A few months ago I met with Teresa Robbins the founder and mastermind behind Venus de Miles. Teresa asked me to be a part of her “Dream Team”, a select group of women in the community (15 to be exact) that would help promote, lead, and encourage participants in the event. I felt honored as I had heard so many wonderful things about VDM and The Greenhouse Scholars program.
As I had learned throughout the last three months, this was not just a one day event. There is a culture built around this one special day. There are clubs dedicated to training, educating, and encouraging ladies to ride in this event. There are fund raisers and group rides at various Whole Foods around the community. The preparation for VDM is mind boggling.
Now that I already feel part of the sisterhood by participating in all these events I am certainly ready for the Big Day! My alarm rings at 5am, yes that early. I need to be there to meet the other Dream Team members so we can coordinate our very important and cute outfits, tutu, knee socks, and winged haloed helmet. I also have been chosen to stand on stage and kick off the 67 mile, wave of ladies.
We started with an early morning National Anthem and a few hoorahs, the energy was electrifying. I had never seen so many women, on bikes, in one area. Usually, I was racing and the mood was definitely not like this. A nice break for me, I might add. Everyone was smiling!
I gave my go go cheer and began to look for my group of ladies that I had decided to share this ride with, Team Moving Violations. There were 6 of us. Each team member had a name such as “Wide load”, “Failure to Stop”, and “Moving under the legal speed limit”. We began our ride with the sun rising and smiles on our faces. There were ladybugs, mermaids, princesses, fairies, and men in drag. We were a moving carnival.
