Saturday, May 26, 2012

We Meet Again...

BGLBC reformulated this morning, May 26, 2012, Memorial Day Weekend.  Fitting restart date in memory of our founder and heart, Ed McGrath.  It was a rather traditional ride commencing and ending at the OP Municipal Center.  The ride was initiated by newly-elected President John McGrath ("Johnman") based on a dream he allegedly had of Ed.  Johnman was actually motivated by the European turmoil with hopes that a ride today might prompt Ed to intervene to cause gold and silver to skyrocket...that kind of celestial market manipulation would please Ed...and allow us more time to bike...
Johnman was joined by visiting son and Democratic operative Kevin McGrath who was a terror on Ed's bike.  Bob McArdle joined and showed incredible talent on the hills.  Joe McGrath ("Viktor") took the ride in easy stride as he has logged tons of miles already this year.  The pasty white effect caused by the suntan lotion was a little intimidating.  In fact, a deer came rushing out of the woods and skidded on its hooves across the pavement as it sought to avoid Joe.  Neil Farrel was the group's backstop largely because he may have seen Johnman almost spill out in the 1st few minutes. Johnman forgot not to turn the bike while looking back...that would have been a rough start...Dennis No Relation McGrath ("McGoo"?) was in fine humor and looked to be in mid-season form.  John Curran ("Bighead"...thanks a lot, Ed) struggled at times to stay with the group perhaps due to the top heaviness on the bike...
We had a very nice 17.5 ride in great weather.  Not too hot.  Lots of sun. As shown below, we stopped to greet and pay respects to Ed who said again: "keep riding my friends".  To honor those who gave the last full measure of devotion (I have to restrain myself in not bringing up the Civil War), we also snapped a picture of the flagpole honoring veterans behind OP Muny Center.  The Handicap signs in the foreground are Ed's way of getting a laugh about how lame we are without him.
Now we'll see who joins us again and when.  But we will keep riding...until we meet again, my friends...