Riding in the Rain for Whatcom Hospice Foundation
The 2007 Chuckanut Century in Bellingham
BELLINGHAM- This week, our Community and Recreation spotlight shines towards Bellingham where the annual Chuckanut Century took place on Sunday. Riders who came out to pedal their day away were treated to less-than-ideal weather. It was a chilly, foggy, drizzly day, but that didn't stop 150 cyclists from slipping on the spandex and heading out to ride their bikes for a good cause.
The ride was put on by the Mount Baker Bicycle Club and proceeds benefited the Whatcom Hospice Foundation. Riders left from the Boundary Bay Brewery and Bistro in downtown Bellingham and had their choice between flat northern and hilly southern routes. Participants were also able to choose from routes of varying lengths, with options being 25, 50, or 62 miles in length. In order to do a century, two of the 50 mile routes could be combined, and many riders even chose to double up on the 62-mile routes for a double metric century.
"Most of the local riders who came out chose to the whole 124 miles." said Mount Baker Bicycle Club Vice President, Marie Kimball.
Riders showed up at Boundary Bay starting at seven a.m. to get a jump on the weather, and many were still finishing their century rides by late afternoon. However not all who came out chose to do a full 100 miles as many beginners and families chose to go with the less strenuous distances. One rider who did choose to ride a full century on the day was Bellingham's Peggy Jones. And at 59 years young, it was her first 100-miler.
"My brother is my inspiration" said Jones while sipping on Boundary Bay I.P.A. She was referring to her brother Phil who did the ride with her and was sitting next to her. And although it wasn't Phil's first century, it was his first time doing this ride.
"He's pushing me to go a little further all the time" Ms. Jones continued, adding "We did the [Ride around Puget Sound] two weeks ago which was 88 miles, and so I thought, 'well, if I can do 88, I can do a hundred'". She was right, as her cyclometer showed "100.74", and that I.P.A. has perhaps never tasted better.
Others participating in the ride were doing so not only for the recreation and the beer, but for the cause as well. At the north food stop in Ferndale, local rider Jeff Gray joked with friends about his bike being too slow. But when asked why he chose to do the ride on a day featuring such poor weather, he didn't hesitate to pledge his support to Whatcom Hospice Care.
"I had an experience four years ago with Hospice helping us out, and so I wanted to support Hospice and my wife and sister-in-law", said Gray adding he was doing the ride with a group of friends.
And when asked if he'd take the free beer and burger at Boundary at his ride's end he said "I don't drink, but I'll take the burger". Either way, he earned it after braving today's weather for a good cause.
And so by a little after four p.m., the last riders from the day's event were ti[-toeing their cleats into the Boundary Bay Bar as the Chuckanut Century had ended. RIders enjoyed the company of their friends and the ride's promoters while they rested their legs and sipped on a fantastic brew.
