Ryan's Climate Ride

I'm riding 325 miles this May to raise money to combat climate change

[rgsharpe]

Farewells

Hi.  My name’s Ryan, and I’ve been clean from ClimateRide for 30 hours now.

The end of the ride and the brief closing ceremony in the Presidio, followed by the menial logistics of grabbing my luggage (and mead), loading the bikes in the car, and taking off for home, was appropriately anticlimactic.  I’d only met 106 (if that) of the 107 other riders in the previous 120 hours or so, and the intimacy created by recognizing snores or sharing long conversations during grueling climbs contributed more to a sense of time dilation than to a need for tearful farewells.

Even as we left, there were three bicyclists with yellow nametags zip-tied to their saddles in the turning lane ahead of us.  I don’t know if I recognized them other than as someone with whom I’d once shared an experience.

So long, ClimateRide.  I’m looking forward to my next.

[rgsharpe]

Day five and the final mileage. Between getting briefly lost around the Russian River, backtracking through Fort Bragg to get to a mailbox, going off route to check out #heidrunmeadery (Best. Off-route. Ever.), and a few other wrong turns and side quests, I ended up coming pretty close to the posted mileage, even without the full century. Mount Tam really killed day five's average speed... So long, #climateride! See you next year!

[rgsharpe]

Mount Tamalpais loomed large (when it was visible, at least) over the last day, and everyone was happy to celebrate at the top. A quick (very quick!) descent brought us to Marinship and the mind-boggling Bay Model, before lunch and a run through Sausalito and to the Golden Gate Bridge. After that, we descended to Crissy Field in the Presidio and said our goodbyes. Thanks, #climateride. It was an adventure I'll never forget, for a goal I'll always support.

[rgsharpe]

This one goes out to the Team SABA captain, Mel. I first met him at the Bike Kitchen some years ago and found his energy and inspiration inexhaustible. I was glad when he joined me on the SABA Board and knew I wouldn’t be able to say no when he asked me to join him on #climateride.

Throughout the journey, I was staring at his backside, often as it walked away from me on a hairy climb or took a downhill corner ten miles faster than I thought possible.

Captain, my captain!

#teamsaba #teamstreetshoe

[rgsharpe]

Day four

Going with the “Bike to Work Day” theme, I busted out the SBK volunteer uniform: Kitchen shirt, sandals, and cutoffs. Along the ride, I saw the lovely Sonoma and Marin County countryside, gorgeous Tomales Bay, and found #heidrun meadery pouring some exquisite mead. I’ll have to come back better prepared to schlep home some full bottles…

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

The statistical day four

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

Day three Not intending to do the century option gave me plenty of psychic headroom to enjoy the ride and notice the small stuff, like a fittingly inspiring bumper sticker on an unlikely vehicle and Caltrans bike touring signs I'd never seen before. The view of the coast from the bike was as breathtaking as from the shuttle van, though it was far more obscured from the ride's halfway mark at the Point Arena lighthouse. #climateride

[rgsharpe]

I've never had this much space to myself in a tent before. Duffel bag full of clothes and stuff like books and my bike lock, tomorrow's shoes and bike gear laid out in prep, crappy cheap foam pad that provides insulation but not comfort under my sleeping bag, and still enough room to do most of my stretching. A guy could get used to this. #climateride

[rgsharpe]

Day two

Crossed the Eel River a few times, passed Confusion Hill, jumped off the 101 onto Highway 1, including a Santa Cruz dance party atop Leggett Hill and inspiring poses upon our beautiful entrance to the coast.

A quick stop by the North Coast Brewing sales room for supplies, and then on to camp.

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

Day one

We left Fortuna and shortly thereafter got rained on through while riding through the Avenue of the Giants. Had a lovely lunch and better weather for the second half of the day.

[rgsharpe]

Day three by the numbers. Not pushing past the 70 mile mark was exactly the right decision. #climateride

[rgsharpe]

Before and after. #climateride

[rgsharpe]

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

Tale of the tape today. A bit longer than the posted mileage - I had to find the Fort Bragg post office to mail some postcards I’d been holding on to since midday yesterday.

I’ll admit that my legs were starting to give out, but then I came across a two mile long, pancake flat trail into Fort Bragg and immediately almost got doored. Urban, flat riding? It was just the recharge I needed to make it the final ten miles to camp.

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

I’ve never said this publicly because I wanted the action to be apolitical and anonymous, but I helped install the first batch of ghost bikes in Sacramento shortly after I joined the SABA Board.

While pedaling south out of Fort Bragg, I caught this ghost bike. Jacob Howard, 37, died last year on Highway 1 in a hit-and-run.

He was my age. Like I would, he left behind parents and children. My work with SABA won’t do much to help cycling conditions in Mendocino, but we can certainly help make sure Sacramento doesn’t need any more ghost bikes.

You can still donate to SABA through me and ClimateRide at http://support.climateride.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=3950. Please help.

#climateride

[rgsharpe]

#climateride village, the day before the big festivities!

[rgsharpe]

On the road to Fortuna. Bikes loaded up, open road, Mel navigating, Melissa driving. Next stop: ClimateRide!