It’s time to highlight all those people who gave selflessly and contributed in ways large and small. I’ll start:
Thanks to (in no particular order):
Karen W – for staging herself in some great spots for photos (although she told me she ended up accidentally discarding a bunch of good ones)
Greg B – For chatting with me for many miles so they seemed much shorter
Boomer – Your incessant picture taking with the smart phone suddenly seems awesome after the fact
Rob L – Certain death without you!
Dread – Inspirational! Mr. consistency–riding just as steady & strong at mile 80 as mile 8. An exemplar of how it’s done.
Cyndi – You were the rider with the biggest heart and soul invested in this ride, and it showed. And it was contagious. Thanks.
Ricky – Thanks for the big smiles and indefatigable cheerfulness. You should come on every ride!
Subby – Likewise–keeping up the positive attitude from mile 1 through the end and at the Beach Shack, to boot.
Matt A – Thanks for rescuing us and guiding us home those last 8 miles or so. None of us knew where to go. We’d still be somewhere in Falls Church without you.
Tania – Thanks for cheering me on at every rest stop; I really appreciated it
Jabberwocky – Thanks for taking on the task of social ride. You nailed it!
Bob C – Blocking the street. Cold beer. Huge cheering. You, sir, are the man.
Kathy L – Commitment to our community par excellence. Nothing more to say but thanks
vicegrip – Thanks for entertaining with your kit; loved it. And way to live up to it by stealing that extra cookie at Spout Run. That was funny.
Jeremy C – Thanks for hammering up the hills so the rest of us didn’t have to
Paula – Wow! Polka dot jersey on 5th Street! The miles and hills fall back, and you just keep smiling. Thanks.
Vin, Chris, Matt, Shawn, Peter, Will – Thanks for making the extra commitment to take on leadership. I know you had to spend personal time to prepare. The ride could not have happened without you.
And, of course, Pete – You are the glue not just for this ride but for hundreds of us people who ride bikes around here. “Thanks” is not a big enough word.
I know I left some people out. Absolutely everyone deserves thanks for at least a cheerful greeting or a pull or helping with a mechanical or just being there to support everyone else. What an amazing group of people you all are.
If you have someone to thank or a story to share, please do so, too.
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