2013 9/11 Ride - The Recap

Dear VeloViets,

This past weekend marked the fourth year of our 9/11 "We Remember" ride. This year was a super-sized version of this popular epic ride, with 129 people participating. Here is a recap video of the ride...

 

Before all of the above occurred, let's go back in time to read how this all got started...

Weeks Before - Within a lifetime, there are those few dates that have special meaning to us: our birthday, the day our children was born, or the day that our love ones passed away. It is the actions and events on these dates that defined who we are, that shaped the person that we have become, as they solidifies our past and present, and present to us a possible future.

September 11th was one of those dates for me. I changed on that day. No longer do I look at the world the same way. I am not the boy that I used to be, but now a man, stronger but deeply scarred of knowledge.

And on that very day, out of the ashes and chaos, rose others who also developed exceptional strength, those that overcame mighty hurdles and became heroes to other. They are the ones who sacrificed all, who stood on the edge of deep darkness, and still able to see the light through the dark cloudy murk.

The upcoming Sunday of September 15th again will have a special meaning to the VeloViets. It is on this weekend for the past 3 years that the VeloViets celebrated this special day. We called it a ride of remembrance, a "We Remember" ride, and each one of us has a reason to ride, and a story to tell.

And yes... there were memorable stories on the ride from last year too... of heroes, of sacrifice, of weakness, and of strength. There was the amazing story of Ironman, who courageously carried the flag throughout the ride, and of his VeloViet teammates who would not let him give up, who took turns pushing him through the windy coast.

And on this year, there will be new synchronization with new teammates joining for the first time on this 120 mile ride. It is new camaraderie that will be shaped on this ride. Who will stand out from this crowd? Who will be strong and sacrifice for others? We will find out soon.

DAYS BEFORE - Almost 3,000 people died on that day. I remember it well... September 11, 2001... around 8:46 AM, someone at work pulled out an old TV, and we were staring in disbelief onscreen at a plane flying into a high rise building.... smoke billowing from the gaping wound on the high rise... then the people... falling.

I no longer think about the deaths, but I think more about the losses now. Sons who have lost their fathers, daughters who have lost their mothers, grandparents who have lost their grandchild... these are the things I think of now... the losses, and more so the grief of those who have lost someone.

And it's not just that horrific day on September 11th that we think about our losses. Most of us have lost a loved one... but now I know what's more important is that we remember them and not to forget. If you remember, they will always forever live in your heart.

Appropriately named "We Remember", the 9/11 Ride is a special ride that we... the VeloViet Club... have decided to collectively show our brothers, our sisters, and our local communities that we did not forget 9/11, and allowed us a time to heal and to remember those wonderful memories we have of those we remember!

Arguably this ride is the hardest ride that the VeloViets take on every year, and it makes the GMR ride seems only like a warmup ride. The 9/11 ride is super-sized, and boasts length (110 miles), wind (howling winds at that in Camp Pendleton), and heat (yes heat that you can fry an egg on). It is a ride not for the unprepared, nor for the unconditioned, and not for the faint of heart. Last year we have had riders abandoned after the hard way back through Camp Pendleton. Be afraid... for mother nature will test your minds and your hearts.

So if you do decide to ride the entire 120 miles, then know that the VeloViet club has done everything it can to prepare you for this ride, and to support you on the day of the ride. Good luck to all!  

THE RIDE - This year the VeloViet Club decided to go big... and big we achieved. Cap't counted something like 95 people at MSP, and we tally an additional 34 people along the way, totaling about 129 riders. The SAG team was big too, with Anthony's Natural Dynamix Mercedes Sprinter van serving as the largest SAG vehicle we have ever had.

The ride attracted 2 news reporting crews. Thien Anh, a reporter from the Vietnamese newspaper Bao Nguoi Viet, interviewed Captain Thomas, Huong, and DuyAnh the day before the ride. Here is what she had to say...

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, California (NV) - Lúc 7 giờ 30 phút sáng Chủ Nhật, hơn 100 thành viên Câu Lạc Bộ Xe Ðạp Việt Nam (VeloViet) xuất phát từ Mile Square Regional Park, Fountain Valley, đạp xe xuống thành phố Oceanside, San Diego County, để tưởng niệm các nạn nhân thiệt mạng trong vụ khủng bố 9-11 cách đây 12 năm. Tổng cộng đoạn đường các thành viên Veloviet đi về là 120 dặm. VeloViet là một tổ chức bất vụ lợi, bao gồm những người yêu thích đạp xe đạp, với mục đích vui chơi và cổ vũ sự an toàn khi đạp xe đạp. VeloViet hiện có hai chi nhánh, một ở Orange County, California, và một ở Blaine, Minnesota. Trong hình, các thành viên VeloViet trước giờ xuất phát.

Then there too was Chu Ly, Little Saigon Radio hostess, came out and checked out the VeloViet cycling scene. We hope she has good stuff to say about our cycling club!

So did our non-Vietnamese friends understand the above :-)  Anyways here is the ride recap in English...

First there was the usual group photos and Cap't speech...

Photo - Turbo Preparing for the Ride

 Photo - Lining Up for the Photo

 Photo - Taking the Shot

 

 Photo - Chu Ly, Thomas, and Toan

 Photo - Nam, Chanh, Jonathan, Mac, Brian, Hoa, and Donovan

 Photo - Nancy, Van, Vu, BaoAnh, and DuyAnh

Photo - New VeloViet Members Listening to Cap't

The ride along Bushard was fun and I got quite a number of photos. I was doing my usual sprints (aka IronLegs, remember Anh Cuong?) to take photos. I expended way too much energy and had to settle in.

Our VV Divas decided to test the A1 boys a bit and pulled to the front.  It was a great three-rider formation we displayed on Bushard!

 Photo - Rolling Out

 Photo - Stopping at a Red Light

 Photo - VV Ladies Flexing Some Muscles at the Front

Photo - Rolling Along

So after we picked up our Flag Bearer, who sported two flags this year, and yet more riders on the PCH rest stop, we rolled out.  Lot's of photos taken here and all cars were honking when they saw that the bike pack were carrying the US Flags.

 Photo - Yup... More Group Photo

Photo - The First Flag Carrier - Ironman

 Photo - Flags on PCH

Photo - Approaching Newport Coast

As we made our way into Laguna Beach, surprisingly lots people were dropping off!  Some of these folks did not anticipate the hills, had to get back, or were not in riding shape.  I am guessing around 15 to 20 riders turn around.  There was also one stretch where the roads get narrow, causing a sudden slowness, and a rider touch wheel with another rider.  Luckily speed was so slow that there were no injuries or damage.

I was sweeping at the back at the time, and stopped to make sure everyone was okay.  When I looked up, the flag pack were no where in sight.  I started the chase...

And abruptly stopped.  Tien the Tiger had a flat and stopped along side of the road to do the repair.  It seemed like an eternity to change the flat, but then we were off!

Chasing speed were up to 25-27 mph on the flats.  We knew we had a chance if we worked together, and we did just that.  Tien would pulled for a few miles, then I would pull for a few miles.  Luckily the weather was cool along the coast, and this temperature allowed us to go into "turbo" mode without over-heating.  We caught up with the mid pack on San Clemente shortly before the first SAG stop.

 Photo - SAG Stop #1

 Photo - Guest, BigH, and FedEx

 Photo - Where is the SAG Van?

Photo - SAG Van and Car with Snacks to the Rescue

Then we were off to Camp Pendleton and Oceanside!

 Photo - BigH, Matt, and Steve

 Photo - Rolling Along

Photo - Aiding the Flag Bearer

 Photo - Even the Ladies Helped

Photo - Arrived at Camp Pendleton

At Oceanside, our SAG Team were ready with delicious food, drinks, and fruits.  Man this stuff were so good after almost 30 miles of hard pedaling!

 Photo - Hungry Riders Surrounding the Food

 Photo - Flag Bearers

 Photo - A1 Crew

Photo - A2 Group Photo

On the return, it was extremely hard for the flag bearers as they had to deal with wind and lots of uphills.  The VeloViets were united in this cause and everyone around the bearers were pushing and shielding this rider.  Chinh was extremely strong and was pushing the flag rider up these hills.  I got lots of photos!

 Photo - Pushing...

 Photo - Mo Still Looking Good

 Photo - More Pushing...

Photo - Pack Rolled Tightly

 Photo - Chinh and Mo

Photo - Steve Taking the Flags Home

We parted ways with the Flag Group on Jamboree as they were going straight home.  Special recognition needed to be given to Ironman, Matt, Steve, Ben, Nam, and Mo for taking on the tough task of pulling the two flags.  You guys made this so much more memorable.  Thank you guys!

The A2 group reached Mile Square Park at around 5:15 PM.  We chatted and had some cold drinks and recounted the hard ride.  Man it was tough but it was a lot of fun!

This epic ride could not have been possible without our logistics team of Huong and Karen, who coordinated all of the food for this ride.  Thanks Ladies!  Then there is our super SAG team who worked hard to support the riders on the ride.  Thank you Annie, Danny, Anthony, and Ted!  Also thanks to our photographer Ddaze who I hope we will see some extremely cool action shots!

Generous donations were made by Nhat, who donated all of the drinks on the ride, and to Chi Lan, who contributed to the SAG cost.  Thank you Nhat and Lan!

That is it for now.  See you on next year's 9/11 ride!

Phong