Lounge Ride

The chit chat started early. From the injured reserve roster, UL showed up at the M Lot for a send-off. He is reported to be comfortably ambulating and out of his shell. Unfortunately, blog dodgers RG and LX (XT was downgraded) no longer find it fashionable to stop at the M Lot and so did not receive the pre-ride blessing. Only C’n was on hand to pilot the fun bus, carpooling slackers B and nc to the K Lot.

The PreBR flag had been hoisted on the back of NH’s tailgate, so the conversational pace was maintained while we sheathed ourselves in lycra, wool and leather. NH was quick to claim the duty of RL and made for the Qualifier. His leadership was called into question when he remembered his truck was left unlocked. As he turned back into the Lot, C’n, abhorring a leadership vacuum, prepared to mount a coup. However, LX intervened by pulling a trials move onto the lighted EID sign and blowing out a tire on a rebar spike. We all returned to the Lot, so we could relax in our warming jackets while the repair was completed.

By 7:30 we finally were on our bikes and climbing hard up the qualifier. C’n and Ba sang snips of blues and punk and general idle chatter was a constant up to the radio tower above Park Creek rd. NH was on a quest for the last patches of snow. Too zealously aiming North, he dropped us towards the reservoir, but collective wisdom lead us back to the Chopping Block. Pools of mud marred the flume road, but the climb was free of snow. Back on Park Creek it was announced that our ride was approaching its bedtime. B and I commiserated that the ride was just warming up. But the hour was late so we raced the power line to a qualifier finish.

After accusing us of short riding, Mother Rye produced a bounty of goodness. Spinach dip with bread, chickenbake, and guacamole with chips all arrived before tacos. New sauces were savored and surplus tacos lingered as all were stuffed on the extras.