Bike-riding Cinderellas Bike-riding Cinderellas (March 26, 2004)

Watch for thousands of women bicycling through Pleasanton tomorrow. It's the Valley Spokesmen Bicycle Club's 28th annual Cinderella Classic 2004, held exclusively for women and girls.

"It started 28 years ago for the men in our club to say thank you to the women," said Bob Powers, one of the organizers. Back then he said, not many women were riding, but they were providing support for the men. "This was our way of saying, 'Thank you, girls, we appreciate it.'"

Tomorrow's ride will begin at Camp Parks, go down Hacienda, to Stoneridge, Hopyard, Valley and Bernal out to Foothill Road. From there the cyclists will head south to the Verona Bridge, up Pleasanton-Sunol Road to Sunol Boulevard to Vineyard and out to Livermore. They return along the base of Mount Diablo to Danville and back to Camp Parks, a 100 kilometer ride, 63 miles.

"A lot of women dress up with tiaras and veils for the Cinderella theme," said participant Judith Alterman. "The girls ride and the guys provide support."

The route will be marked with pink arrows, and rest stops will have fruit, drinks and snack. A cold lunch is served at mid-point, and there is also food at the end of the ride.

Registration this year is limited to 2,200 participants and is full. A portion of the proceeds benefits women's charities. -Dolores Fox Ciardelli

E-mail a friend a link to this story.