Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Group Rides

Group rides are kind of like bowling leagues. I remember when I was a kid, every Tuesday either my grandmother came over or another babysitter and my parents would go out together for the evening to their bowling league. I can make this comparison because occasionally, the babysitter cancelled and I would have to go with them. Of course, bowling was kind of incidental since most of the evening was about talking, eating snack bar food, laughing and gossiping. Sure, someone took score, but clearly it was a social gathering. In fact, the name of the league was The Good-timers. Oh, I am certain there was the serious bowler among them—probably a frustrated man who got irritated when a woman missed her time at the lane because she was busy finishing a story about a racy neighbor or how her son’s teacher’s skirt was too short etc. I am sure, too, that some bowlers spent an inordinate amount of time and money shopping and buying the best balls, shoes, bags etc., even reading about new technology and gloves that will help them improve their game.

To me, other than the activity being different and a moving target, group bike rides are a great comparison. Like the bowler who thinks she is one step away from pro, there are serious cyclists who grow weary of the chatting riders who slow down because conversation has become juicy. There is always a great deal of chatter, laughter, eating and, shall we say, ‘sharing’ that happens on these rides. There are the cyclists who get every new bicycle gadget as soon as its available and will talk forever about materials and apparel that they have studied in all of the scores of catalogs that are never-ending in one’s mailbox. Of course, some group rides are more serious than others, but any of them still offer a social outlet that I, for one, really look forward to.

The First-Ever, All-Woman, Girls Gone Riding Ride

Although cycling has become far more to me than just being the way I choose to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, I love being able to combine my love for riding with fundraising and my desire to introduce more women to the activity of riding. I am the team captain for a women’s team for the annual Bike MS: Round-Up Ride. This is the second year I am forming this team and I am hopeful to grow to my goal of 24 women this year. Together, we will raise money to help create a world free of MS AND havE THE TIME OF OUR LIVES THE WEEKEND OF mARCH 28-29, 2009.

Our team will be doing a couple of ‘events’ to raise money. One of the events is an ALL WOMAN Ride on Saturday, Feb. 21. The ride will begin at Safeway at Alma School and Chandler Blvd. The cost for the ride is $20 if you register before the ride and $25 if your register that day. Girls Gone Riding jerseys also will be available for purchase that day for $75.

There will be a 35-mile route and a metric century as well. Coffee and bagels will be available at the start, fully-supported rest stops and a lunch will be available at the end. Women of all ages, sizes and ability are invited to register for this fun morning. All rest stops will be staffed by men.

If you are interested in riding, contact me via email at Sheryl@girlsgoneriding.org.

I hope to make this ride an annual event that all women can look forward to.

More info to come!


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