Today wasn’t just a ride—it was a full-blown celebration of rhythm, connection, and the open road.
Jeff and I maintained our streak, rolling out right on schedule for the 11th day in a row. The vibe was set before we even hit the pavement. As we geared up, the beautiful melodies of Darlingside’s “Old Friend” filled the air. We were barely a quarter-mile in when our sweep, the legendary Dennis (“The Bear”), pulled up to join the party. We were feeling strong, flowing, and ready to chase the horizon.
The Rolling Groove
The real magic happened at the first water stop. Knowing Patrick was itching to hear “Unbelievable” by EMF, Jeff and I launched the track the moment we hit the road—only to realize Patrick was still getting settled. We didn’t want to party without him, so we slowed our pace, waited for the crew to regroup, and restarted the track.
That was the turning point. As the opening chords hit, we were off—a synchronized pack of five, grooving to 80s and 90s anthems. It wasn’t long before Kirsten, Rob, and Dennis caught up, turning our group into a powerhouse team of eight. With me pulling from the front and Jeff anchoring the back, we turned the route into a block party on wheels.
From David Bowie and Yazz to Fine Young Cannibals, Queen, and Peter Gabriel, the music did more than just fill the air—it lifted our spirits and pushed us to ride with a level of efficiency and joy that only comes from true camaraderie. For 15 glorious miles on impossibly smooth roads, we were one heartbeat, one team, and one pure expression of happiness.
Sharing the Joy
While the logistics of the second water stop meant we had to break the train to make our lunch arrival, the spirit of the day remained high. Jeff and I kept the momentum going, and about 10 miles out, we spotted Norman and Steve. They had missed the main event, so we knew what we had to do: we cranked the volume, slotted into our “lead and sweep” formation, and offered them a pull.
We were riding with so much strength that sharing the load felt like the natural thing to do. We pushed toward lunch with the beats pumping until our speaker batteries finally sang their last note just a mile from our destination. It was the perfect finale to a high-energy morning.
Refueled and Ready to Hammer
We embraced our inner “Team Dilly Dally” at lunch, lingering long after the crowds had thinned. We recharged our bodies, juiced up the speakers, and swapped the classic pop for a high-octane playlist of Bollywood remixes.
Refreshed, recharged, and re-energized, we headed back out to hammer the rest of the way home. It was, in every sense of the word, a day-maker.
As Freddie Mercury once sang:
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like.
Filled with an abundance of joy…….. “We’re Riding Our Bikes Across The Country”!