What a fantastic day! Thirty-nine riders rode the newly revamped Community Challenge Ride on May 1, starting from the current Center on Normal Street in Hillcrest and finishing at the site of what will be the new Center on Centre Street only one block away. Only they didn't take the most direct route, that's for sure! The signs and markings placed by Scott Borden and Chuck Petersen took them all over kingdom come, or at least San Diego county. "Trust me," Scott wrote on one particularly obscure road in San Marcos.
Our own Philip Erdelsky and Cliff Brown designed and thoroughly tested the new 25, 50 and 100-mile routes, which won rave reviews from CCR participants. Ten riders did the 25-miler, six did 50, and 23 did 100.
CCR coordinator Tina Tenecki and Center Executive Director Karen Marshall acknowledged the major contribution of Rainbow Cyclists for the course design and training rides; Philip for all his work on the very slick www.challengeride.org, and Cliff for his leadership on course safety. For raising the most pledge money, Rainbow Cyclist Debbie Chaddock received the free Reno Air round-trip ticket to anywhere they fly (lessee where does Sandra Bullock live again?) as well as a free one-year membership to Family Fitness. Maybe now she can finally get in shape.
Patti Brown and Debbie Chaddock would also like to thank Dan Buker for expediting their journey up the beautiful coast, inland from Oceanside to San Marcos, and down through Escondido to Poway. His absence during the last four "headwind-enhanced" miles was duly noted, however...
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As we go to press, we have just completed the 1999 Challenge Ride. I had a great time riding the century with Debbie and Patti. The route was quite varied and led us to several places we've never been before in San Diego County. The SAG stops were well-stocked with cheerful people attending them. We had many Rainbow Cyclists members either on the ride or working as staff or crew. I can't list everyone right now, but there are two members that must be mentioned: Cliff Brown and Philip Erdelsky. While recovering from a hip fracture (yes, bicycle-related) Cliff spent many hours doing logistics and route planning for the ride. Philip worked on route planning, drew the detailed route maps, maintained the ride's web site and still found time to keep an eye on our membership and the club's finances. Thanks, guys, for putting in so much effort for such a great event! |
I said I'd ride this year if they made the ride easier, or if I got younger, and I didn't know which was more likely. I'm not any younger, but they did make the ride easier! So I rode the 50-mile route. Four of us managed to stay together and cross the finish line together. Thanks to the Gay Student Union at UCSD for running SAG stop number 1 on the campus, and to Pride for running the SAG stop at Jerabek Park in Scripps Ranch. Thanks to Mother Nature for providing good weather on the day of the ride. Thanks to the Center Board of Directors for their marvelous foresight. If they hadn't revised the ride, a lot of riders would have been riding through the backcountry in the wind and rain on Thursday and Friday. |