DC Boundary Stones Bike Ride – 2nd Annual

[Rod Smith]

155 riders signed up on the Facebook event page. I’m number 155.

[scoot]

Thanks for the info. I’m planning to give this a try with my road bike. Looks like the short bit on the Towpath is the only dicey spot surface-wise.

Do you know if I need to pack water/food for the entire day, or will there be stops to top off a bottle along the way (before DC Brau at least)?

[bobco85]

@scoot 94886 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I’m planning to give this a try with my road bike. Looks like the short bit on the Towpath is the only dicey spot surface-wise.

Do you know if I need to pack water/food for the entire day, or will there be stops to top off a bottle along the way (before DC Brau at least)?

I think that you should bring supplies for the entire day, as I certainly will just in case. I think any stops other than DC Brau will be on an individual basis (stopping to run into a store to get food/water or for bathroom breaks) with the individual catching up to the group which will likely be multiple groups that get separated by traffic lights.

They posted the directions they used last year, and it looks like this year’s are very similar (save for the start/finish point obviously). Here is the link they posted: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/boundary-stone-bike-ride

[bikesnick]

@bobco85 94890 wrote:

They posted the directions they used last year, and it looks like this year’s are very similar (save for the start/finish point obviously).

The ride will be clockwise again?

[bobco85]

@bikesnick 94893 wrote:

The ride will be clockwise again?

Yes. Starting at Jones Point Park, the Alexandria/Arlington portion of the ride will be done first.

[Rod Smith]

Wow, what great ride! bobco kinda got roped into leading our group and he was an awesome tour guide, great navigator and very knowledgeable about the history of the Stones and other local lore. The group evolved as riders would come and go along the way. At one point on the WOD there were only three of us following Bob, but most of the time probably about eight to ten. After the stop at DC Brau, a core group of five stayed together for the rest of the ride. Thanks Bob, that was a blast! http://www.strava.com/activities/197255269

West Corner Stone

North Corner Stone

East Corner Stone

[bobco85]

It was a fun ride, and for the second week in a row I found myself on a 60+ mile bike ride requiring groups of people to navigate using printed directions (last week it was the 50 States Ride). I found that my experience of riding to the boundary stones last year really helped with finding some of the stones since I knew where many (not all) of them were and could point them out easier (i.e., I had already spent the extra time trying to find most of them last year). Haha, I had to explain to many people that no, I was not one of the organizers of the ride! I did like riding in a group when on some of the less cyclist friendly roads like Route 7 between Fairlington and Skyline, East-West Highway, and Kenilworth Ave as there really is safety in numbers.

The DC Brau stop was just the thing that was needed to get through the last part of the ride, as it helps to lessen the pain that your legs are feeling on all the hill climbs that make up the SE leg of the ride. That said, it was still a challenging ride, and I ended up riding 80.4 miles in total for the day. Legs are sore this morning, but it’s that satisfied “I spent a whole day doing something I love” kind of soreness

I had a lot of fun on this ride with everyone especially Rod and scoot. For anyone who’s thinking about doing this ride next year, if you can survive the 50 States Ride, you can do this ride, too!

P.S. – Nice pics, Rod! I look forward to seeing the rest of everyone’s pics including scoot’s pic of the north boundary stone that was being taken concurrently with yours, Rod!

[Steve O]

@bobco85 94983 wrote:

It was a fun ride…….
For anyone who’s thinking about doing this ride next year….

Shoot. I had a worthwhile conflict, but this definitely looks like an awesome ride. In the past I have personally visited about 8 of the stones, but would have totally loved this. Count me in for next year.

[Rod Smith]

Five survivors, almost done, last hour of daylight, the photographer’s “magic hour”.

[bobco85]

@Rod Smith 95000 wrote:

Last edited by Rod Smith; Yesterday at 07:45 PM. Reason: woulda been a great photo if random stranger recruited to take it hadn’t put the reflected sun right on the side of my face

It’s a sign (from the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center) that you’ve already achieved sainthood as a cyclist

[scoot]

Many thanks again to bobco85, Rod Smith, and others for an awesome ride last Saturday! My 70-mile total for the day was a personal high (previous was 50), and I might not have stuck it out to the finish without your support. It was an honor and a thrill to ride with you guys. I’ll have to upload some pics in a few days (when I get my camera back from my folks).

I was surprised to have mostly avoided sunburn; those neon green sleeves kept me cool and will pay for themselves in sunscreen savings.

[Rod Smith]

Congrats on the new distance record, scoot! I’m had the pleasure of riding with a lot of people when they rode farther than ever before. That’s always fun. You rode strong, I had no idea you were reaching a personal record.

[Author]

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