Sunday, August 14, 2011

Welcome Letter and Invitation

August 12, 2011
Greetings!

Meet the latest cycling club on the block: Ramadan Rides: RIDES for EVERY-BODY! We will be riding bikes at 7 AM every Sunday in August, beginning this Sunday, AUG. 14, 2011.

We meet at Lake Merritt at the foot of the Cascades (stairs next door to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church). If anyone wants to join us, all are welcome. The club's mantra is that biking is for every-body (smile). We are targeting women between 30-80, the median age is 50. We don't mind youngsters cruising with us or men, they just have to understand what our focus is--to keep moving, while enjoying the gorgeous landscape we are favored with here in California's San Francisco Bay. Most of the rides will be on the Bay Trails, and although we are not planning, necessarily, to climb mountains, the occasional incline is unavoidable. I am interested in long distance like Oakland to Richmond; SF Embarcadero to Crissy Fields to Sausalito (across the GG Bridge); Oakland to San Leandro, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, San Jose, Palo Alto, etc.

If anyone has a favorite ride to share, I am all ears. If anyone would like to sponsor the club, let me know. So if you have been looking at your bike for years and haven't been on it in a while AUG 2011 join the Ramadan Rides.

October we will ride for The Fire Inside: A Newsletter by and for women who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated. It is published by California Coalition for Women Prisoners (http://www.womenprisoners.org/). It will be a pledge ride for the organization to help the women. There is an anniversary event, featuring Angela Davis as the keynote speaker October 14, 2011 at the Women's Building in San Francisco. I have attached the call for art for the silent auction. If anyone wants to plan and facilitate the Ride for the Fire Inside in October, let me know.

We will start the rides with a warm-up and then do laps around Lake Merritt. AUGUST is training month.

For those who are fasting, don't overdo it and drink plenty of water before you arrive. I am working on getting a commercial sponsor, for gear discounts and repair, a logo--if you are good with Arabic calligraphy let me know. We are looking for a fashion designer who can make flattering gear for the Muslim cyclist (smile). I'd like to wear spandex, but in my neighborhood that is asking for trouble (smile). Can we be cute and safe from predators?

Remember, if you don't have a bike, at least for August, you can walk. Bring a partner to walk with.

Beginning in September, we will ride once a month, preferably First Sundays, if that works (smile). We will explore the Bay Trails. Please share widely.

If you don't have a bike, come out and walk, bring a partner.

Peace and Blessings,

Wanda

To join send us your contact information: ramadanridesrides4everybody@gmail.com Tell us something about yourself, demographics, talents or skills, and why you think this is the club for you. We will have a proper application soon.

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