Saturday Ride Report--Backflip & Uber

I arrived at the New Albany Starbucks to find Isaac sitting in a chair and this line of bikes in front.  I said, "Oh good, Marty is here."  Isaac replied, "How can you say that with absolute certainty?"  Funny but he is correct, it is possible that another machine like the above is out there.

Good turnout, around 25-28 including some new people who wanted to try a Gus Cook managed event at which the claim of a strong B, conversational pace is accurate.  Of course, this assumes you can ride at the pace and breathing permits conversation.  For me, barely so. Earlier in the season I sucked.  Now, I really suck.  New guy Shawn in the orange/grey kit.

Hey, there's Dirty Dan.  Someone asked about the nickname and whether he was safe to be around.  I told her the best way to describe Dan is to think of XXXXX (a particularly squirrely and well known bike handler) on steroids but with intent.  However, it won't be a problem for you because Dan exhibits this behavior only toward me.

Besides the usual folks, Dustin was here too, along with Larry P, Mark V, Flyin Tuna, Steve Nelson, Jeff S, Ron, Jay P, etc..  We rolled out 161 but quickly left it at Kitzmiler and followed a route that eventually brought us to a stop sign at Dutch Lane where....

....Larry P tumbled backward into the culvert on the right.  It was as graceful a fall as I have seen and just as quickly he jumped up, grabbed his bike and sprinted to the road before I could catch the image.  He appeared unhurt too.  Dustin came alongside and told me he wanted it on the record he had nothing to do with it.  Luke took responsibility but according to Larry, it was just one of those things.  He was looking left, thought the group was going but instead it stopped.  Tires touched and boom.   

If this were Washington and in the world of politics, they would be known as a power couple; Luke & Lori. Lori is working on a report from her recent experience racing in Oregon.  I'll have a link to it when available. Fatigue was getting to me and I had been plotting an out, not coincidentally at the base of Marion Road. With my manhood being called into question I continued on, one of the last to arrive at the gas station in Utica.  Needing 90 minutes to recover, I got only 10 before we headed east on Blacksnake.  I was lagging badly and leapt at the opportunity to hang back and ride in with Jeff S, joined by Cindy and Mark V beginning in St Louisville.  I'm already wondering, when Jeff returns to form, to whom can I fall back?  Our route did not exactly match the rest of the group so our 68 miles lagged their 72.  Marty had a bike problem, crank arm fell off, so he had to use Uber to make his return.