest but it stayed away until after we finished.  Kurt on the left, Matt on the right.  Matt likes to take frequent, strong pulls in the A group.  I don't like Matt all that much while I am in the A group.  Ha, ha.

Mitchell rests while talking to Commander Char.  After the mellowness of last week's ride, I had little to say so.....

....off went the Riveters and then the A group, which I was about to join but wanted one last parking lot image.  Just then, Shari jumped into the image. Well, not exactly.

The A group flew around the route into Granville, arriving with a 23mph average.  I bugged out there with Jay P to wait on the B+ group but having waited only about 5 minutes, decided I did not want to go that fast either so....

....I waited a little longer while encouraging Brady as he fixed a flat.  He knew the roads and I judged him competent to carry on without me so when.....

....the slightly slower B group arrived. I jumped in.  So, as previously mentioned, the Rivets had a 24.5 pace, then the A group was at 21.7, the B+ group at 21 and the B group at 19.  My blend of A and B yielded a 20.5 average. Saturday ride info coming soon.

John and I share our experiences with each other, preparing our wives for their first Pelotonia.  Can be a rather frustrating challenge.  I forgot how difficult it is to learn, let alone teach, shifting, grabbing a water bottle while riding, getting foot off pedal prior to stopping, etc...  arrggghhhh.

Now this is just plain wrong.  One never takes a cookie from Kristie prior to a ride as the rule is to wait until after the ride and then never, ever take a cookie if you are a non participant.  Yet there he is. Steve Nelson, knowingly violating protocol. 

New guy on the right, Michael, pausing in Columbus as he drives from Colorado to Washington DC.  

Jon on the right, John above and then there were two Jonathens so for tonight, if you forgot someone's name, a good guess would be "John".  Rain appeared to not be an issue and some of us commented how frequently that has been a topic, more so then we can recall from past seasons.

We head out on a route option that would consist of 37 miles rather than the 43 mile route.  Tonight though, we would climb the wall on Raccoon Run Road.  Above, we head toward Louden via Battee Road.

I bypassed the wall and stayed on Stone Quarry where I waited a couple of minutes and was rewarded with a regroup.

We are closing in on the barn and the horses are waiting for a light change at Beech Road.  The 28 of us mostly stayed together for a 20mph average and then....

pressed in around Kristie's car for our reward.

Always an option after a hard weekend of riding and assuming you have a Monday morning free, the Westerville Cycling Club group ride at 9:00am from the Phillip Heit Center in New Albany.  I know, a bunch of old folks riding 12mph you are thinking but wait!!!!  It is much more than that as many times Marty, Meredith, me (ok I don't belong with that group), Jeff S, Amanda, Flyin Tuna and others show up.

We roll out and for awhile, do the polite thing and ride with the group but soon, one of us initiate a breakaway and then....

...the super fit like Amanda break away with Marty, me, new guy Al, new gal Allisa and John Sada.  Good route today and enjoyed riding to Granville where....

....we run into Shanno K, walking through Granville and taking it easy when otherwise he is usually competing with world class athletes in various tri events.  Good to catch up with him and he will return to the Thursday peloton I think.  

Look at that!!!  Rick Miller arrives to enjoy his first Thursday ride in awhile.  He brought with him his gravel bike so he rode with the 2nd B group.  Yes, you heard that right, there is now two, B groups due to the ballooning turnout and range of fitness represented by those who choose to ride in the B group.

Issac is in the house!  Well, parking lot.  Little League baseball has ended so he has some free time to invest in cycling.  He rolled out with the A group and seemed more than fit for that group.

Peggy Cook disposing of extra Cycling Club jerseys and arm warmers. Peggy will be at the next Cycling Club ride selling more, $60 for the jerseys and $40 for the arm warmers.  

Dennis G came out to ride.  Why does that warrant a mention?  He was riding in PA a few weeks ago and a deer jumped into the road, causing Dennis to crash.  No word on how injured was the deer.

Large group, probably over 80, descended on our little parking lot.  Since this is roughly the midpoint of the season, I pontificated a little more than normal while explaining the two B groups, designated regroup points for the A group, complimenting the Riveters on continuing to ride safely while riding like a pack of enraged savages, etc... Once I saw the eyes start to glaze over, I shut up so indeed I did get out a couple of sentences but no more than that.

Out the Riveters go, maybe 20 of them so they had a good group. They would cover the 52 mile route with a 23.7 average. Yikes.

I departed with a group of 25 A's.  Above, we pause only, as it appeared all were here.  Since the weakest of the group was here (me) then surely so too were all.  The 
A group would finish the same route as the Riveters with a 21.5 average.  

At mile 19, I stopped to wait for the fast B group and only had to wait for 7 minutes as they quickly arrived with Cindy B leading the way.  I jumped in with them and finished with a 20.3 average for the 47 mile B route.  Those who started and finished with the B+ group had a 19.4 average.  This group had only around 12 people but a lot of veteran cyclists who do not need any managing as we all know what to do in a group setting.

After the ride, many of us mingled, Rivets with A's with B's.  The other B group finished with a 18.6 average.  Ya know what?  It all kind of worked out well this evening.  Peace and tranquility reigned over tonight's peloton. 

COP has their annual Blue Jay ride, starting from the Newark YMCA, 470 West Church St, 8:00am.  This is a hilly route with three mileages available; 36, 66 (most popular, 4900’ of climb) and 87. The 66 mile has one option for food/drink, on route, in Zanesville. Please make sure you stop there and restock. The 87 has more options; the 87 route will split from the 65 route at mile 44. The short route splits from 65 at mile 16.8. A few maps at the start so print your own or down load the route to your device. 
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27712496 87 mile route 6400’ of climb per RWGPS
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27964686 66 mile route 4900’ of climb per RWGPS
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27668733 36 mile route 3015’ of climb per RWGPS
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27695338/edit Blue Jay bailout route on way back to avoid BJ road

Then there is the Tour of the Hocking Hills Gran Fondo. Starting at: 2805 old logan rd se lancaster, oh 43130, Lancaster, OH  43130 The offering is a 100 mile or a 60-mile course. They will both be well marked with directional arrows. Everyone will get a course map.  There will be snacks and drinks at the Cantwell Cliff's and Rock House State Park and post ride drinks and snack at the finish area. Everyone who pre-registers gets an official event tee-shirt. If you wait till the day of the event and still want a tee-shirt to add $10.00 to the entry fee for "handling and shipping".
Don't show up without at least a 34x30 compact crank or 39x32 regular crank. There are a few very steep sections on both courses.
The top 3 in each category will receive awards. Everyone who finishes will also receive a finisher's medal. 
Here is the course map; 100 mile loop https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28067377
60 mile loop https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28067445
​Looking at the registration list, there are already 18 people who have signed up.  To register go to: ​https://www.bikereg.com/tour-of-the-hocking-hills-gran-fondo-sportif-and-recreational-cycling-tour  

Team COPC has the Buckeye Breakfast Ride with distances of 56 and 72 miles.  This link takes you to both routes: https://ridewithgps.com/events/3320-buckeye-lake#routes/9477644/preview More details above, note the start time is 7:00am. This ride is free.

A small change to our normal routine.  We are splitting the B group into two groups.  The B group is getting rather large and the range in fitness is rather large too.  We have tried this previously and practically everyone goes out with the first B group but do a self evaluation, gauge how much you really want to suffer before you choose.  Both B groups will still regroup where appropriate and we will leave it to each group to decide where those regroup points will be, as usual.  Now for the A group.  There will be 2-3 desiginated regroup points announced prior to the ride.  A couple of mean looking A cyclists will be asked to be the enforcers of the regroups.  I am thinking of Paul Djupe and Paul Stock as everyone else appears too gentle (ha, ha, just kidding). If you object to the concept of regrouping during a group ride, there is always the Rivet group for you. Now about those Riveters who are dropping back into the A group.  I receive more complaints about this then any other issue.  If you are taking a pull and you notice the person to your right or left is no longer there...maybe that is a clue you are riding too fast for the group?  Or, how about this, someone asks you to ease up a bit and you do for a few pedal strokes but then pour on the coal???
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19779755
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19779892
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19779934

The Pilot on the left.  He will be absent for Thursday's ride but promised a call from the cockpit of his 777 to give us a weather update as he makes his way to Tokyo.  Mike M on the right with a new bike on order.  Get this!  Another "BH" will join the peloton.  They are becoming as common as broken asphalt now.

For a one group kind of ride, the turnout was large with 30 of us gathering, including Scott Billman.  Scott is still recovering from his crash of 3 weeks ago but says the pain has gone from excruciating to merely raging.  Larry Graham on the left making his first appearance, Ryan on the right.

6:00pm arrives and so we head out with a fairly strong wind from the northwest.  The pace was pretty sturdy I thought and so we arrived in.....

....Granville with a 23.6 average.  I hung a left on Pearl St, declining the 7 mile loop that included Jones Road and then waited for the group at the end of Welsh Hills.  Theresa, a new Tuesday cyclist who had struggled a little to hang on, waited there too, for about 25 minutes as the group had a flat to fix.  Nothing like hanging on a street corner for 25 minutes to find out a lot about a person.  The group arrived, we headed out together but then Peggy had a mechanical.  I yelled for the group to hold up, some heard, the same ignored so only Steve Nelson and me circled back to assist.  Turns out the battery for her Di2 had lost some power so the shifting was limited.  We made it back albeit the average took a hit, finishing with 19.5.

Drama, just on the other side of the truck.  So much so that Kenda Janet had to walk to this side and take a seat.  A cyclist, seeking shade, backed his car out to the left of the Kenda SUV to reposition between the truck and the Kenda vehicle.  What should have been a quick and simple maneuver took quite a while of engine gunning and exhaust spewing into Kenda Paul's space. Some words were said, temper's flared and then the unknown cyclist said, "My car is more expensive than your car!"  Wow, take that! 

Large group of Westerville cyclists arrived for the 62 mile route, including Dennis on the right, outfit perfectly matching his bike.  He got away with our group of around 10 and hung in there for the duration.

We gather to hear the pre-ride announcements.  Meantime, Steve Nelson and Jay P are in front of Starbucks attracting a good group too, who wanted a ride that would prove to be a little more spirited.

Off we go and as previously said, we got away with 10, including Larry & Lisa, Kenda Janet & Paul, Jeff S, Ted M, Dennis, Joe, etc...

After going north and east for awhile, we get on to Chattam Road and head toward Dry Creek road and.....

....the Lazy River campground, my first visit to the place.  Well stocked market too.  Above, Lisa A compliments cyclists a few years younger then us.  At mile 46, we enter Granville for a 2nd stop but Larry is a bit antzy to leave and later that evening, while celebrating Lisa's birthday we discover why as.....

...after the ride, they are finally married!  How about that?!?

This is one option for Saturday with multiple distance options, the longest only 70.  You could always add miles and include more hills of course.
https://www.tourdecause.org/

The Westerville bike club has a ride at 8:00am from the usual spot in New Albany, going through Granville during a 62 mile route.  The route they will follow is: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28031639. All are welcome.  There may be another ride from New Albany and if so, I will post it later.

The visitors to the Farmer's Market took up a bunch of parking spaces so it caused some to miss out on their traditional spots.  It was bewildering for a few who don't like change.

How about that!  Two weeks after crashing on the sketchy descent of Welsh Hills, Scott Billman was back out albeit in some pain.  The recovery continues.

Sokha crashed, in the parking lot!  His foot slipped out of a pedal and down he went.

Brothers from another mother, Andrew C and Decent Dan. You don't see orange jerseys very often.

The shady spot was a busy place as the good weather brought out a huge group, I counted at least 70.  The Rivet group is kind of small, Marty is in Montana, Doug and French Climbing Machine in France, others lacking their usual fitness so slumming with the A group, etc...

So, at 6pm, out the Riveters went to begin their speedy journey around the 50 mile route, finishing with a 23.7 mph average.  Yikes. No wonder the A group has become the destination for so many as.....

....we had 25-26 roll out including Terry Griffith(?) and Gus Cook, just back from riding around France.  I hung in there until mile 20 when the A group went left and I went straight on Canyon Road.  My average to that point, with the head wind, was 21.8.

Reaching the top of Canyon, I stopped and waited but soon, the lead elements of the B group arrived, having also gone straight at Canyon Road and there in the distance, is the A group coming off the additional loop.  Left to right, Steve N, Jay P, Chris I and Kevin.  I stashed my camera and caught up....

....at the bottom of the road.  Above, Jon, Alex, Mike M riding his gravel bike and Axel. Looking closely, you can see a group headed west on Blacks Road.  That is the A group.  Rumblings, rumblings about the conduct of that group.  Rivets pushing the pace beyond a typical A pace, lack of regroups, some people frazzled by the increased pace and making things dangerous. Come on people, keep it fun for everyone!

The large B group, of which I was now a part and glad to be so, pause at the #37 crossing.  We head up the debilitating climb of Blacks road, make a right on York, cross #16 and discover....

....Peggy Cook is not with us so here, Kristie texts and calls but after a couple of minutes, Peggy appears, not yet recovered from riding up the Alpe.  Rather than everyone wait, a group gets going and we finish our 47 mile route.  With my blending of the A and B group, I finish with a 20.6 average.  The A group finished with a 21.5 average.  Saturday ride option coming soon.

A shocker!!!  Weather looks fantastic for our Thursday evening Cycling Club ride.  See you at some point prior to the 6:00pm roll-out.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19222885
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19222950
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19222970

Aaron C is one of the first to arrive and committed to ride.  He thinks the mass bearing down on us from the northwest will move through and we can ride.

Jeff S is noncommittal as he has the side door open but otherwise, playing it safe while monitoring radar. 

Seldom seen Keith Berend rolls in so now we number 4.

Then Sokha arrives, promptly places his mat on the ground to keep his socks clean and prepares.

Then.....the guy who flies 747's back and forth between here and Tokyo every week, Steve Nelson, aka "The Pilot" arrives.  This aviation whiz has access to weather forecasting systems about which we ordinary folk can only speculate.  He is adamant, it is going to storm the likes of which we have never seen. Well, that did it for me and I decide not to ride.

Larry P merely laughs.  Well ok, let's see who was correct as....

....the group rolls out.  They were.  Damn it!!!

Geez.  The Duncan's Run Patch ride has become very popular.  Last year, arriving at about the same time I parked in the middle of the field.  This year I am in the final row.  Not sure where the overflow parking went but organizers said they had 350 paid attendees.

In the miles my car shared the road with cyclists during my drive in, I passed many dozens who had already begun their departure. Word had gotten out that a group of us would depart at 8:00am.  Above, left to right, is Jon, Deniece, Kim and David.  Hmmmm, wearing identical glasses the last 3.  Having forgotten my glasses in AZ, I bought a new pair from Veloscience, S-Phyres. Kind of sharp if I do say so myself.  If only they made me go faster.

More of us gather, eventually totaling 25.  Above, Mike W. Milt, Andy, Kristie, Kirby, etc...  The Kendas were to join us but they were a little late getting organized and I could not hold back the train so off we went.

Jay P and Steve Nelson were up front early but so too was Meredith who took 3 monstrous pulls.  By mile 5ish, I too had taken 2 really quick pulls and as a glided to my rightful place in the rear, I noticed several who had been conspicuous by their absence.....Marty of all people.  He made up for it later when it was needed the most.

We immediately began to over take the many who had started early.  We were required to shout attention that we were passing on the left, calling out traffic to the front and to the rear and things got a little chaotic for me so at mile 25......

....racked by a guilty conscience for abandoning my Kenda buddies, I stopped and waited, well waited some more.  People with baskets on their bikes were passing, 300 pound cyclists began to pass and I lost count of how many times I was asked if I was ok.  At last I hooked up with them and we pressed ahead into a rather strong head wind but what a beautiful day for a ride.

At mile 47, we stopped at the Branstool Fruit Farm in Utica and were soon joined by Ted Miesky, Dave & Cathy Levy and others in their group.  The store was open for us but closed to the general public.  I asked why and was told you have to have product to sell in order to be open!  Who knew?  The peaches will be ready soon.

We now headed west and the tail wind was welcome.  Corn seems to be doing well and check out that blue sky!  Finished with 78 miles and an 18.2 average.  Those who hung with the group finished with an average in the upper 19's.

The Duncan's Run Patch Ride at John Beltz Retreat • 4834 Harlem Road Galena, OH  43021, starting at 8:00am.  While there are a variety of routes, this is the one most will do: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27986149  I understand Marty, Don Novel & gang, Kenda Janet & many others (me) will be there.
More information can be found here and note there is a $25 cost to attend: https://www.active.com/galena-oh/cycling/races/duncan-s-run-bicycle-patch-ride-2018

 The famous RockyRoad Ride following this route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27899832 with a start at Pickaway County YMCA at 8:00am.  Information: This is a rural ride featuring farm country in Pickaway and Ross Counties, and the unglaciated forests of Tar Hollow. Then of course, ascending Rocky Road in Great Seal State Park. Tar Hollow has a country store in the park for snacks and drinks about 22 miles into the ride, but there are no other places to stop until Kingston at mile 60 for the 70 mile option (mile 40 for the 50 route - this is the only stop for the 50!) so plan to carry extra food and drink.  ​

Ron prepares and later, decided to go out with the A group where he soloed off the front a couple of times.  I think the Riveters have a pact where each week, one of them drops to the A group to push us beyond our max:)

Decent Dan on the right with Mark V.  Dan participated in the "Vermont Gran Fondo" last Saturday.  The route included what is believed to be the steepest, one mile paved road in the US.  

Adam O, striking an unusual pose, checks weather radar but we were good to go and go we went and stayed as dry as one could given the humidity.  No rain! Oh and Scott Billman crashed last week and several wanted to know how he is doing.  Went to ER to have a rock removed that was lodged under his skin.  A pinched sciatic nerve in his back is causing a lot of pain, along with a bruise on his hip.  Worse yet, he had to watch us exit the parking lot from his condo across from Starbucks, wishing he was able to join.

Not much use for the lone shady spot for tonight's gathering.  To the south, a cell was passing and fortunately, stayed to the south. Paul D in the center, alerted me that a state of lawlessness had begun to creep into the peloton.  Bringing order is way above my pay grade but I will alert the authorities and see what can be done.

Kristie with treats was there and so too more people then I thought would come given the threatening radar and humidity.  Someone asked if I was ready to learn how to sweat again.  Gawd, it was like wearing a heavy blanket.  

I beckoned the Riveters, who were in their own clique to come over and they did.  I did not think to count but probably 40-50 cyclists as last minute checks of radar indicated it was dissipating as threatening looking stuff rolled in from the west.  Off the Riveters went and then I went out with the A group along with.....

Ryan in white/red, Danny A, Decent Dan, Paul Djupe, Paul Stock, Hector, Kristian, Andrew K, Andrew Clayton, Mick, etc... and.....a stranger, on the left, about whom people were talking, post ride.  Turns out she is from Granville, I thinking living in IL, Allison Schroeder.  Lori Nedescu knows her and approves.

I hung with the A group to Stone Quarry but wanted to spend time with the B group and avoid getting dropped later in the long route.  I stopped, along with Mike Weber and waited but not for long as they came streaming down the hill. Kristie, Jon W, John, Don N, Chris I

Jay P, who rarely sweats was even sweating or perspiring.  The A group had made a left here at Louden but we went right.  Descending into Granville on a road that ought to be converted into gravel so bad is its condition, the Rivets passed us. They then slowed so drafting Jay and Ron, we caught them and then I bolted around, screaming, "On your left".  Ha, ha.  Passing the Rivets, a classic moment but later, one in our group said they ought to be called the "Duct Tapers".  Allowing a guy of my fitness level to pass does kind of diminish the eliteness of the squad.  All in good fun!

Reaching 661, many of our group was missing so we turned around and discovered that Tim had a flat.  The delay was long enough that rather than take the Jones Road extension, we entered the University and did the Ebaugh Road climb, also bypassing the street fair.  Returned to New Albany with a 20mph average and 43 miles.  The Rivets (Adam, Patrick, Justin, Goeric, Chase, Pete C & others) finished with a 23.1 average.  However, they had to do some back tracking in Granville to rescue a friend so their real average would have been higher.

What better way to ride in the soup, if you must ride in the soup, then to ride with your friends from New Albany, following these routes!  Hope to see you out there.  I have 2 weeks worth of screaming, inventing things about which to scream.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19699702
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19699804
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19699842

I made a last minute decision to join a group hike and so for the 3rd time on this visit, went high to escape the heat.  During the drive, I counted 102 cyclists sharing the road, a surprising quantity given so many are gone until they begin to filter back around November.  Above, there are many piles of debris, to be burned, thus denying a future fire from using it as fuel.

Eleven of us begin our hike from Marshall Gulch.  It rises steeply from the start so no warm-up period.  Amanda on the left with Thomas.  After 1.5 miles, we reach the Marshall Gulch saddle where two of our group turn around.  The balance.....

.....continue the hike, now descending for 2 miles via the Wilderness of Rocks trail which we had picked up at the saddle.  Once the trail levels out, I invited the gang to....

.....go a short distance off trail to this overlook.

Our destination was the Mount Lemmon Pools.  None of us knew exactly where it was but I saw some foot prints near by and poked around in the brush to see if they led to the pools, no luck. We resumed our.....

.....trek.  The name "Wilderness of Rocks" is well named.  Meantime, I continued to....

....occasionally go off trail (see above red lines represent my off trail wandering) but finally find the correct route!  My hiking mates stayed patient throughout and maintained good humor.  At last....

....the pools!  Beautiful location and worth the effort to reach.  There was even a beach.  I climbed.....

....up a level and discovered another set of pools with tadpoles swiming around.  In one place, the water depth was around 10'.

Across the pond, my fellow hikers relax and refuel in the shade.  Four other hikers arrive with dogs, all of which were well behaved although frantic at times as they.....

....were unable to navigate a steep slope to where we enjoyed the water.

The polished surface of the boulders was beautiful.  The wait dragged on a little too long for me so giving in to my impatient side, I headed back.

Lot of pines growing to fill the void left by the Aspen Fire.  Finished with 10.1 miles and 2100' of climbing.  Fun time with a good group of people and I think we will hike together again.  Well gang, I arrive back in Ohio on Tuesday so your break from me is over.  However, this area is magical to me and can't wait to return in October.