 The temperature moved into the 80's so many moved into the shade. Including Bill, the 2nd from the left. A month or two ago, I was at Brio while my wife shopped at Easton. I talked to the bartender, who was giving generous pours, and discovered he was a cyclist. Naturally, I encouraged him to show up for our Thursday ride and so he did.  Making a rare appearance was Garth P and a 2nd time for Todd Lee who says he will be here for the next Thursday ride too.  Good sized group of around 55, surprising for how few miles we can ride now. With Steve Hewitt out for the season as the C ride leader and his back-up Jim R out for today, I volunteered to fill in. Out went the Riveters, then the A, then the B and then 4 of us comprised the C group.  Getting out of here increasingly is problematic. It was 6:12 before my group actually left the town behind because one of us crashed while trying to stop and another had a drop chain and the traffic...yikes. I should have interpreted this as a sign. The gap between each rider is large enough to drive a heard of giraffes. They are uncomfortable riding too close so 4 people, each taking a pull. We arrive at York and turn left into Alexandria.....  ….Bill suddenly stops and I ask why, he yells "I have a flat". This by itself should not have been a problem even though he did not announce he had a flat, just stopped. I slow to a stop, dismount, lean my bike against the bridge railing and hear "oh no!" Turning, I catch a cyclist from our group headed at me!!! I mean, what the heck??? He was 4th in a line with enormous gaps between each of us. Obviously, I had time to slow, get off my bike so more than ample time for him to adjust. Anyway, I squeeze against my bike and watch the inevitable crash. With hindsight, I may have had time to jump the railing into the creek but who thinks about that? He dislocated a finger but immediately, a doctor stops and straightens it, offers to take all of us back. What a guy!  Bill and the guy who ran me over accept the offer. I and Beth head back, eventually passed by the Riveters and a split A group. It was late twilight when all of us returned. Glad we start next week at 5:30pm. The Riveters covered the 38 mile route with a 23.4 average, the A group was around 22mph as some got in with the Riveters while others hung back, the B group was at 20.5 on their 31 mile route and the C group, as I can attest, was at 15mph. I have some general soreness and minor road rash but the bike and me are ok! Two Saturday ride options coming soon.  Whaaaaaaa! Only 5 rides to go on yet another epic season of cycling and too often watching it rain. 6pm start time as usual. 7:44pm sunset so keep that in mind as you choose from distances of 38, 31 and 24 miles. Oh, it looks like it might rain but probably not.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19489879 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19489907 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/19489921
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