Despite the optimal placement of the trash, recycle and compost bins at the edge of the driveway, ensuring a harmonious alignment of the Universe and our Thursday-morning ride, Kevin couldn’t make it due to a pretty bad nights sleep from his apparent kidney stone. So just me, the other Kevin, JR, Eric, Marcus and Milo… and the return of Karl.

And yes, it really is getting cooler in the mornings! Saw mid-40s for much of the ride, which isn’t so bad when you’re riding at a good clip (pretty much always the case with this ride!). Since it was Thursday it was up through the park, but not too fast, about 30 minutes or so. Overall we got back “on time” though, at 9:22, probably because we didn’t need to regroup anywhere.

Regarding Karl, this is when he’s doing his own thing in the mornings, training for cyclocross, but he decided to come out and play today anyway, despite some broken ribs from a race crash. We were kind and didn’t try to make him laugh.

Best of all, like most rides, I felt much better at the end than I did at the beginning. Definitely a great way to start the day.