Here be Pirates! Arrgh! Yes, it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day. So let your “Inner Pirate” out!
COX BIKE MS ATLANTA: Cox Enterprises is again the title sponsor for this year’s Bike MS event. The Georgia Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society is the organizer for the event. The purpose is elegantly simple, raise money to fund research into cure and treament of Multiple Sclerosis. The disease is a crippler and a killer. Frankly, I find it personally infuriating. I can not express how strongly I support this cause. That’s why I was there, to support the cause, and to ride my bike in support.
This ride is now in the books. The weekend was favorable. It was cool in the early part of the day, or maybe even on the lower side of cool. Lingering overcast prevented the days from heating quickly. Cool and dry makes for good riding conditions.
There were over 2,000 riders present. A mass start with two thousand riders is quite an event, all by itself. It makes my heart proud to see so many out in support of a fine goal. Imagine being part of this huge throng of riders. The music is blaring. There are announcement over the huge and powerful PA. Then a pause. The National Anthem is sung while a flight of stunt planes does a formation flyover. And then, team by team, we are off! Rolling out onto the roads. It’s a thrill ride, an adrenaline rush, and (sometimes) just a bit scary.
The crowd thins fairly quickly as the stronger riders (and the ones who think they are) surge forward, and the more moderate settle in. Generally, folks are in a happy and friendly frame of mind.
A quick word on the general tone of these events. WOW! If anything, the Bike MS rides are over-supported. There are Break Points just about every 10 miles, with an occasional gap of 15 miles. A fleet of 15 passenger vans patrols the course looking for riders who need assistance. There are mechanics available at the Break Points. There is a platoon of motorcycle marshals out patrolling the course, ready to direct traffic, render assistance, or make a radio call for help. The volunteers, at the breakpoints, in the SAG vans, at Rider Services, at check-in, at the meals, at any point of contact, are AMAZING!!! They are, without exception, positive, up-beat, cheerful, and they make you feel like they are thrilled that you are here. These folks do everything but pedal the bike for you!
The routes are chosen to keep you out of the way of traffic, and to be interesting, but not intimidating.
One last thing, and it’s very illustrative. At one time or another we’ve all overcommitted on the bike. I imagine every one of us has had a bad day, or just a long one. Have you come in to find and empty parking lot, and one volunteer, who said, “Are you finally finished? Here’s a warm coke and a cold and greasy slice of pizza. I’m going home now.” (I’ve been there. It sucks.)
Yesterday, I happened to be one of the many people who was waiting for the last riders to get in off of the course. I watched the last four riders coming in. They were accompanied by a full cavalcade of motorcycles, 17 vans, official cars, and police escort. Horns and sirens blasting. Crowd cheering. Big group at the finish applauding madly. The traffic control police at the park entrance calling out, “Welcome Home!”
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