Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Is Your Father's Name Forrest?

6/29/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
I think the weather forecasters hit the mark today, 100 degrees, 15-25 mph winds out of the SW but hey, at least the humidity wasn't higher than 35%!  I think most people who planned to ride also planned not to waste time standing in the parking lot, baking because by 5:35pm, only 12 people were at the parking lot including Shannon and EuroPatrick.
Picture
Even the lone shade area was sparsely populated at 5:50pm
Picture
Garth and Pete doing the unthinkable, a warm-up ride prior to the main event.  The shade dwellers were all puzzled by this as they were more then warmed up even while sitting.  
Picture
More roll up to sign in.  Note Mick in red.  MIck is competing in the state championship next Saturday in the Master's Division.  Yep, he's in the 60+ age group.  Hard to believe.
Picture
Then, at 5:55pm, they came from all corners and I think we had close to 50 but there was lots of conversation about alternative, route modifying.  In fact, I'll bet tonight's ride had more distance variations as people started, had 2nd thoughts and modified the route at various points.  I kind of wanted to do the 54 mile route just to say I did it but I wanted to do it at a reasonable pace.  Good luck finding a group with both those goals.  As we rolled out, I noticed that unlike rides in the low-mid 90 degrees, the air flow provided no relief.  It was hot at rest and hot at 25mph. 
Picture
About 15 in the A group and about 24 in the B+ group.  We rolled out old 161, right on Harrison and then an extended ride east on Morse.  Somewhere in there, Claude came by us headed back to the parking lot, heat got to him.  Somewhere in there I began listening to Denver Dan about a 30ish route.  Somewhere in there, others too began listening to DD and so at Outville, we (Katherine, Christian, Dennis, Jeff, David S, Dan and let's just call him "Cyclist A") headed north to Moots and then into and out of Granville, stopping in Alexandria at this market.   

Actually, five of us stopped while the others just wanted to get the ride over and continued.  We were sitting inside, enjoying the air conditioning, when Cyclist A, walked in and queried if any of us had mistakenly picked up his right hand glove because all he had were two left handers.  The gloves were black with red accents and not a style I had previously noticed.  Cyclist A walked out, trying to find his missing RH, soon returning.  Observant Dennis noticed that one of the gloves was inside out and once returned to outside in, changed into a right hand fit.  Dennis then asked "A" if his father's name was Forrest.  Funny. Yep, the heat was having an effect and I noted I should keep an eye on "A" on the ride back.  We finished with 32 miles.  Meantime, as I drove home while also following the route, here came Shannon, Garth, EuroPatrick and one other guy.  Those were all that was left of the front A group.  Soon, I came across Muscle Dude and a while later Paul Stock but those were the last of the A's that also stuck to the long route.  Arriving in Alexandria at 8:35, there was a group of B's who had either done the long route or the shorter B route and still had roughly 11 miles to go.  Good luck.
4 Comments
Paul S.
6/29/2012 03:18:59 am

The A group was whittled down very quickly to about 9-10 riders. Of course it wouldn't be a Thu. night ride without a flat, but when Garth's tire blew at about mile 16, everyone agreed to wait for a change. Then I saw something I've never seen before on a Thu. A ride: the group STOPPED FOR WATER at a gas station in Granville. (except for Terry, who just kept going).

I was not up to keeping the pace they were setting, so I bid the group adieu before Stone Quarry and finished the 53 mile route solo. My car dash said the temp was 102 when we started, but I was relieved when I got back about 9PM to see that it had cooled down to a more comfortable 95.

Reply
David C.
6/29/2012 03:32:58 am

I did my best "Mark impression" and turned off at Outville Rd. It was not fun, no matter how much breeze there was. I drank 3 water bottles in less than 26 miles and still lost 4lbs. of water weight. I was dumb to even start the ride in that heat. Garth called me soft and told me to Man up when I told him I was turning off..... Oh yea the headwind the whole way home solo was icing in the cake.

Reply
Christian
6/29/2012 04:20:14 am

Hey, what was my wife doing with those guys in the jeep????? I have to watch her all the time the big flirt!

Reply
tom klocker
7/9/2012 02:58:20 am

Marty was it hotter biking this 4th of July or when you went into the engine room to fix the transmission on the yacht last 4th of july? the vixen in the photo with Katy Perry is Marina and the Diamonds who was her opening act.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.