March cycling: In like the Lion of Flanders, out like...?

[lauraelmore1033]

Did the McClinchy mile ride yesterday, hosted by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County. This year it was a 34 mile out and back memorial ride to Oso, the small community devastated by a mudslide around this time last year. As I set out on my recumbent, one of the volunteers pointed out that my kickstand was still down. Then she asked if I happened to be Laura. Now, I'm always conspicuously different than the other cyclists at any organized event ,and I tend to mention it a lot here, so it was a sure bet she was a TE member. And that was how I met our own MMQFC!!
The ride turned out to be a soaker! I was tempted just to stay at home, but I had already paid for it and it was a special event, so I just decided to suck it up. The route stayed mostly on highway 530, which I didn't care much for, since Sunday seems to be a good day to hitch something to a truck and roar down the highway going 20 over. When I got to the mile wide debris field, I found I was overwhelmed by my emotions. It really made me feel small and powerless. And grateful and sad. A lot of things, actually. There was a food stop at the restaurant that still remains, but I was so miserable and wet I decided to skip it and head back asap. That might have been a mistake since I hadn't been drinking or eating at all up til then. I started feeling horrible cramps about 3 miles from the end. I arrived back at the start feeling very crabby, but a cookie made it all better.

[salsabike]

Did the McClinchy mile ride yesterday, hosted by B.I.K.E.S. Club of Snohomish County. This year it was a 34 mile out and back memorial ride to Oso, the small community devastated by a mudslide around this time last year. As I set out on my recumbent, one of the volunteers pointed out that my kickstand was still down. Then she asked if I happened to be Laura. Now, I'm always conspicuously different than the other cyclists at any organized event ,and I tend to mention it a lot here, so it was a sure bet she was a TE member. And that was how I met our own MMQFC!!
The ride turned out to be a soaker! I was tempted just to stay at home, but I had already paid for it and it was a special event, so I just decided to suck it up. The route stayed mostly on highway 530, which I didn't care much for, since Sunday seems to be a good day to hitch something to a truck and roar down the highway going 20 over. When I got to the mile wide debris field, I found I was overwhelmed by my emotions. It really made me feel small and powerless. And grateful and sad. A lot of things, actually. There was a food stop at the restaurant that still remains, but I was so miserable and wet I decided to skip it and head back asap. That might have been a mistake since I hadn't been drinking or eating at all up til then. I started feeling horrible cramps about 3 miles from the end. I arrived back at the start feeling very crabby, but a cookie made it all better.

You rode yesterday during our 2.2 inches' worth of rain! You get big NW courage points for that. No kidding.

[lauraelmore1033]

You rode yesterday during our 2.2 inches' worth of rain! You get big NW courage points for that. No kidding.

And the sun is shining today, taunting me...

[salsabike]

And the sun is shining today, taunting me...

I know. Also, I very much appreciate your comments about your feelings re Oso. Heavy on our hearts always, I think.

[Lelani Carver]

And the sun is shining today, taunting me...

Good job! It was for a good cause.

[lauraelmore1033]

Good job! It was for a good cause.

Yes indeed! I probably wouldn't have done it otherwise, considering the weather.
MM_QFC, it was a pleasure to meet you, and brightened up a rather dreary start!

[ny biker]

I led a 38-mile club ride yesterday. It was cold, cloudy and windy at the start, and I was not-so-secretly hoping that no one would show up. But they did show up, 12 people, so I added a few more layers and off we went. Mercifully, the sun came out after the first couple of miles, which took the edge off the cold wind. The route was pretty much a clockwise circle, so we were okay for the first 2/3 or so, then turned into a strong headwind for several unpleasant miles. Up to that point I was averaging 14 mph, just where I'd hoped to be, but by the end of the ride I was below 13. Even pedaling downhill was slow thanks to the wind. Nonetheless it was nice to get out on the bike, and I liked the route so will plan to ride it again sometime.

Later in the afternoon I learned that a friend had crashed while helping out with a big group ride that a local advocacy group holds each year. She suffered a broken femur, just got out of surgery a little while ago. We'd already been planning rides for later this spring and summer, starting with her birthday ride in a couple of weeks. I hope her recovery goes well.

[MM_QFC!]

Yes, she surely earned every soaking "big NW courage point", f'sure! Yep, I volunteered to direct traffic to parking spots and, it was only after I waved to the recumbent cyclist starting out, then called to her about her kickstand that I put the beautiful Bacchetta together with our own TE rider and added another greeting and hug to send her off anew

I was a sodden mess after being out there for 3 hours, so I chose to leave my bike to stay dry in my car, and head home. Kudos to all of the riders and even those who pulled up, told me that they decided not to ride but wanted to drop off a donation to support our Oso Strong Memorial ride - very cool.

Great to meet you lauraelmore1033!