First Annual Cycle the WAVE (Women Against Violence Everywhere)

[salsabike]

This is a new women's ride to support the Eastside Domestic Violence Program.

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.
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[Biciclista]

That really does sound like a nice ride. I hope i can join you next year too! Nice ride report!

[salsabike]

2,000 feet of climbing total on this route. MUCH more on the metric.

[NbyNW]

Great ride report!

I will add to that: readily available bananas and oranges;

lots of good karma among fellow riders;

way more free food than I knew what to do with;

VERY impressed with route markings after yesterday's weather. About halfway through I just stopped looking at my ride card altogether -- no big loss, as the odometer wasn't working anyway;

and +1 on the goody bag. I love a goody bag that has stuff I will use.

Have you tried the heat pack yet? DH is loving it; his shoulders are all clenched up from the last week at work.


And to think that if I had stayed home I would have dejectedly looked out the window at those gray skies, but it was plenty bright while we were out there, if a bit overcast and sprinkly.

Did anyone do the Burly Girl ride?

[Susan126]

I rode the burly girl course. It was very HILLY! I got my quota of climbing on yesterday's ride, that's for sure. Even with on and off again rain, wet roads, and HILLS it was a great ride. The rest stops were great. All manned by wonderful volunteers. The food super yummy. Watermelon, oranges, and pita bread with humis and black olives, pbj sandwiches. Yum. I did enjoy the last 10% descent near the end of the ride. 2.5 miles of scary but at the same time thrilling downhill!

I loved the cheers and applause at the end and the little girl who handed me a ribbon that I will treasure always:





Elevation profile for burly girl and the descent!

[salsabike]

Oh, nice pics of the medal and the T-shirt. I like the ride logo a lot and like the shirt. And I love that little kids hand out medals at events. I get such a kick out of that.

I must say, the first third made us wonder if there ever WERE going to be any descents. But then we went screaming down Northup Way to W. Lake Samm, so I felt better. Parts of the route are the same as the round-Lake-Washington route we do on the tandem. It's the first time I've done some of those hills on my single, and was glad to see it didn't feel much different. I need to do rides like this more often...

[salsabike]

That little heat pack is great! I used it tonight on my shoulder (per PT's advice, I did more bilateral swimming today, thus evenly distributing the shoulder pain...), and it rode around the house like a little pet, never fell off.

[LilBolt]

Missed this thread and posted on the other one. Anyhow...nice touch in the porta potties at the start. Those who visited know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

I brought along a friend for her very first organized ride...I told her not to let this one spoil her...they aren't all this well done.

[salsabike]

Oh, good post on the other thread---you should move it over here!

Welcome to TE! And...what WAS in the Portapotties???

PS And I meant to say in my ride report above, that, yeah, it was great that they had signs along the route about domestic violence and about the work they do to help. I really liked that.

[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.

Above is my ride report post.

At the start, they had Dahlias in the urinals...I guess someone figured we wouldn't be using them!

[salsabike]

Dahlias, I love it. This is why I want to volunteer for set-up next year---I'd love to help keep it this good!

[Susan126]

I am putting this ride on my calendar next year too! I had a super great time! And I am also putting DH on the volunteer list. He was sad that he could not ride with me so next year he can help out! I guess I better go and tell him the good news!

[LilBolt]

I just registered for the September 20th event. They have added a kickoff reception on May 7, and are offering training rides this year. There is also now a "Middle Sister" 40 mile option. I'm not sure what else they could possibly do to make this a better event...unless, they can figure out how to control the weather & eliminate all flat tires.

[salsabike]

I am also signed up, for the Middle Sister route, as is Teigyr.

[NbyNW]

I just got an email reminder about this today. I've signed up for the Middle Sister route, since I AM a middle sister.