Capn Carbon is a hero (but navigationally challenged)

Saturday June 13th.

Another Warm (Hot) humid day was unfolding as the following individuals assembled for the start of the day’s ride.
Those grouping together representing the “Roses” included;
Beth Gonzales – Thanks Beth for helping us solicit area shops for Door Prizes for the Kassel Smit “Make a Difference” Fund raiser. Your efforts are helping us Make A Difference in his memory.
Deb Hollis – still working to get back in shape to rejoin the “Thorns/Stems”
Mary Ann Feagan –Welcome back after several weekends away
Jae Brainard – the TRUE LEADER of the “Roses”.
Patti Lewis – Nicole’s Mom.
Sheila Augustine – sometimes a “Thorn/Stem”
Theresa Smit – Sometimes a “Thorn/Stem”.

Those assembling for the “Thorns/Stems” included;

The Youngsters:

Nicole Lewis – just been accepted into the PHD program at State (congrats) – also single handedly has promoted these rides so effectively that we have more than doubled in our normal numbers. She has been telling all her young wiper Snapper friends from NC State to come and ride HER Rides. She also warns them that they will be riding with people that are her parent’s age, but that they are “OK”.
Nicole was also asking everyone to sign a letter she was going to get to some bikers she knows that are riding across the US and building houses as part of Habitat for Humanity. How COOL is that!

It was later calculated that there is at least a 40 year spread of ages in this dynamic, diverse group of cyclists. Yes “GOG” and Theresa could be their GRAND PARENTS, if they had started their family with a teen pregnancy.


Sean Kurdys – the NC state Triathlon club’s “COACH” (Not a young wiper snapper – but not as old as the other group either)
James Lavin – Young NC State Wiper Snapper
Rita Beard - Young NC State Wiper Snapper – still without cleats and still pushing the pace line.
Cameron Cooper - Young NC State Wiper Snapper (YNCSWS) think about it.
Shawn (forgot your last name sorry) - Young NC State Wiper Snapper (YNCSWS)
Erwann Domalain - Young NC State Wiper Snapper (YNCSWS)
Josh Carter – another youngster who is breaking into Racing as a Cat 5 Racer (not part of Nicole’s NC State group).

Then not in order of age are the not so young riders;

Steve Cope – “Capn Carbon”, “The Angry Chipmunk”, “The Gnat”, “ The Chihuahua”….. and anything else you might want to call him.

Kevin Smit – “GOG” – stands for Glistening Older Gentleman, however others are substituting “Goat” in place of Gentleman. Maybe G.O.A.T stands for “Greatest Of All Time”.
John Majikes – rode to the start with a backpack full of cross county biking stuff. He is training for a four day self supported ride starting in mid/late June.

Jeffery Roussel – Rode to the start and acted as part time ride leader to help Steve Cope recognize where he was on the ride.
Steve Sparano – “Sporadic Steve” rode to the start of the ride, and has been riding with the group regularly lately.
Davin Perkins – rode to the start of the ride with “Sporadic Steve”
Tim Devinney – “The Love Train” – How does this Older Larger Man ride so fast for so long? Was a question that was asked by one of Nicole’s NC State young Wiper Snappers.
Steve Ham….. – Steve is training for the ride across Iowa in the end of July (RAGBRAI).
Steve Marks – no dirt yet on this rider so not much to share here.
Jeff Giordano – Jeff is another strong “Thorn” and also rides the Wednesday night Mello Vello rides.
Christy Miller – “Pinky”, “Pink Triassolette”
Doug Augustine – He and Steve Ham helped “GOG” limp back to the finish on this day’s ride.
Todd Pechner – “Slow Todd” - the last of the “Thorns” to arrive on his bike.

After brief introductions and a hint that LYSTRA would be included somehow on the day’s ride for the “Thorns/Stems” the pack was off.

This Saturdays start was somewhat more subdued/controlled by those in the front of the pack. No one wanted to relive the verbal abuse “GOG” had thrown at the pack early into last Saturday’s ride. This did allow all to stay together all the way through the Preston Neighborhood as the pack was directed to head towards High House rather than onto “Ron’s Pull”. The pack responded and rolled up to the light at High House with many doing a track stand to allow a car from the left to pass. Then each rider leaned right and then left to traverse the intersection and then the immediate left turn onto Jenks Carpenter Road. “Capn Carbon” was near the back of the pack still meeting and greeting many of the riders, and to see who was going to make a play for the run up the hill towards Holt – the first attack of the day.
The pack splintered as the road rose towards Holt and the intersection there. As “GOG” made it to the top he circled to ensure all were still in tow. It did not take long at all for everyone to reassemble at that intersection. The pack was lead out towards Apex on Holt and then the left onto Old Jenks and towards North Salem in Apex. The group rode well together until the series of stop lights heading away from Cary and towards Apex chopped the group into sections. “GOG” was in the front group and was readying himself for the push down N. Salem and the edge of Apex. He and his group were at the Over Pass of Highway 64 when word reached them that someone had been dropped and was having bike issues. “GOG” pulled to group off the road to gain a better understanding of the issue and how to best address it. “One of the NC state riders broke a Chain” was the report from others who were relaying the message from the back of the pack. “Any one have a Chain break tool?” “GOG” inquired. “I do” replied Jeff. “OK, Cap’n Carbon, would you be willing to race back with the tool and help them repair the chain, and then Pull the group back to us even though we are heading on down the road?” “Cap’n Carbon” grabbed the chain break tool as he replied “YEP” and headed back towards the stranded cyclist. After a quick inventory it was realized that John Majikes was also missing and someone in the group mentioned that he had stopped at the time of the mechanical issue to assist. Just at that same moment Nicole headed back to support her NC State Comrade.
So before the pack lost any more cyclists “GOG” directed them to saddle up and head on out onto the day’s route. The route had been shared with all as “GOG” explained to “Capn Carbon” where they were going and would likely wait for him if he had not jumped the gap before then.

The “Thorns” would be difficult to control now that they had this valuable information. Once the pack made the next turn off of N. Salem and onto Hunt “GOG” told the “Thorns” to light it up whenever they wanted to, and to make sure they wait at the designated stop for “Capn” and others to regroup.

The run out of Apex was a mixed bouquet of “Thorn’s and Stems” taking turns pushing each other on the many hills that populated that part of the route. Josh (Moving Violation) was holding back and not attacking as he was using the days ride to loosen up for Sundays race, The State Games, that he planned to participate in. This left the NC state Whipper Snappers to mix it up with some of the seasoned “Thorns”, like Jeff, “The Love Train”, and “Slow Todd” to name a few.

The group assembled under a shade tree at the intersection of Olive Chapel Road and Olives Chapel Road. As they waited there several other bike groups zoomed on past as well as some individual riders all out for a day’s ride. “GOG” made several phone Calls to “Capn Carbon” to get a read on where he and his group was, and was only able to leave voice mails.
Steve Sparano “Sporadic Steve” and Davin along with “Moving Violation” all elected to ride slowly back in the direction just traveled to see if they can spot the trailing riders. The pack continued to wait patiently knowing that this is the price you pay in a NO DROP style ride.
“GOG’s” phone rang and as he answered it the group learned that “Sporadic Steve” and the others had traveled a couple of miles back down the road and did not see “Capn” and the others.
The pack continued to wait as they now were also waiting on those that traveled back to find “Capn”.
Within another 5 to 10 minutes “Moving Violation” Davin, and “Sporadic Steve” rejoined the group.
The pack was now itching to get going as the day light was burning and the Sun was gaining strength.
Then with big smiles on their faces “Capn Carbon” and the group he pulled all arrived.
They shared the fact that John Majikes had ridden his bike home to get his bike tool box only to find out he did not have a chain break tool in it. The group also learned that “Capn Carbon” being navigationally challenged missed the turn on his way to rescue Erwann and had to double back to find them.

Everyone got a good laugh out of both Johns fetching of a tool box and “Capn’s” navigational skills.

No time was spent letting the trailing pack rest as the “Thorns” with “Capn Carbon” in the lead pulled out from under the shade tree and headed to the next rendezvous spot as was described by “GOG”.
In that explanation “GOG” was looking directly at “Capn” telling him the turn by turn play on how to lead the “Thorns” to The Gas Station at High way 64 and Beaver Dam road. “Capn” responded, “You Lost Me”. Jeffery Roussel “Down Hill Racer”, Jeff, and “The Love Train” all said “We got it”.
With that the pack was off.
“GOG” brought up the rear as his legs had adjusted to standing and resting and did not want to do the spin the pedals thing.

Again there was no pace line as each rider chose the pace at which they wanted to respond to the continuation of rolling hills that “GOG” had deliberately laid in the way for this day’s challenging ride.

All made it safely to the next stop at Wilsonville (a gas station on 64). There they filled water bottles, took a short bio break if needed, and visited amongst themselves and other riders on different routes and rides. “GOG” was approached by one gentleman who asked to learn more about the “Thorns and Roses”. Emails were exchanged and “safe biking “ was the parting words.
“Slow Todd” needed to head for home due to time constraint and “Moving Violation” was looking to reduce his miles as well. “GOG” gave the two a route back home that would meet their needs, and with that they said goodbye to the group as they headed out together. It was also at this time that a lone rider joined the pack. She had been riding with the CSH group and was dropped. She was looking for someone to ride with and to help her return safely to the end. She ended up being a very Strong rider and jumped into the fray with the “Thorns” as the pack headed out from the rest stop and towards Lake Jordan on Highway 64.

“GOG” found himself pulling the “Stems” down Highway 64 and thru the turn onto Big Woods. The “Stems” were met there by the “Thorn’s”, who were they waiting for “GOG’s” next set of directions.
“OK Thorns this is a great place to time trial, see you at the other end”, and with that the “Thorns, and” Thorn wantabes” all launched themselves onto Big Woods and its rolling hills.

“GOG” continued to pull the “Stems” along Big Woods working to maintain 20+ mph. As the “Stems” rolled along they slowly swooped up those splintered off the back of the “Thorns”. One of those ended up being Kim who then pulled the pack along for a mile or more before relinquishing the Pull position back to “GOG”.

At the end of Big Woods “GOG” offered two choices to the riders. “those looking for extra miles and a long climb followed by a very fast down hill join Capn as he leads you up Jack Benett and down Lystra”, “others join me as I head back from here to Farrington and the gas station stop there.

The pack split in two as “GOG” was now starting to feel the mistake of pushing Big Woods for too long. He was overheating, nauseous, light headed, and on the verge of one of his famous BONKing episodes.

The “Stems” made it to the gas station just as “GOG” was headed into a full BONK. He had to get off his bike, request cold water, Davin went and purchased a gallon, and then bent over to keep from passing out.

“OK Nicole, do you think you can lead the Stems back to the finish going through Nicole’s Roller Coasters?” Kevin asked. “Yea I think so” was her reply. “Good”. “Everybody go with Nicole”, “I am going to continue to rest here and then limp on home”, Kevin directed. “No we can wait and all go back together” was the cry from the pack. “I don’t think you will enjoy riding at 12 mph top end for 17 miles” was Kevin’s plea.

The “stems” all mounted their bikes and headed out under the watchful eye of Nicole.
Doug Augustine, and Steve Ham both elected to stay and keep a watchful eye on “GOG” and to make sure he survived the ride home. Thanks Guys it did help him ride at a more comfortable/faster pace than riding alone.

The following is information provided to the BLOG from Nicole as she led the “Stems” on those last miles back to the finish.

And I quote from Nicole Lewis

“I apoligize for getting these notes to you so late! There's not much
here; mostly because all I remember was the massive amounts of sweat I was
producing, but hopefully it will help.

After we left you guys at the gas station, we sped down the hill and
headed for the left turn. James friend Shawn (not Sean, oops) narrowly
missed being left behind because he didn't take the turn at first. We
rode up to Martha's chapel; the pack split up a bit. I hung back to ride
with Rita in the rear; she was kicking butt! and with no clipless pedals!
(Note: she told me yesterday that she just bought a pair; frankly I'm
scared to ride with her now, she is going to kick all of our butts. Who
did you say had the EPO?) We went past the berry patch; hunger pains
really started to hit us then. The pack was now split into me, Rita,
Davin, and John, and then everyone else. They stayed within eyesight
until about a mile from the divided road that leads to Nicole's roller
coasters. I was pretty sure the first pack (lets call them the Rat Pack!)
missed the roller coaster turn. When they weren't at the turn, we decided
to do the coasters anyways. Apparently, there was some sort of a youth
triathlon or a swim meet or something because on our way down the first
hill we had to doge pedestrians as they crossed the street to the pool.
After the roller coasters, we turned left onto ____(uhhhh)____Rd. and were
approaching the stoplight when Rita said she saw the Rat Pack ride through
the shopping center. I told them we'd take the actual road like REAL
BIKERS and catch up with them at the light at 55. Well, we didn't see
them again until Brueggers. It was a bit windy heading to 55. We crossed
over and then headed down Ron's Pull. It was a struggle! The little pack
dropped John (who headed home) at the beginning of the pull and followed
the sound of our stomachs to the bagel shop. We went through Stone Creek
and Davin told us about how you (Kevin) almost RAN OVER an old lady on
your bike! Or maybe he said that you were almost hit by an old lady in a
car. (We didn't have any bad encounters with rough drivers). Turning
left onto High House, I put up a challenge for the 3 of us. whoever gets
the fastest speed down High House wins the challenge. We didnt have to
wait at the davis drive light so we were able to pick up some prelim
speed. Davin got out in front first, and I was thinking that he won UNTIL
he STOPPED PEDALLING. My turn! I shifted into high gear (ha ha ha ha ha
ha) and pedaled furiously, passing him like a small car! (or scooter).
Final speeds: Nicole = 36.1, Davin = 33, Rita = 30. We biked back to the
parking lot, EXHUASTED but EXCITED ABOUT FOOD!

and then Nicole saved Kevin with her happy beans.
My mom's friend Kim asked me if Sport Beans make you fart. HAHA!

Wow, it's amazing how much you remember when you start writing.”


The stems did around 52 miles at about 17 mph.

The Thorns did 57 miles at about 18.2 mph.

GOG and his support group did 52 miles at under 17 mph.