TimB
06-27-2005, 08:48 AM
Hey, I get to start a Ride Report thread!
Ride reports! It’s been a long time since I’ve managed to sneak in two rides in one weekend, but I finally managed to do it. The 2.5 years since Sophia was born I’ve probably ridden 95% of my miles alone (not counting RAGBRAI, when I was with 10,000 of my closest friends). Sunday’s ride was just 26 miles, I had a boat-load of other tasks to get done at home, so had to be back before lunch.
Saturday's ride was even shorter, though more fulfilling. I hooked up the Burley to my old Performance brand rigid mountain bike. How old? It has a 1-inch steerer and 7-speed STX rapid fire shifters. I filled the back of the Burley with Sophia’s bag (towel, change of clothes, diaper bag, snacks), my gym bag, and the pool toys. Got Sophia inside and away we went. It’s only about 5 miles to the YMCA from our house, half of it along Beach Drive though Rock Creek Park. So, after about 2 miles, just after we’d passed though a stop sign, we get caught by a fairly large group of riders from one of the local teams. Methinks they were from Too Tall’s team, or at least several of the guys were wearing the team kit. So I shift to a slightly taller gear and hang in with them. There were no complaints, no aggressive moves to block us out, and we settled in maybe 2/3 of the way back in the paceline. Then the payoff – one of the guys from behind rides up alongside me (after checking in on Sophia) and says, “I hope we’re not slowing you down too much.” I suppose it could have meant, “Get the 7734 out of the way,” but that’s not how it seemed at all. It was a very welcoming message, and if I dare say, one of respect, that some dude on an old mountain bike towing 60 lbs of trailer and toddler was suddenly okay in their midst.
I suppose the most important thing about this for me was just feeling once again a part of the cycling culture – an insider, if that makes sense – instead of being another road hazard. And it speaks loads to the qualities of the riders on the team - I wouldn't have expected such a congenial reception from any group of fast recreational riders.
We rode with them for about a mile, until we had to turn off to get to the Y. I had a nice heavy weight workout while Sophia was in the babysitting service, then we splashed around a little in the Kiddie Pool before heading for home. Ten miles round trip, but a morning wonderfully spent
Ride reports! It’s been a long time since I’ve managed to sneak in two rides in one weekend, but I finally managed to do it. The 2.5 years since Sophia was born I’ve probably ridden 95% of my miles alone (not counting RAGBRAI, when I was with 10,000 of my closest friends). Sunday’s ride was just 26 miles, I had a boat-load of other tasks to get done at home, so had to be back before lunch.
Saturday's ride was even shorter, though more fulfilling. I hooked up the Burley to my old Performance brand rigid mountain bike. How old? It has a 1-inch steerer and 7-speed STX rapid fire shifters. I filled the back of the Burley with Sophia’s bag (towel, change of clothes, diaper bag, snacks), my gym bag, and the pool toys. Got Sophia inside and away we went. It’s only about 5 miles to the YMCA from our house, half of it along Beach Drive though Rock Creek Park. So, after about 2 miles, just after we’d passed though a stop sign, we get caught by a fairly large group of riders from one of the local teams. Methinks they were from Too Tall’s team, or at least several of the guys were wearing the team kit. So I shift to a slightly taller gear and hang in with them. There were no complaints, no aggressive moves to block us out, and we settled in maybe 2/3 of the way back in the paceline. Then the payoff – one of the guys from behind rides up alongside me (after checking in on Sophia) and says, “I hope we’re not slowing you down too much.” I suppose it could have meant, “Get the 7734 out of the way,” but that’s not how it seemed at all. It was a very welcoming message, and if I dare say, one of respect, that some dude on an old mountain bike towing 60 lbs of trailer and toddler was suddenly okay in their midst.
I suppose the most important thing about this for me was just feeling once again a part of the cycling culture – an insider, if that makes sense – instead of being another road hazard. And it speaks loads to the qualities of the riders on the team - I wouldn't have expected such a congenial reception from any group of fast recreational riders.
We rode with them for about a mile, until we had to turn off to get to the Y. I had a nice heavy weight workout while Sophia was in the babysitting service, then we splashed around a little in the Kiddie Pool before heading for home. Ten miles round trip, but a morning wonderfully spent