Welcome to Ohio

Thirteen showed up for the 9:00am ride out of New Albany but was surprised there were not many more given the forecast.  At the start were Rich Lewis, Billy Campbell, Kevin (Olympus dude), Doug M, Jeff S riding a new cross bike with very knobby tires to which he has not taken a rasp and begun filing to smooth, Kenda Janet as the only female type, Blair B, new guy Arizona George, Larry P, Steve, Mark V and Trent L.  Later, Kenda Dave joined us in Granville so a total of 14 eventually.

Left to right, Rich, Billy C drawfed by  Rich, Doug, Steve and part of Kevin.

Rich suggested a route that eventually put us north on Dutch Lane before swinging south to Granville for 60 miles.  We shoved off onto old 161 but at the first light, one of us had a minor mechanical so those that noticed waited and those that didn't kept going and with that, the group was split with 7 in a front group and 6 in a rear group.  Our rear group, consisting of Larry, Steve, Janet, Mark V, Jeff and me made an in flight decision to modify the route and got onto Jersey Mill in Alexandria, Mounts out past Lobdel Reserve where Larry commented that Kyle Wingler is basically running the place and building bike/trail running trails.  Good to know that's an option. In Alexandria, we picked up new guy Arizona George who had dropped back from the front group and he fit right in with our kind of off season pace. 
                    

We turned north at Hardscrabble, then right at Conner and Larry suggested me hop on to Raccoon Run, a paved road other than the final dirt packed down hill that spewed fine mud on us all and then a right at Stone Quarry, right at Loudonville, left at Dry Creek, right at New Burg and eventually in to Granville where we stopped at the "uptown" coffee shop.  After some debate, we went south via River Road, crossed 16 while dodging traffic, hit the hills on Canyon and finally circled around to #37, crossing it and getting onto Hayes Road.  Thus began the long slog into a fairly strong head wind.  Jeff S had struggled at times with maintaining our scintillating pace while pushing all that rubber, so much so that Kenda Janet observed, "Gee, how come when Oxley rides his cross bike he can keep up?"  Of course, Steve's tires are smooth and I suspect so too will Jeff's when next he brings out his cross bike.  

We finally pulled into the parking lot with 50 miles and a surprising 2900' of climbing.  None of us looked too strong at this point other then Larry and Steve who still had 10 miles to return home, thus they ended with 70 miles.