Thursday New Albany Ride Report

The next to last NA ride of the season.  Yet another one at which I was glad to be present to document the facts and when that was not interesting enough, supplement where needed with fiction. Usually, the facts were better than the fiction.  How could I make up what happened to Philippe during Sunday's Roll ride?  Broken wheel in middle of nowhere, no cell service.  Farmer comes along and asks what is the problem.  Farmer takes Philippe to farm, opens a barn and there are bikes and bike parts everywhere, including wheels to fit a 10-speed set-up.  Philippe rides off and rejoins the ride.  Finishes and drives back to farmer to exchange wheels.

Marty announced he and others will be dominat.....errrr....riding the KCBC, rolling at 8:00am and all are urged to join.

Peggy Cook, stylin her new jersey.  She and Gus were on the ground in Europe for 17 days and get this, rode for 14 days!  Now that is an ideal vaca in my world. Also got in some hiking and sightseeing.

Rick rode 93 miles earlier in the day so just came out for the sign-up.  Kind of a smallish turnout of 40-45.

The cyclists were anxious, riding around the parking lot, eyeing the setting sun but 28-34 miles before they could put their bikes to sleep.  Rick called us together and then.....

....sent us out with Marty in the lead. I think 18 in the A group which included Gus, Chad, Hendra, Nick, Kyle, Brandon, Luke R, Philippe, Retro George, etc....

We rode out old 161.  Now there is a potent pair, couple of 22-year olds, both I think Cat 2's, Nick and Hendra.  We turned left on Kitzmiller, right on Jug with a light wind brushing us from the NE.  I made a point to get behind the big fella, Luke Russell, to maximize drafting opportunity.  We buzzed through the "S" curve and rocketed eastward before turning left on Clover Valley, right on Miller, I survived the other "S" curve on Miller and welcomed the brief pause at Mink before proceeding and soon arriving at Caswell. Making a left there then a right onto a newly paved Duncan Plains but quickly a left on to the gravelly Caswell and it's long climb to Johnstown. 

I somehow clung to the bunch all the way to the top where my buddy Luke flatted but assured us he had everything and so the train rolled on, making a right on Concord.  Here, Brandon pushed the pace and I began leaking oil and hydraulic fluids and had to drop out, just shy of Castle Road, with 13 miles and a 22.7 avg.  What luck!  Castle is where the B route departed the A route and better yet, there was Chad and Gus just ahead.  Only Chad made the right on to Castle so we quickly formed and ham and egged it back to the parking lot, motivated to stay ahead of the B group and did, finishing with 28 miles and a 21.7 avg. 

Meantime and meanwhile, the A group began to disintegrate under the intensity as Hendra and Nick took turns turning the screw to the group. By the return on Raccoon Valley Road, only Marty, Hendra, Nick, Kyle and Brandon remained and soon Kyle and Brandon dropped out as Hendra, Nick and Marty put in a huge gap to finish with 34 miles and a 24mph avg.  As I was leaving New Albany, I saw the threesome, two 22-year old, Cat 2 racers and Marty, riding comfortably alongside, a mere Cat 3, somehow.

Well, here ya go.  We're down to 34 miles with sunset at 7:30.  Check the Cycling Club web site for full details and remember, print your own map: http://www.thecyclingclub.org/route-resources/c-o-p-thursday-night-cycling-club-ride/