Air Force Association Challenge ride

[Rod Smith]

That was a blast! Nice seeing some of you there. I’m glad I got to ride with PeteD and Vicegrip for part of lap seven. I didn’t really want to go seven but I didn’t read this whole thread so I was confused when I had less than 10×6 miles at what I could have sworn was the finish line for ‘gold medal’ distance. I stopped and scratched my head, then went out for one more. Glad I did because I got to ride with a couple of you all on the bonus lap . Pete didn’t know what lap he was on, he was going to get as many as he could. Great attitude. We helped each other for half a lap. Vicegrip came through on a fast train. He acted like we never had met. Pete and I jumped on but I got a call from the friend I rode to the event with (and finished the sixth lap with) wondering where I’d gone. If he had stopped at the finish as I did I would have known the ride was “over”. I stopped, he didn’t. I started going again… Anyway I’m glad I rode one more time around but after slowing to take the call at the bottom of the hill, I couldn’t get back up to my teammates…

It was nice to also see Bilsko, and Riders Consular and Arlington. Sorry I didn’t stop to chat, Kathy. I was headed your way when I decided I might be a lap short…

I saw 4ST7 stopped on heartbreak hill. I failed to recognize you because I hadn’t read this thread carefully before heading out which I regret for a number of reasons. I gave you a sort of late little thumbs up because I’m socially inept but I wanted you to know your participation in this event was admirable/inspiring. When I was on the decent, I saw that a woman in a Bike Arlington jersey had stopped to see if you were OK or to maybe offer a word of praise or encouragement. That was the nicest thing I saw today.

I hollered “Yea Bike Arlington!” to someone in a Bike Arlington jersey who responded with “Keep it local”. Not sure what you meant but I liked that.

[Jason B]

That was a blast. It was a tad bit more twisty, but overall a good time. Appeared a little short than in the past.
The W-L contingent had about 6 teachers riding today. We had four 7’s and two 6’s. I am little bummed that a few of our times were recorded incorrectly. One of our group was only recorded for two laps and two of us lost a lap. Oh we’ll, that is what Garmin is for.

[Tim Kelley]

Are results posted somewhere already?

[Jason B]

@Tim Kelley 54602 wrote:

Well, that was fun!

Nice KOM!
You could stop at the table and get results at the end of the ride.

[Arlingtonrider]

Tim, I haven’t seen results anywhere, but Richard Fries (primary commentator) asked me if I knew you. I denied any association whatsoever. (just kidding.)

Very fun day! In addition to Tim, saw Consularrider, Bilsco, Megabeth, Dickie, Vicegrip, Rod Smith, PeteD, Hans, Sean Chisham and the entire Grant/Dasgeh family! Gillian rode with Ryder in the Bullitt. Grant rode separately, and their two and a half year old daughter raced with her age group. An amazing cycling family! I think I saw 4st7lbs too, but wasn’t sure. Cheered for everyone I knew, everyone I thought I might know, and anyone else who looked like they needed it. Congratulations to everyone!

The pro races were very exciting too, with Team United Healthcare finally having to cede first place! Forgot to add that I saw Culimerc too.

[Dickie]

@Tim Kelley 54613 wrote:

Are results posted somewhere already?

I heard someone say they would be posted later and you could enter your number to get the info… I also checked MyLaps but found nothing for the event.

What a great day, perfect weather and lots of forum folks in the challenge and on the sidelines.

Kathy – I looked forward to that cowbell every lap, gave me the push I needed to do my 7 laps
Consularrider – Thanks for being there and keeping me calm at the beginning. Bummed you blew a tire, I had no idea!
4st47lbs – Sorry I could’t find you at the beginning, but glad I spotted you on heart break hill near the end.
Tim – You blew by me at the finish line as I started my 7th lap (your 8th?). I was out of the saddle and you were still a blur… awesome!
Vicegrip – You were always just out of reach until I dug deep and finally caught up on the last lap, great to finish with you.
PeteD – two words… EPIC SPRINT

Sorry to have missed the rest of you… Bilsko, Rod, Jason, Dasgeh to name a few… but congrats to you all regardless.

[Vicegrip]

Rod you have stumbled onto my secret. I have the worst ability to put a name to a face and to remember people easily. Car parts, tools, nuts, bolts, materials, electrical diagrams, I can remember what and where but what is important names for all the good people around me slips through largely unimpeded.

What is important is that I saw a very large group of people having good fun for a good cause.
Dicky and PeteD got the drop on me at the town line but good for the final sprint. Was fun to watch, albeit from behind……
Was good to bump into Bilsko in the am before the ride.
Was glad to only see Tim K once on the ride.

[NicDiesel]

@Rod Smith 54609 wrote:

That was a blast![/quote]
Definitely. Outside of that funky u-turn after the AF memorial the course was really smooth, definitely a great “first” ride. I didn’t see anyone being super aggressive or reckless, which was really nice, and there were tons of ride support and medical staff patrolling, another nice touch.

@Rod Smith 54609 wrote:

I saw 4ST7 stopped on heartbreak hill. I failed to recognize you because I hadn’t read this thread carefully before heading out which I regret for a number of reasons. I gave you a sort of late little thumbs up because I’m socially inept but I wanted you to know your participation in this event was admirable/inspiring. When I was on the decent, I saw that a woman in a Bike Arlington jersey had stopped to see if you were OK or to maybe offer a word of praise or encouragement. That was the nicest thing I saw today.

A number of people stopped by to see how I was doing and to give words of encouragement, which was really cool. As I told Tim when he stopped by, I handled the first lap and a half really easily but started cramping really bad halfway up the AF hill. The first time I stretched it out and got back going no problem, but on lap four my legs wouldn’t stop cramping. I managed to make it up the hill and back into Crystal City but my legs were pretty much dead. Still, it was a really great ride and something I’d do again if given the chance.

[PeteD]

That was a lot of fun today, though the middle part where I couldn’t find a good train to wheel suck was a bit more of a chore than when I was sitting 5th or 6th wheel for the most of the day.
Saw Rod at the start, then let the crowd and my aversion to riding in a big peleton pass me for most of the first lap (at least up until Wilson Blvd turn around).
Saw Kathy a couple times in Crystal City, then caught up with Rod again on lap 6 (or was that 7). He stopped to take a call, so I latched onto Vicegrip’s wheel for the last run up the hill, and then hung on to Dickie’s for most of the run back into Crystal City, and then, figured since this was the end (no one was coming the other way), it was time to empty the tank on the last 4 corners, and I’m not sure who got the sprint there at the end, but it was the capstone for a fun ride today!

[Rod Smith]

Vicegrip, I hollered your name and forum handle. Joked to Pete that you were “in the zone”. I regret taking that call, but I felt I owed it to my riding buddy although he sort of inadvertently tricked me into taking that last lap. There was no way in hell I was getting back up to you guys without help. I didn’t try. I stopped at the Memorial to fill two empty bottles for the ride home and finished at an easy pace. Where did Dickie enter the picture? I started near the front so he must have passed me at some point. I probably saw him but did not recognize. Cool that forum members had some wheel time together. Sounds like it didn’t happen for the most part until the seventh lap!

[NicDiesel]

Here’s lap one that I took on the ol’ GoPro yesterday. Forgive the bad angles, I need a new camera mount.

https://vimeo.com/68022227

Warning: mid-90s rock and Hold Steady are the soundtrack.

[dasgeh]

That was awesome. I’m SO glad we did it. I’m sure I saw all of y’all, because I’m pretty sure I was passed by every single person on the ride. I didn’t recognize everyone. Sorry. I did recognize Megan, Tim and Kathy. I’m pretty sure I was the only one on a cargo bike.

Grant (my husband) actually didn’t do this ride. He raced the 3/4 (flatted on the last lap — grrr). He also raced the 2/3 on Saturday. Sydney (the toddler) raced the kids races both days (she was SO EXCITED, especially Sunday, and kept asking when her race would start). Not to be outdone, Ryder (6 months) and I decided to do the Challenge ride. Having done that hill once before on the Bullitt, I wasn’t sure I could do more than one lap on that bike, so I had a backup plan to get a different bike. After the first time up, I realized I wouldn’t need it.

I’m pretty sure my ride experience was different than others — I was very slow, and I had to stop to do things like drink water, change diapers, nurse, find new toys. Ryder was a trouper in the car seat on the bike for 2+ hours (we rode from home). So I took him out at the top of the hill each time to give him some wiggle time. We got in our two laps easily.

But the real story was the other riders. Everyone was SO NICE. During the first lap, especially, it was a constant stream of nice comments from passing riders (and lots of spectators). It was pretty cool. And no sketchy passes or moments (whenever we came up to a narrow part, I’d pull off until there was a gap or at least a sparsely populated section – I hope we didn’t end up blocking or slowing anyone too much).

I saw 3 bikes with trailers out there, 2 kid-tandems and a handful of kids on bikes doing the course themselves. Pretty great stuff.

The whole weekend was just a great weekend for cycling in Arlington. I’m kicking myself for not having Kidical Mass stuff to hand out at those kids races. Man, those kids races are cute.

[Steve]

@4st7lbs 54633 wrote:

Here’s lap one that I took on the ol’ GoPro yesterday. Forgive the bad angles, I need a new camera mount.

https://vimeo.com/68022227

Warning: mid-90s rock and Hold Steady are the soundtrack.

Constructive Summer!? That just put me in a really, really good mood. They (esp. Craig Finn) put on one of the most energetic live shows I’ve ever seen. I suppose Hold Steady soundtracks are a requirement for preparing to move to the Twin Cities?

Thanks for the video.

[KLizotte]

Dasgeh,

You win the PLATINUM medal for your Challenge ride. That all sounds far more exhausting than doing 6-7 laps. Even the Copenhagers can’t compete with you.

I hope your pic made it into the WashPost.

[dasgeh]

Thanks so much, KLizotte. It wasn’t easy, but if I can do it, you can do it. I hope I inspired someone else to have that thought.

[Author]

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