Thursday New Albany, 5/7

Another eventful New Albany ride that I am all too happy to distort.  The usual suspects showed including Retro George and his three, yes 3, cycle computers and heart that just keeps on beating despite George's frightening descriptions of heart beat irregularities.  Also making a cameo appearance was Flying Tuna Berard, looking rather silly wearing arm warmers on this 70D afternoon.  As a show of solidarity, I quickly put my arm warmers on and seeing this, she quickly whipped hers off.

Jeff's route had us going into Granville where we would hang a left on Thresher, it having that tough climb with false flats. Otherwise, the first half of the route was relatively flat and a large group hung together, including Dennis who day by day is getting stronger and closing fast on his goal of making me pay for my many tauntings.  Also there was Group Killer, John Morgan, Colnago Ron, Jeff S, two Sausage Hill racers, Retro George and others. 

We reached Granville and turned onto Thresher with Dennis blurting with a tinge of desperation just before the turn, "Ohhhhh, is this that climb?" followed immediately by "See you all later."  Jamie led with John and I kind of close and everyone strung out.  We reached the top and turned left, completing the climb.  At the top, Jamie, John and I were together and Jamie uttered words I didn't think I would ever hear from him, "SHOULD WE WAIT AND REGROUP?"  What?  I looked at him and wondered if an alien had taken possession of Group Killer's mind.  When absent Craig's dominating influence, apparently GK can be reasonable.  I looked back and said the only thing any of us would say under these conditions, "Screw them, let's make them work for it". GK asked if he should hammer and realizing the consequences that meant for me I said no, let's just ride at something less than that and if they catch us that's fine. We were going up New Burg and that long uphill stretch with a steep section at the top.  GK was not riding hard but nevertheless, that was pushing John and I into the red.  John rose to sprint up the final bit but his bike was wobbling all over the place and into GK's back wheel.  John fell hard to the right and it was as if watching in slow motion.  I'm certain I froze and made no effort to steer around, instead watching John's wheels slide leftward and me hoping they would not slide too far.  I cringed for the impact but somehow, avoided it. John laid there for a moment and after ascertaining real injury had been avoided, I thanked him for creatively providing a needed rest.

The fall created the opportunity to regroup and we had 7-8 cyclists when we hit the hills on Stone Quarry.  Inexplicably, the guy with the racing heart and annoying habit of constantly informing everyone within earshot what is the heartbeat number, hung in there, dropping back on the hills but then catching up.  Out Concorde we rode, down Casweel out of Johnstown and then after turning right on Duncan Plains, made the odd turn onto Caswell (nice route option) and the several long hills there.  Eventually, we had a group of 5 and thankfully George had finally dropped back so things became much more quiet. We arrived at the parking lot with a 21.7 average and 43 miles.  By the way, whatever happened to Ginger?  Rumor has it now that she is a successful racer she is hanging out with racer types and no longer finds us stimulating. Also, where's Roy?