Start the Week Off Right – Ride Feature

Start the Week off Right ride (STWOR )is a good place to start cycling or start back cycling in a safe and welcoming group. No one is left behind and no one is left out.  Ride Leader John O’Keefe has expanded the Monday ride to 3 distinct groupings so that we can continue to grow and still be safe and welcoming to all abilities. 

Dale Hoffmann & Patricia Johnson, long time members of HBL, started the ride 14 years ago. Patricia shares “…at first there would be 3 to 4 riders show up & if we had 5 or 6 we would be thrilled. I would go to the start, no matter the weather, just to hold the STWOR ride, even if no one else showed.”  The last five years has seen consistent growth with steady year round participation.

The ride has expanded to three sub-groups; the groups makes people feel more comfortable joining the group knowing there are places for anyone to join in. The groups are led by seasoned volunteers and Patricia proudly states “I lead the 3’s now… way better than “the slow group”.  The 1, 2, 3s was deicide on as a good way to discuss groups and not get people worked up about the pace or speed of the group they should join.  All groups decide on where they are going to ride and how far generally from Kahala to Hawaii Kai and back.  The highlight for a few riders is a stop at Starbucks. 

John states that “Although Patricia gave up the Ride Leader title, she really is the backbone and energy of the group. I am the organizer that makes sure everyone is ready to ride safe and feels welcomed no matter if they show up one time or are a regular.”  We, as a group, mentor everyone who rides so that everyone understands the rules of the road and that we represent HBL and the Cycling Community at large.  We teach people how to ride better and safer.  We are proud that many of our riders have come in as shaky beginners and now are experienced, safe riders that now share their knowledge and skills with the newest riders.

STWOR is a social riding group. If you stay around, you make lifelong friends and members who met on Mondays are now your everyday buddies who you are out doing other things beyond cycling together. Often the feedback I get is “what a nice group of people” the Monday bike ride group is. Truly it is the same for the Thursday group as it is mostly the same people.  Visitors are welcome and, before COVID, we would frequently have visitors from out of state join the ride.  We have “snowbirds” that join us every winter from Canada and Upstate New York and they meld back in every year like they live here all year round.

We welcome and encourage you to join us every Monday to meet some great people and ride in a safe environment. Still working and a Monday ride seems out of reach? Mark your calendar for any Federal Holiday that falls on Mondays to join us.

Look forward to you joining us this year.