Thursday Ride report--Big Event Thursday

Larry P and Flyin Tuna.  Larry had a birthday a couple of weeks ago so Cindy and I invested in a special gift for someone who has distributed more banana peels than a herd of monkeys.  Of course, monkeys distribute their peels indiscriminately while Larry prefers the exterior or even interior of fellow cyclists cars.  Note the understandable wary look by the gift recipient.

A plastic banana protector.  What a great idea and I have to grudgingly give credit to Cindy for the idea but without my financial assistance, it would have remained in China (freight & duty was a killer).  Larry placed it in his jersey pocket, with banana inside and we'll check in later to see if the protector worked.

On to the next big event but first checking in on a bike fix...looks to be doing ok.

Some of the ladies had purchased, at the urging of Kristie Boltz (cookie lady), CAF kits and had planned to wear them this evening and surprise Kristie.  Alas, Kristie was out of town but the show must go on and now we are patiently waiting for Katherine who is stuck in traffic.  I move on, planning to come back for the official pic taking.

Kristian and Katherine just came back from an 8 day back country canoe trip in Canada. Opps, Katherine just rolled in so....

...all together for the official group image. Too bad Kristie missed it.  Note Peggy was wearing the CAF shorts.

The group was small, maybe 35 in total with only 6 in the Rivet group, Shannon, Travis, Ken B, Dirty Dan, Pete B, Kyle Z and with relatively small A & B groups, we combined those and rolled out....

....with around 28.  The route was posted late, around 4:00pm and some of us had already planned to do last week's route so there was some confusion but we got things squared away and got onto Rick's 30 mile route.  Note Steve Hewitt will not be at any of the remaining Thursday rides so there will be no COP sign-in sheets, just fyi but I expect Rick will continue to post routes.  Maybe even do so on Wednesdays?

The pace was pretty moderate out 161 to the right turn on York and it seemed that everyone kept up, which was not the case with the Riveters who got down to a core group of four, red clad, Audi teammates, eventually finishing with a 24mph avg.  Our group had a bit over 22 avg at the York turn and then things got spread way out through the York rollers and ensuing miles on Hollow Road where the cross wind did its thing.  I got in with a good group of.....

...Hector, Kristian, Larry P, Deniece, Kim, Milt, Dan R, Rick and a couple others.  We finished with a 21.1 avg. Now how did that banana do.....

...perfect.  What a great gift.