50 States and 13 Colonies Ride, 2016

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  • September 6, 2016 at 1:10 am #1058476
    Rootchopper
    Participant

    50 States is 62 miles but it feels like 100. Also, it takes a lot longer than you might think. Basically, all day. Congestion, stop lights and stop signs are the great equalizer. I rode to it from Mt Vernon once. It was a beast of a day.

    September 6, 2016 at 1:36 am #1058477
    jrenaut
    Participant

    I’ve never done the 50 States – it’s usually the weekend of my older daughter’s birthday, so it’s never worked out. But I hear from everyone that it’s a challenging ride. If I were you, I’d do the ride once, then decide next year whether you want to add miles (Greenbelt is, what, 12-15 miles from downtown?).

    September 6, 2016 at 2:02 am #1058478
    BobCochran
    Participant

    Thank you!

    The ride start is Walter Pierce Park at 2700 Adams Mill Road NW. That is about 15 miles one way for me. On September 10, sunrise is at 6:45 a.m. and sunset is 7:23 p.m., at least for Greenbelt. Perhaps I can find the time to do a training ride to that Park before Saturday and let that experience plus the sunset times guide me in deciding how to get there. I don’t mind bicycling in the dark too much…as long as the streets are well lit.

    Bob

    September 6, 2016 at 2:18 am #1058479
    jrenaut
    Participant

    So the ride start is pretty close to my house, and I’ve done the ride from here to College Park (Proteus Bikes, to be precise, which I hope you’re familiar with because if you aren’t then you’re missing out). It’s a nice ride, and not super challenging, but if you do it round trip with the 50 States sandwiched in between, that’s a really long day. Maybe call Proteus? There’s a pretty good chance someone close to the shop is doing the ride, they might be able to give you some good advice.

    September 6, 2016 at 2:53 am #1058480
    BobCochran
    Participant

    Thank you! Yes, I know the great people at Proteus. I’ll ask their advice.

    Bob

    September 6, 2016 at 7:57 am #1058482
    Boomer Cycles
    Participant

    Oh, and don’t forget your rain gear. It has rained on the 50 States ride for the past 6 years in a row (ever since I started doing it)!

    Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

    September 6, 2016 at 3:15 pm #1058490
    sjclaeys
    Participant

    @Boomer2U 145416 wrote:

    Oh, and don’t forget your rain gear. It has rained on the 50 States ride for the past 6 years in a row (ever since I started doing it)!

    Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

    Boomer, maybe it was you who brought the rain, because the forecast for this year’s ride is sunny with a high of 96.

    September 6, 2016 at 3:20 pm #1058491
    Rootchopper
    Participant

    They used to hold this ride in August. It was brutal. So they decided to shift it to September. Then WABA’s Climate Change Machine became fully operational. Use the force.

    September 6, 2016 at 5:03 pm #1058499
    LeprosyStudyGroup
    Participant

    I’m going to ride on up to 50 states from Alexandria in time to depart around 8am. I plan on getting lost several times for lack of being able to follow a cue sheet, following randos up the wrong roads, and then bailing sometime around noon because my legs hurt or just for grouchy reasons, or maybe finishing. If anybody else is interested in this plan they are welcome to join me.

    September 6, 2016 at 8:38 pm #1058516
    lordofthemark
    Participant

    I am signed up for 13 colonies, so will be leaving NW Alexandria somewhat later.

    September 7, 2016 at 12:30 am #1058522
    Oldtowner
    Participant

    @LeprosyStudyGroup 145435 wrote:

    I’m going to ride on up to 50 states from Alexandria in time to depart around 8am. I plan on getting lost several times for lack of being able to follow a cue sheet, following randos up the wrong roads, and then bailing sometime around noon because my legs hurt or just for grouchy reasons, or maybe finishing. If anybody else is interested in this plan they are welcome to join me.

    That’s an ambitious plan, LSG, especially if doing the whole ride. I am almost tempted to do this, but the 50 States is a grind, especially the back half. I always ride back to Alexandria afterwards, but on a hot day that extra 11 miles is going to flatline the Polar funmeter.

    September 7, 2016 at 12:37 am #1058523
    Rod Smith
    Participant

    @BobCochran 145408 wrote:

    I’m signed up for the WABA “50 States” ride on September 10. I’d like to bicycle to the ride start from Greenbelt. Is that practical? When I did last year’s Cider Ride — the only other big WABA event I’ve participated in — I took Metrorail. I’m braver now, and want to pedal there. Surely there is a bike-friendly route?

    Thanks a ton

    Bob

    I can meet you in Greenbelt and show you the way if you like. If not, I can map it out for you and post a link. The Proteus standard “shop ride to DC” route.

    September 7, 2016 at 1:23 am #1058526
    BobCochran
    Participant

    @Rod Smith 145460 wrote:

    I can meet you in Greenbelt and show you the way if you like. If not, I can map it out for you and post a link. The Proteus standard “shop ride to DC” route.


    Hi Rod!

    The rest of this week will be pretty busy for me, and I’m not sure I’ll have the time to ride with you. Or even do a “test ride” to that location. If you can map out the route and post a link for me, I’d be extremely grateful. I’m not sure if Proteus has something similar already posted on their website as well. I only pay attention to their online calendar.

    Also — to be fair — I’m not sure if I’ll chicken out and either take Metro or ask a friend to drop me off there. So don’t feel you have to map a ride out for me. I definitely will be on this ride, I’m just not quite sure now if I’ll really bicycle there.

    The Proteus “shop ride to DC” is one of the rides I might not have not been on. I sometimes do their Coffee Rides on Sundays and once I did a Saturday shop ride which I think did go into DC, and on the return we stopped at a bakery in Hyattsville for coffee and snacks. But I’m not sure if that was the “shop ride to DC”.

    Thanks a ton

    Bob

    September 7, 2016 at 11:44 pm #1058610
    Rod Smith
    Participant

    Nah bro, we’re riding to the ride together. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16426414

    September 8, 2016 at 12:16 am #1058614
    BobCochran
    Participant

    @Rod Smith 145558 wrote:

    Nah bro, we’re riding to the ride together. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16426414

    Thank you so much, Rod! The map is beautiful! And okay, lets do it and ride there together. Just let me be fair and tell you I’m deaf — I can’t hear. I can speak just fine. That was my secret from the whole forum!

    Let me know when we should meet.

    Bob

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