Thursday New Albany Report--White is Not Right

Some of the heavy hitters were absent tonight but lots of others to take their place, including Pete C, Doug M, Phillipe, Pete B, Danny A, Jon Morgan, Jon Hastings, Logan, Travis I, Terry G, Isaac M (1st appearance this season), Chase, Michael Linse, Brandon, oh Borat of course, etc...  Later, they would set a crushing pace that had quality folks spewing out the back as early as 161, then Miller, Lobdell, etc...  Logan said at mile 20, their average was 25mph!

Mark V on the left returned from an epic cycling experience, participating in 6 centuries over 7 days.  OK, it was Iowa so maybe not epic but still, that's a lot of cycling. He is working on a flowing mane of blond or is it grey hair.

Until this evening, I never knew you had to keep a ladder in your car to retrieve the bike from the top of the car.  I like those carriers but it would only be a matter of time before my bike would be swept away by a garage door or something.  Jim R on the right, lost a bunch of weight and getting faster.

Previously, I mentioned Paul Djupe would be absent but it is on Sunday that he departs for Oregon for some cycling and hiking. So, here he was to put in some Merckxonian effort at the front of the A group.

Kevin on top of a nice bike with matching kit. Steve Hewitt handles the sign-in effort as our ride leader, Rick Miller, was again unable to make it.  I suspect we'll have to look for a new ride leader for next season.  It's just hard to keep the same ride leader going for more than a season or two.  Lot of work.

Smiling for the camera as we had approximately 60+ show up for a good route of 46 miles with the Lobdell, Chatham climbs, Sportsman Club rollers, etc...

And there he is, one of the good guys of the central Ohio cycling scene, Isaac.  I like to spread the group leader glory around so since this may be his only appearance of the season, I named him the Rivet group ride leader.  That he did not know how to get out of the parking lot was incidental.  The other qualities, leadership, humor, incredible vocabulary made him a natural fit for the job.

Scott Billman looks on as the Riveters roll out.  The front group, whittled down significantly, would finish with a 22.7 avg. A very strong A group soon followed with Gus, Scott, Paul, Andrew C, Jared Alphabet, Ryan, Deniece, fellow Zanesvillian Ryan S, Ryan M, Axel, David S, Ron...21-22 total. Having missed the last 3 ?Thursday rides and struggled to keep pace on Tuesday, I was something less than optimistic for tonight's effort.

Arriving in Alexandria we had a 24.1 avg.  Once we turned on Mounts and then hit the Lobdell climb, our group was torn asunder with me in the back 10% as we arrived at 161 for a regroup.  We had picked up Dirty Dan and Borat along the way, to add little needed firepower to an already overheating me.  Then we hit the Chatham climb and at the top, I was 4th from the last.  Very humbling and discouraging for one who needs more of neither.  Heading west on Sportsman Club Road, we reached the Louden stop sign.  I was shocked to look around and of the original 21-22, there were still 13, not counting Dirty and Borat.  Our avg was still around 22 at that point and then when we hit the ensuing rises to Northridge, I shot out the back and soloed to the parking lot.  The group had already regrouped twice so that's enough. Finished with a 20.3 avg with 15 miles of soloing while the front A-sters had a 21.1 avg, skewed a bit by soft pedaling a couple of times. Then....

...Andrew C had to stroll over and gloat a bit.  I mentioned I've cut back on my miles and he said he had too.  From a guy who is sitting on 10,000 at this point in the season with a goal of 20,000 and he says HE has cut back.  Only the lack of a 2x4 kept me from performing what I was thinking.  Hey, got a couple of Saturday options that I will post soon.

Here are the Rivet/A/B & C routes for this evening's festivities.  The A group catches a break cause I think Paul D will be in OR.  Remember to print your own map or download to your device so you know where the heck you are going.

Route A/B 46 mile ride file https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15253604
Route C 33 mile ride file  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15253690