Better Than Sitting in Math Class!

I’ve been riding with Avanti High School kids since April. They have bike class everyday, and usually ride four of the five days. I try to ride with them around three days a week (I’m also riding with Envision Career Academy kids twice a week). The kids have a bike camping trip coming up. Four of the Envision kids will be joining the Avanti kids (I think around 14 Avanti kids are going). Unfortunately, I can’t go as I will be doing another bikepacking trip at the same time. 

Today, the Avanti kids had a ride at Kennedy Creek. About a dozen of the kids came with their teacher, Nicki, and A, the Walk and Roll person. We also had two other adults, and me. One of the students created a route, and I just did a little tweaking (really just reversing it). 

I rode from home, so I left my house at 9:20, and arrived right at 11:00 (18.7 miles). The gang arrived exactly 2 minutes after I did. 

A hauls this van all over town!

After everyone did their ABC Quick check (Air, Brakes, Chain, and Quick releases), we were ready to roll. The kids ride a variety of bikes. A couple have disc brakes, most are upright commuter/hybrid style bikes, with a couple of bikes with suspension. Some have rather skinny tires, but one thing these kids have is no fear! Well, I shouldn’t say no fear, but they don’t know anything different. They are very good at self-managing within their abilities. As A says, “Only go as fast as you are willing to crash!” 

We regrouped frequently as there are many different abilities with that many students. Even though it was misty raining, no one seemed to mind waiting for the group to be back together. 

We made it to the trail that goes to the Falls. All the kids, and a few adults hiked to the Falls. A and I stayed with the bikes (and ate our lunches). Once the gang got back, we discussed who wanted to go back, and who wanted to continue on the route. For some kids, it was a time issue (the plan had been to get back by 2:30…it was about 1:30). For others, they had met their appropriate edge. About half the group went back with Nicki and Joey, and the rest of us continued on to “The Waist”. The Waist is a means of cutting across the main loop. It’s also a climb with moments of 15% grades. There was walking, but there’s no shame in that. I told the kids the only reason I could continue to ride was because of the gearing I have. They do not have that kind of gearing. 

The reward was the descent down 2720 back to 2700. We still had two more significant climbs. 

A finishing the second to last climb. 

The student in the back was “The Mule”. She carried extra everything for everyone. Such an awesome young woman!

We finished with the short Bayview Trail. Just as we were starting it, one of the kids got a flat. Actually, that was pretty amazing. None of the kids were riding tubeless (I think I was the only one running tubeless). There’s some chunky rock out there!

Back at the trailer, bikes were loaded, and they all piled their dirty (no fenders), soaking wet bodies into the van. I, of course, still had the ride home. It had miraculously stopped raining, and by the time I rolled into my driveway, I had clocked over a nice round 50 miles. That’s the longest ride to date on Wanda.

The students all did amazing today! It was really fun, even in the rain! I think they had a pretty good time…better than sitting in Math class!