Red Head Bill Brings His Posse

Huge crowd, numbering over 70 for a beautiful evening for racing, yes, that's correct, racing.  Red Head Bill brought his posse with him and add in the usual regulars like Mick, John Morgan, Walker guys, Terry, Marty, Poobah, Tim Tyler & Lisa, Aero Helmet Dude (the real deal not an imposter), Paul Stock...wait....where was Paul Stock.... I won't embarrass the guy by saying why he missed the start, however, I have a couple of battery powered clocks that I will bring to hang in the Port-a-Johns for everyone's use beginning next week.

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Warming up has become a popular activity for those having the time.  Here, Poobah returns and even Dennis went out for an extended warm up ride.

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Don't see this every day.  One of tonight's killers had a tatoo of Ohio on his calf.  Maybe Jeff S will do one of the world on his.

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Curiously, as the original frame brand name disappears from SuperDave's bike, he adds fresh decals to compensate.

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I have no idea how many A's started the ride because I was intent on staying close to the front but I think there were 25+ who exited the parking lot for a hilly, by New Albany standards, 39 mile route.  There were rumors floating that Da Boss was going to make an appearance but he did not. Too bad. Would have been a good evening to test himself against the area's best. We worked our way up to Jug where predictably, the pace ramped up and then made a left on Clover Valley and enjoyed a tail wind out of the SW up to Green Chapel.  A quick glance back showed at least half of the crowd was gone and a quick glance at the computer showed why.  I was in a good spot throughout and jealously guarding it from those who encroached, about 7-9 from the front.  We reached Caswell, just below Johnstown and hit the long uphill section.  I was surprised to find my legs felt good and I had no problem staying at the front but others were not so lucky and probably a wide truck coming down this narrow road had a negative impact too. 

We reached Concorde going east and there was no let up.  With a cross wind coming from right to left, we were stretched across the road from white line to white line.  Had a vehicle come over a hill traveling in the opposite direction, all I would have seen is the grille but desperate were we to hang in there. Redhead Bill & Boys were absolutely drilling it and our average was well above 23mph. We reached Northridge and went north, hitting the hill.  I think our group was down to 12 when Marty popped off, then Lisa...ok then me. At the top of Northridge, the front group was so close but so, so far away.  Marty and Lisa came by and I jumped on as we made a right on Sportsman Club and hit that long hill.  We came across someone who had dropped off the lead group but he was too gassed to join us.  After turning right on Loudon, we gobbled up Mick and then 3 others who had fallen back.  Now we had a nice working group and some idiot said, lets do the echelon and catch the front group....what was he thinking???  We did the echelon thing until it was my turn and I could not get ahead of the person who had moved left in front of me...echelon destroyed. 

Now we were into the wind and I expected our average to drop, except it did not, these guys wanted to work.  We went west on Raccoon Valley Road and then slowed as we went through Alexandria before heading out Jersey Mill and that multiple mile uphill stretch out of the valley.  Then 161 where we came across Dennis and others and we all cruised back to the parking lot.  My average was 22.8mph and 1250' of climbing.  I don't know what the lead group's average was but would like to know.

Jeff S says next week we are headed south.  That likely means hitting Col de Alward. Can't wait.   I've gone on too long but several people have sent me emails or personally thanked me for keeping this blog going.  For every day in April, the minimum number of hits to this silly site was 50 with days over 200 hits.  Someone admitted they have become a bit of an addict and suspect it is because they like seeing their name in print.  I think others enjoy reading about what they missed or like to read my perspective on getting frequently dropped. Anyway, glad you enjoy reading about our goofy exploits.  Life is really going to suck when it comes time for me to take up golf again.

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