Txirrindulari Kluba Bike Ride
Dear Txirrindulari kluba,
I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up with you about our recent ride last Saturday and share some highlights and announcements.
Firstly, I want to thank the riders and SAGs for joining us on what turned out to be an amazing day for a ride. The weather was perfect, with just the right temperature and great air quality. Leon, as always, was the early bird and arrived at the crack of dawn, bringing with him his delicious homemade Gateau Basque. It was a great start to the day, although I admit I needed a coffee to wake up!
The riders arrived with their bikes, helmets, and smiles, ready to take on the road. I want to express my gratitude to our SAGs, Yvonne and Jean Leon Cuburu for the short ride, and Leon Sorhondo and Patrick Tobin for the long ride, for their incredible support and guidance throughout the event. I have to say, it felt like our own Team Car!
The ride itself went well, with the planned routes leading us through some beautiful scenery. However, there were a couple of unexpected deviations. The short group riders decided to extend their ride and travel to Woodside instead of stopping at Edgewood. This added another 7 miles to their journey, making it a substantial distance of 37 miles. Surprisingly, even those of us who hadn't trained as much found the extra miles enjoyable and exhilarating, thanks to the leisurely pace and the company of fellow riders.
The long riders, inspired by the short group, took on the challenge of including Kings Mountain Road in their route. This added another 9 miles, with a staggering 2,400 elevation gain. It was an impressive achievement, and I want to commend everyone for their determination and resilience.
After the ride, we gathered for a relaxing potluck, enjoying delicious food and drink. As is tradition, we presented the Xabie Award, which honors extraordinary moments from our rides. You will need to join our ride to understand the backstory of this award. This time, Marie Rosecrans emerged as a contender due to her spontaneous visit to her mother's house, causing some concern when Angelo went back to find her. Ultimately, we felt that Marie's independent spirit and change of route made her a deserving recipient of the award.
Looking ahead, we have exciting plans for future rides. The group has decided to bring back two rides next year, one in Spring and another in Fall. Christian Rusa has generously offered to host the Spring ride at his place in Oakland, giving us the opportunity to explore the Oakland hills. For the Fall ride, Patrick Tobin will be hosting in San Mateo. I want to extend my gratitude to both of them for volunteering to be hosts.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge the incredible work of Leon Sorhondo, who has passed the baton to me to continue organizing these rides. Leon has been leading these events since 2009 and has done an outstanding job of bringing the Basque community together through outdoor activities and our shared love for riding, food, and wine. Over the past 14 years, he has organized 23 successful rides. Coincidently, our 23rd ride was on September 23, 2023!
We all appreciate everything you've done, Leon, and we are grateful for your continued involvement, both on the road and as a member of the Xabie Award committee :)
I am excited to continue this tradition and hope to see many of you join us on future adventures. If you have any friends who may be interested in participating, please provide me with their email addresses - yfantham@gmail.com. At the beginning of next year, I will send out details and a sign up message for our Spring ride.
Thank you all once again for being a part of this wonderful community. I look forward to our next ride!
- Yvette Gorostiague Fantham
