Bicycle Fun Club: Christmas Lights Edition

[Judd]

@bobco85 149839 wrote:

Funny coincidence, I just found out that while we were at the Alexandria (VA) holiday boat parade, my sister was at the Dunedin (FL) holiday boat parade! She got better pics (jealous), but the boats also came closer to where she was standing. Maybe for next year, I’ll borrow a kayak and camouflage to get up close to the boats (the camo would be to hide from any officials trying to get me out of the way)

I tried to convince accordioneur to light up a kayak next year and participate in the boat parade. We then had a conversation about dry suits and that kayaking in the winter isn’t as fun as it used to be.

@bobco85 149839 wrote:

As a way to remember how to get to the PYT from Old Town, I always think of Cameron St as starting from the north side of the Torpedo Factory. It leads straight to the PYT. Also, just an FYI video if y’all want to see it in the daytime along with it leading into Crystal City (we rode it from 0:16 to around 4:43 on the video):
[video=youtube_share;rzkqkJwsJy4]https://youtu.be/rzkqkJwsJy4[/video]

I just noticed that little trail at the beginning of the video a few weeks ago whilst exiting the PYT, but hadn’t yet explored. Very useful to have in the arsenal of ways to get places. Thanks for posting.

[Judd]

I added another event to the Bicycle Fun Club list of events for December. Information is below and also updated in the original post.

Holiday Light Bike Parade – Saturday, December 17th

We’ll latch on to the Alexandria BPAC and Alexandria Spokeswomen event to see the lights of Del Ray. This is a nice easy spin around Del Ray in Alexandria at a very leisurely pace. Meet at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub at 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave in Alexandria at 5:45 p.m. I’ll probably show a bit earlier because I love St. Elmo’s coffee. Bonus points will be assigned if you decorate your bike or wear a Christmas costume. I’m still deciding on the costume.

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1826665664285118/?active_tab=about

[wheelswings]

Thanks for organizing the fun rides! I’m rearranging next Sunday’s schedule so I can join you @ Zoo Lights. Can’t wait! Life is extra-chaotic with the start of gymnastics-competition season, but I’m ninety percent sure I can make it.

[Judd]

@Judd 149541 wrote:

Zoo Lights – Sunday, December 11th

Assemble at the Washington Monument at 4:30. We will take 15th Street nearly the whole way to the zoo. Casual, city bike lane riding pace with no drops. We’ll lock up at the zoo and enjoy the lights so make sure your cycling shoes are comfy for walking. Potential stop on the way back at the National Tree at the White House.

!

Bumping this up. Several folks have indicated that they’re coming so I’m hoping for another good size group for the ride to the Zoo Lights this weekend.

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[Kitty]

Hey guys, I’m very sorry to say I won’t be able to make it this evening. Too many errands to run I’m afraid, say nothing of tasks at home.

I hope you all have fun! Hopefully I’ll see a bunch of you at the HP100 next weekend

[Nadine]

I’m planning to come and wondering about the pace/which bike to ride. Locking up @zoo makes me think hybrid, because it’s SO much less of a theft magnet – but it’s slower. On the other hand maybe some people will bring families and its a no drop ride and 10-12 mph will be fine…. Any thoughts, Judd…? Sorry I didn’t think of this earlier….

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[Judd]

Thanks everyone who made it out tonight. I had a great time. We had a solid group of 9 folks. This ride had everything: beer, bikes with Christmas lights, an SUV that couldn’t do anything right, Princess Sarah Bee, and Ian rolling his 10,000th mile for the year.

Don’t forget about next week’s Christmas lights bike ride in Del Ray. I have it on very good authority that biking Santa Claus will be there.

[SarahBee]

Super fun! Thanks for organizing, Judd!

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[bobco85]

I made a video of the Zoo Lights Ride from Sunday using the footage from both my front and rear cameras along with the shots I got at the zoo. It was a lot of fun, and hopefully this video is evidence of that fact. Enjoy!

[video=youtube_share;MwST6n0_57c]https://youtu.be/MwST6n0_57c[/video]

I decided to save the close-call for the Missed Connection thread so that this video would be a more positive representation of the evening.

P.S. – thanks for organizing this, Judd!

[Judd]

This is awesome! My favorite part was the shot where Sarah Bee was buying us all beer.

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[Judd]

Go, frosty, go! Bumpity bump bump this thread! Current forecast is 51 degrees at the start of this ride. It’s almost criminal not to do it after today’s weather. It’s been confirmed that Santa will be there riding his sweet Trek Domane Sleigh decked out in Christmas lights. Hope to see you there!

Holiday Light Bike Parade – Saturday, December 17th

We’ll latch on to the Alexandria BPAC and Alexandria Spokeswomen event to see the lights of Del Ray. This is a nice easy spin around Del Ray in Alexandria at a very leisurely pace. Meet at St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub at 2300 Mt. Vernon Ave in Alexandria at 5:45 p.m. I’ll probably show a bit earlier because I love St. Elmo’s coffee. Bonus points will be assigned if you decorate your bike or wear a Christmas costume.

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1826665664285118/?active_tab=about

[KLizotte]

FYI: the facebook link is no longer working.

[Judd]

@KLizotte 150481 wrote:

FYI: the facebook link is no longer working.

Thanks for letting me know. I fixed it.

[komorebi]

I’ve done the Del Ray holiday lights ride for the past two years, and it’s lots of fun. Last year, we were invited in for someone’s holiday party (see pic below), passed carolers, heard little kids excitedly shouting “bike parade!” and cheering us on, and had many residents coming outside to wish us a merry Christmas.

Protip: Although this evening will be comparatively warm, consider bringing an extra jacket all the same. On previous rides, the pace has been slow enough that I couldn’t rely on the pedaling to keep me warm.

Hope to you see you there.

[accordioneur]

Assuming the ice and yuck melt away as forecast, I hope to join the Alexandria parade tonight. There might even be a rare sighting of Mrs. Accordioneur and her recumbent.

[Author]

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