Air Force Classic

[PotomacCyclist]

Just that, plus the helmet number and an envelope with safety pins and wires for the bike number/timing tag. And a T-shirt if you registered before May 17.

There were free brochures available on a separate table, but those aren’t necessary.

[Vicegrip]

@APKhaos 87761 wrote:

IN! Packet and paraphernalia in hand.
Going for 6 so we’ll see how that works out. 19mph average over 56 miles is a ‘stretch goal’ for me.

U can do IT! Seems all you need to do is wheel Tim. Start hydrating the day before and drop in with pace lines now and then but please dont be “that guy” do some time in the wind. I plan to ride down early and get my packet sun am. Nice ride in.

[PotomacCyclist]

Sunday morning forecast

67F at 7 am, 75F at 10 am

Winds at 2-3 mph

5% chance of precipitation

Partly cloudy skies

A slightly greater chance of rain in the afternoon for the pro races, but still only 25%. The temperatures will also climb to the mid 80s by the afternoon, but only the pros will have to deal with that.

You really couldn’t ask for better conditions on a June morning in Arlington.

[PeteD]

Went to pick up my packet, and while locking up my bike Dickie was coming out of the Marriott, so after getting the packet, we wheeled back (he on his single speed) up to Rosslynn. I did spy 4 UHC folks tooling out on the Custis.

–Pete

[Jason B]

@bobco85 87695 wrote:

I picked up my packet today, too! Of course, I went to the wrong Crystal City Marriott at first, but luckily the bellhops knew that registration was at the other Marriott and gave me directions there.

I blocked my number out for privacy reasons (i.e., no one else can make a fake one with my number and DQ me because of it)
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I too picked up my Milano with ham, provolone, and genoa salami with extra peppers and I am ready to go,,,,,, wait a second, that’s not right, I’m at the the Italian Store damn it, not the marriot! I hate these Arlington Rides for I get easily distracted!
See you on Sunday, a bunch of us will be in the new tres fabu Washington Lee kits
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[Dickie]

Nice Kit Jason, is that the one you designed?

[Greenbelt]

Yesterday

Today

[Jason B]

As always, a ton of fun
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[sethpo]

100% shameless for my first gold medal since third grade.

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http://www.strava.com/activities/151015059

[Jason B]

@sethpo 87818 wrote:

100% shameless for my first gold medal since third grade.

Nobody told you in 3rd grade, but everybody was a winner, this one you earned. Nice job!

[Vicegrip]

@Greenbelt 87816 wrote:

AM rush hour in a world where cars had not been invented.

[Rod Smith]

I got blocked from my intended route to this event. Police had part of 1st NE shut down. The part I wanted to use. I had to backtrack a block to get on an alternate route. I hope the motorists who were similarly inconvenienced by road closures for this event didn’t get as angry as I did. Well I made it on time and had a great time. 😎

[dagamon]

Fantastic day for a fast ride. I got 6 in, but it was harder than last year, as they chopped 30 minutes off. That being said, brilliant day for a ride.

[PotomacCyclist]

I only made it to 5 laps this year. I think they stopped people from starting another lap after around the 2:30:00 mark or so. I didn’t ride much in March and I only rode my racing bike once over the past 5 months (and only for 20 minutes on Saturday). So I wasn’t expecting too much. I felt OK but I continue to be very slow on the uphills. I pass most people on the downhills and probably a majority on the straightaways, but almost everyone passes me on the uphills. I’m pretty light in weight and I do strength training in the off-season. Even though I haven’t done too much hill training this year, I’ve been slow on uphills in past events too. Not sure why. Maybe it’s the triathlon bike? Or I need to do more hill workouts (although I’ve done many hill workouts in previous years and I was still slow on the hills).

I started to overheat a bit in the last hour, maybe because I was wearing a long-sleeved jersey. I’ve only done the ride once before, in 2012. The course seems to be better now. In 2012, there were a couple chokepoints where I saw some bike accidents. I didn’t see any accidents this year.

I did see a lot of people with flat tires, especially in the first 15 minutes. I wonder what’s going on there. Maybe people aren’t checking their tires and inflating them before the ride? Then they get pinch flats right away.

Pretty cool that we have something like this event so close by (for those in Arlington and D.C.).

I also saw that We, the Pizza opened for the first time, around 1 pm. Good timing. The restaurant was packed. They are located just next to the main staging area for the Cycling Classic. Spike Mendelsohn, who owns the restaurant along with his family), was on hand. I don’t eat pizza any more (because the cheese seems to cause stomach problems for me – lactose – even though other cheese doesn’t bother me) but they have chicken wings and salads too. My order got lost in the queue for quite a while, but I chalk it up to the first day of business.

I saw some of the men’s pro race online, at the main website. I saw some of the women’s elite race in person and the kids race too.

[APKhaos]

@dagamon 87822 wrote:

Fantastic day for a fast ride. I got 6 in, but it was harder than last year, as they chopped 30 minutes off. That being said, brilliant day for a ride.

Agreed. I could have used that 30 minutes! Made 5 on this first attempt, and going for 6 seriously next time. Great event all round. Met up with some forum folks, and watched the first hour of the pro crit. Those guys are from another planet.

[Author]

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