Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Red Head Bill Brings His Posse

4/29/2010

2 Comments

 
Picture
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.

Picture
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.

Picture
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.

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

Picture
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.

2 Comments
Paul Stock
4/30/2010 12:47:27 am

Yes, I missed the rollout because by the time I got to the port-a-john there were 4 people in front of me, one of whom I SWEAR was shaving their legs while in there!

With the help of Dennis and a well-placed cutoff on Stone Quarry I did manage to rejoin the lead group after about an hour.

Yes, that's why I continue to read your blog, Mark - to see if anything embarrassing was said about me and to try and offer a rebuttal (even if the facts are correct).

Keep up the good work.

Reply
da boss
5/2/2010 10:45:15 am

Sorry I could not make it. A head cold and last minute prep for the Pittsburgh marathon training kept me away. Got a full marathon in June to finish training for so, perhaps July......

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.