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 Thursday Ride Report & Saturday Ride

7/23/2014

2 Comments

 
Picture
The day began unlike most, fortunately, as I cut down yet another ash tree.  This one I planted when our house was built and I had some sentimental attachment to it.  But, dead is dead so down it had to come.  Cutting and persuading it to go where you want is the easy part, it's the cleaning, burning, cutting, stacking that is a pain in the ass so when I arrived for the New Albany ride, my back ached and I wasn't sure I was going to ride. 
Picture
Before arriving, I swung by the New Albany pool to see if I could get an image of Dave Chesrown and sure enough, there he was, wearing dark glasses and staring at the "hotties".  I fear we have lost Dave until the pool closes.
Picture
The parking lot energized me so I went in to my normal routine of taking unflattering images of people.  Above, Ricky G on the left made a rare Thursday appearance, standing with Farmer Mike who is waiting on a new road bike having Dura Ace Di2 as part of the package. 
Picture
Todd Lee asked if I could photoshop the image to give him large muscles but the computing power to pull off that feat would be to great so we'll just have to go with the unedited image.
Picture
Some of the ordinary cyclists who make up the vast majority of our rides.
Picture
Yet more ordinary cyclists.  So many names for me to learn.  I try to add one a week but never catch up with everyone.  Or maybe I have but have forgotten so many.
Picture
Kristian stretches while more gather. 
Picture
Rick called us together and read some prepared remarks about cycling safety.  He also mentioned that he has the right to ban the craziest among us.  I wondered if some had already been banned because the turnout was light.  A round of applause signaled the end of the statement and 28 of us shoved off in the A group, including John and his son, Anthony.  Seeing this made me nervous mainly because Anthony is not big enough for me to draft behind, always a concern of mine but his bike handling is at times erratic and too unpredictable.  This will change in time of course but for now, he should stick with the B group for another season, although riding with that group ain't no day at the beach if you know what I mean.

We headed out 161, managed to get across 62, made several turns and at mile 12 or 13, we made a right on Vans Valley Road.  Here there was a modest climb and I was in good shape but arriving at a sharp turn to the right, I saw a gap opened in front of Anthony.  Fortunately, Rich Lewis and another pulled me over but then looking ahead, a large gap had opened in front of Katherine Graham.  Three of us began to close but I could not hold Rich's wheel and soon found myself with Ron Budzig, John Sada, guy decked out in all red and one other.  Our average at the breaking point was close to 23 so the frequent stops had skewed the average down a bit but our group of 5 kept the pace high as we took turns pulling.

Reaching Clover Valley Road, my back barking at me, I lost interest and cut out of this good group, heading south all the way to Jug and in with 42 miles and a 21.5 avg.  Now for Saturday, Tri-Andrew is once again hosting the COP Roving Ride out of Sugar Grove at 8:00am.  This route is one of the best on the schedule and all are welcome.  You can find the routes here but paper maps will be available and the ride is free:http://ridewithgps.com/users/57043

Picture
Check this out.  We head in to uncharted waters, at least for the Thursday ride, going way north and even west.  Get the details, gps files and everything else here: http://www.thecyclingclub.org/route-resources/c-o-p-thursday-night-cycling-club-ride/  While there, take less than a minute and join the Cycling Club.  It costs nothing and gets you on an email list for ride notices.  With the heat and humidity at bay, temporarily, should be a great evening for a bike ride.
2 Comments
David C
7/25/2014 01:40:13 pm

I was at the ride not the pool:) Started from my house.
http://www.strava.com/activities/170526762

Reply
Mark
7/27/2014 11:20:03 pm

Oh, sorry, must be a case of mistaken identity.

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 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    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.