About two dozen cyclists (including these) took off from the Green Friday morning, heading east. The early morning drizzle had cleared, although more rain was predicted. If that didn’t materialize; it would be a perfect biking day.

Here’s a close up of Steve Eppler-Epstein in his Barney look-alike helmet.

Claude Grazia (on the left) was riding with his wife and son. He does this ride every year. Next to him is Kelly Ann Day, executive director of New Haven Home Recovery, one of the agencies that will benefit from the money raised. Janet Spinner is a midwife with expertise in HIV/AIDS in women, and her husband, Gary Spinner, is the chief operating officer of the Hill Health Center, which sees hundreds of patients with HIV/AIDS.

Matthew Feiner, proprietor of The Devil’s Gear bike shop, was on hand doing minor tweaks and repairs for the riders.

Meanwhile, rider Alison Cunningham, executive director of Columbus House, was getting a little tweaking herself from Valerie Seldon, who runs The Gift of Touch in New Haven.

To listen to Melinda Tuhus’ reports on the ride on WQUN radio, Click here and here