BAFS National Cathedral group ride + private tour

[komorebi]

It’s so awesome that you’re doing this! I took a tour years ago, but I’m looking forward to the ride and to learning more about the cathedral.

[Judd]

I’m signed up too. Chris has put a lot of work into organizing this ride and I’m looking forward to my first visit to the National Cathedral.

Chris has been a docent at the Cathedral for 23 years so the tour is going to be top notch.

This is also the first time Chris is leading a ride and I’m happy to see another forum member helping give back to other cyclists and create a sense of community.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ChristoB50]

Just popping in to give this forum topic a nudge… The bike ride + cathedral private tour is a week away, March 9.
There are still some Eventbrite registration spaces available (the max group size for the private tour is 30 people, all via Eventbrite signup.)
Ping me if you have any questions!
-Chris

[Emm]

Heads up to those coming to the ride, and on the ride–there are a TON of road closures in DC Saturday thanks to a marathon. I think the route may need modification for this ride since it goes along some closed roads from what I can see.

https://www.runrocknroll.com/Events/DC/The-Races/Road-Closures

[ChristoB50]

@Emm 188314 wrote:

Heads up to those coming to the ride, and on the ride–there are a TON of road closures in DC Saturday thanks to a marathon. I think the route may need modification for this ride since it goes along some closed roads from what I can see.

https://www.runrocknroll.com/Events/DC/The-Races/Road-Closures

Thanks Emm;
I’ve been reviewing the planned route with Josephine as well, and comparing against the Marathon map — the only potential conflict I can identify is along Rock Creek Park — the runners will use the roadway though, not the parallel trail.
(I reached out to the marathon organizers to confirm their setups won’t use / restrict the parallel trail… supposedly, they will not…!) We could encounter onlookers along RCP Trail, and up the hill of Shoreham to Calvert — though we turn left then, while the marathon turns right…

The rest of our DC road route should be on streets that are well within the “overall perimeter” defined by the run map, and the closing listing (as far as I can make out!) — then after the Rock Creek stretch, we’ll be “outside” the perimeter (ie, going northwest of Calvert.)

Fingers crossed…!

[Emm]

@ChristoB50 188318 wrote:

Thanks Emm;
I’ve been reviewing the planned route with Josephine as well, and comparing against the Marathon map — the only potential conflict I can identify is along Rock Creek Park — the runners will use the roadway though, not the parallel trail.

Hopefully! If not, there will be some bike-walking along the trail. I know the MVT get swarmed with people on days there are races along the GW parkway (which are thankfully, very few).

My post was also meant to warn people going to the ride to plan accordingly, since getting through road closures can add time to your bike trip since you may be required to detour, or at the very least stop, and walk your bike across the road closure at an approved time.

[ChristoB50]

@Emm 188319 wrote:

My post was also meant to warn people going to the ride to plan accordingly, since getting through road closures can add time to your bike trip since you may be required to detour, or at the very least stop, and walk your bike across the road closure at an approved time.

Thanks!
I’m coming from VA, over 14th Street Bridge to Case Bridge to Maine Avenue… doesn’t look like that will be impacted — but of course DC or MD residents may face added challenges reaching Velo Cafe…

[LhasaCM]

@ChristoB50 188320 wrote:

Thanks!
I’m coming from VA, over 14th Street Bridge to Case Bridge to Maine Avenue… doesn’t look like that will be impacted — but of course DC or MD residents may face added challenges reaching Velo Cafe…

Any MD folks coming from northeast should be okay taking the ART to Benning, and then crossing the river there to take the West Bank trail (that’ll go under E Capitol where the runners will be, and avoid the East Bank trail alongside the course).

Given the relative narrowness of the RCP trail in that section on a good day, I’d recommend looking at an alternate route if for no other reason than a backup plan; I vaguely recall trying to go that way during a race a couple of years ago (wasn’t RnR) and ended up having to walk my bike for the better part of a mile because of the congestion/onlookers/etc.

[ChristoB50]

@LhasaCM 188322 wrote:

Given the relative narrowness of the RCP trail in that section on a good day, I’d recommend looking at an alternate route if for no other reason than a backup plan; I vaguely recall trying to go that way during a race a couple of years ago (wasn’t RnR) and ended up having to walk my bike for the better part of a mile because of the congestion/onlookers/etc.

Yeah — I do have an alternate route already mapped; I’m thinking we’ll get to the M Street bridge to have a view of RCPT — if it looks feasible we’ll stick to that route, if it looks jam-packed with spectators, we can take 28th up to P, over to 22, catch R to Mass Ave, cut through a posh ‘hood and reconnect with Calvert past all the marathon route…

[ChristoB50]

Hi folks;
I decided we’ll forego the Rock Creek Park Trail section entirely. Which means the entire ride will now be on roads. A first for me in DC, but Josephine has been super helpful and patient in reviewing my route and making me feel more comfortable!

So this removes the risk of encountering marathon spectator / support crowds along the RCPT.
And also, sadly, I confirmed last Sunday that the RCPT stop I’d planned doesn’t actually have a line of sight to the specific Oak Hill Cemetery grave I’d point out. Very, very close, but just out of sight.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29443536?privacy_code=l9JRtEEI6qNiUtSA

[ChristoB50]

Bumping this one last time.
Looks like we’re in for chilly, but apparently dry weather for the 8:30 morning ride up to the private group tour at Washington National Cathedral this Saturday…!
If you’re interested, there’s space available for the private tour — you just need to complete an Eventbrite registration to secure your place.
All the details are in the first post at the top of this thread.
Thanks! –ChristoB50

[bikesnick]

Chris,
Thank you for planning and leading the ride to the National Cathedral and giving us a private tour.
It was very informative and enjoyable.

Also, thanks to all the cyclists who rearranged bikes at the end of the tour so I could extricate my bike from the massive block of locked bikes.
/glenn

[Judd]

The Cathedral Ride was top notch. Thanks for organizing Chris B. You are an obviously well seasoned docent. Perfect delivery of information. I really like the information about Charles Glover. It’s very inspiring.

Our valiant leader.

Biking into the Cathedral.

Lots of pretty stained glass.

Chris shows us where we are in the LEGO Cathedral.

[ChristoB50]

@bikesnick 188439 wrote:

Chris,
Thank you for planning and leading the ride to the National Cathedral and giving us a private tour. It was very informative and enjoyable.
/glenn

You’re very welcome, Glenn!

[ChristoB50]

@Judd 188441 wrote:

The Cathedral Ride was top notch. Thanks for organizing Chris B. You are an obviously well seasoned docent. Perfect delivery of information. I really like the information about Charles Glover. It’s very inspiring.

Thank you very much, Judd! And thank you, and Josephine too, for the inspiration to plan this ride in the first place. Really happy with how it turned out!

[Author]

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