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I wasn’t able to make it to Sunday’s big Worst Day of the Year Ride. But luckily, Aaron Tarfman was there and shares this report:
The Worst Day of the Year Ride is not only a wonderful ride and benefit for the Community Cycling Center, but it’s also a great time to connect with the bicycling community. 1500 people came by to be a part of this ride which is the largest turnout ever.
In keeping with tradition, it was beautiful and only partly cloudy the whole morning. Only the afternoon riders saw a little rain towards the end of their ride.
There were dozens of volunteers contributing in many ways to make sure the ride went smoothly.
I talked to a couple of folks who came by on hand-cycles which allow the lesser-abled to enjoy physical activity. I truly respect these people because they don’t get slowed down by challenges, they simply find a different way to be active and enjoy life.
But of course the excitement really centered around the costumes. There were more amazing costumes than you could count. From cows, to bears, to bees, to zombies. The innovation in these costumes was really incredible. Of course my excitement didn’t stop with the people and costumes.
There were also amazing bikes, trikes, tandems, bakfiets, and even a velomobile. I respect everyone’s choice in riding what’s comfortable for them, and there was a plethora of machines out on the course.
The ride was also great and explored all of the interesting parts of Portland. Riders got to see all of Portland from the outer east side and Hollywood all the way to Hillsboro and there were plenty of ambassadors and flaggers to help everyone on the way.
Browse Aaron’s Worst Day Ride photo gallery on Flickr.
Did you ride? How was it?
This was my first Worst, and I had a really great time. The route was well-marked (except for the part at the NW REI where the challenge route split off from the urban route – the only signs I saw were the yellow arrows that took the urban route back to the Broadway Bridge. Fortunately, most of us knew where we were going – and once we were back on course and the Dan Henry’s started showing up, all was good.
We had a great time there on our borrowed ‘Bakfiets!’ The kids are already looking forward to next year! I’ll try and get our photos onto the npGREENWAY flicker page soon.
Scott
http://npgreenway.blogspot.com
http://flickr.com/photos/npgreenway/
http://www.npgreenway.org
What a great ride! We dressed up as ducks and a huntress – even with a duck call. The forty miler (plus) was a great route and I thought it was marked fairly well.
Thank you to all the crew, volunteers and sponsors! And to everyone that showed up to ride.
And, hey, we even got rained on for about 2 miles…just for the spirit of the ride.
Truly a great cause, but with things like the bridge pedal, reach the beach, OBRA memberships, race fees, etc. the 30 dollar price seems rather high, especially when dubbed “the worst day” ride. I’m glad to see so many turn out for the ride though. I know I’ll take some ribbing for this post, but a big part of my motivation to commute in the winter is to save money on gas despite the weather, 30 dollars is usually my weekly savings. On “The Worst Day” I rode 25 beautiful, uncongested, safe, and FREE miles on the Springwater.
Also, I noticed after looking at several photos of the ride that very few registration numbers were even visible. Is it safe to assume that most people payed, or do many just show up and blend in? I might not agree with the price but I certainly wouldn’t try to poach the ride for free. Just my 2 cents, w/ $29.98 in change.
I really enjoyed my first “Worst..”. I’ll be back for more. The rest stops were not as well stocked as the go fast rides, but if that means that more of the 30 bucks went towards the fundraiser YAY!, I’m all for that.
The Zombie Guy
I agree with J.M.
The CCC is a definitely worthwhile cause, but I had to opt out of this ride because it cost too much for my thin wallet. No offense to the organizers, as I know the intent is to raise money, but had it been 20$, I maybe could have swung it. It may not seem like much to most people, but that extra ten bucks really makes a dent in grocery money.
Glad to see everyone had a blast, and I wish I could’ve been there!
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for coming out to ride with us on Sunday. We handled more riders than ever, our lines were short, the weather was good (surprise) and food was abundant. Over 120 volunteers made the event happen.
We know that paying $30 for a supported ride isn’t for everyone, but fortunately there are a plethora of ways to support the CCC throughout the year. On top of that, consider volunteering for the ride next year. For a mere 2-3 hours of volunteer work, you can get into the ride for free.
Check out our website for photos of the ride.
See you all next year!
Ayleen + the WDYR Crew
Ayleen,
Thanks for the advice! Next year, I *will* volunteer, and I’ll consider doing that for even more of the rides I’d like o be a part of. I may not have much money, but I’ve got time.
Thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Worst Day Ride. The cost?? we ride at $30 times 2 (tandem folks) and are glad to pay it. Good cause and a great time. Hope to be there next year.
the Blackeyed Peas
Great idea Ayleen, thanks for the reply.
With so many organized cycling events in the Portland area over the year, volunteering could be a great way to participate in some that may seem unaffordable.
The volunteering issue is a great point to bring up. I too could not afford to pay th $30 to ride. However, I really wanted to participate. So when the e-mail came out seeking volunteers, I signed up. It was a great family day for us. My oldest two children came along and had a great time directing the bike traffic at the tricky intersection of Weidler and Williams just after you come off the Broadway Bridge next to the Rose Garden. Well Done Ayleen! Is there a place for us to submit our accolades for this year and improvement suggestions for next year?
Also, I have continued to post more images at:
http://flickr.com/photos/npgreenway/
HAPPY TRAILS!
-S