Upon first visiting  the area and finding it to be a cyclist's dream, I naturally expected my free  time would be consumed a lot by cycling and a little by hiking.  However, there  is something about the three mountain ranges encircling the area and the many  peaks to be reached, not easily but worth the effort for the fantastic  views.
  

Wednesday, I hiked  up to Blackett's Ridge out of Sabino Canyon.  At 1.7 miles and 1800' of elevation gain, it's one of the shortest hikes but pretty steep and so, after 51:17 (which included 1.3 miles of flat trail to the base of the BR trail so a total of 3 miles), I sat on a cliff edge and watched the world go by far below.

I headed down the  other side of the ridge but got cliffed out and had to turn around, catching  this view to the west. A good start to my stay out here and tomorrow, a night  hike with some locals.

Silent Dave is leading the COP ride out of Cyclist Connection at 9:00am, with route options of 35, 60 and 75 miles, going through Ashville and then on to Laurelville.  I'm hearing there may be a super secret ride from the Newark Y that will follow the Blue Jay route as well but ride participants have put a blackout over information and I was able to learn no more.

Well, the images and reports are beginning to pile up and I'll get material up from the AZ trip later today.

The above was sent to me with the line, had Marty ridden this in Florida, John Sada may have had a chance to finish ahead of him. 

All are welcome, including the New Albany Yankees.
Join us for the 4th Annual Christmas Biker Bash

 Potluck…bring your special dish you are proud of…
Date: Thurs. Dec. 6thTime: 6:00-9 pm

 Place: Slate Run Winery
1900 Winchester Southern Road
Canal Winchester, OH 43110

 Phone: (614) 834-8577
Directions:
Take US Route 33 towards Lancaster and exit on State Route 674. Follow SR 674 South(right for those coming from Columbus) 6.5 miles to the winery on the left side of the road. Rt. 674 makes some turns so follow the road signs

Eve's cell 614-580-1978 if you get lost
 
RSVP Fri. 11/30 to 
Steve Oxley (614) 833-6677
Eve Hush (614) 837-9464

You never know who  you might run into walking through the Columbus airport.  First I saw one of the  peloton's most beloved figures, known for her charm, grace and good humor, Lisa  Antolino.  Fellow cyclists frequently ask if anyone has heard
anything new and  so I was encouraged by what she told me and can summarize here.  A hip problem  forced her from the bike and also limited walking.  Correctly diagnosing the  problem has taken too long, in fact through Lisa's own research was she first  able to identify the issue.  It sounds as if she may be back on the bike during  the first part of next year, if I correctly interpreted her comments.  
  
Approaching my gate, I ran into Kevin Hollingshead, aka Polish Pony, aka Pepe Lapew and now aka "The  Welcher". Kevin was on his way to Oklahoma.  After the various categories of  flyers were called to board, the gate keeper finally called for those people in  "Zone 37" to board and the regular schleps like Kevin and I shuffled on the  plane and discovered we were sitting next to each
other...amazing!  Now, during  the course of talking about most of you, who is fun to draft behind and who is  not, etc... Kevin said he enjoyed eating at "Billy Sims" restaurant while he was  in OK during his frequent trips there to bust the local union or something like  that.  Kevin claimed that Sims played for OK State but I said, no, he played for  OU and that I'd bet him a $1 I was right. Upon settling the issue, I put my hand  out for payment and the cheap skate refused!!!  Further, he did not eat his  Biscuff biscuit that each of us was given by the stews yet did not offer it to  me!!!!

OK, the above is not  entirely accurate but close enough. Four hours later, I was back in AZ.  I'm  working from here as what I do I can do from OH or AZ (cold calling your home  phones asking if you want to sign up to donate your body parts to science) and  my good wife made the mistake of saying she wouldn't mind if I came out as long  as I was back before Christmas.  I've joined three different hiking clubs and  have some very interesting and tough hikes planned, including a 20 miler over  the above mountain and an off trail hike bushwhacking through the wilderness to  Table Rock, whatever that is. Also will be cycling and keeping the blog updated  on upcoming rides in OH, as usual.

Well, the moon rises  over the mountain and I'm on the lookout for javelins passing in the dark below.

Tri Andrew and Reynoldsburg Dan did the infamous PitssThis past weekend a group of three central-Ohio cyclists (Dan Resetar, Bob Sowga and myself - Andrew Hall) made the trip to Pittsburgh to do the Dirty Dozen (DD) bike race.  For those who don’t care to read full ride reports and just want to know how it went let me just say it was like hitting yourself with a hammer over and over – it makes you wonder why you are doing it and it feels really good when you stop!  J  This year was Bob’s third DD and Dan and mine’s first. We had all done both days of this year’s Columbus Fall Challenge and figured DD as a late-season race would be a great way to keep riding and maintain fitness. 
This was the 30th annual DD and it is always held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Known for it’s “notorious climbs and vicious
weather” it targets thirteen (i.e., a dirty dozen) of Pittsburgh’s steepest hills.

Arriving in the early afternoon on Friday under sunny skies my first stop was at the local bike shop and DD sponsor – Big Bang Bicycles to purchase a quality rain jacket given the rain/snow forecast for Saturday.  I met the owner Glen and decided on a Castelli shell   Next stop was the Hampton Pittsburgh – University Center to meet up with Dan and head out by car to do some reconnaissance of the course. Our first stop was the infamous 9thclimb – Canton Avenue, at 37 percent gradient it is the steepest road in the United States.  We decided to park at the bottom and walk up it.  You can youtube lots of past year’s DD video of cyclists falling over and crashing atop one another on this hill during the race. Our walk up Canton showed us why. 
While the road is entirely cobble-rocks, the only good line to ride up was to the far right hand side next to the pedestrian steps and railing.  Since it is largely unused, the left hand side of the road was overgrown with knee-high weeds!  At the early part of the climb in the middle of the “road” the cobbles were heaved like speed bumps and filled with moss, leaves and dirt meaning that  If you lost traction (and momentum of course you were going over).  That and the fact that you couldn’t control other cyclists and their actions made for some anticipation on our part   After eating our fill of half price chicken pesto pizza pies at Joe Mama’s in the university district we headed back to the hotel for the night.

Waking to howling wind at 6 a.m. and one glance out the window – surprise!   A covering of this strange white stuff everywhere. 
At least the roads looked just wet.  Dressing for a cold, wet day we headed to the start at the Bud Harris Cycling Track   $25 for day-of registration.  Bob Sowga was stuck in traffic on I-79 due to accidents from the weather (he made it there just in time for the 10 am start).  Danny Chew gave the pre-race announcements despite the cold you could tell the peloton was fired up and ready to go.  There were 200 registered despite the snow and 28 degree F start. Of the group only the top 10 males and five females were going for KOM points and cash prizes for overall places. The rest of us just wanted to ride all the hills and finish.  The format for DD was unusual in the respect that the peloton rode neutral (i.e., no racing) between the climbs and then a whistle was blown and the “race” started at the base of each climb.   The other unusual aspect was that unlike other races where those ahead of the group would try and maintain a time advantage in this case everyone regrouped at the top (yes, on some hills it was a mad cluster..) but overall it
worked very well.  The first few hills were steep but not until number five, Logan street did I have a glimpse of what was to come.  This thing was at least a Savage road gradient and went on and on and on.  The crazy thing was there were houses, parked cars and lots of crowd support (and plenty of cowbell) to help with the suffering. For this year Rialto street (aka. Pig Avenue) was undergoing construction so we could not ride that so there would be a true dozen instead.  The first food stop came next with Gatorade, water,Mt. Dew knock-off, Red Bull PB&J, pop tarts, bananas, etc..  All of the climbs are listed on the website so let’s skip to Canton Avenue.

By the time you get to Canton everyone knows what’s up.  There’s basically this impossible looking wall in front of you and part of your mind says “no way” while the other half thinks that maybe on a good day by yourself you “might” think about riding a bike up it.   However, the atmosphere and the Tour-de France-like crowd is enough to give you all the inspiration you need.  You just do it and carefully pick when to make a run for it.  I went off with two other guys and lost my line, going into the dreaded heaved cobbles, stood to climb, spun and had to quickly unclip but didn’t crash, quickly got me and the bike over to the railing and walked back down for attempt number two.  This time there was no way I was going to let anyone go to my right.  A marshal needed to let a few cars through on the road below and after they passed I seized the chance for a solo attempt and went for it.  This time I stayed right, and seated until I could no longer and had to stand.  My quads were on fire but with each pedal stroke I was moving up the hill and not falling over!  And before I knew it I was at the top – hallelujah!  Canton is crazy steep and cobbles of course but relatively speaking it’s short.  At the top I met Bob who made it up before me on his second attempt also.  On his first attempt he took off in the front group and was on the verge of gaining points but had a collision and had to go again. Unfortunately Dan had
been having trouble all day getting into his biggest cog on the back and on his attempt crashed with a couple other guys and went down hard, broke his shoe buckle and decided to wait until next year to conquer Canton.

After Canton there were still four major climbs to go (another thing to mention is that Pittsburgh is basically all hills so there are lots of “climbs between the climbs” that of course don’t count for points).  The one after Canton had Dan the most psyched up – Boustead street but it was the one after that when I was getting starting to get tired  Eleanor street with wall after wall that was my toughest.  Everyone talked about how tough the final climb, Tesla street would be (and it was) but after everything else, it was just another, and the last monster climb. I kept it slow and steady and grinded it out, happy to be finished and a tired looking group we
were.  Cold all day, and although the roads were either just wet or dry it flurried all day long,  Typical DD weather of course.  My Strava showed 5,846 feet of climbing in 52.1 miles while Dan’s showed 6113 feet in 51.6 miles.  
 
As we all know, the first most important step of accomplishing something is showing up!  I highly recommend DD to anyone around central Ohio who thinks they know hills.  Really, no offense but until you have ridden DD you don’t have a clue.  I can honestly say that doing any of our “tough” hills like Savage, Chickencoop or Tarklin doesn’t even hold a candle to these Pittsburgh climbs.  They are tough, but do-able!  Part of the draw of DD is the tremendous camaraderie and support not only of the fans but the other cyclist who get to the top before you do and cheer YOU on.  And the friends you make along the way.  The road of life as I like to call it  Like the couple on the tandem.  The entire Canton Avenue opened up for them to make the attempt turning it into a cheering wall of sound, and yes, they did make it (this one’s for you Mark and Karen Rossi!)   And also Katy the hard-core mountain biker back to Pittsburgh to visit family over Thanksgiving who signed up to do her first ever DD just to “have something to do” on Saturday,  And while dropping her brother not only did she complete the whole ride she did it on her mountain bike!  So now I will forever associate riding up Canton Avenue with the movie “Gladiator” J  Dan and I have decided we will be going back next year and hope you’ll join us!  

I have put the below together from a couple of sources who gave me the info on background.  That Marty won this event is quite an accomplishment against a field that included many prominent Florida racers. 

It was the Ohio boys  vs. the state of Fl and the Ohio boys, well mostly the New Albany Yankees,  prevailed.  Marty Sedluk, Jon Morgan, Dave Chesrown, Billy Campbell, John and  Kim Sada and even Farmer Mike, gathered around Clermont to participate
in the  Horrible Hundred.  Yes, the only rise on the horizon across the entire state,  that is not also a freeway over pass, is located in central Florida, one very high and long sand dune that is crisscrossed by roads. This year, a strong wind with gusts over 20mph made for an even tougher course.
  
That the event is allowed around the small town of Clermont is a surprise because the cyclists descend on the area like a plague of locusts, taking over every restaurant, hotel and strip joint.  This year, the organizers did away with the chip timers to try to better control the event but that mattered little to the people who showed up, intent on winning like the NA Yankee clan.  Marty S came in 2nd last year and so was a marked man by those who previously finished near the top, including Ken Vida, who came in 2nd in the Florida State Road Race (Pro/1/2 division) in October.
  
Once the ride began,  the group mostly stayed together, hundreds of cyclists in a mile long peloton.   At the 30 mile mark, approximately 20 guys got away.  The Ohio boys, working  together with many Floridians, chased for 30 miles and on a long
section into a  strong head wind, caught the front group.  Soon thereafter, a small break got  away again with the peloton ripped apart by a fierce cross wind that pinned  everyone to the gutter seeking shelter.  Despite this, Marty was in a small  group that caught the break with Dave dropping off, as he describes below.   Unbeknownst to this gang, there was still one guy out in front, who was overtaken with 2 miles to go.  Additional culling of the group took place until it was down to Ken Vida, Marty and one other guy.  Marty got away and won!!!!  Jon Morgan came in 2nd, among the Ohio finishers, followed by Dave and Billy. My  source tells me with unfettered glee that John Sada came in last among the Ohio  boys.

Dave Chesrown sent me the below report, based on his experience and very funny too.  A 2nd report is coming later.

I have competed in several challenge rides. As you know no 2 are the same even the same event changes year to year based on the weather. This year the wind was strong out of the North at 15 MPH with gust up to 20. If you look at the course it goes in circles, lots of time in the wind and cross winds. Bonus was it was cool and cloudy. Last year not as much wind but sunny and warmer. I will take the heat over wind any day.
 
As for the ride, the depth of the field was rivaled only by the Blood Sweat and Gears ride we did in Boone NC. Difference here was the wind kept the group in check where in Boone the first hill  10 miles in decimated the group. Several times I was riding along and could not see the front of the group there were so many people 200+. I made my fair share of mistakes and burned too many candles gaping back up the the group 2 or 3 times. At mile 70 we hit a section next to a highway heading NE into the killer crosswind. The pace was 29-32 for at least 2-3 miles. Guy's were getting spit off the back in groups. I battled with everything I had, a small gap quickly turned into one of those gaps you know you better close or its over. I got as close as 10-12 ft. to the back and just could not close the final few feet. I could see sitting dead ass last was Marty. If I could have yelled maybe he could have saved me. It was not to be. I was maxed at a 178 HR and had nothing left. At this point I would have bet anything there was no way Marty had a chance. The field was too loaded and the locals were hell bent on not letting anyone but a local win. They slowly rode away and my will to fight that hard rode off with them. A few miles later a small chase group caught me and I grabbed on only to start cramping so I went into survival mode and kept my pace at 20-23 on the flats and just did easy tempo up hills. Young Billy was a victim of the crosswind spit out and came up on me a mile or 2 before the final big climb. I was happy to see my friend. We rode together until the end. 
 
I joked with Billy that Sada might take a short cut and to watch to bushes for him to jump out in front of us. The previous year was the one time he beat me and he has rubbed in in ever since. Well this year he was well behind us, I don't like to talk smack but he had it coming. After he finished, I yelled at him from across the lot "SADA where is my Money? 2 to 1 pay up".(he had offered 2 to one odds that he would finish ahead of Me) No one had bet him. He did not think it was very funny and yelled back "You don't have enough money to bet me!!" 

The biggest surprise was when I found Marty. I asked him how far ahead was the lead group when he finished. He replied I finished first. I about fell over. I can't imagine how damn hard it must have been. There were just so many strong riders. We had rode the last 20 miles the day before and discussed where he attacked the previous year and the plan this year. Not only did he do the same
damn thing, the locals knew it was  coming and could not do a damn thing about it. He rode away from them on the last 2 hills. Jon Morgan was with the Chase Group about 1 min. behind Marty. They both had amazing rides.
 
After the event on the flight home Morgan asked me what would I have done different? Training etc... I really don't think there is much I could have changed. A few breaks here or there could have kept me out of the wind and not chasing as much but I think my finish is in line with my level of fitness. My goal was to finish safe and have fun. At the end of the day I had a blast and can't wait for the next great ride. Anyone who wants a real fun challenge should mark this on their calendar for next year.

A few of us gathered  Saturday morning at Alley Park, south of Lancaster to do a 13 climb route of 50  miles.  Sounds like a lot of fun for November, no?  Assembled in the parking lot  were Reynoldsburg Dan (he too preparing for this weekend's Pittsburg Dirty Dozen  ride), Jeff S, Flyin Tuna, Mark V, Ricky G and Steve O, who had forgotten his  cycling shoes and gone to retrieve them.  To fill the time while we waited, we  rode out to Tarkiln Road and all returned to the parking lot to meet up with  Steve, except me, deciding to get a head start up Tarkiln.  I ended up off route  for a couple of minutes and missed the group but caught up with them in Sugar  Grove, having climbed Tarkiln, Beck, McQuery (twice, my mistake).  Our  conversation was dominated by the news "Hostess" had again entered bankruptcy  proceedings, this time for good, although the brands will survive.  We  reminisced about our favorite snacks, mine was Wonder Bread, Oxley's was Ding  Dongs, Jeff's was Ho-Ho's, Dan's was Twinkies, Mark V's was the fruit pies and  Tuna's was, "I like em all!"
 

We headed out of  Sugar Grove to climb Fire Tower Road, then Role (the infamous final big climb on  CFC), then Steve O bugged out with shoulder problems.  We did and down and back  at some road, then we climbed Kirle and while descending, Mark V bugged out with  knee problems.  I did a comprehensive mental scan of my body, hoping to find  something aching so I too could bug out but all was still good. We ground up  Savage, then Chickencoop, opted not to ride Paradise because of road problems so  did the climb on Bauman and on to Sugar Grove Road where we eventually crossed  #33.  Flyin Tuna bugged out as those remaining bravely turned on to Stump Hollow  to do both sides of that climb.....

....Jeff S grimly  pops over the top of Stump Hollow, our final climb to give us 50 miles and 4800'  of climbing.  Isn't that odd how the image makes the hill appear to be a small bump in the road. 

First, Thursday COP ride leader Shannon recently participated n the Miami Ironman and posted a very entertaining report on his blog, which you can reach at this link:

http://www.hfpracing.com/blogs/racedirector/442-717-miamiman-2012-race-report

Secondly, John Gorrilla sent out the below, regarding another trail building day. Look, come out not because you own a mountain bike and may use the trail, come out because we are part of a cycling community and some of our fellow cyclists need our help.  Or, come out because the trail will make a great trail running route or a great cross country skiing route or come out for the great fun!

The work last Sunday was outstanding and exceeded all expectations for what we thought we were going to be able to accomplish.  Thank you very much to everyone who was able to join us.  Many hands truly does make light work, well
lighter work anyway.
 
What have you done for me lately?  Thanking you and now asking you to come back and do it again, that's right, I'm shameless.
 
On December 9th at 10:00 we will be gathering again to blaze more trail starting where we left off last time.  I don't think I can guarantee as nice  of weather as last Sunday, but you never know.  I will bring some delicious PBR again if that gets people out.
 
Details will be sent out several days before the event, but I just wanted to get on people's calendars early.  Please invite others and pass their contact information on to me if they're interested.  I'm keeping track of people who volunteer and the hours we work for posterity.
 

The Flyin Tuna Bladensburg Pancake Ride.  Not an official event but it seems all one has to do is mention Bladensburg pancakes associated with any ride and folks come out in droves.  My mistake was attaching Tuna with the ride name and that kept them 
away in droves.  So, only 12 of us showed up for what I promoted as a flatish ride but in fact was quite a bit more, despite my best efforts to cull some of the major climbs.  Here, Tri Andrew, preparing for the Pittsburg Dirty Dozen ride, chats with Reynoldsburg Dan, who is riding very strong in the off season.

We headed out of  Granville, got on to Dry Creek, over to 661 and up the hill to Cambria Mill, which split our group and so, Steve O, Tri Andrew, Dan, Ricky G, Mitch O and I got away from Kenda's Janet, Paul & Dave, Tuna, Mark V and Corvair.  We were  missing some of the usual suspects such as Mark C, working security for a church  camp (Barney Fife without the bullet), Jeff S in MI, Grand Poobah somewhere and  many others.  Where were all of you?????  We climbed Welch Hill Road over to Dry  Creek again, left on 657, Peston, Weaver, St Louisville, Dog Hollow, Blacksnake,  Cooksey, Bell Church, eventually on to Divan, then HenPeck
and finally into  B-burg at 36 miles and lots of climbing.

Having already eaten  breakfast and knowing that if I entered the restaurant I'd waddle out with a  hamburger and fries in my tummy, I stopped at the gas station while the others  made a beeline for the eatery.  Soon the others arrived and they too made for  the greasy spoon except for the Kendas, who exclaimed, "Lunch is for wimps".   These hard core types wanted only to do a stop-n-go and I felt obligated to show  them the way back so we quickly fled the town while the others shoved vast  quantities of food in their mouths.  Here, Mitch O prepares to descend on a  thousand calorie meal while......

....a wide-eyed Mark V  and Corvair dove in to their food.  The Kendas wanted a bit of a more direct  route back and so we headed directly into the southern head winds and over time, reached Granville with 65 miles and 3900' of climbing.  Good time with good people, as is the norm.

The below image was forwarded to me as a suggestion for the trail name.  Funny.

Benching.  It's a  term many of you probably can recall from your days playing baseball, basketball, etc..  For example, "Oxley, 5 ground balls through your legs is enough!  Go to the bench!"  Or, "Wingler, dribbling the ball off your foot is not a better way to get the ball to the open man.  Get back on that bench!"  Until Sunday, it had been decades since I had heard that word used but on
Sunday  I heard it often.

 Unfortunately, I  don't have images to share but 8 of us showed up for the trail building fun at  Lobdell Reserve, John Gorrilla, Kyle Wingler, Mike Smith, Flyin Tuna, Eugene,  Matt and one other guy whose name I forget.  Kyle had already been out to mark a  stretch of the trail with orange paint and after divvying up the tools, we  headed into the thicket.  After an hour, we exceeded expectations and had  cleared the marked route.  Nothing beats time in the woods, cutting, raking,  scraping and that we were finished so soon, some of us began looking at our  watches and making plans for lunch.  OK, kidding of course as now it was
time to  begin "benching" which is to cut into the uphill side of the trail to flatten it  and make water run-off more efficient.  Check out this mean looking tool, used  by trail builders the world over, as well as at Lobdell.

John G showed me the  basics, had me follow him around for a mile or two to clean up after him, get  the gist of the exercise and then I was off on my own.  That benching tool,  works great at hacking out tree roots and dirt with just the right weight and  sharp edge.  The main concern is what that tool's mass and edge would do to a  foot but I managed to keep mine clear while having a close call or two with other people's feet.  After awhile, we had benched almost all of the marked route, which set Kyle off into the thicket with chainsaw to blaze additional trail, followed by the rakers, followed by the benchers, followed by blisters and sore arms.  Actually, it was very satisfying and shortly before our 4 hour planned stint was over, we packed it in and headed to the beer wagon.  Soundslike there will be another work party in a couple of weeks with the ultimate goal an 8-9 mile trail, finished some time in 2013.  So inspired was Kyle and John by my work ethic, good cheer and inspirational presence that they talked about naming the trail after me.

The Saturday ride to Bladensburg, starting at Granville Wildwood Park will shove off at 9:00am.  Good, quality, clean, easy readible maps will be available.  All kinds of routes and paces and shortcutting opportunities so something for everyone.  There is also the COP ride led by Dave Miller out of Alum Creek at 9:00am going to Waldo or Delaware.  Don't like to set up alternatives to Dave's rides but that one sounded too flat and too far for some of us.  Nothing personal of course.  Now, regarding the trail building group.  Here is the latest from John G and Kyle W:

 If you're familiar with Alexandria and you're coming into town on 37, the first light is Mounts Road aka North Liberty Street.  Turn right and follow Mounts past Lobdell Road, past the parking lot, past the gas well on the right and up to the far northwest corner.  There should be cars, but if you start seeing houses on the right after the gas well, you've gone too far.  Once you park (if you're late) follow the horse trail in the meadow east and then south, it should lead you right to us.

The hard labor starts at 10:00am.  At a minimum, bring gloves, clothing for working in the brush and appropriate footwear.  If you have a rake, shovel, lopper or other garden tools suitable for clearing brush, bring it.  If you are a city boy (or girl) and don't have tools, there are extra or you can bring a cooler with drinks or just bring your good attitude.

Hey, don't forget about Sunday's trail building experience, 10:00am at Lobdell Reserve.  Bring your shovels and picks or just your able body.  See below a few posts for complete information.

The evening prior to the final full day in AZ.  The moon rises over the Catalina Mountains.  Not shown, a full glass of wine sitting on the table as I watch the scene unfold.

Guided my wife, daughter and her husband from Sabino Canyon, into Bear Canyon to hike the Seven Falls trail.  Mostly rolling with numerous river crossings but the river is little more than a trickle.  No snakes other than this litter Garter snake. 

Four miles from the trail head and after descending these switch backs, we reach a very cool canyon with multiple (yes 7) pour-offs.  I scrambled up three of them and took this image.  Meantime, my companions said they were getting a head start and departed. 

The way to the fourth falls was blocked by this chokestone but there was a rope that one could access after wading through a pool.  No thanks and I hustled down the levels to reacquire the main trail and then catch up with my group.  This would be a wild scene at high water flow so I'll be back, soon, like late November.  Now to important stuff, working on the map for Saturday's Flyin Tuna Rides to Bladensburg ride.  Will have two route options, kind of direct and flatish and longer and hilly.  Tuna wanted this to be an invitation only affair so the yappers would not show but I put my foot down and said no.  The ride is open to everyone, including the yappers, and there will be maps and champagne at the end of the ride to share for the heck of it.  Will start from Wildwood Park in Granville, time to be determined.

Steve Oxley passes along the below invite to all the cyclists who read the blog.  Despite the above image, you do not have to drink excessively to have a good time.  You can partake in soda pops instead.  Just good times with good people.

4th Annual Cyclists Christmas PartyThursday, December 6th at The Slate Run Vineyard. http://www.slaterunwine.com/
6:00 - 9:00PM Pot luck - people last names beginning with a-h bring appetizer/salad dishes, last names i-r bring main course kind of dishes, and last names s-z bring deserts. Due to Slate Runs liquor license, no outside alcoholic beverages may be brought in. Spot tastings provided, purchase by the glass or bottle on your own.
 
Please RSVP your attendance and (guest ?) by Friday, November 30th to Steve or Eve. Use e-mail addresses.
[email protected] or [email protected]

Also, don't forget about the mountain bike trail building opportunity this Sunday (read farther below for details) and I hear there is a bike ride brewing out of Granville bound for Bladensburg for Saturday, organized by Flyin Tuna.  More to come.

We have options, lots of options.  David Miller, aka Silent Dave, not to be confused with Kenda Dave Miller, is leading the first Winter Wonder Ride out of Cyclist Connection in Canal Winchester at 9:00am. Will have a 60 and 30 mile ride option so that will appeal to most. 

However, Tri Andrew, gearing up to ride the Dirty Dozen Bike Race in Pittsburg on November 24, is leading a ride out of Alley Park at 10:00am.  The goal is to climb the most hills in the shortest distance.  Will climb all the unfavorites such as Tarkiln, Chickencoop, Savage, Revenge, Beck, Stump Hollow, Blue Valley & more!  No maps but will regroup after each climb and ride easily to the next climb.  Or, you can come out and blitz the route, go off route but most are in it for an off-season pace with hard climbs. As I am back in Ohio but not for long, I will probably do the Andrew ride, mainly cause it will be warmer at 10:00, not that anyone cares of course.