Three Months ’til Reach the Beach 2021
As each new year rolls in, at least for the last almost three decades, I have used the Reach the Beach announcement as a marker of time to scan the future and plot out my upcoming year’s rides. Those plans motivated me to go to the gym to maintain fitness during cold winter months and to get out and ride when I could.
In 2020 plans were also made. And those plans, as for many of you I’m certain, were unceremoniously abandoned, one by one, as the pandemic held its grip on our nation.
Well, it’s 2021, and people wiser than I am are starting this year like many others in the past. Dates are secured, intentions shared, brainstorming commenced. We want a bicycling event, and we are going to make plans! American Lung Association (ALA) and their fundraiser Reach the Beach is one such event now on the horizon. ✎
Scheduled for Saturday, May 15, organizers intend to celebrate the 31st anniversary with the redesigned routes from 2020 starting in Tualatin, Carlton, Amity and Grand Ronde implementing a slightly different finish going into Pacific City. Portland Bicycling Club has a team again this year, and money is already being raised for the ALA.
Introduced last year, when no actual event took place, was the MY RIDE now known as “RIDE YOUR WAY.” As in 2020 cyclists may ride their own route on their own date.
The actual ride in May is subject to state mandates and therefore may end up having limited participation; that is, ridership may be capped. If that occurs, capping may be dictated by fundraising. Highest donators keep their route selections. Others may get bumped to shorter routes.
Return transportation is an obvious complication. Filling buses with people will probably still not be an option. The organizers are concerned about carpooling as well. ALA representatives would like your group/pod to be your “holiday group,” people you live with and are close to anyway.
There will be no mass starts. There will not be a finish line celebration as mingling will probably still be discouraged. Finishers will get a box lunch which may be enjoyed with your “pod” (they are looking for another descriptive term), but you will no doubt need to leave the immediate area. There may be temperature scans at the start locations and rest stops. You may need to complete a digital questionnaire at some point to affirm you are feeling fine and haven’t been exposed.
I have talked directly to Julian Dillon and Julia Baker from the ALA regarding Portland Bicycling Club’s role in training. They are enthusiastic about our participation and truly appreciate our efforts on their behalf. We talked about safety and bicycle etiquette. Having not led a club ride for almost a year, their suggestions were really a good reminder to trot out the old “safety spiel” that our club has developed over the years. We will work together on that. Dick Weber remains our primary ride leader, and hopefully he’ll have a job this year!
Please think about joining the club team. Training rides, organized by PBC, will begin soon in some form or another and, like last year, we will probably largely be sharing our tried-and-true routes and encouraging riders to give them a try on their own. Depending on how the club decides to implement club rides in general, Reach the Beach training rides may get placed on the club schedule following whatever criteria is deemed appropriate.
Finally, one important matter discussed in the Zoom meeting I attended is related to the registration fee and the fundraising. The registration is higher this year: $65. Julian stated that this fee was across the board with all ALA events. They have had some discounts and he will offer more. Someone mentioned that the registration of $65 was still about $45 less than most rides this year.
Riders should view the $150 required fundraising as a separate amount to try to obtain from others. They shouldn’t look at this as a $215 registration fee!
Reach the Beach is a longtime favorite charity event for cyclists in Oregon. With the Ride Your Way option, there is no excuse not to join in the fun.
Ann Morrow, RTB Training Series Ride Co-Leader