Kailua Beach Ride

Last summer Heather and I joined the HACC for a long ride. The longest ride Heather had done before was about 30 miles. We ended up riding 80 and she did great. One of the first things she mentioned doing while home for her Christmas break was to do another long ride. Since today was a family day and late in her break we chose to do the ride. I sent out an invite to the HACC and had a great response. I got up at 0600 happy to hear silence from outside meaning that it wasn't raining. After getting dressed and having a cup of coffee, I woke up Heather. She was less than thrilled with getting up that early but she got up and got dressed. I opened the door and looked out at a grey sky and wet pavement but at least it wasn't raining. We headed to the gym to meet the rest of the gang, actually making it there right at 0700. As we headed out the gate the rain started and the rooster tails of water rising up from everyone's tires really made me wish I had brought my fendered bike. Nimitz provided the worst of the rain and traffic and once we got to Waikiki it had pretty much stopped. Luckily the traffic through Honolulu was pretty light and we made pretty good time. Everyone stayed together pretty well even up the hill past Hanauma Bay. We stopped at Makapuu for some pictures and to fix the first flat of the day.

The group got a little broken up on the Wiamanalo bypass but we got back together as we entered Kailua. We stopped at the Green Market coffee shop to down some nutrition and java before heading back. On the way back due to flats and folks needing to get home, the group broke into 3 groups. Heather and I stopped at Makapuu so I could ride up to the lighthouse. John helped Jeff fix two flats so they were a little behind us and the rest of the group headed back to base. Heather was doing great and talked about trying to extend the ride to 100 miles. We decided to stop at Momentum so I could pick up some chain lube. John and Jeff apparently passed us as they were already at Momentum picking up tubes for Jeff. The four of us rode back to base together. Heather and I did a couple of laps around the block so we could finish with 80 miles. Heather has ridden over 200 miles since she arrived earlier in December. The pic of her computer was taken at Makapuu with over 30 miles left in the ride. Due to it being late, we decided to forgo the extra miles happy with our 80 mile ride. Even though the weather and conditions were less than perfect, we still had a great ride.

After we got back, we went to Pearl Ridge for some shopping with Courtney and Chris and took in the new movie Marley and Me. It was a great story that every dog owner will love.