[komorebi]

It was great to see so many forum friends on today’s ride, including SarahBee, ImaCynic, Jessica Hirschhorn, smb9600, Rimas, and Starduster! And a special thanks to Judd and CaseyKane50, who volunteered to lead and sweep, respectively.

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More photos and an annotated ride guide are available here.

[komorebi]

@Starduster 202339 wrote:

There is an Alexandria Public Art Ride going that Saturday morning. https://www.facebook.com/events/235704787858843/

I am hoping like hell none of the three ride groups will cross paths with them (I am with Judd’s 8:30 group).

Not to worry, the ride route stays well clear of the MVT.

[komorebi]

@drevil 202107 wrote:

Bummed we missed this due to a stupid virus. How big a group showed up?

I’m bummed we missed seeing you and Jo! Between the three original rides and the encore ride for people who couldn’t make it the first time around, we ended up having 17 participants plus 9 amazing volunteers who made the event possible. Our biggest group of riders was 8 people total, which felt pretty safe with appropriate social distancing.

Some photos are available here. There’s also a guide to the route and stops for people who would like to do a self-guided version of the ride.

A huge thank you to the forum friends — including Judd, caseykane50, lordofthemark, and Steve O — who volunteered or helped spread the word about the ride. And also to SarahBee, whose presence automatically made my group the most fun group.

[komorebi]

@Judd 202018 wrote:

Sweet! I tacked this on to the thread. Interesting to read that he and Nixon lived in Park Fairfax. I’ll have to see if there’s enough online to do an Alexandria Presidential Homes bike ride.

My 2018 Alexandria presidential history ride stopped by Ford’s house on Crown View Drive, and my 2019 Alexandria presidential history ride stopped by the Nixon and Ford houses in Parkfairfax. There’s also an Airbnb in Old Town located on property once owned by Washington. Those were the only presidential homes I found in Alexandria, but if you find another one, please let me know so that I can add it to the 2021 ride!

[komorebi]

Great Twitter thread, Judd! I enjoyed that.

FYI, I don’t know if Gerald Ford rode a bike while living in Alexandria, but his kids biked around the neighborhood and had fond memories of doing so: https://www.alexandriava.gov/historic/info/default.aspx?id=29392.

[komorebi]

@Steve O 199556 wrote:

Putting in a plug for adjusted nomenclature. I’m using “Physical Distancing” rather than “social.” Now more than ever we need social bonding and social connecting, and I think that terminology sends the wrong signal.

I heard another alternative today that I like: “distant socializing.”

[komorebi]

I was on the fence about signing up for Freezing Saddles again this year, but in the end I’m glad I did. Some of my highlights:

1. Drevil’s generosity? bravery? foolishness? in lending his very nice MTB to a total noob like me, and JoM’s patient coaching and enthusiastic cheerleading on my first mountain bike ride.

2. ChristoB’s most excellent cathedral tour, and the perfect winter sunlight illuminating the stained glass.

3. Seeing some new faces at the coffee clubs, including elizsnyder, Russ, and Pablo.

[komorebi]

To help ensure everyone’s health and safety, the Women’s History Ride has been postponed until Saturday, August 15 — which will be almost exactly 100 years to the day since the 19th Amendment’s ratification.

In the meantime, if you’d like to do a self-guided version of the Women’s History Ride, a guide to the route and stops is available at https://alexandriabpac.wordpress.com/2020-rides/. Enjoy this preview of the material that we’ll be talking about in more detail on August 15.

Thanks for your understanding. Stay safe and be well!

[komorebi]

Good to see so many people at the Lunar New Year ride! Thanks to everyone for coming out and for keeping it fun.

[komorebi]

@elizsnyder 197517 wrote:

Komorebi, what time do you expect to arrive at The Block?

My guess is that we’ll be at The Block from 2:30-3:15 ish. If you’re willing to PM me your email address or phone number, I can send you an email or text message with a link that’ll allow you to see my real-time location once the group starts rolling. That might make it easier to meet up.

[komorebi]

@dragonflycrk 197398 wrote:

I’m also thinking about combining this with the Lunar New Year ride that is also happening Sunday afternoon. The timing should work out since that ride is starting from The Mall at 1 p.m., so those folks should arrive at The Block ~2:30. If we arrive at the brewery by ~12:30, that’s enough time to get a beer (or two), and then it’s 16 miles/~90 minutes from the brewery to The Block. Takoma Metro –> Beer Farm –> The Block is a total of ~38 miles (then it’s ~14 miles to the Kennedy Center for the latter half of the Lunar New Year ride).

Glad to hear that you’re thinking of joining the Lunar New Year ride! If you’re willing to PM me your email address or phone number, I can send you an email or text message with a link that’ll allow you to see my real-time location once the group starts rolling. That might make it easier to meet up.

[komorebi]

@drevil 197382 wrote:

Asking for a friend: when you say “trails” you meant bike path trails, not dirt trails, correct? IOTW, the whole ride will be paved? She’s wondering if she should take her skinny tire or dirt-capable bike.

Yes, by “trails” I meant the paved Rock Creek Park Trail, Capital Crescent Trail, and Bethesda Trolley Trail. No dirt or gravel need be displaced during the making of this ride! I’ll be on my road bike, but your friend is welcome to bring a #suppleride if she’d be more comfortable on that. The CCT is a bit rooty and bumpy in places.

[komorebi]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 197327 wrote:

I’m confused that you scheduled this ride just after the freezing rain is supposed to end, that is unusual for an official komorebi™ food oriented freezing saddles group ride.:confused:
are you sure you didnt mean to schedule it the day before?

Nooooooooooooooooooooo! Don’t jinx this ride! If the forecast changes and it ends up pouring on Sunday, it’ll be all your fault.

[komorebi]

Chinese New Year is coming up, which sounds to me like a perfect excuse to check out the new Asian food hall (The Block) in north Bethesda.

When: Sunday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m.

Starting point: Jefferson Drive entrance to the Freer-Sackler Gallery. The Freer-Sackler is doing its sixth annual Lunar Year celebration from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., so get there early if you want to check out the festivities before the ride.

Route: We’ll ride to The Block, where you’ll be able to score #tacoloco or #slurpyride points if you so choose. (Personally, I’ll be going straight for the matcha Oreo ice cream.) We’ll then circle back and finish at the Kennedy Center’s special display of Winter Lanterns. The route is about 34 miles, with a mix of trails and streets and some hills: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31772102. Social pace, 12-14 mph. If you’d like to do just one leg of the ride, The Block is close to the White Flint metro station.

What to bring: lock, money, Strava, lights, metro card if needed.

[komorebi]

@komorebi 197009 wrote:

Staff at downtown Swing’s said that all Swing’s locations will be closed on Monday for the holiday.

Oops, spoke too soon. Apparently all Swing’s locations in DC are closed on Monday, but the Del Ray location is open. See https://twitter.com/SwingsCoffee/status/1218235111331811328. Should we meet up at Swing’s, since that’s our usual Monday spot?

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