Ride Leader: Mike Saizan
Members: (10) Regina Saizan, Jan Tucker, Jane and Jim Hudnall, Larry Peed, Sam Perry, Dawn and Douglas Carter, Carole Harris and Randez Hadden
Weather: Mostly cloudy at start but soon became mostly sunny. A bit chilly at start but it warmed up nicely by ride end. Finally a great day for riding.
Route: The standard May Metric route from Cosca Park to Merkle and back.
Ride Report: Nine B-40 riders started off from the park in a tight group separated from the other groups (Jim and Jane stayed back to take pictures). Good, now I can more easily keep track of everyone (so I thought). After waiting for the light on Surratts Rd at Rt-5, we started up the hill near the hospital and I started counting my group: 8,9,10,12,14… What? The two CC groups had caught up at the light and now we are all mixed in. OK. We get to the top of the hill on Surratts Rd; there is a group of faster riders standing at a corner signaling to stop. “Road closed ahead, you must detour here.” OK. Now we have a long line of AA, A, B and CC riders heading down Dangerfield Rd not sure where they are going. Fortunately, Ken Meredith took the lead to reroute us to Woodyard Rd, Rosaryville Rd, Frank Tippet Rd and back to the cue sheet route. We added 4 miles. From there, the A riders flexed their leg muscles and the B and CC groups continued on together to Merkle.
At Merkle, B’s and CC’s decided to depart together with me and CC leader Majesta doing the sweep. We tended to separate into smaller groups soon. We regrouped at the North Keys Park, than headed out again.
On Cherry Tree Crossing Rd, we encountered Paul on his trike (from another group) stopped on the shoulder not feeling well. A dose of medication and hydration got him back on the road again determined to finish the ride. Sam (The Prez) graciously decided to escort Paul for the remainder of the ride allowing the ride leaders to continue their sweep duties.
Upon returning to Cosca Park, I decided to SAG back to check on Paul and Sam. I found Paul with Sam at the bottom of Thrift Rd still determined to finish the ride but Sam decided he had enough and loaded into my SUV. As we headed off, we noticed that Paul had run out of leg gas part way up the hill (with no shoulder). What now? Well, I jumped out of the vehicle and started pushing him. Pretty soon, Paul was on level ground and could power himself. I then dropped off Sam at Cosca and returned to check on Paul again. He had stopped before the last climb near Cosca and decided one more climb was too much. We loaded his trike into my SUV for the SAG home.
The May Metric always seems to be an adventure. Special thanks to Sam for his assistance with Paul and other ride support. It was an enjoyable day of riding with so many club members and guests.
Mechanicals: No reports of mechanicals from my group, not even a flat. The road closure on Surratts Rd was due to an ambulance sliding off the road at the bottom of a hill. That was the spot where I was concerned riders may have a problem negotiating.
