Each day we have faced and overcome challenges. We know bike infrastructure isn't great across the US and this is one of the many reasons we ride. We also know that because of poor infrastructure and safety concerns, many women don't ride. For now, we are riding on their behalf. We are challenging the Polar Vortex type weather (by now, you know I can't stop talking about the cold) to show that cycling is a great source of transportation.
Day 1 - Icy snow covered bike paths, park trails and pedestrian paths, with some pretty interesting debris. Really, New Jersey....that's how you roll? We helped each other and made it to a safe road. (We also had an awesome two woman team from Woman Tours to provide SAG support when needed. THANKS!) However, we all arrived in Philly.
Day 2 - The cold continued its hold but the wind died down a bit and of course, the wonderful folks at Coffee Station (Morton, PA) were there to provide a warm place to relax and refuel (BACON stop) from those brutal PA hills. Both of their locations provided amazing service. Oh and I can't forget to thank Freddie (also a native Californian) at Burrito Bandido, in Wilmington, DE, for some amazing lunchtime grub. But, we all arrived in Newark, DE.
Day 3 - Another cold morning but by now, cold is relative. 20 is way better than 10, and the high for today is above the freezing mark. Unfortunately, we had a little issue with road rash (not sure about road rash?, I have plenty, just ask me sometime and I'll show you, fortunately today's was not mine) and had to cut our mileage short for the day, even before some of us started. Again, the wonderful ladies from Woman Tours were there to provide support. We are in Baltimore and ready to ride tomorrow to the US Capitol.
I've received two amazing messages on this trip. One was a woman who saw us in New Jersey and was so inspired by our 'purple' sisterhood (thank you Pearl Izumi for helping us stand out in a crowd!), she went out on her lunch break and bought a new bike. The other was a SoCal resident who was so motivated by our story, she rode in a rain storm. Trust me, I'm a native Californian, this is a big deal. They rarely get rain and generally park their bikes because they are certain tomorrow will be sunny! RIDE ON ladies and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
We will end with a statement tomorrow (you know DC is all about the statement). Our little group will expand, in numbers, for the ride into Washington, DC. If you're in the area, meet us at the Silver Diner in Greenbelt, MD, (6040 Greenbelt Rd) and help us celebrate this great adventure. Meetup time is 1pm, we roll at 130pm.
Hope to see you on the road soon!
@DCxFitChic
BTW....I've committed to 30 Days of Biking in April. Yes, that means biking every single day during the month of April, regardless of weather. This trip has taught me that any weather can be handled with the right apparel. JOIN ME, it will be fun!
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