Parallel Classic

100 miles. That's the total for this weekend. Not bad for me.

Yesterday's spring teaser saw 74 degrees and a bunch of white-legged women in pink shorts. I needed sunglasses just to prevent the leg-glare from causing a crash. Naomi led a group of about 10 through the Mainline and out to Valley Forge. I turned off at Conshy, but still managed to log 45 miles for the day.

Sunday was the final stage of this year's spring classic, and I can't remember the last time I had this much fun on a ride. Ben, M and I took a bit of a short cut to avoid the dreaded Huntington Pike section and found ourselves at an awesome pastry shop in Rockledge. I won my only prem since the days of Jersey shore rides where Snodawg and I cheated our way to victory. I see a patten emerging. Two of my partners in crime, M and Steve:
The dynamic trio of Ben, Peter, and George, resting up at Pennypack:

After the customary Pennypack stop, we claimed Steve and the four of us took off on a mission to ride a parallel classic. After exiting Pennypack past Frankford Avenue, we turned right but blew off the customary left hand turn, opting instead to trust Ben and his GPS. After noodling around the Holmseburg section of the city, we eventually found ourselves on Aramingo Avenue which had a quintessential urban bike lane full of buses, litter, and possibly body parts.

Eventually, we wended our way back to Frankford Avenue, played "spot the hipster," and looked for the Rocket Cat Cafe which we found but didn't visit which I still don't understand 6 hours later. We made it to Delaware Avenue after an excruciating trip down a cobbled part of Front Street. My arms are still shaking. We met up with the others at the Constitution Center and then took off at an unexpectedly vicious pace down Market Street and around City Hall. It was deliciously dangerous.

I got dropped on the Parkway and then watched David and Joe fly past me on West River Drive. Halfway down the Drive, Kirk and some dude in orange and white came by and I caught their wheels, thank you Jesus. I went from 19 to 24mph in a flash and am convinced I'd still be riding around had they not come by. We rode through Manayunk and up the Wall. Ugh. I almost cried when I saw the convenience store at the top of that nasty climb and immediately pounded a Pepsi. Al, M and Ben arrived seconds later, along with the two orange and white kitted fellows.

M, Ben and I eschewed the Hermit Lane descent into the Wiss, choosing instead to drop in at Green Lane. Wise choice. The climb into Chestnut Hill was tame in comparison to the Wall but I was effectively finished. We arrived to find the lead group already ensconced in comfy chairs while smoking cigars and enjoying the rejuvenating power of beer. What a great day.