Big Ride 4 - 2008

Big Ride 4 was a big success this year. For the first time three riders finished. This year Rick Pepper and Stuart Wilson joined me for the ride. We covered roughly the same route as last year. The weather cooperated with a beautiful day on the coast and we finished the ride in less than 11 hours, about 1 hour faster than last year. The ride raised nearly $8000 for the JCEP scholarship and library programs in Juarez, with more money still coming in. Thanks to everyone that pledged money this year.

We started the ride at 6:30 AM on Sunday, September 21st, the day after my 49th birthday. The formula is to ride 200 miles minus my age, so this year’s ride was a scheduled 151 miler. It was a little foggy on the coast as we headed over the Santa Cruz Mountains toward San Gregorio. By the time we made it to our first rest stop in Santa Cruz, the sun had come out. (Early morning start below)

We did not know that the Santa Cruz triathlon was the same day, so as we made it to the edge of Santa Cruz, nice police officers kept waiving us through intersections thinking we were part of the event. Rick had spot of bother with a puncture, so we got to watch bikes go by as he changed it.

My wife, Pat met us at the Santa Cruz Warf with the Element full of sandwiches, Gatorade and other snacks. We refueled and then threaded our way through Santa Cruz, Aptos and towns south to Pajaro.

We took a quick break at a convenience store near mile 92 in Pajaro, for more water and energy drinks. Rick had a Red Bull. Then we were off to the mountains of Aromas. It is a steep climb up, but the downhill through the eucalyptus tree groves is invigorating. (Rick hams it up on the Aromas downhill with Scott and Stuart in background below.)

Next, we headed across the fields to our 120-mile rendezvous with Pat outside of Hollister. More fuel consumed, we began the last and hardest leg of our journey to Morgan Hill. It seems flat, but Stuart’s Garmin told us later that the last 30 miles are slightly uphill. Combine that with a steady headwind and the fatigue of the ride and our average speed was dropping.

We finally made it to the end in a parking lot near the McDonalds on Cochrane in Morgan Hill. French fries and large Cokes never tasted so good. We loaded the bikes and headed back to Menlo Park for showers and dinner at Chevy’s. (With ride ride behind them Scott, Stuart and Rick pose for the victory photo below.)

I want to thanks Rick and Stuart for being part of our cause and for setting the pace all day. The ride goes so much faster with friends. Thanks too to all those who gave money to sponsor the ride and continue to support our efforts in Juarez. This year’s immersion trip for our to graduates from Juarez would have never happened without that kind of support on past rides. Those girls will live a better life because of it.