New ride Sept. 21!

[salsabike]

Dex, what a great story! I love it. Wish I'd seen it.

PS Boy, does it feel like fall all of a sudden. Fenders back on. Even found the helmet visor hidden deep in a bag in the trunk of my car. Booties. Etc.

[NbyNW]

Just got back from running errands, and it's ugly out there.

I haven't yet outfitted my Rodriguez with fenders, so if this keeps up I'll be bringing the Dahon. I've been wanting to do something longer than my commute on it, anyway.

Dex, the kids' tri sounded like a blast.

[salsabike]

best goody bag EVAR.

[salsabike]

Jocelyn and I rode the 25-mile Girly route. It was a fine workout. You can't ride in Issaquah, gateway to the Cascade foothills, without hills. So it was a mildly hilly route for that area, with nothing hideously difficult, but with plenty of work to do. I loved it.

The food stop was great--PBJs, cheese and tomato sandwiches, candy, and I'm not sure what else, since I'm not a big middle-of-ride eater. There were guy volunteers at strategic places along the route, pointing out key turns and checking bib numbers to make sure that everyone who went out came in eventually. A lot of people putting in a lot of time standing outside, just to help out a new ride.

I thought it was well marked--maybe a few more marks would have made it perfect, but they did a pretty good job, including marking hazards like uneven manhole covers. The ride organizers said they put the dan henrys on yesterday, in the pouring rain--each time, they had to flame-dry the pavement, spray the paint, and flame-dry the paint. Wow!

I still wasn't hungry at the end but they were well supplied with tacos, I believe, and also I took some bagels home from the Panera booth. And some luna bars from the Lunachix booth.

And that goody bag! Full of stuff. Pens, a nice little plastic bag of goo that could be used as either heat or cold pack, a little first aid kit, tootsie rolls, a truly excellent truffle, a little container of cool bronzy mineral powder, several perfume samples, a water bottle commemorating the first annual Cycle the Wave ride, a good T-shirt, a bunch of coupons (REI, Helly Hanson, Road ID). I'm sure I'm leaving out things on the list. They sort of outdid themselves on the goody bag, I would say.

NICE organizers and volunteers. I thought they did a wonderful job, and would like to both volunteer before next year's AND ride it, maybe the longer route next time.

[LilBolt]

How ironic that my first post here is going to be about the first Cycle the WAVE. I signed up for the Burly Girl, but decided to take my fendered Salsa Casserol out for her maiden voyage on the Girly Girl route. I must say...fenders w/ mud flaps set you free! Despite the mucky road, I had no road grim on my legs after the ride. Also, with fenders on a bike, you give yourself permission to just enjoy the ride. Now...about the ride. Incredibly well organized. Volunteers & food were abundant! Also, due to signs posted along the route, you were reminded why we were riding...to support the Eastside Domestic Violence Program. I've participated in their Bowl-a-thon several times, and it was great to have an opportunity to support them while riding my bike! Kudos to the Lakemont Cycling Club, too. One thing that was amazing...I've never seen so many flats! Even more amazing, was how many ladies gathered around, helped & waited for their friends as the flats were fixed. I wasn't disappointed at all that I "only" did the Girlie Girl ride...it was just such a pleasure to do the ride and be around so much positive energy. This will be on my calendar next year and my friends and I are also recruiting our SO's to volunteer...the volunteers seemed to have as much fun as we did. The weather looks good this weekend, and we may take the guys out with us to follow the Burly Girl route and see how they hold up.