This year's ride was a good example of how the weather forecasters can be overruled in a hurry. Nobody saw it coming, an early morning shower, and I heard it was accompanied with thunder and lightning in Columbus (I was in Mount Vernon Friday night). Even though it was over by 8:00AM in Knox County, the rain was enough to dampen the fortitude of many of our riders. Yet, for about 135 cyclists, Knox County offered another challenging and beautiful ride this year. The sun hid out most of the day, only appearing to riders still out in the late afternoon. With overcast skies and temperatures in the 70's it really was a great day for hills.

Many of the riders who come out for Knox County are in training for Columbus Fall Challenge, and I've always heard that if you can do the long routes for KCBC, you can do CFC. This year I got to ride the second half of the century route (the part in Holmes County), and I was surprised at how hard it was. I always thought the hard hills were in Coshocton (Tunnel Hill and Water Tower Hill), but those Amish country hills are harder than they look! Ever thought you were going downhill yet you're wondering how come you have to peddle so hard? It's like an MC Escher bike route!

Thanks once again to Meg Literall and friends for providing the bluegrass music at the lunch stop (that was the strangest bass I've ever seen!). And many thanks to the volunteers who help make KCBC possible: Dick Seebode, Eve Holland and her husband Greg, my friends Brad, Chip and Jeff, Charlie Pace, Myron Rohrick, my wife Kathy and her parents Bill & Sue and my faithful parking duo Jim and Don. Thanks for your help guys, you keep us going!