Tuesday Ride Report--The Dog Days of Summer

The day began with a trip to the bank where the drive through window person always has a treat for Stella.  I know, you're thinking, "How nice. Old retired dude deposits his social security check."  No, not yet. Dang, that humidity came back in force and it was around 90 when we....

....gathered for the Tuesday New Albany ride, in the shade of course.

We were waiting the arrival of Gus & Peggy in our small shady space when Muscle Dude rolled in to join us.  I think Craig heard that attacking the regroup zone, spitting upwind of following cyclists and pinching our butts is generally frowned upon cause he was much better behaved during this ride. In the foreground, Mike M who popped a spoke on Saturday and forced to ride a cross bike tonight, Axel who lost his chain as we ran out 161 and Flyin Tuna who lost her mind a long time ago.

More arrive, including Doug McConaha on the right and Rick, center-left. I think we had about 24 cyclists who were relieved when at 6:03....

...Gus and Peggy rolled in and described a twist to the usual route that included that climb on Raccoon Run Road while bypassing the Caswell climb for Miller Road.  We headed east on 161 and soon passed Ken Buddell going west and a bit later, Marty riding the new bike but with black rims rather than the white ones.  There seems to be universal thought that the black will look better than the white but he flashed by so quickly it was hard to have an opinion on the change.

With the Caswell steps off the route, I gave a better effort on the Lobdell climb out of the valley and just as I was flagging, someone gave me a much needed shove in the back.  Then we hit Stone Quarry where that beautiful new pavement has been chipped & sealed.  Ian turned around here but it is only the first ramp that has been treated.  I hung on with Craig, Chase, Kyle, Gus, Peggy and Mike to the bottom of the Raccoon hill and boasted to Muscle Dude...

....that he better watch out for me but typically, one can not watch another when that person is behind as I watched Craig disappear, ahead (that makes sense to me but probably not you). That I held off Kyle Z on the climb impressed me until I saw he already had 90 miles for the day.  Poor guy, graduated and starting a job in a couple of months.  Enjoy it while you can kid.  Hey, check out the updated standings from the climb...who the heck is Gary Delmore?  Wow.