Sunday morning I get up about a 1/2 hour before my alarm. I'm too excited to keep sleeping. Start the coffee, fill the camelbak, gather the gear, pump the tires, bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats and ESPN. Now all I have to do is wait for Pat to pick me up.
At the Veledrome we hook up with John Weller, John Thomas, Cousin Johnny, Scott and Dan. We reduce 6 cars into 4 and away we go up the turnpike.
We get to the trailhead lot just a little after 9 (I needed to stop for Gatorade) and there are bikes and riders scattered across the lot. You could sense the anticipation of the ride by how maticulously everyone was preparing their gear and trusty steed. After informal introductions we were on our way.
The group, made up of 11 people including Courtney and Bill, Jeff and Butch, heads out on the Broad Mt. loop. It was decided that rather than ride on the road toward the other entrance to the AS this would be the better option. It didn't take long to encounter the first delay. I must have jinxed myself the previous night when I pretty much bragged on telebutches thread that I haven't flatted in over a year. Just after crossing the creek I pull out of the water and hear the squeeky squeeky of a flat tire. Damn, go figure. 
As I take the time to change tubes I also take the verbal punishment. Of course, during the laughter I fail to realize I remounted the stinkin' tire in the wrong direction. More verbal punishment ensues.
Finally, we hit the Standard. We are about 1.5 miles in and have already seen a fair share of rocks when John T., one of the strongest riders I know, is all over the place. He dismounts, checks his bars for being loose, then checks the pivot for being loose, everything seems OK. Back on his 1st generation Fuel and again he's like a noodle on the bike. Upon dismounting he notices the bloody headtube is nearly cracked completely in half. The only thing, it seems, holding it together is the Trek sticker on the tube. Cousin Johnny and I have been teasing John T. that he's needed a new bike for some time (Johnny and I each have had new bikes since we began riding with John T. 3 years ago). John T's response was always, "I like to keep using things until they break." No doubt about it now, John, NO DOUBT!!!
It only takes about 3 more miles to realize who the hammerheads are and who the anchors are. How impressive it was to see the rider on that big blue rigid 29er SS just rip us and the trail apart. Jeff did his fair share of cranking it up in the front also. I decided it would be a good idea to be the sweep just to make sure everyone was OK :ihih: 
I can't say enough about how wonderful this day was for riding the American Standard. Plenty of laughter, like when Johnny's chain busted smack in the middle of the creek. The weather could not have turned out better. Incredible riding and riders. Late in the ride, Courtney the spin class instructor, darted up a jeep road toward the next intersection. This was at like mile 11, mile 11 for crying out loud and it was uphill. Are you kidding me - Pat, Johnny and I watched the rest of the guys jump on the gas and sprint up the hill to try and catch her. I still don't know if anyone did. All I know is I suck.
There were obligatory minor crashes accompanied by the standard leg bruise. I nearly got the group lost when the trail became obscure at one point. I had given up trying to find the trail and began walking back to the group. Then all of a sudden I look down and I'm standing on it. Whew, that was close, but of course I acted like I knew where it was the whole time. Pat toughed it out despite both his legs and his fingers cramping. I could hear Pat behind me mumbling to himself these motivational words...."Just F***king ride it!" You da man, Pat. :rockon:
Yes, a special day indeed. Thanks to everyone who came out for making this such a kickass day. Guess I can cross this off the Day Trip list.
Keep an eye out for Potty Ride 2: The Return of John T.