No Boss, No Rain, Yes Wind

While Craig B is the unquestioned Boss of the peloton, pre-ride activities are presided over by the boss of the parling lot, sometimes referred to as "Sarge", Donna O, shown on the right with Peggy.  Donna rules the parking lot with an iron fist and most of us become trembling, weak kneed and spineless in her presence.  She can and has blackballed cyclists for violating rules.  No appeal, just one day the cyclist is there and the next he is not.  Fear the Parking Lot Boss!

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Mitch O, a great guy and never without a large set of keys attached to his waist.  They must be the spare set for opening the President's "football" of nuclear codes because the keys are never out of sight.  Mitch even snaps them onto his cycling shorts.

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The evening's early buzz was speculation over The Boss' whereabouts.  Craig rarely misses the Tuesday beat-down and we refused to believe we may escape being taken to the woodshed until 6:00pm arrived. In Craig's place were the usual assortment of Bianchi Bi twosome, 3 Jenis, 3 Walker guys, Mitch T, Steve O, Jeff, Kevin H, Randy D, Retro George, Andrew and several other strong types.

On the drive to Canal, noting the 21mph west winds, I speculated that Psycho Router Ryan would have created a hilly route east with a return on wide open roads into that wind. However, Ryan had more important things to do, at the hospital for the birth of his first child (hope all went well).  With Craig gone, it appeared everyone thought they could hang with the A group so at least 24 cyclists started out and the pace was amazingly easy as we headed southwest on Winchester.  The strong wind may have been making things difficult at the front but I was ensconced safely behind Randy D, a wide-body, and to my right was a tall rider, Kevin H.  I spent more time coasting and braking then peddling.  At some point, Steve urged George to start a break and George took off, even riding inches from the centerline to help exploit the break but it was not to be.  Way in the back, I did notice the pace picked up a little and I had to momentarily stop talking with Randy (who I noticed, has a peddling speed that slows the faster he talks).  
Eventually we neared the turn left onto Ashville Fairfield and the long uphill with a few steepish ramps. It appeared there were 4-5 guys in front of me who may have a problem with the hills so I planned to cut inside the turn and advance up the peloton but at the front, with the wind behind now following the turn, the hammer was dropped.  I was rider #25 out of 25 at the back and a gap began to open in front of Randy but he was a real trooper and rode hard to close.  About that time, Kevin H went to the left to try to bridge another gap and I jumped on his wheel.   He put in a good pull and as we approached one of the ramps, a Walker guy passed and I jumped on his wheel.  We reached the top with a small gap behind and a large one in front but a Bianchi B1 guy came around and the three of us took turns at the front and we bridged across to the next group which included Andrew and I think Jeff S.  The uphill continued with more ramps and more separation but we now had a core group of 5-6 and  were making up ground on the lead group with Andrew in his aeros, pulling us.  As we approached the stop sign at 674 we just caught the back of the lead group but we were pooped (the lead group was comprised of Steve, 2 Jeni’s 1-2 Walkers, Mitch T and 1-2 others).  Turning right there is a steep hill before a downhill to turn onto Fosnough School Road and then follow its circuitous route up to Ridge.  Somehow I had gotten ahead of Andrew but hopelessly behind the lead group so I sat up and waited for whoever came next. Andrew was not giving up and he steamed by.  Here came Jeff S, driving those calves with piston like precision pulling Kevin H and I gladly caught on.  Andrew eventually gave up the chase and joined our merry band, as did another guy who had dropped from the leaders. We kept up a good pace over to Rockmill and had a 21mph average at mile 33 when I took a minor shortcut so I could fulfill my cub reporter duty of describing the arrival of the leader.  Rolled into the parking lot with 41 miles and a 20.8 average, just ahead of Steve O and 5 others, all of whom had stayed together.  No one said they missed Craig, who had to stay late at work.  He must be gnashing his teeth over the missed ride.

Notes:  Peggy is leading an excellent and very hilly roving ride out of Circleville.  Check the COP website for info.