No Order without the Boss

When handicapping the race for the only shady spot behind Shades, I guessed it was between Todd and Jeff. However, the darkhorse won, The Peggster, arriving sometime before 5:00pm.

Margarite Rick, on the right, bracing himself from falling when the exertion of pumping his tires became too much. Rick curiously brought out a 30-year-old steel machine and then started with the A group, but not for long.

The group begins to gather around Peggy's car, while Todd, on the left, broods over his loss of the coveted parking spot.

Very strange ride.  Maybe 35 at the start but only 12 left with the A group, not including The Boss who was absent.  Two Jenis riders were there, 3 Walker team mates including Rob R, Steve O, Jeff S, Dennis, Retro George, Mitch, Todd Lee and that pretty much fleshes out the group.  Strong wind from the south as we headed out Waterloo, Slough, right on Alspach and worked our way over to Cedar Hill.  Pace was moderate and after 2 Jenies took off, no one bothered to chase but they just hung out there not too far to bridge if a concerted effort had been made.  Rob R bridged across but again, not much interest in pursuing.  We reached Westfall and Jenis and Rob turned left, so too did I, Dennis and Todd but Jeff shouted straight, too late and the group split with the aforementioned going on Westfall, plus George.  The Walker guys dropped off during the ride to Amanda Northern and not sure what was up with that but in Amanda we stopped and regrouped with the Jenis guys.

We debated waiting for Jeff S and crew but when it was revealed the route did not go back via Rockmill but was to go farther east to dreaded Delmont and multiple hills, we decided to get started.  A left on #159 and a quick right onto Hamburg and with Jenis pulling, the pace was high.  A left on Delmont and stilll the Jenis kept drilling it and I began to wonder if they knew what was ahead.  Suddenly Todd sat up and commented the pace was crazy for the climb around the corner and so he, Dennis and I slowed.  George kept going, in for a big surprise.  The Jenis guys could care less since that hill wouldn't slow them anyway.  We approached the foot of the hill and my goal was to pass George.  Reaching Geroge is one thing, passing another as he wobbled furiously back and forth.  I waited for an opening and went past.  I was too out of breath to give him a well deserved verbal shot.

Whem, I eased up after the climb and looked back, here came George full steam, pulling Dennis.  The guy has an amazing ability to recover after the climbs but reaching me, lacking the gift to quickly recover, I declined the invitation to join. Later I came across them with the Jenis, who were finishing a flat fix.  The route took us west on Coonpath and then right onto Pickerington for more hills.  Just after the hills the two Jenis approached and I caught on, along with Todd for a fast ride into Canal.  I had turned off my computer in Amanda so don't know the details but one of the Jenis said 2500' of climbing in 43 miles, 21mph average. Most of that climbing would have been the 2nd half of the ride.  Good route.

Note: Nathan (Recumbent Dude) heads for India on Wednesday and promised if he is kidnapped, he will give me an exclusive interview, if the captors permit.