Riding in Memory of Joe Novotny

We had a great turn out today for the Joe Novotny Memorial Bicycle ride in Valencia. I’d say at least three hundred cyclists rode in memory of Joe and other bicyclists killed while riding. I spoke with scores of them from around the southland. There was a club from Burbank who rode with us, one from Glendale, some folks from Santa Monica, Lancaster, Ventura and Los Angeles.

We all met in the parking lot at the mall. Just before 8am, Irene Thomas-Johnson, the president of Santa Clarita Velo, gave a few instructions about the ride, described the route, and read this poem for fallen cyclists:

Tonight we number many but ride as one
In honor of those not with us, friends, mothers, fathers, sisters, sons
With helmets on tight and heads down low,
We ride in silence, cautious and slow
The wheels start spinning in the lead pack
But tonight we ride and no one attacks
The dark sunglasses cover our tears
Remembering those we held so dear
Tonight’s ride is to make others aware
The road is there for all to share
To those not with us or by our side,
May God be your partner on your final ride

Joe Novtony’s wife was there and thanked us for remembering her husband.

At precisely 8, we rolled out of the parking lot and formed up, a Sheriff’s truck behind us, a CHP car on our left and a CHP vehicle up front. There were so many of us we took up an entire lane of traffic on our 11.1 mile circle around the SCV:

The ride itself was eery and reflective. Picture yourself surrounded by hundreds of cyclists -all of them silent- with the sound of mechanical clicks and clacks all around you. Everyone was riding respectfully and quietly as vehicles carefully passed us. I saw many bewildered looks from motorists and pedestrians.

On McBean

Many thanks to the Sheriff’s Department and the CHP for doing such a great job escorting us! And many thanks to the several SCVTalk readers who came out to ride as well, it was a pleasure meeting you.

Rest in peace Joe.