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Welcome! Glad you found the forum!

Riding in a group is a terrific way to learn about riding in the street, get some exercise, and meet other cyclists. There are resources you can draw upon to make it easier. Potomac Pedalers is an organization that posts a weekly schedule of all sorts of rides in the area. http://www.potomacpedalers.org/events/event_list.asp

I walked into dozens of rides with them. I started with D rides and the pace was moderate, the distance was roughly 10 miles, maybe a little longer, not much. They taught me how to wear my helmet correctly, how to use hand signals to ride in groups, how to drink beer…

Also consider joining WABA, the largest area bike advocacy group. They offer dozens of wonderful group ride events every year. You may start out going ten miles at 13-14 mph, but riding is highly addictive and before long you’ll be looking for bigger challenges.

Finally, FreshBikes in the Mosaic District, Merrifield, Viriginia offers a no-drop ride on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm. The course is divided into loops that will make it easy for you to choose how long and how fast you want to ride all the while knowing you will not be left behind.

Again, welcome! You’ll find plenty of rides to join.

Ride safe,
ann

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@consularrider 54967 wrote:

Maybe another time, our sprout has a performance tonight.

Break a leg.

Your son.

Not you.

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@Rod Smith 53601 wrote:

I signed up for this. Who else is going? I didn’t realize the beer and bbq was free for riders. Visions of me gnawing on a Powerbar and drinking tap water while everyone else was living large resulted in me paying for an additional entry to the post ride fete. I don’t know if it will be easy to get a refund, so if anyone wants to skip the ride and go straight to the after party, let me know. It’s on me!

Well gosh, I didn’t know you could just show up for the food….@#%$

I’m in for 20.

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@KLizotte 53354 wrote:

You still have time to attach rhinestones. A sling with bling!

Funny you should mention rhinestones.

I have six rolls of rhinestones I’ve been using to patch the sparkle bike.
A dozen sock monkeys that will make perfect sense after the second beer
Boots that defy gravity and rational thought
A giant sunflower that seemed like a good idea if I can figure out how to attach it to the bike
An abundance of lace to cover what should remain covered
A sundress that might actually be a shirt, hard to tell
A pink parasol because by God it can be hot in the sun

(familyfriendlyfamilyfriendlyfamilyfriendlyfamilyfriendly)

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@Riley Casey 52807 wrote:

Like that well known exercise in wretched excess known as BikeFest perhaps? :p

Wretched Excess is my nickname.

That reminds me, I need brakes on the sparkle bike.

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@Riley Casey 52723 wrote:

I need to make up the loss of Bike DC to my grandsons. They both got new bikes for Krimis and were really looking forward to the ride again this year until it’s ignominious demise. I didn’t think I would be able to attend on 1 June but now it’s an option. The New Belgium website has a cutesy video of the bike parade apparently thru the nearby streets before the real party starts I suspect. I haven’t been to this event myself so I must ask : on a scale of family friendly to drunken bacchanal where does Tour de Fat fall for an eleven year old and a 13 year old to attend?

Except for the costumes, it reminded me of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall — a bit more colorful. The bike parade is easy, the biggest challenge is riding the brakes for most of it. The ride is low, low speed with a lot of people.

The crowd is happy, relaxed and friendly.

I could be wrong, but the beer isn’t cheap, and it’s a daytime event. I didn’t see the usual debauchery you’d find at a bike event. (I meant that in an admiring way.)

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I have my recital that night, so the drinking will have to wait.

Tim and I have a tradition. He makes me unload a truck while he watches. Claims it’s good cardio….

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@Dirt 51282 wrote:

I have to finalize a few plans this week, but I’ll be working BTWD SOMEWHERE. I just don’t know where yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I know.

Rock on, y’all!

Dirt.

That’s because you’re everywhere and see everything. Just like……Santa Claus.

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This is a heartbreaking story. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I’m so sorry there wasn’t a better ending.

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So Tim, I can just pitch a tent in your front yard the night before, okay?

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The Confident City Cycling Course will give you the skills you need to feel more comfortable riding in the street.

I feel much safer riding on the streets. But it took a couple of years to develop that attitude. I understand your position and just want to put it out there that you’ll get to that point too.

I just came in from a ride with Rambo, my 11-year-old son. I felt much more in control with him on the residential streets and even crossing Route 123 than I did on the W&OD. We almost wound up wearing doggie bits when one decided to walk in front of us. It was on leash that could be measured in yards, not feet.

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Last Call!
If you didn’t get tickets yet, you can still bring your credit card and buy them at the door tonight.

Excuse me, gotta get back to cinching myself into dress.

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Try it out on a weekend morning when there is less traffic and with the bike loaded exactly like you were riding to work.

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I was so hoping it was a dress….

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@Honeybadger6 50198 wrote:

You’re the most frustrating attendee ever! If you click on the link, which has been provided no less than three times in this thread, you’ll see the invite even says, “REAL casino games…” On the plus side, it makes me feel better to know I’m not the only person you ignore…

After several drinks, and I’ll buy them for you, will you care?

Everything donated goes to improve the biking experience in this area!!!!!!!!!

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