On August 2, 216BC, Hannibal decisively defeated the Roman army in what many historians claim was the most lopsided military victory in history. On May 15, 2012, the northern hoards from New Albany invaded Palookaville, otherwise known as Canal Winchester and had a grand time. Gabe the Ringer & Buddies, Marty Sedluk, Jon Morgan, Dave Chesrown, Mitch Tallen, Rick Miller and others arrived to give the old Canal crowd some excitement. Here, Craig Butler, now with 340 cycling miles on his legs this season and Steve O observe the assemblage of talent. They, Dustin and Nic were the best hope Canal had to offer. Pretty good turnout of between 45-50 cyclists, including Mark C, Andrew C, John S, Nathan, Jeff S rolling out with.... ....these guys. The carnage began immediately out of the parking lot. The warm-up was replaced with burning rubber and of the 17 who left with the A group, after a few miles, we were down to 10. I think a couple of people just realized too late that there was no warm up and got caught out. I would have been too except Jon Morgan saw what was happening and paced a couple of us back to the front group. We got onto Pickerington Road and the group mysteriously slowed way down, which is always ok with me. Crossing Winchester Road and approaching the hills, the speed picked up and I settled in with Jeff S and Nathan. No point in riding on the rivet when the outcome is preordained anyway.. We approached the left on Alspach and I tried to get a group organized, especially urging my fellow cyclists to hold up for Rick M, who doesn't know the area. So, we had Nathan, John S, Jeff S, Rick, Mark C and a couple of other dropped A's for a good group. Except, it didn't stay that way very long. Rick didn't have his climbing legs on or probably was saving himself for the Gran Fondo NY so he dropped back, as did Nathan and only 4 of us rolled into Amanda where the front group had taken a break. I soft pedaled out of Amanda with the intent to hook up with Rick and lead him out of this maze of roads but never saw him so headed west on Bowman while the others went up Hunter. A few turns later and I was back on the route on Fosnough School Road (by the way, this was a great route tonight) and soon, Hannibal's group came by. I dove onto the back and held Mitch T's wheel until a left at Peters Road and a right back on to Fosnough left me panting and I was dropped a 2nd time. Still in the group were the usual suspects out of New Albany but also Nic, Dustin and Craig Butler but no Steve O.
Upon reaching Ridge, I hung a left and then a quick left again brought me onto Cedar Hill. Looking back, I could see Hannibal's forces approaching yet again! WTF! I'm about to get dropped a freakin 3rd time!!!! Can't these guys stay on the route so I don't get humiliated more than 1-2 times a night? So, I latched back on and drafted for awhile up the long climb on Cedar Hill and then bid them farewell, dropping back. Some how they had missed a turn back there putting me ahead of them. I hoped they could navigate the remaining few turns and in fact, their unfamiliarity with the route and roads probably kept the group larger then it might otherwise have been. Rumor was they even regrouped once or twice, an unheard of accommodation. At Sitterley, I came up on a struggling Mark V, recovering from two full days of TOSRV and then soon, a group led by Steve O, with Kevin K, Jeff S, couple of dropped A's who had taken the longer route, Nathan, etc... came by and I jumped on with them, finishing with 41 miles, a 20.1 avg and 1600' of climbing. The front group finished with 43 miles, a 22.9 avg and considering the hills, that's smokin. .
5 Comments
FSonicSmith
5/16/2012 01:20:54 am
Last night's ride was pretty damned hard. Gabe and his buddy from COBC (didn't catch his name) are both nice guys and strong as hell. Both were periodically surging off the front daring someone to chase. The rest of us mostly hung on for dear life, a combination of tired legs and lesser raw talent. Young Nick rode real well and Marty is Mr. Consistent. The highlight of the evening for me was watching Nick bridge up to one of Gabe's surges at mile 35 or so. Nick got up to him and for a minute or two the two of them were riding together, trading punches. Then next thing we knew, Young Nick was pedalling squares and looking like he was done for the evening with a face that said "damn, that was pretty stupid of me" and moving backwards. He recovered quickly enough though and rode the rest of the way into town with the group. That will make him stronger, no doubt.
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Ox
5/16/2012 02:36:35 am
I'm contemplating starting some new COP activities. Any interest in horse shoes, croquet or shuffleboard?!
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Nathan
5/16/2012 06:05:58 am
Horseshoes sounds good. I've got a set of horseshoe pits in my back yard so I'll even volunteer to host and provide beer. I might even be able to scrounge up some corn-hole boards....
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Da Boss
5/16/2012 10:44:35 am
A smoking good ride. Good to see my lungs exit my body for a time. The northern hoard is a force to be reckoned with. The south needs more reinforcements. A smile was on my face the whole ride. C
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Ridin Like I Have a Flat
5/16/2012 11:35:12 am
Young Phenom Nick says he is coming up for the New Albany ride on Thursday.
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