"Ride Like A Girl" Beginners CHALLENGE: YOU Lead ME! (about 25 miles)

Early Bird Option: I will be at the coffee shop 30 minutes early to share the 2013 Ride Like A Girl “Miles of Smiles” slideshow that I presented at the RLAG Celebration potluck. If you missed the potluck but want to hear a 2013 review of our adventures and progress, come have a cup of coffee with me at 9:00 AM. This is optional so feel free to come at 9:30 AM if you want to participate in the bike ride only.

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Okay, let's see if 3rd time is a charm and Let's Do This!!!

I'm extending our riding schedule into November to make up for a route that was canceled twice, once due to weather and another time so I could recover from an injury. I know many of you were looking forward to this one - as was I. So let's see if we can pull it off today!

"YOU Lead ME!"

About the Ride: Bring your NW and SE Portland bike maps! This is the ride that we were going to do last Friday after the "How to Read a Bike Map" lesson. We will meet in NW Portland at Grand Central Bakery and spend the first 30 minutes organizing and planning the route (note the 9:30 AM start time). You will be put into a team. Each team will be assigned a segment of the route and lead the group (with Carolyn's help) into SE Portland. We will work together and have loads of fun. Come out ready to learn and practice a new skill. I do not have any extra maps - please remember to bring the ones you received last week or stop by a bike shop to get one. If you didn't get one, we can share.

We will start in NW Portland and venture over to the eastside, including Sellwood, the Springwater Corridor, and eat at Cartlandia, the SE Portland Food Cart Pod that welcomes cyclists and offers endless choices of ethnic and Americana cuisine! Plan on 25 miles.

What is the CHALLENGE? We will be riding on roads, bike lanes, and bike ways. You should be comfortable riding in traffic. Speed will be 11-14 mph. Distance will be about 25 miles, one of the longest we have done. And then there's the obvious - you will be the leaders, working as a team to plan and lead the group through the route.

Many of you have been riding with me all Spring & Summer. We've learned a lot and this ride will help us put many of our new skills to use: cycling on bike paths and roads via bikeways & bike paths, riding safely as a group, practicing good ergonomics, planning a route, and having fun!

Points of Interest: Some of you had previously volunteered to research the following Points of Interest (POIs). Any chance you are still willing? Please use the Comments section to indicate if you are :)

• Reed College

• Eastmoreland neighborhood

• Rhododendron Garden

• Share-it Square

• Garthwick neighborhood

The Route: Well, now, that will be up to YOU!

Lesson: Cleats - benefits of and when to consider taking the step to using them.

Parking: There is a parking lot and free street parking. Consider carpooling to make it easier.

Required:

Helmets must be worn at all times while riding. This is a requirement for all NW Butts on Bikes rides. This is one of the basic (and simple) ways we protect ourselves from injury. Please don't forget your helmet!

Bring a right-size spare tube. If you get a flat, we can probably help, but you need to supply the tube!

Your bike must be in in good working order. If you're not sure, stop by a local bike shop and ask a mechanic to look it over for safety and basic ridability. Western Bikeworks on NW 17th and NW Lovejoy is one of many friendly shops that are happy to do this. Anything more technical than a flat and you may need to walk the route or call someone for help. Let's do our best to avoid those scenarios by having your bike in good shape!

Cell phone Never go on a ride without one!

No ear buds please

Strongly recommended:

Riding/cycling gloves helps keep a good grip in spite of perspiration; protects your hands from blistering, and protects your skin in the unlikely event of a fall.

Sun/riding glasses (protection yourself from the sun and little flying bugs that can wreck your vision in an instant!)

Water: Available at the bakery- just remember to bring your bottle.

Restrooms: Available at the bakery and along the Springwater Corridor.

Pace and Terrain: This is a beginner ride with an easy pace of 12-14 mph. This is a comfortable riding speed for new cyclists and beginners. It is mostly flat on both paved bike trails and roads. Using the scale below, I would rate as B2. For more information, contact Carolyn at ridelikeaPDXgirl@gmail.com or 503-913-3534.

Ride Difficulty Scale For Road Rides

Flatland Windless Cruising Pace

· A 12 & Under

· B 13-14 MPH

· C 15-16 MPH

· D 17-18 MPH

· E 19-20 MPH

· F 21-23 MPH

Terrain/Climbing Rating

· 1 = Flat

· 2 = Flat/Rolling

· 3 = Rolling

· 4 = Rolling / Hilly

· 5 = Hilly

· 6 = Hilly Mountainous

· 7= Mountainous

Weather Policy: This ride will only cancel for heavy rain. Light showers are no big deal, especially for such a short ride. Consider wearing a light wind breaker type jacket if showers are in the forecast. (I can't tell you how many times that days with showers in the forecast turned out to be dry and beautiful.)

Ride Leaders: Carolyn 503-913-3534

Ride Like A Girl is a subgroup of Northwest Butts on Bikes Meetup group. It is a beginner cycling group for women who want to improve their cycling and bike safety skills. For more information contact ridelikeaPDXgirl@gmail.com