| For Kevin Dwyer, his first love is his family. “I cherish them a lot,” he says. But beyond that, one thing he “can’t live without” is his road bicycling. With a small group of buddies, he goes out just about every Sunday for a 20-or-so-mile ride around Bainbridge Island, where he lives and works as the executive director of the island’s Chamber of Commerce.
The morning starts about 7:30 a.m., and after the ride is done in about two hours, the guys get together for coffee before heading back home — or sometimes, for another short ride.
“It’s become like a religion in a way,” Dwyer said. “We’re all pretty religious about showing up and riding, probably as much for the social aspect of it as for the riding.”
The coffee get-together is not really enough to satisfy the socializing aspect; the guys talk through a big part of their route. “We’re shooting the breeze a little bit while riding, then regroup along the highway and kick into high gear,” he said.
Dwyer has been riding a bicycle for about eight years, and was invited to join the group by a friend. He only had a mountain bike at the time, but after riding along, was hooked, and bought a road bike. The group has 10 men, who get together socially on other occasions such as picnics with their families or parties. And although it’s mostly a “men’s club,” one of the spouses can be sometimes spotted coming along for the ride on her bike. Occasionally, the group ventures off the island, taking their bikes up to Sequim or Port Angeles, and has even biked at Hurricane Ridge.
In addition to the weekly ritual, Dwyer turns bicycling into a family affair. Both his wife, Mary (who’s a teacher), and daughter, Molly, enjoy it, so family outings may take them to Seattle or other places for a day trip on bikes.
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