It was November 24th, 2013 and a beautiful sunny San Diego fall morning when members from our SDYC bicycling club teamed up with members of the San Diego Police Department’s (SDPD) cycling/triathlon team and Challenge Athletes Foundation (CAF) for a fun ride around the big bay to Coronado.
SDYC members met very early (6:15 am) at the club and rode to SDPD Headquarters at 14th and Broadway. There were some “inquiries” about the early start but when we found out it was because officers who had worked all night were just getting off work and other officers were going to get their ride in before they had to go to work, the “grumbling” soon subsided.
Riding through downtown proved entertaining for SDYC and it is rumored a certain commodore was solicited by a women “working“ the streets, who then suggested if the solicitor wanted to meet him at SDPD Headquarters the conversation could continue.
It was learned the SDPD cycling/triathlon team members had recently received their new kits and this would be their first official team ride in their new attire. The idea of SDPD wearing kits was actually discussed at SDYC after a triathlon last year so it was only fitting we would be part of their first official ride. Before we headed out pictures were taken in front of SDPD Headquarters. It was stressed before we started peddling that there was only one rule; we would stop at EVERY stop sign and red light and there would be no exceptions. This is obviously a good rule.
We started out riding through downtown but this time there was no solicitation and everyone gave us plenty of room and it seemed like cars actually got out of the way for us. We headed to the Bay Shore bikeway and over to Coronado. When one of us got a flat SDPD jumped into action and had the tire changed within seconds. The tire was changed so fast it seemed like a NASCAR pit stop.
A few of us thought we would test the fitness of SDPD and started to pick up the pace on the Silver Strand. This proved to be not very smart because we were humbled by those that had worked all night. We took the ferry back over the bay and some headed back to SDYC and the rest back to SDPD headquarters.
The cars no longer parted for those on their ride back to SDYC. There are some real advantages riding with SDPD although the early start is not one of them. We will be planning more community rides with not only SDPD but other cycling groups.
Please come join us!
Shelley Zimmerman, Assistant Chief of Police
Member SDYC Cycling Club