Thursday Ride Report--To Dream the Impossible Dream

Making his first appearance in a long time and wearing what is a collector's item (Savage Hill kit), Larry P came out to try his luck with the A group.

Our great Genghis Kahn, ride leader of ride leaders, a leader I dreamed would some day reappear, a dream I thought impossible but here he came and early too.  All is right with the world once again.

Dennis G, stretching or napping.  Dennis is working from a closer location so may be able to make more Thursday rides.

Actually, there was a lot of stretching going on.

Katherine, advancing through a golf tournament that, with another win or two, will be competing in VA in the finals.  Golf and cycling, two activities that require a lot of time if you want to be good.  Don't know how she does it, probably just gifted.

The always smiling Doug M without a smile.  We were listening to Marty describe peloton favorite Dave Chesrown's plight. A back pain has kept him off the bike and finally, surgery to repair the problem this week. Heal well buddy.

As it was another Thursday of heat, humidity and threat of rain, the turnout was limited to about 60.  We have not had one of those 90 cyclist turnouts yet but when I saw Marty roll in, it put me at ease that the threat of rain was not real.  The fairest of all fair weather cyclists would not come out if he thought we'd have rain.

At 6:00pm, Rick called us together.  There were some boos and jeers but mostly it seems the group will accept him back, especially since the alternative is....  The Riveters headed out and finished with a 23.5 avg.  Then the A group rolled out and the pace surprisingly did not have me on the rivet.  Paul D is in Oregon and Scott B was absent so could that be it?  I began to think, maybe we are holding those guys back and maybe I should design a graduate certificate that will be given to them next week, officially giving them passage to the Rivet group.  Yeah, that might be a good idea.  Anyway, we enjoyed the first time experience riding Old Maids Road and eventually hit the Alward climb.  We had started with 23 but at the top, maybe 15ish?  I checked with Gus that we would regroup at the 310 stop sign and with his agreement, I did what any wily veteran who can barely hang do. I eased up.  A small gap opened but no worries until the group did not pause at the stop sign.  Newcomer Larry P, probably oblivious to the regroup notice, kept going, followed by everyone else.  Yikes but I was able to close the gap and we headed east on Hollow Road where we picked up Joe Hall and Muscle Dude.  After the York climb, we hit Alexandria but there I had to head back so I could get home prior to dark to prepare for....

               

.....a crew to arrive to take down 3 dead trees that are leaning toward the house and beyond my ability.  It took them 35 minutes.  Ob boy, I get to play with the chain saw as all I had them do his bring the trees down.