Update Windy Weekend

I wanted to do 100 miles on Saturday, well, "wanted" is not the correct word, more like I felt obligated to.  Got to the parking lot at Gloryland Nazarene Church off Coonpath, the start of the COP Spring HOOT ride and boy, was it already windy.  Not a day where the wind begins light and builds throughout the day, no this was a day where the forecast 20-25mph winds hit in the morning and sustained themselves all day.  As you can see in the image above with all the cross arm looks, it was kind of chilly too.

Poobah is such a ladies' man although probably should not grab another man's wife while the hubby is eyeing him suspiciously.

Yep, within 5 minutes of arriving, I had scaled my plans back to the 50 or 60 mile option, especially after looking at the map and seeing the final 30 miles of the century route would be straight into the wind.  Besides, I had an alternative ride, a back-up plan should I find it necessary to "modify" Saturday's century plan.  There was a Blue Jay ride for Sunday so, as 20+ of us rolled out of the parking lot, I intended to not push things much and, to the extent the word applies to me, be "ready" for BJ.  Our group had Larry P, Craig Butler, Dustin, Poobah, Kenda's Janet, CT, Dave and Paul, Mark C, Flyin Tuna, Trevor, Reynoldsburg Dan, Jimmy, John S, Trevor, Dennis, Dave K, Jeff S, David S, Tri Andrew, Mitch O......I may actually have remembered everyone for once.

We took a circuitous route down to Amanda and took an extended break, while also running into Mitch T.  He too was planning to do the Blue Jay ride. After in depth discussions about route modification, we rolled out of Amanda, climbed Revenge and at the prison, while making all the usual wisecracks about prison life, many of us took the 60 mile route while a few took the 80/100 mile option.  Upon reaching the 50 mile cut-off, I leapt at it and left everyone else.  Went home and painted the deck.  Being a home owner is highly overrated.

Good turnout for the Granville to Zanesville ride via Blue Jay (twice).  Marty, Dave C, Pete C, Tym & Lisa Tyler, John Sada, Peter, Mark (tri guy), Lon Herrman, David Smith (tri guy), other tri types and John Martin, group ride organizer, around 20 people.  I had not planned on the continuation of the strong southwest winds when I abandoned the long Saturday ride plan.  NICE.....5000+ feet of climbing with 20mph head winds on the "flat" return..

David S had the best organized trunk with the most stuff in it I've ever seen. 

We rolled out the bike path, through Newark and approached Bue Jay.  Probably anticipating the reality of the divisions soon to appear, three distinct groups formed at the base of the climb before the pace and terrain really kicked in.  Marty, Dave, Pete and Tym quickly pulled away at an alarming rate.  John S and Lisa behind and then a group of schleps that included me.  About half way up the opening climb I bridged up to John and Lisa, as did Peter and Mark.  Things got a little frisky on the first two climbs but after that we mostly hung together all the way to Brownsville Road, turning left and attacking the infamous route clockwise. 
 
Tym and Lisa opted to take an alternative route so our group dropped to four.  Neither Peter nor Mark had previously ridden the route so I enjoyed verbally describing the two monster climbs left on the outbound portion, maybe exaggerating a bit. We rolled into the market on Route 40 just west of Zanesville and refueled.  I was hoping others would appear in order that our numbers would swell for the assault on the head wind return but alas, we finally left with just our four.  A funny thing happened as we were pedaling out Ridge after Kopchek.  I decided I'd like not to ride that Cooperrider section into the wind. So as we approached the left on Morgan, I told them I was taking an alternative route and wished them luck.  I know, I know.  Anyway, plowed into the wind going west on 40, , plodded on and on and on into the wind, and then on some more and then....what's this.....another market.  Glancing at my computer, it had been only 9 miles since the Z-ville market but time to research a possible future break point.  

Nice, very nice with a covered porch in front and expansive views of fields and grain silos.  This market is 2 miles east of the Poplar Forks turn and maybe another 3 or so to 668/Brownsville.  I grudgingly got up and plodded on to Brownsville then Blue Jay and returned with 72 miles and 5150' of climbing. 
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