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

New Albany at its Best

6/18/2009

0 Comments

 

Large turnout for the New Albany ride.  Good mix of cyclists including Roy, finally making consistent appearances as he recovers from health issues.  Judging by how much weight he has lost, once he regains his fitness he'll pull a surprise like Armstrong on the climb up Sestriere at the 1999 Tour, or something like that.

Lot of racer types and the usual mix of strong, scruffy looking amateurs like Geroge, Paul Stock, Todd Lee, Mick, Dennis. some guy who is a brain surgeon (no kidding), that big dude who is one big muscle, Jeff S, Greg Hall and more.  That Dennis, every time I see him looking at me his eyes are two smoldering orbs of revenge and motivation.  I can only hold him off for so long before superior genes and youth finally catch me.  He wants his revenge for my numerous taunts and he will not be denied.

Around 48-52 cyclists gathered around Jeff as he explained his route and then off we went, headed out old 161.  Decent pace but a large group of maybe 25 stayed mostly together as we dropped over to Jersey Mill and that downhill stretch to Alexandria.  The pace quickly picked up higher than my compact crank allows me to spin and I slowly dropped back, including sliding by Dennis who I think snickered.  As I dropped farther back I was amazed at how many strong B types were holding on. Fortunately, I caught back on at Alexandria and saw Dennis noticeably frown.  We rode hard out Raccoon Valley to Louden and at the hill before Louden and again on the rise at Louden, there was some
separating but no one could seize the lead and drive at a pace that would drop all but a few.  I hate to keep saying it but there is no one showing up that is able to match Group Killer's scintillating pace.  We're just one big group of cat 3, 4 & 5 cyclists who can't separate from a larger group. I LIKE THIS!!!!!

Still, the pace was eliminating the unworthy, and as we turned the corner at the bottom of the hill on Louden, I looked back and saw that damn Dennis still there!  I started to panic and my neck began to ache as I kept swiveling it to see if he was there,.  I did note George had dropped off, which was unusual.  We reached Sportsman Club and turned onto that agonizing stretch of three hills.  Mick kept attacking and I can't remember someone able to jump from the pack, drive a hard pace, fall back in and do it over and over.  Someone said they saw him injecting something every time he fell back into the group.  I later told him he was a group agitator.  The long, uphill stretch finally took its toll and many fine riders had slid back and we were down to 8.  At the top of Sportsman Club, someone yelled to turn left on Northridge but I yelled to stay straight to Castle.  After some good natured disagreement, I made a $1 bet with Mick and later collected, despite me urging him to keep the dollar as a lesson against the evils of gambling.

A left on Castle and a right on Concorde brought us into Johnstown with a Walker guy setting a good pace.  Up to this point the route had been a good one but once in Johnstown we endured 3 stop lights that allowed some regrouping and as we left Johnstown we were back to 10, including the big muscle dude and
Jeff S, who had pulled him all the way back on. Out of Johnstown there was a good decent and than a climb, followed by a long straight stretch and we were flying.  We finally headed south and after what seemed like 100 stop signs, arrived back in the parking lot, 40 miles and a 22.1mph average, probably skewed a bit down because of the stops and starts. 

We spent some time talking and it was noted George had not yet arrived.  The brain surgeon said he has talked to a heart specialist friend and I believe George is going to get his much needed procedure very soon at a discounted rate.  Super Dave said he had passed George, who was headed in the opposite direction on Louden and turning onto Stone Quarry. I rode back to Granville on a route I thought to be the most direct George would have taken to see if I could spot him, but did not.  There is a story here and if anyone has heard anything, please comment. 

BLUE JAY, SATURDAY AT NEWARK Y, 8:00AM, BE THERE OR BE SQUARE
.

0 Comments



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.