Solstice Ride 2014

[emptysea]

On June 19th, I will participate in my third Solstice Ride. The overall idea is that a person should take advantage of the longest day of the year by being out enjoying every minute of it. We think that it need not be spent on a bike. If boating was your passion, be on a boat. If hiking is your passion...well you get the idea.

The Solstice Ride was conceived by my brother-in-law and has a few simple rules: you must be on your bike at sunrise, on or near your bike all day, on your bike on sunset, and your route should return you to your starting point at the end of the day (avoid using The Ride as the first leg of a longer trip). It does not have to be on the exact date of the solstice, but it needs to be a date close enough that the daylight hours are virtually identical (within seconds) to the solstice. Also, this need not be a riding endurance event. In the past, we covered 400-500 miles over the course of the day....that means lots of off-bike time.

This year, it is possible that I will be violating one of the rules.

If you read my ride report, Tales of the Dragon, you may recall that I took a side trip to Chattanooga to visit my boy-hood friend Kelly who has been suffering with heart issues and diabetes for quite a long time. Kelly passed away yesterday and I intend to ride down to Chattanooga to attend the funeral on 6/21. I may try to combine the Solstice Ride with my first leg of my trip to Chattanooga, thus violating one of the rules...but it's not like I'm going on a vacation trip or something.

Anyhow, I will post a Solstice Ride report in this space once I return. I would love for members of this forum to plan their own Solstice Ride and enjoy the longest day of the year perched on two wheels....don't forget to take pictures!!

Matt

[the Ferret]

Matt, sorry to hear about your friend. Glad you got to visit him recently.

Hey if you are in my area on your way down or home. We can get together for a ride and pie.

[emptysea]

Thanks, Mickey
Once I know my plans, I will let you know about the pie. I'd like that.

[Elipten_imp]

Sounds like a truly honorable violation of the rules. Sorry about you friend. Ride safe.


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[flynrider]

On June 19th, I will participate in my third Solstice Ride. The overall idea is that a person should take advantage of the longest day of the year by being out enjoying every minute of it. We think that it need not be spent on a bike. If boating was your passion, be on a boat. If hiking is your passion...well you get the idea.

The Solstice Ride was conceived by my brother-in-law and has a few simple rules: you must be on your bike at sunrise, on or near your bike all day, on your bike on sunset, and your route should return you to your starting point at the end of the day (avoid using The Ride as the first leg of a longer trip). It does not have to be on the exact date of the solstice, but it needs to be a date close enough that the daylight hours are virtually identical (within seconds) to the solstice. Also, this need not be a riding endurance event. In the past, we covered 400-500 miles over the course of the day....that means lots of off-bike time.

This year, it is possible that I will be violating one of the rules.

If you read my ride report, Tales of the Dragon, you may recall that I took a side trip to Chattanooga to visit my boy-hood friend Kelly who has been suffering with heart issues and diabetes for quite a long time. Kelly passed away yesterday and I intend to ride down to Chattanooga to attend the funeral on 6/21. I may try to combine the Solstice Ride with my first leg of my trip to Chattanooga, thus violating one of the rules...but it's not like I'm going on a vacation trip or something.

Anyhow, I will post a Solstice Ride report in this space once I return. I would love for members of this forum to plan their own Solstice Ride and enjoy the longest day of the year perched on two wheels....don't forget to take pictures!!

Matt

Funny you should mention this. I've been looking forward to the solstice myself. My flying buddies and I are departing Phoenix about an hour after the official beginning of summer and flying up to Montana. We've been doing this for about 13 yrs.

We'll also be breaking the rules as it's the first leg of our annual backcountry flying and camping trip. Thanks to the early sunrise, we can get out of the desert before the heat churns up the turbulence, and be setting up camp in Yellowstone by lunchtime. That's about 8 hrs. of flying but the rest of the day will be spent mountain biking, hiking and just enjoying the the weather (whatever it is, it'll be better than Phoenix in June).

Since the sun doesn't set until 9:15 that far north, I'm figuring we'll be enjoying about 16 hours of daylight.

As this is a motorcycle forum, I will add that I've made this same trip on two wheels numerous times. Instead of an 8 hr. flight (including a fuel stop) it takes about 3 1/2 days sticking to mountain back roads (800 air miles vs. 1300 road miles).

Sorry to hear that your ride will be for a more somber occasion, Matt. Have a safe trip.

[Cormanus]

Matt, I'm really sorry to hear about your friend. Was he a rider? A solstice ride will be a good way to remember him.

Where I am, this may not be the solstice for a ride!

[CIP57_imp]

Matt, thanks for sharing this thread. My dad is under hospice care and we have been sitting outside the last few weeks enjoying the daylight. We joke a lot and he talks about how he's glad he didn't get ill during the winter months. There is something to be said for daylight into the late evening lifting the spirit.

This is a bit off topic but seemed like the perfect place to share. Enjoy, and have a safe trip.
Steve

[Ole]

Sorry to hear of your buddy. I lost my Dad to diabetes. On my big rides I think of him often.

I guess my solstice ride will be on the 20th. Gonna try and Iron Butt the big north pond. I will give it a shot but there is still some worry that my recent friggin knee ream job may prevent me from doing so.

[emptysea]

I appreciate all the kind words; they, and the thoughts behind them, help a lot.

Best of luck to you and your dad, Steve, especially this weekend.

Kelly was not a rider, but he seemed to get a kick out of the fact that I had become one. The Solstice Ride and my ride to attend his funeral are not tribute rides, though. I am riding because I love riding, but he liked when people did things just for the fun of it.

The main purpose of this thread was to let you all know about the concept of the Solstice Ride so that you might consider planning your own ride, or other event, to celebrate and enjoy the summer solstice next week (or this December, if you're in the southern hemisphere). Get out! Enjoy the daylight!

[Cormanus]

Steve, best wishes to you and your father.