my first organized ride as a single
well. The ad said Leisurely 20~ mile ride on Historic Bike Routes in Seattle. It was the first one that didn't conflict with my schedule. It seemed like a great jumping off spot. He said there were a couple hills. well i can't get off my own street without climbing a hill, so I couldn't eliminate a ride based on that criterion for sure.
Weather was PERFECT. A sunny sunny day with temps getting into the low 70's!!
There were about 20 people on the ride. Most were about my age (60) but there were a good group of people in their 20's and 30's too, and a couple of really ancient looking folk. I have never seen such a diverse group of bikes and wardrobes. We had mountain bikes,vintage bikes, super duper light weight carbon fiber race bikes, touring bikes, at least 5 custom bikes, and two power assist bikes (are you serious?) and a couple beater bikes. The wardrobe variety was even better. There were the guys in the racing kit (one was on a MTB with shocks!), the lady who looked like she stepped out of Lawrence of Arabia, with her ballerina shoes and her silk gathered trousers and jewelry all over her hands. Her tattoo showed when she rolled up a pants leg. THere were people that looked ready for winter with raincoats that had hoods covering their helmets (4), and other people in shorts and short sleeved jerseys. I think if I had gone to this ride hoping to learn what to wear, I would have given up right there and then. All manner of shoes were there too. Bike shoes, slippers, birks, masai "barefoot" shoes (the ones that look like you stepped in too much mud) and all kinds of athletic runners. Most everyone looked reasonably fit.
So we were off, with me right on the ride leader's tail, one of the safest places to be; you can hear what he has to say and you can stay out of the muddle in case of trouble. He immediately showed us some hills, and 4 miles into this leisurely ride, I opted to walk up one of the hills (with about 1/2 of the rest of the riders). I didn't grumble at all each time Ms power assist zipped up the hill ringing her bell and passed me. I did think evil thoughts though. Mr Power Assist politely stayed with the rest of us for whatever reason. (Maybe someone already socked him for not breathing hard enough on a hill, I am not sure).
We were riding on what used to be the first bike riding trails in Seattle. They went from downtown to the lake and back. Only 1 small part (Interlochen) was still car-free. THe rest was all roads. We learned that Seattle had 10,000 bikes before there were cars. I felt rather pleased with myself when I realized that my husband Donald had never ridden on some of these crazy back streets and alleys. But I knew he had ridden most of them.
We upped and downed lots of Seattle hills, and had finally gotten to Lake Washington (after having to go down a series of switchbacks) when the ride leader got a phone call from the sweep. Rider down! some woman fell off her bike on the hill, when doing a U-turn to retrieve a waterbottle. So we all waited patiently for the rest of the riders to catch up, including Ms PowerAssist, who happened to be the one who fell down! (That's one heavy looking bike!). None the worst for wear, she continued to ring her bell and pass me as I panted up the next few hills.
We stopped for coffee and I sat there and ate my pnut butter sandwich. One of the older women (who I had previously attempted conversation with) looked at me as she walked by and said "well you look lonely sitting there" I guess I didn't fool her.
From Leschi on, I felt like i was in my own neighborhood, quietly chortling to myself as people discovered the sights and hills and streets, because it was not new to me at all. went back up the hill, and as we were going to summit on Beacon Avenue and then go up and down some more, I opted to leave the ride early so I didn't have to come all the way back to here, so close to my house. I did a graceful circle turn to peel off the rest of the gang and continued up Beacon and then to home.
I am reasonably worn out, and have clocked 19 miles today.
