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Mark Bell Memorial Ride...Wow

7/11/2009

7 Comments

 
Picture
Jeff S and Dennis.  Here in the sunlight and prior to the start, Jeff looks normal.  Later at the food stop at "Grandma Feyes" above Old Man's Cave, Jeff's shirt was soaked with perspiration and with the high beams on, appeared he was auditioning for a wet T-shirt contest.


Picture
The Margarita Twins.  Rick on the left has been known to arrive early for a ride by spending the night before at a local pub, staying out until 2:00am and then sleeping in his car at the ride start.  Steve O on the right has begun drinking heavily because he hangs out with Rick.


Picture
Nicknames are given based on circumstances but can never be given because the individual insists they be called something.  In this case, Amanda O likes to be called, "Hot Mama" and while few can argue that point, I am waiting for her to do something really stupid so her official nickname can be granted.  For example. many ask why Cindy B's nickname is Flyin Tuna.  Cindy and her husband watch Discovery channel every night.  One day, during a ride, Cindy was telling me about a Discovery show about the fishes of the sea and how fast each could swim, with the tuna being especially fast.  As we crested a hill, with tears of boredom streaming down my face, Cindy picked up speed and screached, "look at me, I'm a flyin tuna!" Thus a nickname was born.


Picture
Rallying around for the start.  The route attracted climbers and out of the 31 cyclists there, me, Dennis, Randy D., Jeff S and Cindy were the only ones over 150 pounds.  Otherwise, everyone else had the prototypical man's head on women's body type look with guant cheeks, ribs protruding and not an ounce of fat....what was I doing here?


Woody Patrick organized the 1st annual Mark Bell Memorial Ride, starting in Lancaster on Bovine Road.  Judging by the turnout, weather, route and just good people, it was a great success.  Now, about the route...holy cow.  I should have looked at the on-line link Woody provided of what was one of Mark Bell's favorite routes.  Sure, I expected Christmas Rock, Revenge, Snortin Ridge, Jack Run and the Rock House climb but those are mere speed bumps compared to the Tourmalet-type monsters on state routes 374, 664, 56, 999, etc...

As mentioned above, the route brought out central Ohio's climbers, plus a few wannabees who just came out for the fun and workout.  At the start there were 30-35 cyclists including Todd Lee, Dennis, SuperDave, Flyin Tuna, Amanda, Sarge, Retro George, Jeff S, Larry P, The Boss (just back from a vacation in PA), Steve O, 4 Jenis guys, Mitch T, Margarita Holt, Randy Drum, Lisa A, couple of Team Echeloners & others.  The sun was out at the start, hot temperature and high humidity for a very hilly 70 mile ride having a 54 mile shorter option. 

We rolled out Bovine, making a right on Hamburg and a left on Christmas Rock.  I was content to hang in the back for a recovery-type ride day but ahead was Dennis, looking back at me with that smirk, and so I had a dig and got somewhere in the middle of the field riding with Dennis and others.  We cruised along the ridge to the downhill on Revenge and then over to the Snortin Ridge climb. Pretty uneventful all the way over to and down Jack Run with Randy D pulling us along and then up to Rock House where a large group was waiting.  The blue sky had been temporary and as we waited for folks to fill water bottles, I heard someone, as they checked their phone screen provided weather radar, exclaim, "Rain's coming."

A large group of us took off, with another group behind.  Our group had Mitch T to keep the pace fairly high but he was not pressing things too much and we mostly stayed together until Larry P and others rode by from the 2nd group.  We jumped onboard and rode
hard to Conkles Hollow along 374 and after summiting a huge climb, screamed down hill and ended up at South Bloomingville with lots of empty store fronts and also having missed the short cut turn at Big Pine. Damn! Making a left on 56 we worked our way over to Ash Cave and 374, then past Cedar Falls and finally stopping, after another giant climb, at the turn-off for Old Man's Cave. Another climb brought us to Grandma Fey's store and we stopped to refuel. 

As we arrived, Craig's group had just left and it looked like it was he, 2-3 Jenis, Steve O, Randy Brown, George and a couple others (I'm waiting on my spies from that front group to give me a report that I will post here later).  We hung around the store and pretty much everyone decided to bypass one loop and take the direct route back to Lancaster.  The climbing was taking its toll and the weather was very overcast and threatening.  We were already soaked in perspiration and so as we left the store it began to rain lightly but it was a welcome relief with the rain temperature being about the same as the sweat temperature.  We worked our way back over to Rock House and then to Jack Run and that infamously steep climb.  My condition had been deteriorating rapidly and as we rode towards the hill, but not yet to it, I first fell off the wheel of Margarita Holt, then Lisa A and another guy and soon was last in the field.  I crawled up Jack Run losing more ground to those ahead and figured my mechanical issue with the bottom bracket rubbing was contributing some extra resistance.  The rain now was not pouring but steady hard with thunder but no lightning. Prior to the climb up Revenge I got off the bike and rotated the pedals backward, curious to gauge the resistance....geez, ok maybe it was contributing a lot to my demise.  I limped into the parking lot and was surprised that George's friend Big Gear was right behind me, securing the last spot.  65 miles with 4950' of climbing but it sure seemed more than that.

Picture
Lisa A, Dennis & SuperDave
7 Comments
Belinda link
7/12/2009 11:54:08 pm

Cindy ways over 150 pounds??? He, He, I'm only 20 pounds heavyer then that and will soon git my wait down around there and will then git my light rode bike and will then trane real hard and will then thro down the challenge and will then kick that cindy's you no what!!!! Watch out girl, im gonna beet you bad!!!!!!

Reply
Big Guy on a Bike
7/13/2009 07:05:48 am

Now thats funny, I don't care who you are.....

GIT-R-DONE

Reply
Cindy
7/13/2009 01:07:00 pm

Belinda,

First, please have someone check your spelling before posting. Second, while there are cases of heavyweights like you losing enough weight to eventually compete with the likes of me, it would take an extraordinary committment and I think you're too lazy to complete. Third, after having spent weeks begging for someone to give you a "rode" bike as you spell it (note correct spelling is "road" you dolt) you must now be the one making those $4.50 bids for high end road bikes on e-bay. Give it up girl. I rule the peloton and you ain't never going to. Cindy, aka THE Flyin Tuna!!!!

Reply
Donna B.
7/13/2009 09:28:33 pm

Now, Now ladies...such as it is, we need to stick together...besides I believe I personally ruled those hills during Mark's ride, last Saturday. Yes indeed I did! Out there all by myself (boo hoo) and just loving it! Okay, so I wasn't the first (short trip) lady back, but hey, I did the whole enchilada by myself...that should count for something! No dogs, lots of hills, watching the scenery, able to get up and ride the next day...geesh that happens when you don't rule the peloton! And Belinda...you really outa put out more than $4.50 for a bike..just a suggestion :)

Reply
Belinda
7/14/2009 02:27:08 am

Donna,
Hoo areyou to be givin me advice? Such thouts are not appreceated nor wanted. I dont no you but the last thing you want is a motivated wild women like me on your tale. After I get the rode bike I decided Im goin to kick your you no what before I add Cindy Fatty Tuna's scalp. Watch out girl!
Belinda, The Wild Clydesdale!!!

Reply
Donna B.
7/14/2009 02:55:27 am

Now I'm scared...and so very afraid....geesh! Nah...MW says you have a mustache and to be very afraid...yuppers, I'm right on that one! You italian? Hey clysdesdale girl...like Tuna whale...I mean Flying Tuna said...you need a spell check :)

Reply
Pandabear
7/14/2009 11:51:07 pm

Wow such competitiveness ladies! I think I did pretty well as I stuck with Flyin Tuna the whole way...until she got a flat 2 miles from the end of the ride! It was a wet one!
Mark, I've always had the nickname of the Fast Panda, but since you seem to want to call me something like "hot Mamma" my boyfriend might just hunt you down and maybe who knows when he gets a bike he may outbike you!
Oh and Mark...if you had stayed with Cindy you wouldn't have missed the Big Pine turnoff. :) Randy ended up with us, but his cassette locked up and he had to call his wife. He couldn't coast downhill, it was odd. I had a great time and loved Mark's route. I'd do it again.
-Fast Panda

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

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