Holiday Lights Ride?

[consularrider]

A couple years ago I seem to remember that there was a holiday lights ride in Arlington, I think starting at Contes. I haven’t seen anything the past couple of years, but am wondering if there was any interest in trying something this year. While I ride all over the area, I really don’t know if there are certain neighborhoods that are more interesting for such a night time tour.

Topic

[eminva]

@americancyclo 12003 wrote:

the Rapha Holiday 500km Challenge.

I had to look this up but it looks intriguing. Especially because the gingerbread cookies are starting to take their toll. That’s a busy week at home and work, but I could probably muster at least half of that distance and anything is better than nothing, right?

@dasgeh 12007 wrote:

Since we’re headed out of town to see family next week, our little family (me, husband and one-year-old) were thinking of doing a mini-family-lights ride this Saturday starting around 5:30pm.

This is the route I have so far: http://g.co/maps/qzxg2 (the googlemaps loops starts/ends at Conte’s, but if others want to join, I’d suggest meeting at Clay Park, at 7th St and Highland, so our daughter can play as we gather). I’ve only gotten wind of 4 good houses/blocks to see, so this map basically connects those, while attempting to wind around a bit and avoid any mean up-hills. I think it clocks in at 6 miles. I’m completely open to suggestions.

If anyone wants to join, let me know. We’d love the company, but I know the late notice makes it difficult.

Happy Holidays, all!

This sounds like fun — I will check at home tonight to see if we can do it. My son woke up with a suspicious sore throat today, so who knows, but if we can join you it would be nice.

Also, if anyone else knows of amazing displays along that route, speak up!

Liz

[consularrider]

@americancyclo 12003 wrote:

I’d be up for this! Plus it might help me with the Rapha Holiday 500km Challenge.

They’re doing the challenge again this year? All I find is last year’s challenge and this year’s Turkey Takeoff. On a side note, I managed to takeoff just under half the 9,000 calorie target for the November 23 – 27 time period. Did help that I was riding with a sprained wrist. (Come on everyone, I need the pity. )

[americancyclo]

@consularrider 12020 wrote:

They’re doing the challenge again this year? All I find is last year’s challenge and this year’s Turkey Takeoff.

It’s not easy to find with popular search engine. here’s the link: http://www.rapha.cc/festive-500

[eminva]

@americancyclo 12021 wrote:

It’s not easy to find with popular search engine. here’s the link: http://www.rapha.cc/festive-500

Okay, now I’m really intrigued. Has anybody done this and how quickly do you have to get to 500km to get the patch?? What kind of proof do they require — would before and after photos of my odometer work? Don’t have a fancy Garmin system.

Liz

[consularrider]

@americancyclo 12021 wrote:

It’s not easy to find with popular search engine. here’s the link: http://www.rapha.cc/festive-500

Thanks, under stories, not events, who’d a thunk it? Oh yeah, the name is different this year too.

Liz, click on americancyclo’s link for all the info. Nine days, Dec 23 -31.

[jonathankrall]

Alexandria BPAC is doing an informal Christmas Lights ride in the Del Ray neighborhood in Alexandria. It should be 4 miles or so with optional food and drink at a neighborhood eatery afterwards. Saturday 12/17, 5:30 pm (finish by 7 pm at the latest). http://sites.google.com/site/alexandriabpac/

[dasgeh]

Our little family went out on our holiday lights ride, basically sticking to the route I posted earlier. It was great, though I felt a little bad when (1) I realized it was snowing, and (2) we got home and I realized the baby had lost a shoe (we were in a rush and didn’t strap her in properly after our pit stop). So if anyone sees a baby-size 5 brown croc with fleecey lining laying around the street in Arlington, please let me know. (I could go on and on about how I hate baby shoes — so cute, but so expensive and prone to fall off at the worst possible moment).

My only comments on the route are that in Lyon Park, there are more lights on letter streets (Ivy, Lincoln, etc) then there are on number streets. If you’re out to see lights, I’d leave enough time to meander up and down to see the good ones. The best ones we saw were the ones marked on the map. We didn’t make it into Lyon Village enough to know what’s there, but I suspect there’s a good amount.

Happy holidays, everyone!

[KLizotte]

It snowed over the weekend?!?

Thanks for the info on lights peeping.

[culimerc]

http://www.fairfaxchristmaslights.com/rtvienna.php

[americancyclo]

@culimerc 12171 wrote:

http://www.fairfaxchristmaslights.com/rtvienna.php

good link! also has them broken down by locality:

http://www.fairfaxchristmaslights.com/routes.php

[consularrider]

@KLizotte 12164 wrote:

It snowed over the weekend?!?

Thanks for the info on lights peeping.

I got some isolated snowflakes between Leesburg and Hamilton around noon on Sunday. Didn’t see any Saturday evening the two times I was out.

[Mark Blacknell]

@dasgeh 12007 wrote:

Since we’re headed out of town to see family next week, our little family (me, husband and one-year-old) were thinking of doing a mini-family-lights ride this Saturday starting around 5:30pm.

I’m sorry I missed this – you went right past my house in Ashton Heights. Yep, lots of lights back there (tho, as M. said last night during a run through – “It’s like a poor man’s Key Boulevard.”).

[Author]

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