Weekend Rides: Sept 22

[Catrin]

Yesterday was the Hope Ride, a wonderful charity ride that has been going on for a long time. Very well supported with so many SAG vehicles that we saw more of those than any other vehicles! There were over 2,300 riders at the last count.

Guillianna 23 and I met at the event and rode the first loop together. It was supposed to be a 24 mile loop, but it was actually 28.5 miles according to my bike computer. Very pretty route, even if we didn't ride past the "Garden of Armageddon" this year (it's been around since the '60s and was mentioned in one of Kurt Vonnegut's writings back in the '70s) The Garden is surreal and I had hoped to get a picture THIS time. Perhaps next year! They change the routes up each year.

The day was cloudy and cool, starting at 51 degrees and it didn't warm very quickly. I started out with a cranky knee and IT band so I knew there was a chance I wouldn't be able to complete my desired 50 mile route...and that is what happened. By the end of the 28 miles the back of my knee was starting to complain a bit, and my IT band was starting to go numb on me so I read the writing on the wall. I COULD have finished the ride, but at what cost? Wisdom overcame stubborness...errrrr....valor and I called an end to my part of the ride on a positive note.

The roads were delightful, I am always impressed by their condition. Certainly they all aren't perfect, but nice. They tossed in a few wicked climbs which was also fun, and I am not ashamed to say I walked one of them This was the worse of the climbs that came right after a bridge that forced me to slow down because of the "lip" area on/off the bridge and I knew I was going far too slow. I wasn't the only one to make that decision.

I loved this bus, pity I couldn't get a shot when the wind was blowing so you can see what is on the flags

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