Lots of beer, little on the bikes recently.  Sorry about that, I haven’t stopped biking, just don’t have as many interesting stories to tell recently!

-John

On Saturday I rolled into Yards Park dressed in my finest brightest safety gear to be a shift leader for the New Belgium Tour de Fat.  Mostly a sideshow carnival, with a bike parade and plenty of beer – the event also serves as a fundraiser for local bike advocacy groups (WABA, MORE, FABB, BWBDC and Pheonix Bike). I dare you to decipher all those letters!

I volunteered last year and had a great time – so I had to do it again this year! After a hot 3 hour shift wrangling parade goers into signing release forms and donating extra cash to get a limited edition light or bike license plate I was ready for some beers! Just like last year, it was incredibly fun to just throw yourself out there and embrace the atmosphere. As on of the New Belgium staff mentioned at a volunteer meeting – when everybody is a freak, nobody is a freak.

It felt good. Then I had pie. After all, the next morning would bring the annual Fat Cyclist 100 Miles of Nowhere ride, and if you know Fatty, you know he likes pie!  Read about my rides from 2011 and 2012 here.

At 5am I was in the saddle and crossing the Potomac on my way to Purcellville via the Custis and W&OD trails.  Sunrise over the mall, sunlight dancing and shimmering over the Potomac, and hundreds of thousands of bugs flying into my face. Just keep pedaling. I like the 100 Miles of Nowhere because I like the FatCyclist blog, I think cancer sucks, and it is just a unique event.  When I meet somebody who recognizes a 100MON event t-shirt I get happy.  I raised $90 for a good cause – happiness.

Ok, so where is the last volunteer event?  Well, as part of the 100MON I also rode as a ride marshal for the National Capital Tour de Cure event.

Diabetes entered my life about 20 years ago on a beautiful summer day – when my youngest sister was brought to the doctors office, then to the hospital after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.  It changed our life in many ways, but also opened our eyes to the large epidemic that is Diabetes.  I rode in a few Tour de Cure events about 15 years ago, raised a lot of money and even won an award at an event in New York. Unfortunately, even though there have been huge advances in the 15 years, there is still no sure for diabetes.

Sister about the time she was diagnosed. She’ll hate I used this picture!

But there is one out there somewhere, I firmly believe that.

So this year I joined the organizing committee for a brand new, national-level, Tour de Cure event that is going to be run in Washington, DC in September 2014.  I am running the rest stop program, which should be very fun – and is an important part of these charity rides.

Being a ride marshal was a great way to reconnect with the TdC program.  I personally helped two riders who needed SAGs, a random family on the trail whose youngest boy ran off the trail into pricker bushes and needed a first aid kit, and provided motivation to so many riders who just needed an extra boost over the hills. I ended the marshal portion of my day feeling so happy for what I could offer.

So now – I have a question for you. Will you help?  I don’t want money, I want your time.

We are looking for a committee of energetic and motivated volunteers to create an inaugural cycling event for the American Diabetes Association right here in Washington DC. Through the creation of this ride, volunteers can take a leadership role in one of the following categories: Marketing and Publicity, Fundraising, Route Creation and Logistics, Day of Event Experience, Bike Shops and Training Rides, The Diabetes Mission, and Volunteer Management. Contact Zahra Jilani at zjilani@diabetes.org to play YOUR part in the creation of the new DC Tour de Cure: America’s Ride to Stop Diabetes!

Will you help? It will feel good.

Another beer review penned for DrinkCraftBeer.com – and of course it is from a local DMV brewer – DC Brau Brewing Company!  If you haven’t have  a chance to sip the sweet nectar that is On the Wings of Armageddon, then you are doing it wrong. Don’t wait as long as I did.

More DMV area DrinkCraftBeer.com reviews to come. Oh, and if you haven’t already – sign up for our #DCBbrewvet and get on your bike!

It is in the spirit of commingling our shared love for gears and grains, hops and handlebars that my compadres at DrinkCraftBeer.com and I are launching the Brewvet Challenge.

Think coffeeneuring but with beer.

The details are launching live at DrinkCraftBeer now! tomorrow May 30th.  Until then, start thinking about what beers you want to try and where your stops will be.  I’ll organize a ride at some point in June to help everyone rack up the required miles!  Tweeting at #DCBrewvet is highly encouraged!

It takes slightly over an hour each way.

My air conditioned, heated, steel box with a radio and a comfortable seat isolates me from the incessant traffic, drivers trying to beat the light, and the harsh reality that I’m driving from a wonderful city to a god awful “edge city”. Tysons Corner, is justified as a city because it has traffic, high density office space, and not one, but two malls. There is no community, no neighborhoods, no active street life or engaging local retail to speak of. Cars come in, cars come out.

Tysons Corner

I’m jealous of bike commuters. Yes, even when it is sweltering hot, or a rain storm pops up unexpectedly, or when a cabbie illegally U-turns across Pennsylvania Ave. I’m jealous because they ride through DC and can take advantage of all its amenities, because when you leave the office you can leisurely ride home, or hammer out your aggravation climbing hills or laps on Hains point. I’m jealous because you get to know other commuters by name and through conversation, not just by a familiar bumper sticker or dent in their trunk.

But I don’t bike commute, because 1) There are no showers at work, 2) There is no bike parking at work, 3) It’s a haul at about 17-18 miles each way, and 4) the W&OD trail is lonely and boring if you’re riding alone. Some of those are easy to overcome, to tell myself to suck it up and get over it.  But the combined effect, the hassle, the long distance have put me off of the idea as a regular thing. I’m not 100 percent ok with that – if the office was in Arlington, or I had a group to regularly ride with  I’d ride as much as possible. Sometimes I feel like I am betraying myself for driving.

This has never been used in 2 1/2 years.

My jealousy got the best of me this year for bike to work day. I had a partner to bike with (though there was a last minute cancellation), there was swag to pick up at the rest stops, and friendly faces to see at Friday Coffee Club.  So I decided I would make it work – leave early enough, pack scent free natural baby wipes for clean up, just see what it is like in DC.  It’s not the first time I’ve bike commuted – I did it a handful of times at a previous job in Massachusetts, which had nicer roads, a shower, but a 46 mile round trip – so I knew what to expect and how to pack food and clothes.

It didn’t take long to notice the difference between car and bike commuting in DC. Biking just FEELS GOOD. It wasn’t just the abundance of bike commuters taking advantage of bike to work day, it was the fact that my mind opens up when biking in a way that it doesn’t when driving.  I absorbed my surroundings, relished the cool morning air, and wasn’t fixated on rapidly advancing from light to light.  I advanced at my own pace, I was less worried about being in the most efficient lane or if there was a cop lurking on a side street waiting to nab speeders. It was nice to focus on my body as the engine rather than the ticking and humming of 4 cylinders encased in plastic and steel.

We should do this every day.

Coffee club was great, I got to talk to a few people at rest stops, then set off on the Custis trail. Damn those hills. Eventually I made my way onto the long straight W&OD, then a right turn onto Gallows Road, which despite the ominous name has a decent bike lane. Before I knew it I was at the office. Locking up with the other Bike to Work day folks.

The other bike to work day…

On the way home I was feeling good about my choice. It changed my mental perspective at work – I had more energy, was eager to get things done, and in a happier mood.  Also ravenously hungry. And eager to leave at 5pm on. the. dot.

Riding home I saw a familiar bike, and pulled up along side of Mike R., one of the craziest but nicest cyclists in the DC area.  We chatted and rode together and he led me on roads, paths and short cuts that made me feel like he was Dean Moriarty and I was Sal driving across the country in  Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”. Spur of the moment decisions, conversations that flow, an element of danger and humor mixed into one.  That – that is not the type of thing you get while driving to work every day. No, this is what being out in the open, exposed to the elements and the strengths (or weaknesses) of our body is about. I’m sure it gets routine and mundane over time – how could it not – but quite simply bike commuting offers a hell of a lot more chances for fun than driving ever could.

So there you have it – that is my story of Bike to Work Day to go in the file with all the rest. I’ll be riding to work more often, but still only occasionally.  Maybe a dozen times during the summer months? Better than nothing, let’s see what comes of it.

Morning Route

DC Monument st start

By the morning I was fine, the only hang-up being that I left the apartment then returned  twice to find the right blend of layers that would ward off the early morning chill but would be easily shed in the event the afternoon warmed as promised. I arrived at the DC monument to find John (@Rootchopper), and in short order we were joined by Tim, Justin (@JDAntos), Kevin (@BicycleBug), and Alex (@AlexBaca). Greetings and introductions, etc. – eventually I had to lead us out.

Pre-ride inspection.

A slow roll up the Met Branch Trail and into Brookland, where we deviated from the cues for the first time (this would be a recurring theme).  We meandered towards the Anacostia trail network with the College Parkers (Alex and Kevin) joined by Justin burning a fast pace, while John, Tim and myself took things a little slower. A re-group at  Lake Artemesia was helpful, as I tweeted a photo that helped Mike (@Rattlingfender) triangulate our position. A short ride past BARC and a violent introduction to Odell Road (I hadn’t hit that hill on Odell in previous rides) later and Mike waived us down at the side of the road. We also stumbled upon Rod, who joined our group despite having ridden almost the same roads on the day previous. We were 8, and we churned out some good miles despite a nagging headwind that persisted all the way to Baltimore.

42cm vs. 58cm.

Greenbelt

Preparing to enter Brock Bridge Road

Justins LHT at the 7-11

Mike and Rod really took over the leadership duties from this point until we hit downtown Baltimore, where I mostly resumed my “leader” role. In honesty, a scouting ride would have been helpful, and I will do that next year for sure.  We passed wave after wave of Baltimore Ramblers on Brock Bridge Road – and I even got to meet Rando Bob himself as he sprinted to catch our group when he passed.

With the sun reflecting off the hard concrete and metal surfaces of downtown Baltimore, we pedaled up Charles Street to Mount Vernon, where our second Washington monument of the day awaited. Tweets happened. Then we broke for lunch at a favorite place of mine – Alewife on Eutaw St. – where we all got to know each other a little better over good food and beer.

Deciding where to eat – very important after 50 miles!

It’s up there!

Washington Monument in Baltimore!

The ride back towards DC started with some self-doubt – as I knew I could pick up the Gwynns Falls Trail near M&T stadium, but my memory was foggy. Thankfully Mike also knew this route (and it was fresher in his head), so we rolled out.

The ride back was exceptional, quiet roads, fast riding, warm weather – I felt incredibly strong, though I owe some of that to the slight tailwind. We met us with the Baltimore group at a 7-11 just outside of Laurel where we shared some ice cream and waters.

Meetup with the Baltimore crew

Eventually Tim, Rod and Mike peeled off to head home – and John and I were separated from Justin, Kevin and Alex in Brookland due to some traffic lights. I really hit a wall energy-wise on Michigan Ave and wanted nothing but to stop and sit – but instead crammed my mouth full of Cliff bars and hoped they would kick in.  We eventually regrouped, John riding home and the remaining four riding to northwest DC to gorge on food and beer at Meridian Pint (though Alex took a rain check on food and reportedly enjoyed a showerbeer).

Meridian Pint

#showerbeer – I picked one from Baltimore Washington Beer Works, figured it was appropriate.

The beer was perfect, but I have found there are times when I simply don’t want food after a long ride – and halfway through my burger I didn’t want much more.

On the way home we would all roll over 100 miles, making this the first century of the year for a few of us – and one of the most enjoyable group rides I’ve had in a long while.  A great mix of personalities and attitudes, mixed with good weather, relatively similar paces, and no disasters are a recipe for success.  I can’t wait to ride with this crew, and on this route again.

Justin has photos here and a strava gps map here.

John has photos here, and a ride report here.

RandoBob (M2M creator) has photos here and a  ride report here.

Full circle – DC Monument at Night

They also have the “original” monument to George Washington (1829), which makes ours a slightly larger, but undeniable second (1884).

This warrants a bike ride (doesn’t everything?) – and Mr. RandoRamble has been organizing a Baltimore monument to DC monument ride for a few years now.  This year lets run a convoy up from DC to Baltimore and back.

When: Sunday May 5. Meet at 7:45, depart at 8:10 promptly.

Where: Meet at the public restroom that is at the east side of the DC monument at 15th Street.

Who: Anyone who feels that they can do it.

I personally take no pleasure in grinding out miles for the sake of it – this is not a race. When you want to go slow, go slow, if you want to be speedy, by all means feel free.  There are two rest stops at about the 20% and 80%, and we should plan on finding lunch in Baltimore.

I’ve hacked together some cue sheets – partially taken from the Baltimore > DC Route.  They can be found here:

Cue Sheet

And a route map (some minor changes have been made) can be found here:

Route Map

More important ride information can be found HERE and HERE

We’re going to tweet/tumbl/instagram this up at #bikeM2M – you should too.

Where: NW4

When: April 6, 2013

Why: Shakedown ride for the Soma Saga after a rear wheel rebuild.

Distance: 35 miles

Can you see it?!

I’ve ridden past this stone many times without knowing it – but as I was heading up the hill towards Montgomery County on the Capital Crescent Trail I caught a familiar sight from the corner of my eye – the telltale iron fence that the DAR erected around the stones. This is one of the tougher ones to see, since it is within the fenced off area of the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant. Another one in the bag!

I know my stone and monument hunting posts aren’t the most exciting of content, but finding and learning about these interesting features of our city are really fun!

Oh – by the way… if you aren’t spending quality time with your mother of mother-in-law on May 12th, there is a group of folks who will be cycling the original DC boundary specifically to spot the stones.  Meeting point is the Capitol Heights Metro station at 9:30am – and the ride is expected to last about 6 hours (or about 45 miles of riding).  More information is posted at PoPville.

Check out my review!