Providence Bridge Pedal 2008

We signed up for the 8 bridge pedal again this year.  There were huge number of riders in the start chute at 7 am on Sunday morning.

It is a chance to ride over a bridge covered in 4x8 pieces of plywood behind people sporting team t-shirts ("knit naked, ride hard)...

I did see Lisa, my old coworker out on the course doing the 11 bridge ride.  What a small world when you're mixed in 20,000 riders.

This was Heidi's first time on the bike since her crash back in May.  She was nervous but riding well.  But sure enough it was too good to be true.  Caught behind a rider who decided to stop in the middle of the road she decided to veer left onto some train tracks running parallel.  I saw it coming and shouted, "be careful of the tracks there!", but the words had hardly left my mouth and I saw her front wheel fall into the groove as she tried to turn and bam, she was on the pavement.  Luckily it was a fairly slow speed and no stitches this time.  Just some road rash on her left knee and shoulder, some torn skin and bleeding on her left fingertip, and a bruised ego.  We had gone over 4 of the bridges and after a stop at first aid decided to try doing the Markham at least.  But she was done at the top of Markham and we decided to call it a day.

On the bus ride home, Heidi talked about trying a tandem, that way I can do the driving next time.

Also, it was my first test run using a Garmin 705 I picked up on Saturday.  I like the auto speed, altitude, and mapping.  It's going to be a fun toy to play with.

Later.

Update 2008-08-11 3:20 PM:  I make many spelling and punctuation mistakes.