The ride started at 7:30 so we were up early with the kids to have breakfast and get packed up to leave.

The ride was supported so we had two stops for snacks and restroom breaks. We stopped at the Excelsior Bandshell and watched a band during one of the stops. Iris enjoyed the music.

Blayne pointed out after the ride that we saw a lot of family tension going on with riders – kids complaining, parents scolding kids, pouting, etc. Blayne handled Iris beautifully and really got her through the tough hills and times when she was tired/thirsty/hungry. It was slow going at times, but that was OK. The point was not to ride as fast as we could – we really just wanted to have an enjoyable successful ride.

I had the twins in the trailer on my bike. The girls absolutely hate their helmets as the design of the trailer makes then submarine down and then their helmets get sunk down so they can’t see anything. About 45 minutes into the ride the crying was driving me batty so we took off their helmets and they were happy as can be for the rest of the ride. They ate snacks and watched all the other riders and kids. They enjoyed the rest stops as well.

It was a great family event and I’m sure we’ll be doing it next year.

Here we are at the Bandshell rest stop.

And at the end of the ride the girls fell asleep.

Pizza to enjoy after the ride was done.

Iris is trying to earn a new kids cross bike (with gears!) right now, so we’ve been doing a series of longer rides. She has one more 7 mile ride to accomplish (w/out complaining) then she earns her new bike. She’s very excited about it.