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The Lost Boys, Canal Ride Report

4/29/2013

11 Comments

 
Picture
The Ashmore brothers.  They all look alike to me so Steve O made name tags and Matt and Pete will forever attach the tags to their jerseys during the pre-ride parking lot routine.  Later, the brothers went off route and lost, thus the title of this report.
Picture
Younger Phenom Nick, driving now, and riding now, stronger then ever.  No New Albanistas around this Tuesday so a chance for some of us to maybe hang with the A group, as long as guys like Nick did not ride too hard....no luck there.
Picture
Things became a bit toasty around Mark C's sign-up vehicle so many of us.....
Picture
.....sought refuge in the shade.  The "C" group had 2 new members tonight so that's good.  Keep on coming out and fill the "C" ranks.  Yes, the routes are hilly but this isn't the Sierras, just the foothills of the Hocking Hills and a good way to burn calories.  Corvair on the right and riding very strong.
Picture
Smallish "A" group again and with the New Albany Yankees missing, not quite the quality of past weeks but still, Younger Phenom Nick, Euro Patrick, Paul Stock, Kevin on the left, the old Lion of Canal:Steve O, Pete, Matt, Luke and Hendra, down from OSU campus.  I think he said he is a junior so may have to put up with his beat downs for another year before he graduates and moves to greener pastures.  He's a good guy so that makes the beatings more endurable.

In total, maybe 35-37 for all groups and 10 of us rolled out in the "A" group with numerous catcalls directed at me, "See ya soon", "You suck", "Take up golf again", "You won't make it to the stop sign with those guys", etc..  It sounded like all those comments came from one guy, my buddy Ryan R.

We got on to Eastern Waterloo, then the awesome Pickerington Road.  Some ride leaders keep the part of the road south of Winchester Road, off the routes because the 4 hills there are so daunting, some cyclists zig and zag and are all over the road, making it kind of dangerous.  By the time we got to Winchester, some of us were gassed.  In the lead up to the Winchester Road stop, even Steve appeared to be waning but Patrick came alongside and gave him a push to help close a gap.  We crossed Winchester and hit the first hill and quickly, 5 of us dropped anchor, Steve, Kevin, Matt, Pete and me.

Routes like this expose the weak.  No real drafting opportunity where one can sit in and hide for awhile, the gratient just doesn't care and so the other 5 quickly disappeared.  Of the remaining 5, Steve made the best of it, putting a little gap into me but upon cresting the final hill, there was the first 5 waiting!!!!!  Been years since I saw the "A" group do that and I suspect Patrick had a lot to do with it.  All 10 back together, we kept going, making a left on Alspach then a right on Rock Mill.  Kevin, not yet in the form of last year, dropped off, then Matt.  I was doing ok but following super gutterer, Steve O and so, without the draft, I too dropped out at mile 13, figures.  Matt came alongside and towed me in to Amanda.  The front 7 had slowed a little and we could always see them but the light in Amanda did not cooperate and we did not catch back on.

Continuing south, we got on to Hunter and that debilitating long climb where Pete dropped out, along with Steve.  The difference being Pete came back to join our merry band while Steve lone wolfed it.  The three of us worked together pretty well, making a left on Sixteen, a right on Stoutsville, etc...  Then, we reached a turn that is the usual turn north, I think it is Fosnaugh School Rd but it was not signed.  Matt and Pete kept going west as I turned.  Reaching the crest of a hill, I could see Steve and yelled back, "This way" but the Ashmores did not hear me so at that point, I soloed back in, finishing exactly with a 20mph avg, 43 miles and 1800' of climbing.  No word if the Ashmores made it back in.
Picture
Here it is, the route that Mark C has elected fo Tuesday's route.  Looks like a great evenng for a bike ride.
11 Comments
MattNotPete
5/1/2013 02:15:11 am

“Not all those who wander are lost.”


― J.R.R. Tolkien

You and Steve turned on Barr Rd. We kept going west to Fosnaugh School and back via Ridge (per the route provided). I finished with 44.4 @ 20.3, Pete had 21, benefiting from the additional A group time.

Reply
Mark
5/1/2013 02:42:13 am

I asked Steve if he stayed on the route and he assured me he did. How can anyone argue with the old "Lion of Canal"? I forgot to mention that Patrick, Hendra, Paul and Nick finished with 22mph average and Nick took the town sign sprint.

Reply
Wondering
5/1/2013 02:44:15 am

Wait, the brothers finished together, rode the same route and had a .7 mph difference? How does that happen? Check those computers fellas.

Reply
MattNotPete
5/1/2013 03:02:39 am

As Mark mentioned, Pete hung with A until south of Amanda, and then waited/rode back to Mark and I, so he ended with a slightly longer distance and a faster average...

Ryan R
5/1/2013 03:47:39 am

Mark, for the record, I did not insult you as you were leaving the parking lot.

I was dropped horribly on Pickerington Rd... by the time I made it to the top, I couldn't even see the group any longer. I realized I would have to ride the remainder alone... how lame. But then, I saw Mitch soft pedaling as he was waiting up for me...what a pal! As we approached Alspach, I saw a group of 5 waiting for us. It was a Christmas miracle! Thanks to Mitch, Mark C, Andrew C, Kevin H, Amanda, and 2 others for waiting... it made for an enjoyable evening.

Reply
Mark
5/1/2013 04:20:47 am

Ryan. It sure sounded like you but if not, I regret misidentifying you. Please ID the scoundrel who made some (ok, I made up most of those comments) of the comments so I can seek my unique form of revenge.

Reply
Corvair
5/1/2013 10:24:13 pm

I too needed a regroup after that beast called Pickertington! I think Mark C was voted "most liked ride leader of the year" at that point.

Reply
Gap Tooth Woman
5/1/2013 04:15:22 am

Hey Steve Oxley. We hear:
A) You are arroused by gaptoothwoman and
B) You are coming to TN where a lot of us are available.

Please take one of us back with you when you return to Ahia.
Love
Woman with a few teeth and a lot of love to offer.

Reply
Nick
5/1/2013 04:26:20 am

After the ride I did a wheelie in the parking lot.

Reply
New camera, Mark?
5/1/2013 12:37:01 pm

I just noticed how your pictures seem to have a haze about them, kind of dullish. Compare to the one picture with the date on it, where the colors are vibrant and bright. Are you trying to make us feel like we are all in Mother Russia? Maybe the lens just needs cleaned off? Or is it time for a new camera? One from the 21st century?

Reply
Mark
5/1/2013 01:34:19 pm

I work with nothing but the most updated technology and for you to suggest otherwise is an outrage!!!!

Reply



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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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