Greeting, Thrill Seekers. No, Agent Louise doesn’t get her own logo
this week. Too bad. But we do have a picture or two. We met at Lewis
Street Park in Monroe to do Steve’ Index Ride. Unfortunately, Steve
didn’t make it. Doug filled in for him, though. We had 31 people,
including PPG, Kristie, the Princess, Agent Louise, Czech Chick,
Allison(Rando Grrl), Mark of the Shadowy COGS organization, Per and
Shana, Dan and Pam, Dave and Roseanne, Lynn, Grant, Danny, Scott,
Chris and Kim, Dottie and Orin (momentarily) and a plethora of
newcomers. All sorts of summery outfits were in evidence, including
Agent Louise’s new mesh see through jacket. She passed on the tassels,
though.
Grant volunteered to take the Suspiciously Fit People for a ride, so I
gave him a cue sheet as well as an extra special loop up to Kellogg
Lake. For Dave, Roseanne, and the Princess, a special Princess
Option. We started off in a well ordered mob, and headed for the
short climb to the cemetary. Here the Princesses headed up Old Owen,
while the rest of us (ROU) and the SFPs headed on Florence Acres. It
was lovely, especially after we turned off on 259th. On Old Pipeline
we started to break up into smaller groups, and the SFPs went ahead.
Per and Shana took corners to keep the stragglers from heading to
Granite Falls. We arrived at the gas station in Sultan and were again
a big mob. After a fluid break, we set off on Rt 2 for Gold Bar.
Since this was not a pleasant experience, the pace picked up
dramatically and it was a race. After not too much time on the Rumble
Strips from Hell, we were in Gold Bar and heading for the May Creek
Road, another lovely experience, with views of snow capped mountains.
The climbing started after we turned off on Reiter Road. We were the
trailing group, having been picking up stragglers. Since the White
Coated Devils were trashing my cycling with their performance lowering
drugs, I had fitted a new, 29 tooth rear cassette. I used this to good
effect, slogging up the climb with Per in the waltz of the
Clydesdales. We were dying on this climb, and periodically Shana the
Sandbagger would flit up from the back and chirp that she was not
feeling good, or wasn’t going well, or some other nonsense like that.
Then she’d drop back, and repeat the performance a few more times.
Note that she flitted up, not having any trouble outpacing us. But we
were not easily fooled, having seen this on numerous RAMRODs, where
after towing her to the base of the climb, she suddenly gets a new
lease on life and flies past us up the hill, waving gaily as she passes.
The climb was a good one, in the shade, and we reeled in Dave and
Roseanne and the Princess, who were going awfully well up that hill.
Over the top and down the other side, for a very pleasant and scenic
descent, marred only by a stretch of gravel. We arrived in Index to
spectacular views, and huge mob of cyclists. The Rabbits had managed
to find Index, as well. We munched on bars and drank fluids, as the
food selection was pretty poor. As we poised to leave, the Czech Chick
elbowed her way into the bathroom ahead of Rando Grrl, thus avoiding
getting left in the bathroom. That honor fell to Allison with the
Chick’s finessing move.
The climb out was pleasant, hard only at the very top, and then a fun
descent. On the gravel patch Dan and Pam were fixing a slashed tire;
we figured they knew the way to Sultan and left them to it. Regrouping
at May Creek, we set off for the return journey. Quite nice until we
got to US 2, at which point it was a slog into the wind. The SFPs,
meanwhile, headed up to Kellogg Lake to tire them selves out. The
Rabbits, who had left Index just before us, were passed by Grant and
his SFPs as they were dealing with a flat. He taunted them, as is
appropriate. Something about turtles and rabbits.
We piled into the Sultan Bakery and started ordering food. Experienced
Goslings ordered half sandwiches. We had some newbies who ordered the
whole sandwich; they were a little surprised when the food came. We
had a great time eating and socializing in the bower. The Rabbits
passed us, finally, as we were enjoying our lunches. They were nibbling
on carrots and pellets. When the time came to leave, one of the gals found she had a flat. Immediately a group was convened to assist her.
She had apparently taken a class in fixing flats, but that was it. Her
assistants had taken a different class. While they were working, Per,
Shana, and the Chick went to the gas station for its potty, and Shana cleaned her bike. This is apparently normal. Anyway, this flat fixing soon got out of hand and the regulars in the group were staring in amazement. Finally, Shana went over to lend a finger, holding up the 
chain for them. It’s a good thing for them that PPG had skipped the lunch.
Don’t ask me why this bike is upside down. 
It think there was a
movie like this, with a title that included “Stooges” and “Change a
tire”. Anyway, eventually we got on the road, stopping for a look up
the valley at Mt. Index. And then it was off into the wind on Ben
Howard road. Agent Louise put in a long, steady pull, and Per finished
up when the wind got pretty strong in the latter half. Much appreciated.
We arrived back at the park exhilarated by a wonderful day on the bike
with good friends, and fantastic scenery. A Perfect Ride™!
For the Laughers,
Bill
Photo by Mark of the Shadowy COGS Organization