Thursday Ride Reports--Veggies, Pumps & Big Crowd

When he comes, Chris G is always an early arrival so he can begin the bike cleansing project.  I must say, it is a through cleaning. 

Arriving early also provides one with the opportunity to pick up veggies at the farmer's market as Jeff S has done. Jeff is regaining the form that once made him known as the "Pull King" and he even went out with the A group tonight  Made it to Beech Road so that's a respectable start.

With an unusually good weather day following several crummy ones, you would think the turnout would be high and it was.  Above, Mick and Andrew observe the sign-in process.

Our is not the only group to form in the vast parking lot but then there are groups and then there are...

....GROUPS as more than 80 cyclists showed up for the Thursday New Albany ride.

Jon Morgan arrived bearing Dan's Pump and handed it to me so now I carry the burden of returning it to its rightful owner. Dan has been calling, emailing and texting me every day to ensure I would bring it one step closer to Dan. I'm thinking of ratcheting up his anxiety level by holding the pump hostage for a few days.  Nothing a payment would not resolve though.

Distance cyclist Jeff Stephens, on the celeste colored Bianchi was here too.  Jeff, an infrequent attendee, said the ride seems to have gotten faster.  Well, it has, it really has.  Back in the day, the A group would ride the route together with a sprint finish at the end.  Today, there is a sprint start and it is sustained by some very fit people.

Kristie Nation, back from the "Death Ride-Tour of the California Alps" cycling adventure. It was a 129 miles, 15,000' climbing event. I have entered my annual summer burnout phase so the A group rolled out with Marty warning, "This is the ride for everyone who wants to ride on the rivet."  and I passed.  Then the B+ group rolled out and then the B group and into that small group I jumped.  Just want to burn calories and enjoy riding a bike I guess.

Along the ride toward Granville, we gathered Jillian and Jr Muscle Dude who was having chain problems. Jr. told me the A group missed a turn and got off the route while he was with them.  Riding up the Thornwood climb, his chain broke and so we waited at the top while Rick applied the fix.  The delay required us to shorten the route a bit to beat the setting sun but eventually we got back on route.

....we approached a very large group of cyclists.  John Sada had crashed (other than torn jersey and some road rash, it appears he is ok).  First reports said his brakes had locked but there would have been no reason for him to apply the brakes at the time and if brakes just lock up on their own, I'm finding something else to do.  Then it was suggested that maybe some debris may have lodged between the brake pad and rim, similar to what happened to Lisa A a couple of years ago but the road appeared clean of any debris.  Later, someone who was behind thought he had rotated his front wheel too much while sprinting and then lost control of the bike.  Anthony has it on video so maybe the truth will reveal itself.  Anyway, our group finished with 46 miles while way, way ahead, the A group finished with a 22.5 avg.

Check out this neat image.  Lightning started a fire about a mile from our AZ home but the terrain in that area is so rocky, they are letting the fire burn itself out.