Thanks To You, We Did It!
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I wish all of our blog readers could have joined us on the BORP ride today. It was perfect.The weather was balmy, everyone was smiling. (I had a massive amount of anti-inflammatory medications pumping through my veins to help squash my latest sinus malady.) The vineyards were fully ripe. What more could anyone have asked for?
As usual, there were all sorts of folks, riding all sorts of specialized cycles. There were the usual mix of elite athletes, mid range cyclist, and severely disabled people all having an utter blast. That's what's so great about BORP: it gets everyone out, doing something physical.
This year, BORP reached out to various cycling organizations, and we had particularly wonderful volunteer mechanics stationed on all of the routes. As we were getting ready to pull out, the volunteer mechanic on our ride was scrutinizing the bicycle-built-for-three, and tut-tutting over the state -- and unconventional size -- of one of their wheels. Sure enough, those guys had a flat within about four miles. And sure enough, with the help of that volunteer, they had what they needed to get back on the road.
The repair crews were superlative. If a rider stopped to do the smallest adjustment, a repair rider would zoom right up and make sure that everything was okay. After the ride, we got chatting with the super-nice and uber-hip volunteers from Spokeland (in Oakland, naturally). They were all really curious about the adaptations, and before long, I think every one of them had ridden Robb's trike as well as one of the BORP hand-cycles. It was hilarious and delightful to see a gaggle of urban hipsters having such child-like fun.
It was during this time that Robb stumbled in the parking lot, cutting his hand, ever-so-slightly. The volunteers from the American Red Cross were all over him, as he was probably the most "serious" injury of the day, requiring a single bandaid.
This image caught my eye. A pile of discarded prosthetic legs, not needed for the sporting events of the day. It says something that after six years of riding with BORP, I recognize those disembodied limbs...
There really could not be a more lovely setting than the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County.
The landscape is a beautiful mix of vineyards and ranches, with lovely archetypial farmhouses and barns, fruit-laden trees, and curious livestock. The roads are perfect for cyclists, and most of the traffic is agricultural.
So, thank you to everyone who helped us support the wonderful work of BORP. We could not have done this without you!
(And you know I'm going to say this, but it still isn't too late to make a contribution. Click here for the link.)
I wish all of our blog readers could have joined us on the BORP ride today. It was perfect.The weather was balmy, everyone was smiling. (I had a massive amount of anti-inflammatory medications pumping through my veins to help squash my latest sinus malady.) The vineyards were fully ripe. What more could anyone have asked for?
As usual, there were all sorts of folks, riding all sorts of specialized cycles. There were the usual mix of elite athletes, mid range cyclist, and severely disabled people all having an utter blast. That's what's so great about BORP: it gets everyone out, doing something physical.
This year, BORP reached out to various cycling organizations, and we had particularly wonderful volunteer mechanics stationed on all of the routes. As we were getting ready to pull out, the volunteer mechanic on our ride was scrutinizing the bicycle-built-for-three, and tut-tutting over the state -- and unconventional size -- of one of their wheels. Sure enough, those guys had a flat within about four miles. And sure enough, with the help of that volunteer, they had what they needed to get back on the road.
The repair crews were superlative. If a rider stopped to do the smallest adjustment, a repair rider would zoom right up and make sure that everything was okay. After the ride, we got chatting with the super-nice and uber-hip volunteers from Spokeland (in Oakland, naturally). They were all really curious about the adaptations, and before long, I think every one of them had ridden Robb's trike as well as one of the BORP hand-cycles. It was hilarious and delightful to see a gaggle of urban hipsters having such child-like fun.
It was during this time that Robb stumbled in the parking lot, cutting his hand, ever-so-slightly. The volunteers from the American Red Cross were all over him, as he was probably the most "serious" injury of the day, requiring a single bandaid.
This image caught my eye. A pile of discarded prosthetic legs, not needed for the sporting events of the day. It says something that after six years of riding with BORP, I recognize those disembodied limbs...
There really could not be a more lovely setting than the Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County.
The landscape is a beautiful mix of vineyards and ranches, with lovely archetypial farmhouses and barns, fruit-laden trees, and curious livestock. The roads are perfect for cyclists, and most of the traffic is agricultural.
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| Part of an amazing roadside sculpture exhibit. This is metal and mosaic and massive, |
So, thank you to everyone who helped us support the wonderful work of BORP. We could not have done this without you!
(And you know I'm going to say this, but it still isn't too late to make a contribution. Click here for the link.)
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