Crystal Ride

[Mark Blacknell]

Belated response: just loop them through your velcro straps, if that’s what you’ve got. Doesn’t need to actually look like a perfect D – just a loop. I’d advise against looping it around a seatpost, though – you’ll want to keep it closer to the timing mat.

[PotomacCyclist]

I’m putting it on the heel pull-on loop on my tri bike shoes. Road bike shoes may not have a heel loop though.

[PotomacCyclist]

Around 73F for the start of the Crystal Ride, but possibly 87F by the end of the ride! Stay cool out there.

[vvill]

Well, it was a fun ride. Although any ride is when they have to close off city streets and open them to a flood of cyclists

I managed to see/talk to MB, Tim, Dave K, Mega Beth, eminva, dbb, consularrider, and both Kathys!

Sad to hear they ran out of gold medals though (and water on the Air Force Memorial stop almost 1hr before the end)! But according to their last email blast

Quote:

In order to accommodate the surge in demand on participation, we will be allowing another 150 walk-up registrations on a first come, first serve basis. However, this may result in a shortage of finishing medals. If this does occur, we will mail medals for those who request one. Medal requests will need to be sent to: info@arlingtonsports.org, and must include bib number.

[eminva]

I made it and it was fun! Thanks for the advice, everyone, it was sound. At first I was afraid I had repeated my mistake from the 1994 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler by starting too far back (which resulted in a very disappointing time for that event — go ahead, you can look it up on their website. The internet never forgets). The first lap was kind of crowded (and I got stuck behind the big accident by Roslyn), but it gradually got better and eventually I was able to pick up the pace so I could complete the full six laps (but just barely). I didn’t get a gold medal because they had run out, but I already emailed asking for them to send one — we’ll see (thanks vvill).

It was good to see everyone — I think I saw most, but not all of the folks vvill identified. A couple of other Bike Arlington jerseys but I didn’t recognize the cyclists wearing them.

Here is a photo — vvill was kind enough to lend me his medal for staging.

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Liz

[Arlingtonrider]

My ride today was to Costco and back, which didn’t qualify me for any of the medals, but I took my cowbell along and stopped for a few minutes on the way there and back to watch for friends and cheer them and other riders along, and got to see several of the people vvill mentioned after the ride. You all did great, especially in that heat. Congratulations!

[KLizotte]

@eminva 21712 wrote:

The first lap was kind of crowded (and I got stuck behind the big accident by Roslyn), but it gradually got better and eventually I was able to pick up the pace so I could complete the full six laps (but just barely). I didn’t get a gold medal because they had run out, but I already emailed asking for them to send one — we’ll see (thanks vvill).
Liz

Wow – you’re fast! I only managed five laps. Sciatica slowed me down a bit. I saw Tim whizzing around the course. It was great bumping into Mark, Liz and Will.

It was fun being able to go through the finish line multiple times with the music, cowbells, and announcer. Thanks to the folks cheering us on.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Looks like it was a good time and I was sad to miss it…stupid social obligations. I did get a whole 1.5 miles in riding to Harris Teeter for brunch supplies, though, so the day wasn’t a total loss.

[PotomacCyclist]

Mr. Penny-Farthing made a return appearance, although I think he started later and only did 1 or 2 laps. It was a true penny-farthing, not the lower “modern” type. He was up there, towering over everyone. The drivers on the other side of the jersey wall could see him. I think they were honking in support. I could see all the cyclists smiling and pointing as they approached him from the other direction.

I’ve heard that he shows up most years, if not every year. I think I’ve seen him on the MVT before, although that could be a different guy.

[consularrider]

I just hope Blacknell’s photo of me on lap six coming down from the Air Force Memorial turns out. He just snapped it after I gave him a shout out. It was good to see Tim, vvil, Dana, and Kathy at today’s ride.

[txgoonie]

I passed Mr. Penny-Farthing on the rise on southbound Rte. 1 before you hit the exit ramp for 15th St. and shouted some words of encouragement – that contraption is not built for climbing and he was working really hard.

After some sketchiness in the first two laps (especially at points where the route would suddenly get super narrow – eek!), the field spread out and we all could cruise along pretty well. The section at the Air Force Memorial is a great pit stop. After the climb, you can catch your breath, take a drink and then fly back down Columbia Pike, yeah! I’m kinda kicking myself for not going out for one more lap — I mean, how often do you have those roads car-free!?

Afterward, I watched all the races at the Crystal Cup. There’s just no sensation like hearing and feeling a pack of bikes humming by at 35mph. Amazing stuff. All in all, a great day!

[acc]

@eminva 21712 wrote:

I made it and it was fun! Thanks for the advice, everyone, it was sound. The first lap was kind of crowded (and I got stuck behind the big accident by Roslyn), but it gradually got better and eventually I was able to pick up the pace so I could complete the full six laps (but just barely). I didn’t get a gold medal because they had run out, but I already emailed asking for them to send one — we’ll see (thanks vvill).

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Liz

Best part of my weekend is reading you made six laps! That is AWESOME!

[dbb]

Mark’s advice was spot on. Served me well at every location except the real chokepoints. I expect I didn’t impact the hardcore riders a moment.

The other rider of note was the gent wearing a vintage wool jersey and shorts. Authenticity is overrated!

It was great seeing everybody today. Find day for a ride!

[PotomacCyclist]

That was a nasty spill at the end of the men’s pro race. The guy needs a skin graft now, or something.

I wonder if it’s possible to make a tear-resistant but lightweight and flexible pair of shorts that doesn’t chafe more than regular bike shorts. Those would have saved that cyclist some pain on the way back home. Ouch!

[Mark Blacknell]

Good to see everyone (even if it was a bit too late in some cases – I think I only got a rearview shot of you, Consularrider).

If anyone’s interested, here’s a (flash) gallery of the men’s pro finish, including the unfortunate crash of Team Type 1’s Alexi Schmitt.

Also, the penny farthing guy? 3 times up the Air Force Memorial hill. Got a great interview with him that will probably get turned into a Patch column. (Also got to mount the penny farthing, myself – I bet you wish you’d seen *that*.)

[Author]

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