[Megabeth]

I’ve said it once here and I’ll say it again, both races are the best races I’ve been to in terms of being a spectator. Tight courses so not a lot of lag time between laps, lots of curves and lots of opportunity to move around and see various vantage points. And, you’re close to food, water, and shade. So, it’s great to bring kids to.

Over the years we’ve seen riders who have later appeared in the “big races” (i.e., Giro, Tour de France, etc.). But, even if you don’t know who the riders are, you’ll have a great time.

[Megabeth]

I’ve done it every year and every year is slightly different. However, one thing has remained the same – you’ll see fast riders out there and you’ll see slow riders. On the straights, there is plenty of room for the pacelines to pass on the left. Just stay to the right and they’ll do their thing. As you get further into the lap, it does stretch out a bit so the “crowd” feeling in the beginning (through Crystal City proper) but it does go away soon after.

There was a hinky hair-pin last year, on a climb over a ramp, that caused some issues but, again, with anything like that, if you hold your line and remain predictable, folks passing shouldn’t a problem. Doesn’t look like that’s included in this year’s course.

I did enjoy the liquid refreshment hand-off last year. Intrepid volunteers stood out in Crystal City and handed out water and flavored water (Vitamin Water? Gatorade? Can’t remember.). I made sure to have my own snacks/chewies/bars/etc. with me.

Sunscreen = yes, it’s a must.

Oh, finally, at the top of the Air Force Hill there are bathrooms and water fountains so if you’re low on water in your bottle you can fill up there. And, take a breather before heading down again. (Best part of that climb is usually there is music or some sort of MC calling out and cheering on folks as they crest the hill. I was called out as, “Hey, it’s Georgia Peach again!” on each pass when I wore my yellow Tour of Georgia jersey one year.)

[Megabeth]

Left in between storms. Managed to make it home dry, save for the last 1/2 block when the skies opened up.

Everyone be careful out there!

[Megabeth]

A great pre-Happy Hour ride at Hanes and a lovely Happy Hour itself. It was great seeing everyone!

[Megabeth]

What I like about Military is that for every uphill there is a nice long awesome downhill awaiting on the other side.

[Megabeth]

Indeed. A good reminder that all my millions of freckles need to get checked.

Meanwhile, Sorry B-Team, I’ve been sidelined since Saturday afternoon with whatever bug Mark had. I just got back on my bike today for a slow roll down the hill to work and nearly hacked up a lung. Hopefully, I make it home, up the Rosslyn hill, with both lungs intact…

[Megabeth]

Nice! Last year we were #30, so we’re moving on up!

[Megabeth]

Well, one of my favorite sayings is: It’s not considered a good ride unless you “let a baby pony lick your sweaty leg.”

RIDE ZANNA RIDE!

[Megabeth]

Rosslyn Rest Stop

[Megabeth]

Ballston Rest Stop

[Megabeth]

I’d like to throw a good luck shout out to A-Team Rider, Zanna, who is embarking on her Climate Ride today. She’s going to be a hard one to beat with some serious mileage riding from NYC to DC over the next few days.

Ride like the wind, my friend!

[Megabeth]

For the Clarendon Cup, there are no bad places to watch. It’s such a tight race course, that you can walk the entire thing, camp out at a corner, watch a few laps, then walk to another corner, watch a few laps. It’s really one of the best races to go to because it’s very hard to miss any of the very fast action. I do just recommend getting to the finish line about 10 laps before it ends so you can get a good spot to catch the ending sprint.

Some of the highlight areas are the corner by the War Memorial (Turn from Wilson onto Washington) and the corner of Highland to Washington Blvd. The Highland/Washington is a tight corner into a little incline so you hear pedals scraping, gears turning, and shouts from between the riders.

[Megabeth]

I “manned” the prize table in Ballston and then scurried to “man” the BAC table in Rosslyn. On my way to Rosslyn, I said “Happy Bike to Work Day!” to the cyclists I went by and ultimately, I picked up a little convoy of folks along Clarendon Boulevard that followed me like ducklings down to the rest stop.

It was fantastic seeing everyone today. I got to talk to a lot of new riders and those that are daily riders. Such enthusiasm for getting out and riding is contagious!

[Megabeth]

Methinks Mr Kelley has a plan to sleep in on Friday. He successfully recruited me to also show up at o’dark thirty at Ballston. Hmmmmm….

[Megabeth]

I don’t suppose we get double points if we commute in the rain, do we? Today was a soaker for me in both directions…

[Author]

Posts