Cinderella has arrived

[Bike Goddess]

My envelope for the famous Cinderella ride arrived yesterday. Now to decide what to do. I'm thinking that IF I do this ride, I'll do the Challenge. I've done the classic ride many times and am a bit bored with it (not the people, mind you, just the same old route). The Challenge is just that. The climb up Patterson is hard towards the top, but other than that not a hard route (unless it's 38 degrees and windy like last year!).

Anyone else up for this segment of the ride??????????

[SadieKate]

If you're bored by it, why take up a spot in such a popular event with limited spaces? I bet there are a lot of beginning riders who would love to ride it.

[Veronica]

Isn't Cinderella the same day as Party Pardee?

Veronica

[maillotpois]

If you're bored by it, why take up a spot in such a popular event with limited spaces? I bet there are a lot of beginning riders who would love to ride it.

My theoretical spot is up for grabs...

[SadieKate]

Mine, too! I did it 4 times spread over nearly 20 years with the last two being only to accompany friends who were new to such things. It's a great first metric or century. After that, I went in seach of new pastures.

[Veronica]

I've kind of sworn off organized rides in general. Most rides I can do without the support. Plus hordes of cyclists always seem to have poor road manners.

Veronica

[jobob]

The Challenge route sounds pretty good.

[Bike Goddess]

In answer to why I might do this ride- at the end of February we have a training ride for Cinderella that starts about 25 feet from my house and which I have been involved with for the past 2 years. This year we are revising part of the route due to traffice concerns. AND some of my newbie friends may want to do the actual ride as well. They would probably be up for the
Challenge and I'd be willing to support them in that endeavor.

Cindy Sue did the challenge part last year. She can tell us if it was worth it!!! I've done the challenge part but not as part of the ride.

Anyway, I've already faxed my entry form to someone so if anyone else wants one please feel free to send me your fax number.

Veronica- I've pretty much said goodbye to organized rides as well although from time to time I will probably do some of the smaller ones- Merced ride in March is a good one as well as some later on in the season.

[BikeMomma]

Hi BikeGoddess and All -- that time of year again, eh? And hello!

Plug opportunity:

That Merced ride that BG mentioned is our bike club's own Merco Foothills Century on February 28. There is a metric as well as a full century offered, and is held the same day as a full day of criterium racing (the Merco Credit Union Cycling Classic Downtown Gran Prix....say THAT five times fast!) and family fun events, including a kids' race that is a blast to watch. It's a really neat day of cycling for us and a way to show off our good riding here. A bonus with the ride -- if you hurry up and make it back into town in time, you'll see the start or at least the end of the men's professional race that starts at 3pm. The gal ringing the prime bell might be me - best seat in the house.

But I digress....

I got my Cindy registration and have mailed it back already. BG, I am considering doing the Challenge, but with the weather unpredictable the last two years, I'm not really going to commit to it until the day of. Even if it's good weather though, I might not do it, as the Santa Cruz crit is the next day and I might just get talked into it this year.

It's something to consider though -- count me as "tentative."

~BikeMomma

[smilingcat]

I got my form yesterday too.

I enjoyed the ride. It's low key but last year I was chattering my teeth at the second rest stop. Freezing isn't my favorite thing. This year its one week later than last. Will the one week make a difference?

I really didn't see bad manners from the group of riders. Anyway, I'm still toying with the idea.

And hi Sarah. waving at her...

smilingcat

[jobob]

I enjoyed the ride. It's low key but last year I was chattering my teeth at the second rest stop. Freezing isn't my favorite thing. This year its one week later than last. Will the one week make a difference?

No idea. That time of year anything goes, weather-wise.

[Veronica]

What no gaggles of bikes stopped at every corner? No riding 2, 3 or 4 abreast? No one stopping in the middle of a hill with no warning and w/o pulling over to get off and walk?

Veronica

[jobob]

No one stopping in the middle of a hill with no warning and w/o pulling over to get off and walk?

Which caused the most amazing chain-reaction group tumble - whee!

(I can kind of laugh about it now because I managed to avoid it - barely)

[snapdragen]

smilingcat must've been ahead of the pack -- I've always been stuck with the shaky-all-over-the-road, 2 or 3 abreast, stop sign/red light running pack of femininity.

Having said that, I may ride the Cindy one last time, once I'm finally back riding again. It is kind of a rite of passage for new bike riders.

//and by the time I'm riding again I'll feel like a new bike rider...

[MM_QFC!]

I've kind of sworn off organized rides in general. Most rides I can do without the support. Plus hordes of cyclists always seem to have poor road manners.

Veronica

+++++1, V - although I'm not yet back on my bike (a car knocked me off it last year, while I was in a crosswalk @$#%!)...I'll continue to stay away from sharing the road with hordes of riders in order to avoid those few but often dangerous ignorant and/or ill-mannered riders (this decision came after riding in loads of organized rides all over, including 6 Seattle-to-Portland
1-day rides).
Tailwinds!
Mary