Thursday Ride Report

Until it was not, it was a very light turnout.  So desperate was I for images I took one of a guy pumping his tire.  Actually, it's Jeff S, former ride leader and sporting a new jersey from his recent vaca out west.

Hendra is also back from a vaca out west, slotting in with the A group as usual.  Doesn't need to spend time in the minors (B group) on a rehabilitation assignment.  Nope, off the bike for a couple of weeks and right back in to the starting line-up.

This was a curious moment.  Marty rode up carrying a small bag, something about some swag from the gran fondo in which they each (Luke, Marty & Lori) had participated in CO.  Nosy as always, I demanded that we all be allowed to see.  Luke glanced inside the bag, gave a wry smile and put the bag away.  Hmmmmmm........

And then, they arrived in waves and the parking lot grew more crowded and by the time Rick Miller made his brief announcements, there were 70 of us, including.....

......Kristie who also just came back from vaca out west.  She was part of a group that followed the Tour of Utah.  On the final day of the Tour, Saturday, Kristie's group had a 4 hour head start on the pro peloton, riding the race route and were caught on the final ascent.  Later, she saw Cadel Evans pulled over by the police as he was riding in and out of traffic to escape the scene.  Probably he was not charged.

More people approach for the pre-ride comments.  Having ridden yesterday to Utica to fetch my new wheels, and ridden earlier today, I hung back with a very large B group.  Rick sent the B's out in two groups, 14 in the first, 18 in the second (Rick was never very good at math).  It was an uneventful ride other than new guy "Steve" made an almost fatal mistake, riding left of a double yellow line just before a rise in the pavement.  At that moment, a pick-up came over the crest and only by swerving partially off the road did the driver avoid impact.  Steve is fortunate to be alive and that is no exaggeration.  I got the impression he has had limited group riding experience and hope someone knows him and can let him know some of the basics, which I observed while riding around him: 1. Don't go left of center, especially not when you can not see oncoming traffic. 2. Point out potholes and road debris for the benefit of those behind you. 3. When the wind is coming out of the northwest, don't ride in the freakin gutter. 4. Quit looking back so often because your bike swerves in the direction your head is turning. 5. Learn how to exit the front of the group after taking a pull and then don't ride left of center at about the same pace as the group, slow down and drop back quickly.  There, that's about it. 

I left the group at Concord Road to ride back to Granville, finishing with 54 miles. The front of the A group was coming the opposite direction and still quite a few cyclists holding in, probably about 12.  They finished with a 24.2 avg which is very good, considering the strong winds out of the NW.

A little late but here it is, the New Albany route for this evening with links to all the routes found here::http://www.thecyclingclub.org/route-resources/c-o-p-thursday-night-cycling-club-ride/

This Saturday is the infamous Hellacious Hills ride, beginning at 8:00am from Cyclist Connection.  Check out these routes and note too, the finest map you shall ever see will be given at the start, free with marked roads too....WOW, Silent Dave, the ride leader is someone special.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2677350
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2677292
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2677165
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2677060


Lastly, approaching rapidly is Bike-Ohio's "The Frank" on Aug. 23rd.  The Frank - Aug. 23, Malabar Farm State Park, Bellville Oh
This ride is all about climbing.  The 100 mile route has 10,600 feet of climbing.  The 74 mile route has over 8,400.  This ride does not have the biggest or steepest hills in Ohio but the hills are relentless.  Not only is it the hardest fully supported one day tour in Ohio, it will be the hardest paved road century ride in Ohio you have ever done.https://bike-ohio.wildapricot.org/ironsaddle/