Santiam Spokes Saturday Ride: Lebanon to Brownsville 01-22-11

Finally a sunny day...after a grey start. 13 Riders started at the hospital and Al joined us out near Sandridge for 14 total. Roger and May showed up with the new (to them) tandem, a lovely red cannondale.
 The new Ride
We had a nice tailwind for the trip to Brownsville.
Jess
Hayden Drive
Self portrait
Dian
 We stopped near Sandridge so Roger could tighten his handlebars. It seems they suddenly shifted positions while he was going down the road. Not good!
 How many cyclist to tighten a handlebar?
 There was the nice climb over Washburn Heights which left me breathless and slightly wheezy, recovered and went on. Lunch was at CC's except, I don't think that's the name anymore.
Bill and Ron in Brownsville
 Spotted a couple more riders of another sort, and talked with a third who didn't make it off the porch before being accosted by a couple of bicyclists. Turns out when he's not on his Yamaha, he also rides a bicycle, and has rode the Strawberry Century a time or two.
Riders of another sort
Once inside we chatted with a group of restaurant patrons waiting for their meal. They were all a little older than Ron and I and they were hilarious. There was  a Mother in law harassing her son in law who was telling an oft repeated joke. It was apparent that it was a repeat because the mother in law commented on his need to get new material. They would later accuse us of taking their soup. Wasn't us, only Frank had soup....talk to Frank. :)

The view of downtown Brownsville after lunch. Brownsville is a mecca for all kinds of two-wheelers.
Main Street, Brownsville
The tailwind that helped us to Brownsville chilled us on the return. It wasn't a bad wind, more annoying than demoralizing. We ran into this guy out on Manning Road. What an interesting elliptical.
ElliptiGo
 Ron and I will see him again, hours later, on highway 34. His plan was to ride over the freeway toward Tangent before returning to Lebanon. Ron bonked on the return ride. We haven't figured out why this happens. He had eaten plenty, the ride wasn't long or hard, he even had a gel, which helped maybe a little. We fell behind the main group. Frank was with us. On Rock Hill Ron noticed my rear tire was low. We told Frank to go ahead, and let the others know we had a flat and would patch it up then just head for home. Ron found the nail, but as it was a slow leak we decided to top off the tire and try to make it home. On the way back we ran into Frank who had stopped along the way. I don't know if he ever saw the other riders or not. He continued back the hospital, while Ron and I limped the bike home. The flat graciously held out until we got home.
Turns out to be a small rock
Miles:   33.72
Time:    2:44:15
Aver:   12.31
Max:    35:63

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