50 States and 13 Colonies Ride on Saturday

This Saturday is the annual 50 States and 13 Colonies Ride. I did this the first year (when there was no 13 Colonies Ride). It was on Flag Day and called "in Search of the 51st star", which was kind of a cool VoteDC tie in, but that meant mid-summer and it was probably over 100 degrees that day. And my friend and I had five flat tires between us. At one point I had to ride to Capitol Hill bikes to buy more tubes and bring them back. And it poured in the afternoon.  No one brought us lunch, there were no pit stops and there was no one to drink with when we finished (I feel confident we were the last ones to finish that day). It's a 60 mile ride that rides like a century because of stop and go traffic, with killer hills and few chances to maintain any speed; but you'll never see the city quite the same when you're done (and you'll see all of it on the ride).

Needless to say, I haven't done the whole ride since. That all changes this Saturday though, when I will again be riding it from beginning to end with some people who did WAGBRAD II: Die Harder this year.

For this year's ride, WABA will deliver a burrito to you if you pre-pay for it. There will be three pit stops with food, water and mechanics. And the whole thing wraps up at Bourbon with $3 drinks and 10% off food. It is, however, no longer free; but if you let that stop you then you're a socialist, or worse - a motorist. You don't want to be a socialist do you?

You can join us by signing up at the WABA site. Today is the last day to register online (and save). As an added incentive, since our house is on the route, Mrs. Washcycle has promised to sit on the front porch, drink coffee, read the paper* and cheer you on as you pass. So you have that to look forward to.

*Mrs. Washcycle spends many Saturdays on the front porch reading the paper and drinking coffee so really, just the cheering is new

Comments

[Lars]

I've done this ride twice - both times when it was held in August and it was hot as Hades out. This is not a ride for the faint of heart but I highly recommend it nonetheless. You really will come to see DC in a whole different light. If worse comes to worse you can bail out and jump on Metro, but don't be a quiche eater. Ride the whole thing.

[Eric_W.]

Is being a quiche eater worse than being a socialist? Just trying to understand the rankings here...

[Froggie]

I guess I'll just have to be one of those socialist motorists...:oP

Since I have a friend coming down from New York that day and we're roadtripping out west.

Which is too bad, since I'd have liked to do the 13 colonies ride...

[Jacob Kosoff]

I will be there!!!!

[Shawn]

Last year I arrived in DC just in time to do this ride. It made looking for an apartment a WHOLE lot easier, and I highly recommend this ride to anyone. Although, I'd also recommend skipping the burrito lunch. We didn't stop (who wants two pounds of beans and rice in your stomach with 35 miles to go?)but last year they weren't set up for lunch when the large pack arrived at 11am, so we just took off.

[Washcycle]

Froggie, you're only a socialist if you let the entry fee stop you (which is not your reason) or if you advocate public or direct worker ownership and administration of the means of production.

[Steve Davis]

I've been looking forward to this for 350-something days since last year! I'm no long distance cyclist, riding just about 5 miles a day to and from work for the most part. So I did this on a bit of a whim.

But it was by far one of my highlights of the years I've lived in DC. There's no better way to see the entire District in one day — from the affluent to the downtrodden neighborhoods. Last year I managed it on a hybrid with no clipped shoes, so this year should be easier with at least some cleated shoes and platform/clipped pedals to make things easier for long rides.

We also got to the lunch spot early last year, but rather than wait around for the food, we went and biked the next 3-5 miles of the route on the Hill back to Eastern Market and then ate lunch. So after lunch, we got to skip ahead. The weather was absolutely gorgeous last year. Let's hope we have the same this year.

See you all Saturday!

[Micah]

I'll pack an extra tube and if I see you walking I'll share.