Chamois Butter Strikes!!!

Nic, fresh off his 1st place finish at a cycle-cross race in Mason this weekend.  In the background, Grand Poobah.  Once again, GP parks in the space reserved for the ride leader and after ample warning, punishment was finally delivered.  Someone placed chamois butter under the driver side door handle while he was out on a warm-up ride.  Upon returning to the parking lot, he did not open his car so we patiently waited until after the ride while he was a social gadfly, stopping to chat with anyone wearing lycra shorts.  We finally gave up that he would ever return to his vehicle so we took off and no photo evidence exists of his reaction.  Next time, we will collect used chamois butter if he fails to honor the parking lot rule.

Muscle Dude and Jon Morgan discuss strategy.

Decent turnout, considering how quickly the sun is setting.  Here, on the right, Nathan reflects on the many good times he has had at the Canal rides, knowing this is the last one.  Wednesday, he departs for California.  He's driving, something he has always wanted to do once, and taking his bike and other important items.  Will find an appropriate, multi, multi million dollar mansion with a guest room suitable for my visits.  Nathan, make sure my room has an attached bathroom and wine cellar.

So, 35 at the start and after a smallish A group departed, a rather largish B group took off.  The A route was 38 kind of hilly miles and just barely enough daylight to get it in.  The B route was 34 miles and it too, barely short enough to return us to the parking lot in time.  The B group is a congenial group that pauses once in awhile to regroup comprised of a good group of guys.  Our average was 19.5mph with 1700' of climbing.  Jon Morgan won the sign sprint and was gifted a nice cap and T-shirt from Oxley Financial Services and promptly gave the items away to those in need....I got the cap.   

Jon had a wardrobe issue, a large tear in his shorts.  We of course all averted our eyes, except for Poobah, who stared longingly.  We exchanged the usual good natured ribbing and then, I jumped in my car and drove away.  After awhile, it appeared I was being followed!  I began taking evasive action to shake the tail, turning into alleys, making U-turns, wrong way on one way streets, gunning it through an intersection after the light had turned and yet I could not shake the stalker.  Finally, I turned into a gas station and the car still followed.  Oh, it was Jon M, who asked me to buy a gallon of milk for him as he could not enter a public place while wearing the torn cycling shorts.