bike the bay day

put on by the san diego county bicycle coalition, 2500 people took part in the bike the bay event today, scaling the coronado bridge on bikes for the first time in nearly 20 years. unfortunately there was no stopping at the top to admire the view, but it was a rush to be up that high without being in a car. half the bridge was set aside for the waves of bicyclists heading from downtown. i liked the camaraderie of the bicyclists, especially given the mix of hardcore street riders and casual cruiser bikes.

the entire route was a lot of fun to bike and cut through coronado, down silver strand, then back up through industrial, bayside national city. a highlight was seeing the various shorebirds hanging out on the bay in the peace of the cloudy morning as we cycled by. it had been years since i'd biked the silver strand and i'll have to drag myself out of my weekend slumber again soon to repeat it. this event and switching to a street bike has definitely hooked me on longer rides.