Rookies Abound

Huh, still no Jeff S as Thursday’s talented ride leader but the Jeff stand-in was there.  Jeff had the sign-up sheets positioned side-by-side on the hood of his car, ample pens and a route that again HAD THAT FRIGGIN JERSEY MILL ON IT!!!!!!  Although, to be fair, instead of going straight out #161 and then onto Jersey Mill, we took a circuitous route south and north and would not hit JM until mile 16.

Huge turnout for the ride but noted the A group was a little down and lots of new riders, bringing the start total to 51 with 16 pulling out with the A’s.  Among the latter group was Mick, Paul Stock, two Walker guys, Colnago Dude, Big Muscle Dude, Dennis, Nathan and Terry.  I noted the Walker guys had ridden over from Granville so they would only ride the outbound route with us and that meant they were sure to hammer.  We headed out for a brief ride on 161 before turning right on Babbitt and then worked out way over to Cable, a very rough road.  The Walker guys pushed the pace and to slow it, I took a long pull.  Dennis came off the front on Cable and joined me in the back and said, “Dude, this is a bad place to be”, thinking if the group turned up the hill on Caswell, we’d be caught out if/when a gap developed but I assured him the route did not turn east until Patterson and so we were good.  Nevertheless, as we approached the turn onto Headleys Mill, I rushed on the outside, cut the corner and settled into the 5th spot.  The pace continued to be high and soon we turned right on Patterson and that long uphill stretch.  I stayed on Muscle Dude’s wheel and emerging at the top, I turned to note a front group of 5 had a gap on the rest but then a long pull by me allowed practically all the A, B & C riders to regroup before we turned right onto #161.  There, one of the Walker guys drilled it and we sustained 30+mph all the way to 310 and then the turn onto Jersey Mill, where I signed off and soft pedaled with Recumbent Dude into Alexandria, north on Northridge, left onto Concorde and left onto Castle.  We paused, waiting for the B group to arrive and soon they did and we jumped on with SuperDave, Tri Mike, Flyin Tuna, and a couple others I know but don’t know.  I finished with a 20.5 average and 39 miles.  The 4 who survived the A group had a 21+ average but I forget the exact number.  See many of you at the Brutal Blue Jay ride on Saturday.

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Don't know what to make of this guy, with a lizard tail on his helmet. However, it was good to see several new cyclists populating the B and C ranks.