training ride 1: bridge pedal
The Providence Bridge Pedal is a benefit for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. Each year, jillions of us cram our way onto narrow streets, trails, and bridges to make the 32-ish mile run.
The most memorable part was the top of the Marquam Bridge, which is normally closed to foot and bike traffic. But today, they shut down part of the interstate for us. It’s an eerie feeling to cruise onto a freeway entrance ramp on a bicycle: I highly recommend it.
At the tops of the Marquam and Fremont bridges, and at the end of the St. Johns bridge, the organizers offered live bands, free organic bananas/apples, free Clif bars, free mineral water, photographers, Starbucks frappuccino samplers, and porta-potties (excuse me, “Honey Buckets”).
Somewhere around mile 18, as we trundled up St. Helens on the way to the ninth bridge, the slight uphill slope and headwind started taking their gradual toll on the riders. Something happened inside my helmet-protected noggin: someone must’ve flipped a switch. I put my head down and started gently passing rider after rider after rider. The bike and I sailed right over the St. Johns bridge and back toward town for the finish line.