From: Dave White <dwhite7@...>

Date: December 15, 2007 3:03:31 PM PST

To: SDTC <sandiegotandem@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: [SanDiegoTandem] urban ride a holiday treat

We really enjoyed this ride and believe all SDTC teams would also.  SDBC invites all area cyclists to participate.  Requirements are a bike, a toy and a canned food item.  Most of the major local clubs were represented, in a peloton of over 150 cyclists, which remained together the entire ride.  By the way, the actual route is 39.5 miles (not the advertised 50) and we (and everyone) averaged a parade pace of 12.7 mph.

We would like to see this ride on the Tandem Club calendar next year, and believe it would be a great "special event" seasonal outing in mid December.  Besides the inherent qualities that make it appealing, the ride gives a unique and relaxed opportunity to interact with local cyclists - and therefore a convenient chance for informal Tandem Club recruiting. 

More impressions below.

Dave & Nancy 'Stoker' White

Begin forwarded message:

From: Dave White <dwhite7@...>

Date: December 15, 2007 2:48:20 PM PST

To: SDCBC <sdcbc@...>

Cc: Ralph Elliot <ralph@...>

Subject: [SDCBC] urban ride a holiday treat

How often do you have a chance to ride through urban and surrounding 

areas in a tight peloton of 150 cyclists - AND put a smile on a child?

The SDBC Holiday Toy Ride (the club's 20th, our first) today was a real 

treat.  http://www.sdbc.org/core/includes/docs/ToyRide2007.pdf

The spontaneous response from motorists and 

pedestrians-turned-spectators was overwhelmingly positive and in the 

spirit of the season, especially in response to the obvious mission of 

the decorated holiday entourage.  Hoots and toots and cheery exchanges 

were plentiful, and lots of ringing bells.

The gifts of toys and food were delivered at the Salvation Army, which 

provided a hearty snack table for cyclists.

A special thanks to Santa (aka Ralph Elliot), who really knows how to 

lead and pace a parade peloton.  The event demonstrates, to cyclists 

and motorists, one of the most effective uses of the take-a-lane 

technique.  The 4-6 wide peloton took the lane (where appropriate) and 

made effective urban transit.

This was sharing the road at its best - at a time and place where there 

was plenty of road to share, and bicycles outnumbered motor vehicles.

Thanks to SDBC for the ride, and to participants for all the fun.

Happy Holidays

Dave & Nancy 'Stoker' White (and Hairy, the orangatang)

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