Ani Hartini,Randy and Jackie Schoch, Celeste and Calvin Conyers, Jane Hudnall, Nancy Ruth, Ruth Anne Cumberland, Walter Carr and his two guests, and ride leader Jimmy Bartlett completed the ride.

What an absolutely perfect day for riding! If only today's conditions -- temps in the 70s, breezy, sunny, moderate humidity -- could last all summer, or even to the end of the week. (Of course that's impossible: Bike Virginia's coming, and what would Bike Virginia be without temperatures in the 90s and humidity to match?)

It was a small crowd today at Lackey High School: Jan Tucker, Janell Saunders, Robert Nunziata, Karen McMillan, Richard Harrington, leader Steve Palincsar and guest Rita Zeidner. Not surprising, in view of the Fathers' Day holiday, the 100km Rural Legacy yesterday and the simple fact of it being Sunday; but those who didn't make it missed out on a day nothing short of glorious, and a very pretty route. Riverside is special, like riding through a green cathedral.

With the exception of the recent rash of broken right hand shift cables, usually our rides are free of incident (barring the odd occasional flat), but not so today. As we left Lackey High School, Richard realized he had a mechanical issue he'd failed to attend to and turned around and rode back to the parking lot. Then, at the second rest stop we confirmed that Janell's headset was loose; and shortly after she turned off Gilroy onto Bowie Road one of her rear spokes broke, bringing her ride to an end at mile 39.5. After the ride, Robert drove back to rescue her, but before he arrived we learned Janell had managed to contact Walter and Holly. It seems that a Rural Legacy SAG driver's duty never ends!

Ron Leak, Kim Neilsen(G), Jay Lewis, Ken Meredith, Al Manley, Jeff Ashby(G) ,Michelle S. and one other(could not read name) enjoyed a nice ride this morning. We started at 7:00 am which I think works the best for everyone. We had a few setbacks. I had a small stone caught in my brake pad which sounded terrible when I applied the brakes. Jay helped take off the wheel so that we could see what was going on. Later, Jay lost items from his bike pouch which was unzipped. He was able to retrieve them. Then towards the end of the ride, Ron had a rear flat. All minor incidents, however, our usual rides are mostly uneventful so this is making the news! Thanks to all of you that get up early and join this ride!

Club members Rod Barnes, Bernice Cannings, Robin Garnett, and guest Yoku Shaw-Taylor joined ride leader Judy Mutty on an exquisite day in College Park. You could tell it was so because the trail was jam-packed with fellow bikers, running teams, walkers and strollers (with babies!). We added an extra mile as we investigated the College Park Airport flightline. A trip to the farmer’s market rounded out the ride. Great morning!

Leader Jackie Schoch and riders were, Randy Schoch, Jimmy Bartlett, John Riconda, Steve Palincsar, Jack Hammond, Ruddy Eixy, Calvin Conyers, Richard Harrington, Debi Jiggits, Robert Golding, Brookey Givens and Brookey Givens Jr., Denise Kronlar and Pete and Jeannie Ulrich met us later on the trail.  What a great day for a ride.  I have to say since the shelter for rain as been built it has not rain on the trail on a Friday ride. 
 

A break from last weekend's heat: temperatures in the 70s and low 80s, partly cloudy (dark gray clouds that made you think of rain) alternating with bright sun, with what felt like a strong cross wind at times.

We had a large turnout today, 21 including Holly Carr, Larry Peed, Jay Lewis, Ruddy Elly on his first Thursday ride, Jane Hudnall, Barry Winkleman, Jim McDermott, Alan Kurzweil, Mike Bivens, Regina and Mike Saizan, Ken Meredith, Joan Oppel, Dave VanAmayden, Tom Short, Norm Lisy, John Early, Sonia Young, Sam Perry, Richard Harrington and leader Steve Palincsar.

The route, Truman Manor the Easy Way, was chosen partly to be surprising (it hasn't been led in 2012 and it's flat, 797 feet of climbing, according to ridewithgps, not what anyone was expecting) and partly to avoid overlap with this coming weekend's Rural Legacy ride. The surprising part was definitely a success.   It proved to be a fast ride as well: Sam Perry set a personal best with an average well over 16 mph, and the slowest rider (me) finished with a 15.4 mph average.

Another surprise: nobody's shift cable broke today, although Sonia's shifting was exhibiting all the signs of an impending failure.  That, however, wasn't her only problem: having successfully changed a back tire the night before, she forgot to close the quick releases on both brake and hub, leading to some odd noises as the back wheel flopped around.  Dave VanAmayden's sharp eyes spotted the problem at the rest stop.

Twenty people came to ride on a beautiful June evening.  Clear skies, pleasant dry air, temperatures only in the 70s, and a bit of a breeze close to the river made for excellent riding weather.  Joining the ride leader were Calvin and Celeste Conyers, Kirsten Watts, Randy Schoch, Azalia Butler, Jack Hammond, La'Tasha Banks, Janelle Saunders, Holly Carr, Ruddy Elly, Darryl Lowery, Richard Harrington, Jane Hudnall, Jennie Ann Swartz, Gary Swartz, Sam Perry, Ron Leak, and Peter and Jeanne Ulrich.   Everyone made it up "the hill," and there no mechanical or other issues.  The large group made for a very social ride indeed.   

ani hartini on her fast new bike, azalia and mike butler an son hank the newest oh member, diana donahue, ruthanne, larry portotis, latasha banks, herman young, calvin conyers and ride leadet Jimmy Bartlett braved  the 90 degree heat to enjoy the ride.  Watermelon was provided by the Butlers, and then a trip to BJ'ss bbq to conclude the fun.

Six people came to ride with Paul and me.  Paul, Janell and Dana rode the shorter version; Dana a little shorter.  Pat, Jan, Steve, Jon and I rode the longer version. It was a familiar route up to Bryans Road SC, past the community college on Mitchell, on up to St. Ignatius, past Johnny Boy's BBQ, Rose Hill and Bumpy Oak.  At the beginning of the dreaded Bumpy Oak ascent we varied the usual route by turning onto the IHRT and going back to the firehouse via Bensville etc.  I thought that maybe this would prove to be the flattish way back.  Of course it was not; but Jan's suggestion to use the parallel bike path on Bensville avoided the no shoulder part and the rest was pretty decent.  It was hot and humid, but we had no mechanical issues..pretty good ride all in all.

Steven McCandless(guest), Diane Harris, Jay Lewis, Al Manley, Wesley Meredith and Ken Meredith enjoyed a great ride before the humidity and sun became intense.