In an effort of pure self preservation, I convinced everyone to ride from my house this morning versus the previous week’s route of the Tour De Chester. I like when rides leave from my house. I get up, yawn, let the dogs out, put on my tights, and my friends start showing up. This morning Ted and Buddy were the first to arrive, they came in we talked a little smack. It was great.

Big ole Group today and I’m gonna hope I don’t miss anyone:

Ted, Tom, Buddy, Dennis S, Freakishly strong Bryant, Slick Rick the Ruler, LWeb, Brian, Single Speed Dan, Justin T, James A, Biddle (Tie Domi of cross), Rock Star Henry T., Keith G (bobby’s boy), Fitzy and Andrew Mc

We had 2 other riders, Matt, who stopped in to say hello and then had to hit it, and Mike C, who forgot his shoes.

The ride was solid base pace. With the exception of one peppy section along the C&D Canal. Everyone was well behaved. The peppy section was fun. We had a big ole Tail wind and everyone was feeling the momentum. The McDaniel Boys, Ted and Tom attacked first and started doing slalom around the painted lines on the road. Slick Rick rolled up along side me and said, “hey electrical taped handle bar guy lets not waste a tail wind!” So we threw down a little attack. I quickly realized how little attack I had. Just as things started to settle down a bit, Biddle (the Tie Domi of Cross), put in a nice effort that very few, (buddy, rock star Henry, freakishly strong Bryant, single speed Dan, and Slick Rick) could counter.

We grouped after this section and rode together through Delaware city. Then the fun part of the ride started. Basically, we had to fight home into the head wind. With Ride Den Mother Tom helping to keep our line flowing, we rode tight formation home, with everyone sharing the workload. The head wind was brutal and could have been really painful, but alas we worked together and it was only a little painful. All in all we scored 3 hours and 30 minutes. Just what the doctor ordered.

Quick Notes:
only bad part about a ride leaving my driveway is that you miss out on the extra miles you can pick up riding to and from a ride.

Another benefit of riding from the house is that all the guys helped Diane unload the car as she was returning from grocery shopping. Thanks Buddy, Ted, Dennis and the freakishly strong Bryant. We all hung out for a bit after the ride exhausted. Diane liked how we all had great wind burned faces. Oh the joys of a headwind.

We found a cell phone during the ride. Slick Rick picked it up. Through out the ride it would ring in his back jersey pocket. If you are missing your phone and you were on Pleasant Valley road in the last 24hrs, give slick Rick a call, he has it.

Biddle (Tie Domi of Cross) was talking about putting a 24hr team together. I have mad respect for Biddle (Tie Domi of Cross), and I was really stoked he asked me to rock with the team. For the record if all goes as planned it would be Dan the man, Biddle (Tie Domi of Cross), Slick Rick and me. This could be a lot of fun

Speaking of endurance races, I got a teammate for the 12 hours of Lodi farms, and she wants to do a duo, I’m down with that. LWeb from IF, one of my favorite people in the world and I are gonna rock it.

Speaking of endurances races part duex. Team for West Virginia is still coming together nicely. Now if I can just remember how to ride a bike.

Went out to dinner with my brother Byran and his wife Tab last night. I had a catfish wrap with Jack cheese. It was really good. We tried to go to Brandwine Brewing Co, but they were closed. I mean forever, boarded up, that was a bummer but we ended up at Cromwell’s, which was a bit more hoity toighy, but damn tasty.

Diane and I hit Don Pablos today, I had a fajita salad. Kinda vanilla, but after the ride, it was great.

Rented more movies today. We got Mean Girls, Saved, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, and Harold & Kumar go to White Castle. Reviews to follow.

Rode a Fisher RIG today. They are pretty nice, you know if you like an affordable bike, that is purple and as I see it's major down fall aluminum. I was really looking at the Reba fork. Local shop has one in for me, and I like it, I want it, but I'm not sure if I can get past the whole suspension thing. I've been rocking rigid for a while, and as much as I love the fork, I couldn't get myself to plunk down the money for it today. At the last second, I was like, I have to think about this... Thank god the shop is cool... Reba or Rigid, how would you go?

Respect
fatmarc