Ride Reports October 2007

Ride For a Lifetime
Wednesday August 29th, 2007

"Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean."
-David Searls

It was with great sadness we learned of the passing of Mike La Padula on Saturday August 25th, 2007. He and his wife Betsy though living in Monrovia, were honorary residents of Walkersville for all the time they spent cycling from Glade Elementary School and on so many Wednesday Night Rides with the Frederick Pedalers. So, it seemed only natural that on today's ride we celebrated Mike's life by sharing our fond memories of the time we spent with him.

We began from Utica District Park as has become the norm for 2007 and rode over to Glade Elementary School. In that parking lot where we had met so many times before, we gathered our bikes in a circle and joined hands for several moments of silent reflection. Many thoughts were certainly of Mike and the numerous rides he'd both led and attended with the club. Other thoughts were of Betsy and the love they shared both for each other, and for cycling.

We then shared stories and memories of our times with Mike, which were rarely without Betsy by his side. Stories of his rambling nature when it came to cycling, of how he couldn't choose a route that went for more than a few miles without turning to explore new directions and extend the ride 'just a little further'. Recollections of how he liked to push the pace because he couldn't wait to see what the road ahead had in store.

We also affirmed that life is short and Mike showed by example that you can't wait around and just let life happen. You have to venture forth and see for yourself. So we did.

We left Glade Elementary and chose a well traveled route that we had done so many times before with Mike and Betsy. Along Glade Road, over to Dublin and up Links Bridge to Old Frederick. In a nod to Mike's need for speed, we split up and the rabbits headed out Old Frederick Road to Creagerstown while the remaining riders made their way back to Utica at a more earthly pace. Toward the end of the ride, we noticed a cloud formation in the shape of a bicycle seat. We agreed it definitely wasn't a 'comfort saddle' and that it must mean there is a new rider off the front of heaven's peloton.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mike, Betsy, and their families - for strength, for hope and for love.

Lake to Park
September 23, 2007 by Mike Procario

When we arrived at the ride start, we were greeted by Terry, one of our walking wounded and the originally scheduled ride leader. She is truly dedicated to cycling. Seven of us: Beth, Betsy, Mike, Mike, Ray, Ted, and Tom wished Terry well and headed out of town.

The weather was quite nice with some headwinds early in the ride, but they calmed as we went along. Several riders commented on the fact that they were not used to dealing with traffic lights as we worked out way out of the city. We were soon out in the country and made good time to Utica Park. It seemed odd to get to the park and not be done with our ride.

At my suggestion we deviated from the cue to sheet to take Devilbiss Bridge Road over to Hansonville Road. It seemed like a good idea until we discovered that Frederick Christian Fellowship Church had just ended services. We were going in the opposite direction from the traffic, but cars behind us found it very hard to pass. We covered 26.4 miles on a beautiful Sunday morning with no flats by me or anyone else, making it a successful ride.

To Taneytown Sheetz
September 1, 2007, 2007 by Mark & Martha Bush Anderson

It was a picture perfect day for a 50-mile ride. We started out from Glade E.S. with 11 single riders and a tandem. Jeff, a first time visitor, discovered a small hole in his tire sidewall before the ride start. Mark tried the old trick of folding up a dollar bill and inserting it inside the tire in an attempt to hold the tube in place. Jeff made it about 6 miles before he suffered a blowout. After a change of tube and patching the inside of the tire, he decided not to risk the additional 42 miles and returned to the ride start. The remaining pack- Scott, Brian King, Jim Ogle, Catherine Badger and her friend Anthony, Ray Gable, Frank Scotto, Harry DeMoll, Mike Procario, Mike Wilkes and Team Blair – Sharon and Tom on the tandem continued. We met Joan Wicks en route at about mile 10, so we exchanged Jeff for Joan to remain at 13 riders.

The one lesson we all learned- we don’t need any freaking cue sheets- nobody, including the ride leaders looks at them. Twice the ride leader made incorrect turns and the whole gang followed without question. It allowed for friendly chaffing. On the way home to Taylorsville team Anderson saw Jeff, the ride visitor, at the traffic light in downtown Libertytown. He was on his bike, he said he replaced the holey tire with a tandem tire so it will hold up better. So he was able to enjoy the late summer weather with a bike ride after all.