No Room at the Pool & large turnout at the NA Ride

Good turnout, surprisingly for a hot and very humid Cycling Club group ride out of New Albany, behind Veloscience bike shop.  Around 45 people with about 28 out for the B group ride, the balance for the Club Ride for C/D cyclists.  As usual, there was a smattering of A's who are content, mostly, to use this as a recovery ride after a hard weekend and fit in with the "B" speed concept.  Word filtered around that unfortunately, Terry Griffith crashed this weekend and has a punctured lung. Also hear Jon Morgan is in Africa, maybe on safari?

Seldom seen Dave Chesrown.  Hmmmmm, had he neglected to lay a towel, reserving a chair at the pool, had the pool people run out of margarita mix, too few hotties strolling around to draw Dave's attention?  Whatever the reason, we were glad to have him slot in with us.  Grand Poobah on the right and the guy in the center is waiting for his Trek to be fixed, after it, like thousands of others, had the bottom bracket issue.  Good luck.  After going through 3 Trek frames, I'm glad I'm on a different bike.

Since there were several new people, Gus (right) explained the purpose of the ride and everyone appeared to get it and in fact, did.

We rolled out with Marty S on the right, riding a cross bike and Crazy George on the left.  PLEASE, someone suggest new insults for George to use.  If I hear him tell me one more time, "Gee, are you still with me." or, "Gee, I thought I dropped you long ago." I will scream.

The heat and humidity didn't feel too uncomfortable unless we paused, and then it blanketed with stifling pressure.  Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration but it was better to be moving and so out 161, into Alexandria, Mounts, Lobdell, oh, that fantastic new pavement has now been chipped on Lobdell and Battee.  Didn't notice any sealing, just tons of fine gravel spread to make the going treacherous.

At the end of Stone Quarry, in the shade, we pause.  Chad, I think in the center taking a drink, Jeff behind him and others coming up from the rear.  To this point, our average was 19 but it had been fairly steady and so the majority were able to regroup and then we returned, eventually making a right on Beaver Road and hitting the jets to the dead end.  Curiously, one of our group kept going, making a left and running the stop sign at speed, barely missing an oncoming truck.  As is usually the case, the front rider makes it but had there been someone following, that one would not.  Gus later talked to the guy.  Seems as if there is more of this activity then usual but maybe it is just a blip and these close calls will serve as a wake-up to us all.  Finished with a 19.2 average and another good time with good people.