March Winds in January

Scott Billman rolls in on his new winter beater bike, a cherry red Trek that kind of matches his kit.  He got a price from the Trek store that was too good to pass up for this aluminum framed machine.

Others roll in, eventually totaling 18, including the bare legged and ride route innovator, Issac.  Geesh, are those sun sleeves he is wearing?  Everyone else had tights, gloves, jackets but not this man of steel.  Corvair in the foreground, Eva behind her and the Ken Buddell resplendent in red.

Peggy Cook arrived and someone noted an unusually high concentration of women, 7.  Juia Wu, Kim, Lisa Tyler, Eva, Corvair and Lori N.

We departed the parking lot and whether it be in season or out of season, had to pause at the exit but not for long as soon....

....we were cruising east on old 161 with strong winds buffeting the group out of the south.  One gust rocked the group and we scattered but of course, quickly found our way together.  Actually, hunkered slightly to the left of those in front of me, it wasn't too bad.  Rumor had it winds were strong at the front for the duration but I did my part, complimenting each cyclist as they drifted from the front.  My ability to provide moral support knows no equal.

We regrouped a couple of times, including at the top of the Morse Road climb out of the valley.  We turned right here and then made a right on Weslyn Church that exposed us to winds roaring from the south.  Dang, I was glad when we made a left on York Road and once more into the straight head winds.  As usual, I spread good cheer to anyone who took a pull and drifted back.  We lost a few as we crossed #16 on our way south but for the most part, the pace was civil and we arrived in Granville at mile.....

....28 with a 19.7mph average. I stayed outside of the River Road coffee shop but eventually, the chocolate chip cookie siren song worked and I trudged inside and bought one.  As a cookie aficionado, not bad.  Tym and Lisa bugged out for home, Peggy headed straight back, Philippe declined to stop and so our group got whittled down.

Isaac put the Beechwood climb on our way out of town and I discovered I was as tired there as I was when we entered Granville.  I struggled to hang on and when we reached the right on Hardscrabble, I went straight with Dave C and Jim.  Eventually I ended with 48 miles, yikes that wind out of the south/southwest was ferocious.  The others ended with 55 miles while Eva and Corvair got in a healthy 60 due to a missed turn or two.

   

From in front of the Starbucks in New Albany, 10:00am start time, Sunday.  There will be a few regroupings with an anticipated average speed of 18-19mph.  Monitoring FB reveals Luke R, Lori N, Issac M, Travis, Kim, Eva, Travis I, Ken Buddell and a few others plan to attend. Forecast start temp is 47 with kind of strong winds out of the southwest.  Here is the link to the route:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11980182