Chicks that ride in silence

The event was held on a normal Wednesday riding night and right next to our normal meeting spot.  So we elected to join the Orange County annual "Ride of Silence".  This was a free event for local area cyclists to meet and do a ride remembering riders that have been killed or injured while riding their bicycling and promote safe driving awareness.

Becky, Chris, Theresa, Pat, and men friends, Steve and Bill all showed up.  We donned black arm bands and rode the short distance to the flag pole at the civic center.   We joined about 120 other cyclists from different clubs in the area.  

The organizer, Pete Van Nuys welcomed everyone and described the ride.  We would be riding single and double file in complete silence for 9.4 miles.   It was important that people use hand signals and take the time to reflect upon riders that aren't as fortunate as us.  Then he "opened" up the mike to participants who may want to share.

Different people came to the Mike and describe why they are riding and perhaps who they are riding for.  One woman was there with her husband and friends and riding to remember her brother who was killed in an cycling accident the previous year.  Everyone in her group had a photo of her brother on the back of their shirt.   Others shared more stories.  One guy came to the Mike and said he rides because of his dad.  His dad inspired him to ride and that the reason he was a professional cyclist today was because of his dad and his love of the sport.   His dad was killed just in this past year while riding to a large event.   He wished he could ride again with his dad, but felt like doing this ride tonight would be like riding with his dad.

Then those of us who had them turned on our tail lights and we slowly moved out of the gathering area toward the San Diego Creek River Trail.   We headed East on Alton where two motorcycle cops joined us and leap frogged from traffic light to traffic light holding the cars so our long line of riders could continue through.  Our speed was about 10 miles per hour and we didn't need to put our foot down for the full 9.4 miles, nor did we speak.  Really, Theresa's husband even bet $20 that there was no way she could do the whole ride without speaking.  It was kind of weird as you would look around at your riding companions and watching the astonished faces of the people we passed on the sidewalks and crosswalks and through the park area.

Some cars were annoyed at first and then in awe at the long line of riders stretching over one and 1/2 miles.  We eventually joined the Barranca river trail back to our starting point.  I think the thing that left an impression on me the most was all the different type of cyclists that met together to do this ride.  There were race clubs, recreation clubs, women's groups, mountain bike clubs, guys on fixes and even the casual bike commuter or two.  All different types already with something in common, coming together for purpose.  It makes you realize how small the world already is.   Plan to join us next year, it will be an event you will remember for a long time.

Chicks riding Dana Point to Camp Pendleton

It was time.....the weather has been great.   We've been working on hills and have built up some distance.  It's such a pretty ride.   Karen last rode it on her knobby tire mountain bike.  We had good intentions of changing out the tires to slicks that day, but the morning of our ride, we found out there was a slight problem.  (ask Karen about it).

 It would be Jeri's first ride on her new road bike an Italian design, Canadian made Cramerati with Shimano Dura Ace.  It's suppose to be a 40 mile ride.   Well. we can figure out a way for Jeri and anyone else to cut it short if need be.

The day started out overcast but we were sure in true Southern California fashion, the sun would soon burn through our June gloom that started in April.  We met about 9:30, so we could not have to be up so early and make the driving trek to Doheny State Park in Dana Point.  Jeri picked up Theresa and Karen and we met Pat and Stacy in the parking lot.   Tires pumped and off we went.

We elected to take the bike route through the neighborhood instead of the more direct route on Camino Real with car traffic.   It was a beautiful ride up and down the hills through gorgeous neighborhoods.  Jeri immediately learned how her new shift levers worked and spent the first five miles of our ride, shifting up and down her rear cogs.  She did a fabulous job, no one would be able to tell that it was her first ride on a road bike.

The cloud cover never did clear and the marine layer was so thick that we wished we had windshield wipers on our sun glasses as we rode along the gently breaking waves along the beach route.  We traveled South paralleling the train track and could wave to the metro riders as they passed by.

Soon we were on Old Highway 1 that was the main car route to San Diego prior to the completion of the 5 fwy.   As we rode through San Clemente old surf town we joined the bike/surfer access trail separated from the freeway.   Watch out for the surfers with their boards running to catch the trail down to the beach.  We joined back up with the highway and rode through San Onofre.  I didn't feel any hairs raise on my arms, but I heard there was some excitement there recently.   We finally came upon the San Onofre campground after a few fairly decent hills.  Jeri decided to take a break and enjoy the scenery as Karen, Pat, Stacy and Theresa headed on to the end.  

It was a fast  ride through the campground and it was great to see so many other road cyclists out getting a work out and enjoying being on the road.   Karen said it was certainly easier than her last attempt at this ride.

We exited the chain link fence at the end of the Campground and again picked up Old Highway one (Pacific Highway) continuing to make our way toward the Marine Base.   As we traveled through the tunnel, you could see the scrapes from tanks that had made their way through previously on their way to maneuvers.  There was a mock marine battle camp set up, that look like it was part of a movie set.  

We finally made it to Las Pulgas road where Stacy shared her cashew-pistachio crunch bits.  Pat described the Amtrak rest stop that would be set up here in September and we began our trip back toward the campground to pick up Jeri.

The heavy mist never really did let up, but we did not overheat.   As we made it back to Doheny State beach we noticed more and more beach goers decided to brave the overcast and enjoy a day at the beach.  Now on to find Wahoos tacos for lunch and plan our next ride.

If you weren't able to make this ride, you missed a great one.  See you on the road!