Useless Ride Stats for 6/18

Or, embrace your inner Fred. I got up early, had coffee and breakfast. Then I rode my Quickbeam through Oxford Circle, Frankford, Port Richmond, and Fishtown, stopping at a Rite Aid to buy one of those folding camp chairs that go into a nylon stuff sack. I strapped it to my Carradice bag so it stuck out sideways. Me Fred!

I continued downtown, along Spring Garden St. to the Art Museum. A guy dressed in Postal kit and riding a Trek passed me, but didn't speak. Putz. I easilly caught and passed him and gave him a big "Good Morning!" He started drafting me. We took slightly different routes but both arrived at at the Lemon Hill registration point around the same time. He was talking with some friends of mine. I guess I was cool then.

I said hello to Howie, Elaine, Jill, Barry, Jeff K., Joe & Harriet, Tom Witt, Mike McG., admired Eileen's new orange Indy Fab, and set out for Spring Mill. I rode down the crowded bike path, which thinned out some as I went further. Then on to Main street through Manayunk. I started passing people with Freedom Valley Bike Ride numbers on, folks setting out for a 22 or 44 mile ride. Up the hill, over Umbria St. and down Shawmont on to the bike path. Passed more folks and got to the rest stop at Spring Mill around 8:30. Helped Hans and Arnie set up in the shade and got ready.

We went trhough a lot of water, and a couple folks gave us mild hard time when we were temporarily out of stock (for like five minutes) while Hans went for more. "You should have planned better!" said one exasperated rider. I chalked it up to the heat, but I wanted to say "Dude, when was the last time you volunteered for something? Fuck off!"

Lots of hybrid and MTB riders early on, more racer-wanna-bes later. Two notables: I mildly chastised a guy for pouring like half a gallon of water over his head. "I'm sorry sir, but could you not do that? We're sort of running low." The I noticed he was wearing his t-shirt tucked in to the waistband of his Bike brand shorts. Yes, he was wearing underwear as bike shorts or outerwear.

I was talking to a nice woman who was getting cramps and who was waiting for her boyfriend to ride to the finish, get the car and come back to pick her up. We both looked at this guy in a Disco jersey who looked like he had a huge package. Then I realized that he had his shorts on backwards. Seriously, the ass pad was making him look like John Holmes. Sweeet. Then I rode home in the blazing sun and heat for beer and company. We had shrimp risotto, salmon with cilantro pesto, Greek salad, and brownies.



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