Day 1: Mall of America to Lake City

Was it hot this year? Did riders make it into camp? These were two of the most frequently asked questions about the 2005 Red Ribbon Ride held July 14-17. Yes, the heat was stifling and many riders trucked or "sagged, as we call it" into camp. Twin Cities temperatures hit the 90s range for nine consecutive days, the longest stretch since 1988. Thursday's ride hit a high of 92 with a heat index around 98 degrees. Seasoned riders followed instructions by hydrating properly: drinking one bottle of water and one bottle of an electrolyte drink between each pit stop, roughly 12-18 miles apart. When the sun proves to be too much, one dumps a few squirts of water on top of one's head while riding. Once at the pit stop, you submerge you entire head in a tub of ice water. Whew! Ahhh! But highly effective to cool the body down and sustain oneself while riding to the next pit.

Opening ceremonies began at 6:30 am at Mall of America in the Rotunda area. Inevitable sound problems pervaded because of this open space. 220 riders and 146 crew members gathered while Chad Peckals, a.k.a. "Dr. Chad", led some deep stretching exercises to limber our bodies for a 80 mile ride. Our chipper sponsor, Ed Berg, Operations Director of Chipotle, provided motivating words of inspiration. RRR Director Kari Johnson got us fired up. Rider Sandy Agustin introduced artist Armando Guitierrez who ignited passionate drumming while five HIV-positive riders, each cradling a bicycle wheel, took to the stage. Each spoke represented someone who can't ride or who has lost their life to the AIDS virus. Solemn and movingly ceremonial, the tone effectively established rumination, reminding us riders that we ride because we continue to lose our loved ones to this pandemic.

After peddling 12.8 miles through mostly flat landscapes, we were greeted by a retro looking beauty parlor at Pit Stop One, at theYMCA in Eagan, dubbed "Red Ribbon Curls." Wigged faux beauticians Madge, Betty, Flo and Shirley replenished us with fruit, granola bars, Gatorade and water. Jennifer Anders and Julie Weidemann, leaders of this pit, did a fabulous job creating fun filled atmospheres each day. Continuing on flat terrain and a few corn fields, we journeyed a long 18.7 miles further to Pit Stop Two's Mad Tea Party(right). Located at Roadside Park in Hastings and led by that irrepressibly inventive leader Carter Averbeck, he dressed as the Mad Hatter. Looking for Alice proved to be pointless as everyone at the pit claimed to be her.

Temperatures started to rise as we rode along hot highway 61, dubbed "Death Valley" to Pit Three at St. Joe's in Miesville, 11.6 miles further. Ever nurturing team leader Vicki Underland-Rosow and her gang of helpers turned their pit into a theme of monopoly. Seven miles later we had lunch consisting of healthy red pepper roll-ups, honey mustard salad and club sandwiches in Pit Four at the Welch Station by Cannon Falls. Four's lunch crew leader Judy Giacabazi and her crew kept us hydrated and nourished. The heat pushed to ever increasing increments as we rode 10.9 miles into Pit Stop Five at Boy Point Park in Red Wing, a toga wearing Bacchanalia. Not a drunken feast but rather a dunking party for soaking your head from the sweltering heat. SJA crew veteran and Pit Five leader Annie Hickman and her troop kept a large blue tub replenished for ice cold head soakings and a garden hose available for anyone who needed a refreshing spray down.

A rather dull passage of flat terrain made way for some tree shaded trails (heat index was intense at this time) and the scenic view of Lake City, 19.3 miles later. Had I not soaked my entire head at Pit Five, I would've been truly miserable riding that last stretch in the heat. A public pool refreshed a good 25 riders including me at camp in Bluffview Elementary School located on the west end of Lake City. I clocked in 78.4 miles of riding from my bike computer coming in at 2:30 pm. Some came in sooner, many later. A group stretch was provided by rider Agustin at 5:30 pm and a Team Trivia game was played during our grill out and salad bar dinner. As we pitched our tents, showered and put our gear away, we feared an uncomfortable hot and sweaty night would await us, but the weather surprisingly cooled down for a decent night of rest. Of course, some riders and crew opted to bunk in nearby motels.

SJA parishioner and veteran rider Becky Rose won the Best Helmet competition with her train of fake roses and vines cascading clear down her back from her helmet. Twin Cities singer Erin Schwab(right) and her piano accompanist merrily entertained us with her hybrid act of commentary and irreverent songs. She's known for her creative licensing of popular song lyrics. Take Cher's pop song "Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves." Schwab belted out "Gypsies, Chimpanzees... all the people would come around and lay your monkey down." After biking in this kind of heat, we riders were ready to lay our bodies on tightly inflated air mattresses or for the lucky motel'ers, a Simmons Beauty Rest.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Rick Spaulding is a photographer specializing in digital photography for the theater and works for National Camera Exchange. He is also an antique dealer and eBay afficianado who enjoys collecting marbles but his true joys in life are his two boys and his beautiful wife, Tinia.

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