Dark clouds, a 50% chance of rain, and a bit of a breeze couldn't discourage 14 riders from joining the Sunday 1 pm ride today.

I counted 14 initial starters and we did run into Mike Warnock pedaling furiiously over Clemans running from the rain. He turned about and joined us back to Critchfield.

So who was there, let me count them:

Marcia Banta and Ellen Kundrat had planned their own ride but joined us saying we needn't wait for them. They kept up pretty well until Ellen, objecting to the side winds, turned back at the foot of Critchfield.

Scott and Jen have become regulars for this ride even though we rarely make Scott hurt. He made me hurt a bit on Clemans today. I needed to get the heart rate up and I saw 174. The calculators tell me my max should be 168. I've hit 176 before. Strangely Garmin's Training Center insists my max today was 210. I'm still alive, so I'm figuring that must have been a glitch in the software.

Mike and Nicki showed up on the tandem. Ellen objects to letting Mike set the pace.

Lance reported rain on Tammany which sent us off toward Evan's Road fighting a pretty stiff head wind and dodging a drop or two of rain.

Lee Bauer can't get into his fields up at UnionTown so he joined us again today. He's pretty dedicated.

Jim McCracken was back after suffering leg cramps yesterday.

Linda and I rode down but when Lance insisted we have McDonald's stop, she accepted a ride home. My foot is feeling fine and I'm at about 70% so I didn't want to be "carried" home. I set off up 13th and did get caught in a shower but got under cover. Wet pavement made in necessary to clean the bike, though.

Sean and Carol don't usually join us on Sunday preferring to ride a bit earlier but this week they had reason to join us.

John Arland has returned to cycling. He and Sean had ridden mountain bikes at Hell's Gate at 11. John used to race mountain bikes and ride us into the ground on road rides but five years of soft living (he just farms, you know) have softened him up a bit.

John gets a little help

We gave John the royal treatment including making him adhere to the rule that the new guy gets all the flats. Good thing Sean was along to help him change that flat. His CO2 was questionable and the new tube had sealed itself on the inside.

We had headwinds almost everywhere we went out to Evans and up Clemans, but the return trip made Sean feel like Superman.

It's great to be back on the bike with the group and what a group it was too.

For the ride of it. Corrie

I need this ride, I told Linda on the way home from the movies last night. Rain fell through gusty wind. Would my 11 am start for Lapwai Loop have to be cancelled?

An avulsion fracture on my left foot kept me entirely off the bike between Feb. 24th and March 15th. I'm still limping a bit and using ice and ibuprofen liberally, but gradually the miles have begun to build. 247 in March. 150 already in April.

Riding with the Crazy Ladies on Wednesday almost turned into a Lapwai Loop but remembering the pain with which I paid for two previous episodes with over-doing, I chose to stay slow and at 40 miles. When no problems developed, I called for Lapwai Loop.

Sean doesn't care for the ride--too much highway I guess, but this has the feel of actually going somewhere when you dip over Web Ridge into the Lapwai Valley. I hoped someone would join me, but the course is not demanding enough for those who are looking for long miles. So, imagine my surprise when the confirmations came in.

Dave Tibbals has been commuting to work and is in much better shape than he has any right to be at this time of year.

Chris Wendt came down for the ride. We lost him on the return route at the Casino but he was still at the boat launch when we finished. He hasn't many miles this year, but he still rides off whenever he feels like it.

Bill Arnold has lost a bunch of weight and was looking for a century when I invited him. So, he through in 51 miles out toward Heller Bar and back before we left. Said he had a bad moment on this side of Web Ridge but the downhill and a pizza pocket at Lapwai brought him back. Congratulations, Bill.

Doyle Kimble hasn't had much chance to ride living in Pomeroy with this winter's snow. He was out of wind early and turned back at Barre Road saying he'd extend his ride on the flat.

Doug Goodenough surprised me by showing up. I thoguht he'd be off with Scott and Jen doing hill repeats on McGray Grade. Always good to ride with a former club member. 5 bucks short on his dues. Bad Doug.

Roy Stephens has moved down from Grangeville and is riding well. We pulled one another from Arrow Bridge.

Jim McCracken has been living too much good life sitting in fishing boats and such. He had trouble with leg cramps today. More miles, Jim.

And me. I'm back. No I can't hammer hard and the foot still h hurts, but barring a painful midnight episode, I think I can safely ride when and where I want. I'll be building miles again to another century. Is next Saturday too soon? Probably but I'd like to get one in before the Lilac Century on the 27th.

Don't forget Devil's Slide on the 13th.

For the ride of it.

"it was fun," Lee said handing over his road crew vest at the end of pickup today. I'd thanked him for driving down from Uniontown but he'd had a good time.

We moved quickly today. Accuweather had forcast snow at noon. I don't think we had any precipitation but the wind came up with a biting edge.

The Honor Roll

Corrie
Linda
Doug
Lee Bauer
Nicki Riddle
Helen
Bill Arnold
Mike Warnock
Debbie
Scott Whitely
Scott Trost
Jennifer Cunningham
David Tibbals
Sean
Carol

Pretty impressive work today. Linda and I arrived early to set up the signs. (Eric came by on a road bike on his way to work.)

By12:30 Linda headed up the road. Soon Lee arrived and I sent him ahead. The Doug followed and he was out ahead.

No one wanted to sit around and wait for the group to arrive and so by 1 we already had several folks at work. Nicki was able to move a group of workers out onto the road.

By the time I got in the pickup, we already had teams beyond the first mile. I just moved the sign. By the time I turned around, I was telling folks to cross the road and head back.

I really appreciate all the turn out. It would have been pretty miserable had only a couple shown up. So once again, thanks to everyone. Sorry, there was not ride afterward. Windchill Cancel.