Annual Toy Run

[The emperor has no clothes]

Well it's time again. Our Toy Run is next Sunday. I think they get over 1500 bikes in it. I ride my bike almost every day of the year. I love riding, as I'm sure most of you do. But I've got to say this is the one day of riding I do not enjoy at all. There are so many riders that ride 3 or 4 times a year and are just not at the top of their game. Put on top of that some are drinking Bloody Mary's at 10 am. I always breath a big sigh of relief at the end of the 20 miles. But my wife is very social (unlike me) and she loves this ride. She gets to talk to 4000 people and is in heaven. I'm sure everything will be fine. I've got a week to get myself psyched up. 

[Serk]

I used to do the big one here religiously every year. I was staff, helped block roads, etc... This one is BIG. (Like 50,000 bikes big).

Until a few years ago I got stuck at a light while a different toy run was going by. Normally it wouldn't bother me, I'd happily sit and watch, be a little upset that I missed it myself.

But this particular time I was headed to the pharmacy to get my wife some MUCH needed pain meds. She'd just had surgery, we'd just gotten her home, then I headed out to get her prescription filled.

She was in tears at home in major pain waiting on those pain meds.

I was stuck at a light for half an hour watching bikes with teddy bears ride by.

I vowed that I wouldn't do the toy runs any more. After that, I just quietly drop some toys off at one of the collection boxes all over the place this time of year instead.

[The emperor has no clothes]

OMG !!! I can't imagine that many bikes. I wonder if these really do us goodwill with general public ? I'm sure you weren't the only pissed off person sitting there.