Ride to Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights on 1/1/21

[komorebi]

Sarah Bee’s mention of Meadowlark made me want to check out the Winter Walk of Lights, because I’ve never been. Want to join me? Read on!

When: Friday, January 1 at 2:45 p.m.

Starting point: Shirlington Branch Library, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206.

Route: Because an out-and-back on the WOD would be boring, I’m going to take an alternative road route to Meadowlark and then take the WOD back: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/34733437. The route is about 38 miles, with some hills. Social pace, 12-14 mph. If you’d like to join us part way there, PM me and I’ll figure out how to share my location with you.

If you want to see the Winter Walk of Lights, you must buy your own ticket online ($20): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-meadowlarks-winter-walk-of-lights-tickets-123058389957. I’ll try to get us to Meadowlark by 5:00 p.m., but I suggest that you buy tickets for a slightly later time, just in case. I’m buying my ticket for the 5:15 p.m. entrance time.

What to bring: lights, lock, Eventbrite tickets, Strava, facemask, extra jacket to wear while walking around, money, metro card if needed.

Topic

[SarahBee]

HF and I are in and we have tickets for 5:15pm.

[smb9600]

I’m in! I have tickets for 5:15pm as well!

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[komorebi]

I should add: if you’re planning to join the ride, please post on the thread or let me know privately. If more than ten people want to join, I may try to organize a second wave, with a slightly earlier or later start time. Thanks.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

Thank you. I’m in, and have my ticket.
Thanks to Casey for the heads-up!
Dave

[CaseyKane50]

I have a ticket for 5:15 and will plan to meet at the starting point.

[Steve O]

5:15 was sold out. The earliest ticket left was 7pm.
I bought it, and will ride out with the group and then sweet talk the people at the gate in the hope there are no-shows. If my talk is not sweet enough, I will wait until they let me in and ride home all alone.
If others buy a later ticket, perhaps we can ride back together.

[SarahBee]

HF and I will meet up at starting point in Shirlington and will head home on the way back at Virginia Lane.

[SarahBee]

@Steve O 203038 wrote:

5:15 was sold out. The earliest ticket left was 7pm.
I bought it, and will ride out with the group and then sweet talk the people at the gate in the hope there are no-shows. If my talk is not sweet enough, I will wait until they let me in and ride home all alone.
If others buy a later ticket, perhaps we can ride back together.

I know I would have a hard time saying no if you also have fabulous bike lights to go with that sweet talk!

[komorebi]

The forecast is looking ugly for Friday, so I’ll probably end up cancelling this ride. Forty miles + walking around in cold rain is too much Rule 9 for me, sorry! I’ll wait to make a final call until closer to the day, just in case the forecast improves.

[Kbikeva]

Just in case you reschedule or actually do go on Friday — there’s a missing cue on your route. As you leave Meadowlark Gardens turning right on Beulah, there’s no cue for taking the next right on Meadowlark Road. (The reason I noticed it is that I’ve ridden this fairly often and wanted to make sure you direct people onto the road, and not the connector trail until the very end of the road where it connects to the W&OD. As the connector trail goes down the side of Meadowlark Rd it’s pretty steep in places and it’s not overly wide. At night, it could lead to a bad outcome.) In sum: add the cue to turn right on Meadowlark Road so no one accidentally gets on the trail thinking it’s safer. Hope the weather clears enough for you to do it!

[komorebi]

@Kbikeva 203400 wrote:

Just in case you reschedule or actually do go on Friday — there’s a missing cue on your route. As you leave Meadowlark Gardens turning right on Beulah, there’s no cue for taking the next right on Meadowlark Road. (The reason I noticed it is that I’ve ridden this fairly often and wanted to make sure you direct people onto the road, and not the connector trail until the very end of the road where it connects to the W&OD. As the connector trail goes down the side of Meadowlark Rd it’s pretty steep in places and it’s not overly wide. At night, it could lead to a bad outcome.) In sum: add the cue to turn right on Meadowlark Road so no one accidentally gets on the trail thinking it’s safer. Hope the weather clears enough for you to do it!

Thanks! I fixed that in RWGPS. The map was correct but the cue was missing, for some reason. And yes, I rode the connector trail when I was scouting this route and decided that the road was definitely the way to go at night, given how narrow, steep, and curvy the trail is. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the weather is going to cooperate for Friday.

[NoVaNoobGA]

I’m interested if the weather is OK. I didn’t get tickets and can ride back by myself or with Steve O (if the talk is not sweet enough). GA

[komorebi]

I’m cancelling this ride — it looks like the worst of the rain will be precisely during the period when we’d be riding.

For tomorrow, everyone who’s not on my FS team should stay indoors, where it’s nice and dry. Everyone who is on my team should make sure to get outside and ride at least 1 mile, and preferably 10 miles.

[JoM]

@komorebi 203452 wrote:

Everyone who is on my team should make sure to get outside and ride at least 1 mile, and preferably 10 miles.

I hope I’m on your team!!!

[NoVaNoobGA]

Me, too. Pick me! Pick me! (Yes, I know how it works, but why not try?)
https://gfycat.com/cloudyminiatureborer

[Author]

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