19 April 2010

Boston Marathon Ride

My friend J and I biked the marathon route this morning. From Boston to Hopkinton was nice enough, but the trip back was everything I had hoped it would be. The roads were closed, the excitement was building, we even had people cheering for us, and inexplicably the weather was cool but bright and lovely. There were hundreds of other cyclists out. The police were cheerful and smiling and there were lots of wonderful volunteers setting everything up. We were back in Boston safely before the first racers and all in all it could not have been a better ride.

I'm happy to rave that my friend J rode her brand new road bike for her first ever long bike trip today and she did a great job the whole morning. Seeing how happy she was really made the ride for me.

There was one surprise - we stopped for a snack and when she saw my snack the wonderful possibilities of long distance cycling somewhat crystallized for her.

Yes, it's true, it's a RULE - if you're riding more than 50 miles you are allowed to have chocolate chip cookies before lunch if you want to. Even your mother will agree. So tell all your friends - ride a bike = eat chocolate chip cookies. It's pretty great!

8 comments:

cycler said...

I really wish I could have done it.
My week is crazy this week, and I didn't think I could drag into work so late on what for me, is still a workday. And unfortunately I heard too late about the midnight version.
Lovely day for it too!

somervillain said...

sounds like it was a wonderful ride! i soooo wanted to do this ride, but i had to catch an early afternoon train to NYC (which i'm on right now) and had too many loose ends to tie up this morning.

how long did the ride take you?

somervillain said...

oh, there was a midnight version??!! aw shucks, if only i had known!! :-(

MamaVee said...

what time did you hit heartbreak hill about ( on the way back?) so next year I'll add bike cheering to my long list of cheering all day.

Charlotte said...

We were done by 10 or so, going a happy easy pace. I have heard about this midnight ride, however the roads weren't closed 'till 9 so I'm not sure what would make that midnight ride any different from any other midnight out riding?

She Rides a Bike said...

We our bikes to a restaurant this evening and had appetizers and a bottle of wine. We didn't ride 50 miles but I won't apologize for enjoying my evening.:)

Riding the marathon route sounds so fun. My husband is doing the Louisville Ironman this summer and I hope to ride the marathon portion as well.

Unknown said...

ride a bike = eat chocolate chip cookies.

Its my life mantra!

jonallen said...

The BNB Bikeathons are June 20th!
If you really want to make a difference while riding with a groovy bunch of riders, join a Bikeathon!
There are 3 to choose from (15, 25 & 65 miles)

http://bikesnotbombs.org/bat10