LOCALadk Magazine

51 Summer 2016 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk The Adirondack Mountain Club's (ADK's) Ididaride is a 75 mile supported bicycle ride. It's an event for all riders and abilities, and begins and ends in North Creek, New York. The funds raised help to support ADK's mission of conservation, advocacy, recre- ation, education and its Summit Steward program. Last summer, my husband and I had the opportunity to participate in this annu- al event. It was just too good to pass up - and bicycling through another beautiful part of the Adirondacks sounded wonderful, too. From North Creek, the route heads south on Route 8 to Specula- tor, north on Route 30 to Indian Lake, then back to North Creek on Route 28. It passes along the Sacandaga and Hudson rivers, Lake Pleasant, and Indian Lake. It's so much fun to ride through the small towns where people wave and cheer you on. The route is hilly and gains 3,460 feet of elevation - so training for the ride is important. A little bit of preparation can make the difference between enjoying the miles and dreading them. Those who pre- fer a shorter distance can participate in the 20-mile ride. Last year's ride took place on a warm sunny Sunday in August. It was a perfect day to ride the Park. Three hundred eighty sev- en riders rode the full 75-mile loop, and 66 took advantage of the 20-mile ride. The Ididaride attracted cyclists from 19 states, one Canadian province, and even Germany. Most riders were be- tween the ages of 41-60. Lets not forget how well we riders were taken care of by 55 amazing and very enthusiastic volun- teers, as well as several ADK staff members! The starting whistle blew at 8:30, and over 770 legs began to peddle in a mass start. Everyone was smiling and excited about the day. Route 8 has a few climbs, but also some nice flat sec- tions that course along the Sacandaga River. As riders coasted along, they heard the rapids and felt the cooling breeze coming from the river. There are four rest stops along the route. The first was a wel- come sight after riding 15 miles. Actually, I looked forward to every rest stop; each stop gave me a chance to chat with the rid- ers. Enthusiastic volunteers were eager to provide a variety of snacks and water. Doing these kinds of rides allow you to indulge in guilt-free snacks that you might otherwise decline. In this case, I opted for fresh, cold, juicy watermelon - lots of it. With a full water bottle, an extra snack in my jersey and water- melon juice on my face, my husband Pete and I started off again. We bike at different speeds. He peddled ahead, and I rode along- side a friend for a few miles. I was enjoying both the conversa- tion and the scenery. My friend and I both live in the Adirondack Park. We remarked about how lucky we were to live in place that offers so many outdoor sports. She eventually pulled away, and I settled into a zone that allowed me to enjoy each mile while reminding myself, it's a ride - not a race. Near the top of a pretty good climb, the second rest stop came into sight where there was a mass of bikes, and a crowd that formed around the snack table. This time I went for something The Adirondack Ididaride By Anne Brewer

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