Ride of Silence

Thanks to everyone who came out tonight to this inaugural Montgomery ride. It looked like it went off very well. I found myself thinking about all the cyclists who have been hurt or have died, both in vehicle related incidents and otherwise. A little introspection is not a bad thing, and these people are all worth remembering. I particularly miss my friend Mike Lewis. I enjoyed his cycling company greatly. We lost Mike to leukemia this past year. As to the event at hand which focuses on vehicle deaths, we had some introductory comments by club president Frank Burnett, and then an excellent invocation by Cycle Escape team member Byron Scott.

For our 1st time out, I think things went really well. We have a better feel of it now and can make any adjustments for future editions that may seem suitable. I was pleased to shake hands with several riders who before had only been names in emails, or referred to in awe in conversations. You guys are all pretty cool.

The variety of bikes and riders was wonderful. i saw some very spiffy knickers as well as a vintage Gilles Berthoud bike. I HEARD the vintage brake shoes on said Berthoud at every stop. The riders did a great job at maintaining the silence, and there was only one crash that I know of. Our teen phenom forgot this was a road ride and not an attack on Swayback, and keeled right over trying to bunny hop something or other.

Thanks to the Cool Beans. I left with a fresh cup of REAL coffee. Oh, if only there were some fresh bagels too. Never fear, I will be back for some of those. Fresh bagels in Alabama? Who'd a thunk it?

Cameras from some media outlet were present for the ride. I'll post links if any stories show up in print or on line.

5/21/8: Two pictures taken by a rider are added. One, as we loop around the Capitol Building, and the other, looking back over some of the riders. Taken right around the Dexter Ave Baptist Church, where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was the pastor for a number of years, before he more famously went to Atlanta.

The Montgomery Advertiser has a nice color picture on page A3, and local TV 12 did a story this morning, here is a link to the newspaper gallery online.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DS&Dato=20080522&Kategori=COMMUNITIES010305&Lopenr=805220807&Ref=PH