Yo-yoing at the Back

That silly Flyin Tuna.  Having read this is the spot where the hot shots gather before the ride, she hoped to ingratiate herself with that group.  I told her she had to vacate the spot or they would not come over.  She soon slinked off to the other end of the parking lot where she belonged.  There is a pecking order in the parking lot and one must observe the rules.  Kind of like India's caste system.

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Whoa, I tried this stretching exercise and crumpled in a heap.  This is the woman who moved in from Palo Alto, CA this year.  Note the one-piece suit. 

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Around 55 hit the parking lot for the start of the ride, one that started flat and then hit the hills in Granville and thereafter.  Not quite as strong a turnout in the upper echelon of the ranks as normal but still, Paul Stock, Terry, Dave Chesrown Redhead Bill, Bill Campbell, Marty, Terry, Jon the Dentist, Group Brawler, Dennis, Jeff S, etc...  A chill went down my spine when I first looked at the map and noted we were going out old 161 with a tail wind before hitting my dreaded long down hill on Jersey Mill and into Alexandria.  I knew what was coming but nevertheless, went out with the A group of 18-20,  The pace picked up quickly and soon became insane with repeated attacks at the front which caused dramatic yo-yoing at the back.  Halfway out 161, several gaps emerged, people began flying back and I could see Redhead Bill and Billy Campbell agitating at the front.  Shockingly, a gap opened in front of Jeff S, Savage Hill Rick (not wearing SH jersey) and a new guy on a Bianchi.  I paused, expecting Jeff to close the gap but he did not, probably graciously saving himself for later when he would no doubt have to tow me around.  I sprinted around and closed the gap to Colnago Ron and eventually the other gaps in front closed and we arrived at the turn onto Jersey Mill with a 25mph average.  Surprisingly, for the first 1/2 of the downhill stretch the pace was moderate and I hung on but soon the attacks began any my little compact crank could not spin fast enough.  I rode into Alexandria alone and headed out Raccoon Valley Road toward Granville.  Soon, Colnago Ron came by with Jeff S and we ham and egged it, reaching the turn on Thresher and that nice hill (later, the B group would hit that same turn and have an accident but apparently with no injuries).  

The three of us got a little separated going up the climb but got back together on New Burg and rode west on Dry Creek.  Having only three was not ideal and I wished that sand bagging Dennis had gone out with the A's, rather than punishing the B's.  We needed him or others to make it a good working group.  Ron was recovering from a cold so he was not at full strength and Jeff appeared to not be at full strength either.  Paul Stock, somehow, had gotten behind us and came roaring by at the foot of Stone Quarry.  I hopped on his wheel and hung on up the long initial ramp but lost the wheel during the ensuing shallower stretch and so I drifted back to my buddies except Ron was gone and it was just the enfeebled Jeff and I who tackled the Northridge hill, west on Sportsman Club, south on Castle, right on Dutch Lane, up the Miller hill and our average was dropping.  Every time I took a turn at the front, Jeff would sit back for a minute or two and then go roaring by before slowing. I didn't know what to make of this curious behavior but chalked it up to fatigue or pride.  Toward the end on Beech and Walton's Parkway, a huge group of B's caught us and I was startled at their speed. There was my boy Dennis, along with Gary, Dan, SuperDave, California Gal and others.  Actually, I was glad to see this because the dramatically faster pace kept my average above 21mph, for 43 miles and about 1500' of climbing.   

Jamie had hung with the A group until Thresher where he was 5th at the top but to far behind the lead group of 4 (Terry, Redhead Bill, Billy Campbell & one other) to catch on, finishing with a 21.6 average.  Flyin Tuna had a good ride and finished with a 20.1 average but since she skipped the Thresher Hill, that probably would have been 17.4 with the hill.  Looks like most of us are hitting the Honeysuckle Roving Ride out of Clear Creek on Saturday.  HEY. Don't forget to vote in the Blue Jay poll below and try not to take a shot at the Kendas.

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