If it’s Saturday of Memorial Day weekend it must be time for Madison. Let’s get right to the report:

RIDE WEATHER: Mostly cloudy and warm.. High 77F. Winds WSW – W at 5-8.

TIME, TEMP, DP, RH, SKY, WIND:

8:00 am; 68 °F; 60 °F; 74%; Partly Cloudy; SW @ 6
9:00 am; 72 °F; 60 °F; 65%; Mostly Cloudy; WSW @ 5
10:00 am; 76 °F; 59 °F; 56%; Mostly Cloudy; W @ 7
11:00 am; 77 °F; 59°F; 53%; Mostly Cloudy; W @ 8
12:00 pm; 76 °F; 57 °F; 50%; Cloudy; W @8
1:00 pm; 76°F; 57 °F; 49%; Cloudy; W @8

UNIFORM OF THE DAY: Moisture managing, Summer weight kit.

ON TOP: A short-sleeved wicking base layer under your bike jersey. You may also wish to have a bandana (du rag) or cap to protect your noggin and standard half-fingered bike gloves.

BELOW THE WAIST: I’d go with bike shorts. You’ll also want your light-weight wool or synthetic socks.

AS ALWAYS: Have your RoadID, shades, sunblock, lip balm and a snack or two; two water bottles — one full with water; one with some sports drink — or more water if you’re bringing energy chews or “bloks” as snacks.

DON’T FORGET YOUR MEDS: If you use an inhaler or epi-pen, please have them with you. You may want to let one of our ERT’s know you have them aboard.

DON’T FORGET YOUR HELMET…IT’S A MUST!

PLEASE HAVE A SPARE INNER TUBE — We’re forgetting this important item which is forcing a number of folks to ride in the SAG — some tire levers and a means to inflate the tube should you need to use it.

Remember to top off your tires before arriving — check the sidewall but most of you will be looking for somewhere around 100 – 120 PSI. If you’re not sure about this part; please bring your pump in the car with you.

REMEMBER: Sag space is limited. So plan for items you can wear or stuff easily in your saddlebag or pockets.

Please arrive at WESTMORELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL 5176 NY-233, Westmoreland, NY 13490 by 7:30AM(0730).

*PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME: DUE TO THE LENGTH OF TODAY’S RIDE WE WILL DEPART AT 8AM…0800.*

For us Memorial Day Weekend is looked upon as the unofficial start of summer. But in 1868, for a nation torn by a recently ended Civil War, it was “DECORATION DAY;” A day to remember those who’d died in battle by “decorating” their graves.

If you grew uo in a household like mine you may remember, and may still honor, the tradition of heading to the cemetery to spruce up and place flowers on the graves of your loved ones on Memorial Day Weekend.

As we ride today, we too will pause to remember them.

See you very soon gang…

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land.”

– General John Logan,
National commander of the Grand Army of the Republic.

from General Order No. 11 – May 5, 1868,

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