Brand-spanking-new "No-Moonlight" RIDE! This Sunday!

I just got the following notice from Harry, organizer of the weekly Sunday Morning RIDE! It sounds like the ride has been getting some new blood, including a member of the CoA Bike/Ped program staff. Badass! I know we have a brand new City Council member who can occasionally be spotted on the Full Moon Cruises, so it seems that more and more people from the City are showing up on our group rides and checking the scene out. Lets give them something positive to report back to their colleagues, eh? Maybe we'll get some better treatment from the system if we have more friends on the inside. Anyway, on to the RIDE...

With the recent popularity of moonlight rides, we’ve decided to roll with the trend. Join us on our new and improved Sunday morning No-Moonlight Ride. It’s just like a moonlight ride. Except there’s no moon. And it’s not nighttime. But otherwise, it’s very similar.

To those of you who might suspect a cheesy attempt to merely repackage an existing product in the interest of enhancing its popularity, I can only observe that it’s sad how cynical some people are.

Muchas gracias to Jason at ATXBS for his regular posting of our ride announcements. It’s working; we had more new faces on last Sunday’s ride, including Nadia from CoA’s bicycle and pedestrian program. Thanks to those folks for making it easier and safer for all of us to get around town.

My “other fixie” (a CL refugee) was back on the road for last Sunday’s ride. Tom at Buck’s Bikes performed yet another miracle by resurrecting my cross-threaded bottom bracket housing. If ya got a problem with your pedal-powered vehicle, take it to Tom and Steve. If they can’t fix it, it ain’t worth fixin’. By the way, this month’s Frankenbike is happening at Buck’s on July 25th. C’mon out, y’all. I promise, contrary to widespread rumors, you won’t fall off the edge of the world at 45th St.

This week’s ride will roll (as usual) from the Posse East at 8:20 on Sunday morning. (That’s July 19, just three days short of the new moon. Gotta try to keep the moon connection going.) In keeping with our new-found spirit of democracy, we’ll decide the route after we’ve congregated. Suggestions are encouraged.

Those of you who have ridden with us before know how we roll. For those who haven’t, please read the blah-blah below. It’s important. Really.

• Some of us are down with the fixed gear deal, but mostly we’re just about riding. Bring whatcha got and ride with us.

• Every cyclist is responsible for his or her own safety and well-being. We assume that everyone is familiar with basic rules of cycling safety and has enough hours in the saddle to feel comfortable with his or her ride. Use of helmets is optional (but highly recommended). Use of headphones, earbuds, Blue Tooth headsets or any other form of electronic distraction is discouraged. All traffic laws and rules of right-of-way will be observed. Here’s the deal:

SAFETY FIRST!!!!!

If someone gets killed, it ruins the ride for everybody.

• This ride is 25-30 miles long through mostly urban and suburban areas. There will be plenty of opportunities to refill liquids and obtain calories.

• IT’S HOT OUT THERE!!!!! Bring a water bottle. Bring two water bottles.

• There is no SAG support on this ride. Bring a spare tube and something that will inflate it.

• The purpose of this ride is for everyone to have a good time and (we hope) to become better cyclists. We ride at a social pace, and all skill levels are welcome. This is a 25-30 mile ride over flat to moderately-rolling terrain. If this is consistent with your riding experience, or is perhaps slightly more challenging than what you’re accustomed to, you should have no problem going the distance.

Come on, y’all. Get yer butts outta bed and enjoy the just-after-moonlight part of the day!

Veddy veddy nice. If you're looking to sweat like a whore in church BEFORE catching the late morning service and actually doing it, show up at Posse East around 8am and catch this ride. They roll at 8:20 so don't be late! The mornings typically start out pleasant but warm up quick so remember those fluids.