Sunday Nov 15th last ride with Captn Carbon until Jan 2009.

Those in attendance
Steve Cope – “Captn Carbon”
Tim Travitz – “Slow Tim”
Jeffrey Roussel
Dayn MCBee
Suzanne McBee
Bob – Friend of Dayn and Suzanne
Kevin Smit “GOG”
Theresa Smit
Jae Brainard
Patty Lewis
Sheila Augustine
Mary Ann Feagan

The “Thorns and Roses” were established even before leaving the parking lot. The “Roses” saw that Dain and Suzan were on the ride and immediately realized only the strongest would survive even a casual ride with that pair. Jeffery was also realizing early that he may be at risk during the days ride and communicated that by informing the group “he had not been on the bike for a month and that his right knee was tender and needed a more relaxed ride”. “GOG” and “Slow Tim” were too slow mentally to provide an early defense that would help explain their inability to hang with the “Hammer Heads” on the day’s ride.

Jeffrey led the group out of the parking lot and into the Preston Woods neighborhood. He pressed the pace as if in an effort to demonstrate that even with a sore knee and no saddle time for a month he could challenge this group. The “Hammer Heads – Dain, Suzann, Bob, Captn-Carbon” all rode in a tight pack using this first attack from Jeffery as a warm-up for the day’s events.

The group continued to ride at a stiff pace (relaxed for the Hammer Heads) at about 15 – 17 mph as they made their way to the right turn onto “Ron’s Pull”. No one rider took the lead as the pack rode in a disorganized double draft line along this stretch of road. Near the end of the road (about 100 yrds from the stop sign) an elderly gentleman in a late model Chevrolet made his best attempt at passing the group without having to cross the double yellow line. There was no oncoming traffic , there was a stop sign 100 yards ahead, and yet this driver felt compelled to get there ahead of the riders who were riding close to the speed limit for that section of road. As the car squeezed past the riders “GOG” saw the older gentleman shaking his head back and forth in his disapproval of the situation. As the car cleared the pack “GOG” saw that the car’s bumper had a “I love Jesus” sticker. “GOG” excitedly shouted out as he pointed to the bumper “I Love Jesus Too”. In a matter of seconds the pack was now poised at the same stop sign as the “I Love Jesus” driver. This allowed “GOG” to bend over and greet the driver with a pleasant “Have a Nice Day” and wave just as the riders made their right hand turn away from the late model Chevrolet.

It would be interesting to track the make/model/year of each vehicle that harasses the riders. The findings may show that the majority of vehicles that are less than willing to share the road are older model American Made Pickups, and full size older model American Cars.

The group made the turn onto Carpenter Fire Station, crossed the RR tracks and Highway 54 with ease. The traffic on Carpenter Fire Station was only intense for the short section between 54 and the Church as drivers were doing their best to get to Church on time. The pack rode mostly single file as they rolled on towards the turn onto Yates Store and the short 8% climb of “UpChuck” that challenges all riders.

“I am looking for someone to lead us out” shouted “Captn Carbon”. “I refuse to use my fat wide body to break the wind and set up your sling shot maneuver” was “GOG’s” reply. “Slow Tim” was already in the lead and had established himself as the sling shot target. The pack now scattered as each rider worked to gain speed and position for the base of the climb. The results were predetermined but every rider still attacked as if they had a chance to take the prem. Dain and “Captn Carbon” easily slid to the crest of the hill with “GOG” and “Slow Tim” working off of each other to make a best effort. Suzann and Bob were followed by Jeffery who was nursing the sore knee.

The pack slowed and circled allowing all to regain position in the pack. “Slow Tim” had slipped ahead to take a bio break and was found coming out to the woods as the pack slowly coasted towards him. The group now found themselves on the rolling hills of New Hope Church. New Hope is a challenging section of road that requires repeated response to the attacks presented at the base of each hill. This section of road always scatters the pack and this day was no different. The pack splintered into 3 groups. Dain, “Captn Carbon”, and Bob in the lead with “Slow Tim”, “GOG”, and Suzann several yards behind followed by Jeffery who was clearly playing it smart and not forcing his knee on the many climbs. Left turn onto Mt Pisgah Church road and its 3 good climbs, fueled more attacks, and forced Jeffery to continue to manage the strain being placed on his sore knee. Kevin had not fully appreciated the need for selecting a flatter route on Jeffery’s behalf. The hills of Mt Pisgha did not splinter the pack as much as the earlier hills of New Hope Church did, possibly due to the effects of the down hills allowing riders like “GOG” to benefit from mass and gravity to catapult him at least 2/3 rds of the way up the other side.

The left turn onto Farrell road had the group slowing to allow Jeffery to close the gap and benefit from any drafting the pack could provide. Jeffery had fallen far off the group and only caught the pack as they stopped at the next right turn onto Luter Shop road. “I am headed back to Cary” Jeffery announced as he waved the group and turned in the opposite direction. “Stay Safe” was the reply from somewhere in the group.

The remaining pack mounted their bikes and pointed them towards the strawberry patch at the end of Luter Shop. The pack remained intact with all riders able to maintain the relaxed pace of 17 to 20 mph into a stiff head wind, partly due to Bob and Dain leading in the pull positions as the others stayed tightly packed behind.

A right turn onto 751 and the left onto Martha’s Chapel still found the pack huddled together and working against a continuous head wind. The ride down Martha’s Chapel came with no attacks, just a solid 20+ pace against the wind. Left turn onto Farrington put the riders into a single file format with “GOG” near the tail section of the draft line.

“GOG” was now in a dilemma, does he take his rightful position in the front of the draft line on the section of road known as “Kevin’s Crawl” , or does he hold on as best he can at the back of the pack expecting the “Hammer heads” to plow forward up the incline. This battle raged in his head for at least a minute during which time the “Hammer Heads” maintained a steady pace as the climb began to unfold. Then as if the decision was unanimous Kevin “GOG” increased his cadence and speed to roll past the bikers one at a time to position himself at the pull position. With ever increasing effort he continued to press the cadence and speed reaching 22 + mph towards the crest of the climb. No other riders challenged him until they were over the top and headed down the other side. “GOG” had again sustained the pull position for the entire length of “Kevin’s Crawl”. Clearly the other riders demonstrated their respect by not taking the pull position away from “GOG”. In the near future on this section of road, when Kevin is more out of shape and even older then he is now, the respect from these other riders will still have Kevin in the pull position even though with his best effort doing 12 mph on a good day.

The group made the left turn onto Holland Chapel as they turned towards Cary. More pace line riding with the “Hammer heads” now back in control at the front of the peleton. A right and then left put the group of riders back onto Luter Shop at the Strawberry patch. Dain was seen repeatedly glancing at his watch and then staring into space. Then without warning he announced “Hey we can make the 10 am ride with the Bicycle Chain ride”. “What” was the cry from Suzann and Kevin. “Come on Babe” Dain egged Suzan into joining them. “Slow Tim” and “GOG” each looked at the other indicating they had no plans to rush on to join yet another ride. “You guys need to take off and turn at White Oak”, “Tim and I will going back to the start” Kevin announced as he released the “Hammer Heads” to finally enjoy the day’s ride without being held back.

There was a popping sound coming from the sudden vacuum of the vortex in space created by the “Hammer Heads” as they jumped into action. The scene was much like that from a Star Wars or Star Trek movie when the ship goes into Warp speed. The vacuum was so intense that it actually sucked the air from the trailing riders lungs.

“Slow Tim” and “GOG” realized in that instant that they had made a very wise decision for themselves. These two riders continued the 17 – 20 mph pace as they worked their way back onto Green Hope High School road and the crossing at the RR tracks in front of the High School.

Upon arrival at the High School RR crossing they me the “Roses” who were also on the last leg of the day’s ride. These riders all worked together those last 4 miles to the start/finish at Brugers parking lot.

The two remaining “Thorns” had ridden 35 miles at a 16.3 mph average. The “Roses” had ridden 25 miles at 14 mph pace. Steve Cope “Captn Carbon” and his fellow “Hammer Heads” were only half way through their 70+ mile day.