Avoided the Rain at Canal

Mark C was tonight's ride leader.  Still having maps from 2 weeks ago, I brought them down for him to use.  Handed over, map possession was squarely with him but he laid them on his truck, the wind whipped through and dumped a good portion into a puddle.  Some how, he blamed me for this.  Later, he spent time in Shades and upon returning, found the wind had whipped through and deposited more of them in the water.  The map casualty rate was at least 50% but with fewer then 30 people attending, I think everyone got a map.  Note to Mark:  The clipboards can be used for both sign-up sheets and maps.

Only 8 people rolled out with the A group, Muscle Dude, Paul Stock, Steve O, Dustin, Jeff S, Rick, Ricky G and Jr. Muscle Dude.  Pretty solid B group, most of whom rode the 49 mile option.  Ricky G gave me his account of last Thursday's event and he really is very fortunate to be riding and doing so on that bike. 

Big news to report.  The Rossi tandem is finished.  Mark was here, the tandem was available but no Karen so Mark came out solo.  The peloton waits for its debut, maybe Thursday, maybe Saturday but it sounds like a heck of a machine.  Also hear that Steve O's bike shopping is completed and a BMC with Ultegra DI2 components is on order.  Steve was torn between 3 different bikes but wisdom from Ryan R settled the issue, which was over the length of the warranty.

After the A group departed, everyone else did too and things got settled after the long climb to Lithopolis.  Our group had around 12, Mitch O, Ryan, Brian, Katherine, Corvair, Kevin H, Luke, etc....  We regrouped a couple of times, not so sure everyone likes that policy but I keep reminding them it's the B group.  There is no glory in B group domination.  The first 20 miles was into a very strong head or cross wind out of the SW.  There were some ominous looking clouds to the west but they appeared destined for area's north of us so we kept plugging away until we reached Hagerty, the southern most point of the route and were then pushed east until we summited at Ringold Northern, the highest point in Fairfield County.  Ryan R is not riding with the Tuesday group very often but he must be riding some where as he flashed enviable form grinding up the Hagerty climb, as did Kevin H and Katherine. 

Reaching Cedar Hill, we had maybe 8 people, Luke and I took the 42 mile  route while the others went on the 49 mile route.  Luke is a good friend of "Da Boss", aka Craig Butler.  Both are preparing for another 100 mile trail run, this time in Great Seal State Park.  I asked about the climbing and it will be 10,000'+.  I just about threw up thinking about running 100 trail miles and climbing 10,000'.  Luke suggested I come out and pace them saying, "You could do 15, 25, 30 miles, whatever you wanted."  I looked at him as if he was some rare life form from Pluto.  Craig is thinking about doing 5 of these century runs next year.

Paul, Muscle Dude, Dustin and Steve finished the 49 mile route with a 21.1 avg and to celebrate, Dustin pulled out a cooler containing "Old Chub" brand of beer.  What a guy!!!!!  Below, storms missed Canal by a couple of miles, skirting us to the north.