Thursday New Albany Ride & Kenda Paul's Bike is Found

Rick Miller, the Thursday ride leader, called me Tuesday afternoon and asked that I be the ride leader substitute for him as he is on his way to New York.  Naturally I agreed but Rick, maybe fearing a repeat of the fiasco of two weeks ago when there was a mix-up with a  replacement, also asked Jon Morgan to be the ride leader.  So, we both showed up prepared and there was Jeff S, ride leader of three years ago, ;ending his van for the sign-in process. 

I under stated the extent of Jon's injuries from his crash of last week.  He had a partially collapsed lung and maybe like most of you, I assumed he'd walk around with a tube down his lung for a couple of days and then be good to go but no, it was quite a bit more complicated.  An incision is made through his side and a tube inserted through the rib cage in to the lung.  Ouch and Jon was laid up in the hospital for 3 days.  It was great to see him out, prowling the parking lot like a caged animal, anxious to get back in the action.

Jon's bike with a cracked seat stay and several broken spokes.  Probably a replacement has already been ordered and it's good that Scott has a pretty generous frame replacement policy so Jon does not have to pay full boat for a new frame.

Hey, a Masi frame.  Could the thief be so brazen as to bring it out for our Thursday ride?  No, just another Masi frame but not the missing Masi bike.  Good news is Kenda Paul's stolen bike was recovered tonight.  I have asked for an exclusive story on the recovery so we'll see.  I mean, why should the Kendas give me the story?  There they were, a few years ago, completely anonymous schleps riding their bikes and I turned them in to stars on bikes.

With the wind, clouds, threat of rain and temps in the low 50's, the turnout was light, approximately 27.  Jon took a minute to encourage the group to learn from his experience, take the extra second to point out road hazards, alert other cyclists to potential problems, enjoy the atmosphere & camaraderie of our Thursday ride and know that the cost of going down is high with medical expenses, lost work, bike replacement, etc...  I heard Shannon Kurek and Terry Griffith also went down last week but other than road rash, they are ok.

The Thursday ride does have what I believe to be a unique atmosphere.  Almost without exception, it is comprised of a great bunch of guys and gals.  I get the sense if instead of cycling, the Thursday bunch found themselves together on a diamond playing softball, in a bar drinking, playing golf, hiking, really anything, it would be a blast.  People like Jon, Marty, Patrick, Hendra, Farmer Mike, Jeff S, Mark Rossi, Gus, Peggy. Ron B, Mick, Jay P, Eugene and Phillipe (that's just some who showed up tonight) contribute mightily to what we have going on Thursdays.  Let's keep it going and collectively pay a bit more attention to the world around us when we are out there jamming the pedals.

Dang, here it is mid May and people were dressed as if it was February.

A new guy approached me and asked if I thought his extra bike would be safe after everyone left the parking lot.  I urged him to at least reposition the car so the bike was against a hedge and out of sight.  He ended up taking it apart and putting in his car but missed the B roll out.

Lastly, the C group, such as it was, rolled out and with that my duty as the back-up to the back-up to the real ride leader was finished.  I have a new personal rule.  Any ride that requires me to turn on the car heater during the drive over is a ride in which I am not participating.  Soft, so friggin soft.  Hmmmmm, mid 90's in Tucson, what about.....