Jenny Ewing Memorial Ride Today - Atlanta

[cooper]

Here's a link to a local newscast of the Jenny Ewing Memorial Ride on the Silver Comet Trail this morning...

http://www.11alive.com/video/player.aspx?aid=58586&bw=

[Bikingmomof3]

Thank you for the link.

[Lise]

Thank you, Cooper, for posting that. It gave me chills to see all the men and women who came out for the ride. I was looking for TE Jenny Ewing shirts, didn't see any. I imagine Pedal Wench was there with friends--any other TE cyclists on the ride today? What a powerful show of the good in human nature. It cannot be defeated.

[Cindyloo]

I was there today and it was awesome. The ride was very well done and a real class act. I didn't notice any glitches or falls! First was the bike safety portion that the police/rangers gave. Then Jenny's sister said a prayer before the ride and we set off! We started at mile marker 4.2 on the trail and stopped at mile 14.2 for a break. There Jenny's son spoke about his mother and Jenny's sister spoke also. There were few dry eyes during that time. I wished I had worn my sunglasses at that point! Her son talked about how his mother loved the trail and all the little animals she loved to see and the people she met. He said that she "saw creation on a cannondale" (I think I got that right). There was a minute of silence and we set off again.

At mile 17 we stopped at the part of the trail where her body was found. Each person had been given a pink or purple carnation to take to the site. It was a sight to see, most of us with a carnation stuck in our helmets! Most of the cyclists laid their bikes down and walked up to the memorial site and then placed their flower down. There was much crying and everyone was so silent. Some folks stuck around and some set of on their journey either further down the path or back toward the starting point.

There was great comaraderie within the group and a somber but purposeful tone. It was a nice way to spend the morning. Props to the Cycleworks folks and Team Sorella for assisting with the ride. The police and sheriff also helped block the roads we had to cross. Some police and fire and rescue folks rode with us.

I wore my TE shirt and saw many others. I hope some of the other ladies sound off on the ride and other rides done in her honor. I took some photos at the ride. The first one is everyone getting ready in the parking lot, one of Jenny's son speaking, one of Jenny's sister speaking, the memorial, and me with my TE shirt on (taken after the ride, please excuse sweaty hair!).

[Lise]

Thank you, Cindyloo! It sounds like a wonderful tribute. The pics are great--I especially like the pup in the bugger!

[Bikingmomof3]

Great photos, thank you for sharing with those of us who could not be there.

[Patti37]

Thank you for the wonderful pictures and review. Although I could not be at the Ride, I made sure to wear my T-shirt on Saturday in support.

[Duck on Wheels]

Thanks for the link and the pics! It seems a very moving and fitting event. I wish I could have been there. As for not seeing any shirts, that may be because they are discreetly colored and don't scream out at you in a mass photo. Does anybody know if there are any left? I was too slow off the mark to get one, but if there's an XL still available, any cut or color, I'll send a check right away.

[midgetcycler]

PABadger and I rode in her honor today in Katy Texas. We used an old number from a charity ride and wrote on the back "A Woman Should Never be Afraid to Ride Alone" and In Honor of Jenny Ewing. We got a lot of questions about who she was but didn't run into anyone who had heard of her. But we felt good being able to spread the word. We talked to a few women who also ride alone during the week (as I often do) and discussed concerns of our own safety out there on the roads.

[Denise223]

Cooper -- Thank you so much for posting the link.

Cindyloo -- The pictures and your report were absolutely wonderful. I felt as if I were there...... God Bless all those who showed up in support!

Peace & Love,

Denise

[Jo-n-NY]

Thank you for posting such a wonderful update and the wonderful pictures. It was all so moving.

My daughter and I wore our shirts yesterday and I have to say that I cannot help but have a thought or two of Jenny everytime I am on my bike.

Ride safe
JoAnn

[Pedal Wench]

Someone shot this of us just past the start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_Mrugr5ePQ

It was a great and moving event. I'm struggling to find words to describe 200 cyclists moving as one, with one thought on our minds.

Thanks Cindyloo for the shout-out to both Cycleworks and Sorella. It was so nice to see both of our groups working together - the Cycleworks team did a fabulous job of setting the pace, and thankfully stepped up to the plate to handle things at the memorial site. Personally, I thank them so much.

We sold quite a few of our Team Estrogen tee-shirts at the ride, and the remainders will be back for sale as soon as I send them back to Susan.

[skibum]

PedalWench - thanks for the video. It was great, as always, working with you on this ride.

Cindyloo - great pictures and awesome report. I don't know that there's much more I can add to describe the experience.

I was one of the Cycleworks riders that worked with PedalWench's Sorella team to lead the ride and to try to keep all the participants safe (as well as watching out for non-participants that were on the trail). That was a great experience and I was honored to be a part of it.

It was such a moving event, I have a hard time putting it to words. It seemed to start off as a community of cyclists coming together to share our love of the trail and of riding in general. At the beginning of the ride, you could hear everyone chatting, maybe making new friends or re-connecting with old ones. As we got closer to the memorial site, everyone got quiet and the mood turned a little more somber as we reflected on the real reason we have come together that day.

Just before we reached the memorial site, I noticed a group of men standing by the side of the trail holding their bikes. I thought they had seen us coming and just got out of the way. Then I realized that they were holding their helmets over their hearts as we went by. Talk about a lump in the throat moment.

[Pedal Wench]

I realized that this was my first time back on the trail since this happened. At one point, our lead-out ranger had to stop because an intersection wasn't being controlled, so a few of us rode on ahead to make sure all the upcoming intersections were being controlled, to let the officers who were controlling know we were approaching, and to let other trail-users know that we were coming up. For those few miles, I was just riding, like I used to. The sun was shining, the weather was cool, and I was flying. Then I looked down and saw the purple flower for the memorial, stuck in my brake cables. I realized that at least Jenny was doing what she loved, and for that moment, I shared that love.

[Lise]

Just before we reached the memorial site, I noticed a group of men standing by the side of the trail holding their bikes. I thought they had seen us coming and just got out of the way. Then I realized that they were holding their helmets over their hearts as we went by. Talk about a lump in the throat moment.

I can't view the video from the computer at work, but I'll watch it when I get home tonight. Thank you for telling us about the men at the side of the trail. It gives me chills. We forget, or rather, I'll say I forget sometimes that men also feel horrified, helpless, wrenched with sorrow when women are assaulted or killed. I'm grateful to you all, and to that group of men, for reminding me that we're all in this together.

IFor those few miles, I was just riding, like I used to. The sun was shining, the weather was cool, and I was flying. Then I looked down and saw the purple flower for the memorial, stuck in my brake cables. I realized that at least Jenny was doing what she loved, and for that moment, I shared that love.

What a wonderful observation, PW. At least Jenny was doing what she loved. Blessings to all, Lise