Here's why:
* Spelling: The "i" in "ride" is followed by a silent "e". This is a common pattern in English words where the "e" at the end of a word makes the vowel sound long.
* Pronunciation: The "i" in "ride" is pronounced like the "i" in "bike" or "time", which are long vowel sounds.
Therefore, the vowel sound in "ride" is long.