Classic content: I did this on my 1982 Trek and 2 CR list members, Nick Zatezalo and Bill McGee joined us on a Sachs and the first Italian made Masi I'd gotten to drool over up close.
Of course the family on the English "Triplet" were an eye catcher too!
We are trying to promote more fun and novice-directed events at the shop, so I organized a mellow ride, for beginners. Mostly flat, with lots of bike path options and no hills if you wanted. If one chose to do the hill option, the total miles would have been about 26.
I have to give big kudos to both my boyfriend Ray, and fellow employee, Willie-G, who don't read this list, but deserve mention because they rode with the stretched out group and gave practical instruction to people on how to ride to the right, how to point out potholes and glass to the cyclist behind you, how to alert each other to cars, how to politely pass pedestrians and other cyclists on the bike path and how to negotiate cars at a traffic light.
I rode behind the slowest rider in the group, who was mainly slow as she was on a child's 24" wheeled, department store MTB (she gets credit for working harder than anyone!) and explained concepts such as shifting, holding a line and how not to stop directly in front of the cyclist behind you. I got to share her enjoyment and listen to her whoop and holler with each mile and skill obstacle overcome. She kept saying things like: "This is great. What a wonderful day. I'm having so much fun. I never knew this path was here." She was really grateful that I stuck with her for every mile and helped her understand how to make her bike work for her.
I started riding with a group at age 14, (pretty much era <g>) so I've known these skills for most of my life and I tend to take them for granted. Still, I always have a sense of wonder at the beautiful day, a feeling of accomplishment when I get to the top of the hill or make it back to the car. I don't group ride much anymore these days, mostly choosing to ride with my sweetie (who holds a nice line and is really easy to draft off of), but it was great fun to see that the things about cycling that are truly wonderful, don't change and are fun for everyone.
Ann Phillips, Atlanta GA oh my god, I have so much work to do on my bikes for Cirque. hahhhhaaa!