10/6 - First riding day!
What a fantastic route…the trees are awesome out here…not much fall color yet, but the route took us through some great wooded areas. Pretty flat today, not too hard, but then there was the weather. It rained all day. Started pretty hard, even looking like snow after we got off the ferry, but it quieted down and we only noticed the cold when we were stopped at the well-staffed and snack-laden rest stops. I thought I was going to soak all the way through and freeze, but it really wasn't too bad except for the feet. Those bootie things must work.

It’s a really well organized event, and we’re really impressed. The logistics is put on by the company that organizes all the big cycling events in the US, and tech support is by the people who provide neutral support to all teams in all the big races around the world. Motorcycle escorts, vans, police escort into Trenton today, slick stuff.

The coolest part is meeting other riders, and though we’ve only met a few so far, they all have some story for why they’re involved in a ride like this. Brit is only 21 and a breast cancer survivor that traveled from Oregon to take part in the ride. Brent and I got a picture with her on the ferry ride between NYC and The Highlands. Then there’s Eldon from Oklahoma that races cyclocross…his wife’s best friend is a survivor, and she just got married in Central Park days before the ride. She and her new husband are accompanying the Tour as part of their honeymoon.

True to my road biking form, I fell twice. There were a number of metal-grated bridges to cross, and the rain coupled with the wind and my relative inexperience had absolutely nothing to do with either of them. The bridges just had a nice way of raising the adrenaline level in the "eminent doom" sort of way and not in the "wow, this’ll be fun" sort of way. One guy, Ted, fell on one of these bridges and broke a finger or two…he’s riding tomorrow anyway and is generally regarded as the alpha stud-monkey. No, my falls were less dramatic and far less called for: I just don’t always leave enough time to snap out of my pedals. Toppled over with amazing grace and beauty, exactly like a stack of dishes would if it were sheathed from top to bottom in plastic and lycra.

This ride is a great thing, and we're glad we're here.
Lisa Frank is one of the co-founders of the YSC and the ride, a survivor herself, and amazingly full of energy and encouragement for everyone. Besides that, she’s got the plan and keeps us all organized. I don't know who #23 is behind us, but I'm going to find her and shake her hand because that expression is just that awesome.