Greenbelt National Park Training Race Series

The Post had a nice story (and a video on line) about bike racing in Greenbelt National Park

The Greenbelt National Park Training Race Series takes place Wednesday nights for 16 consecutive weeks. The course is 1.4 miles on the perimeter road of the park. This is the 29th year of the series, making it one of the oldest training series races in the nation, and it's a hot destination for those who want to rack up enough races to advance to the sport's higher levels.

I knew there was racing in Greenbelt, I just didn't realize it was so close to my daily commute. Next year - all the races are over for this year - I'll have to stop by to watch a few.

Comments

[Chris]

You should do more then watch a few - you should do a few! The "C" race there at Greenbelt is PERFECT for beginners. The course is pretty open and not as technical as many races, and since the "B" race is for both Cat 4 and 5, the 5s in the "C" race are pretty much true beginners. There's a competitive atmosphere there, but being a training race, it's not up-tight and hyped up so much. Route 1 Velo also does an excellent job organizing the event, with results posted online usually that very night. Go to www.route1velo.com for more info. (and no, I'm not a member of R1V).

[Bike DC]

Bike DC 2008 will be held on September 27.

Bike DC is a noncompetitive, community bike ride through 17 car-free miles of Washington, DC. The route is designed to be enjoyed by experienced riders, novices and families. So that participants may fully appreciate the adventure of cycling on car free city streets, Bike DC is a ride, not a race.
Bike DC will begin on “America’s Main Street”: Pennsylvania Avenue. With the U. S. Capitol as the backdrop, we will bike up Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House to Embassy Row. On Massachusetts Avenue the ride goes by 40 embassies—from Azerbaijan to Zambia.
The first rest stop on the route will be at Twin Oaks, adjacent to the National Cathedral. The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has graciously allowed us to visit the 18-acre grounds of the Twin Oaks Estate. The Georgian Revival mansion was build by Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society, and once was home to Alexander Graham Bell. Later, this nationally registered historic site served as the official residence of ROC (Taiwan) ambassadors to the United States. It remains a symbol of friendly relations between Taiwan and the U.S. to this day.
For registration and more details, please check out http://www.bikedc.net/

[Jack]

It's a cool race. Good for new racers and non-new racers too. Though I crashed in a couple of them (many years ago). It's not as safe as, say, tennis.

[old guy]

I used to be a regular at this in the 1980s. It's a great training opportunity.

WC -- a few weeks ago you posted results of a study on the events that get cyclists killed. Would you re-post or send to me. I'm sorry I didn't save that useful info. Thanks.

[washcycle]

Not sure if you mean this chart at the bottom of this post

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2008/08/things-are-ugly.html

or this

http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:ixliqbOHVYAJ:www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm+is+cycling+dangerous&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&client=firefox-a

[old guy]

Thanks, but neither is exactly right. You posted a study showing e.g. the proportion of cycling fatalities due to right hooks and left hooks as opposed to running lights and stop signs. I am currently being harrassed by an Arlington cop (probably the same one cited by a poster a week or so ago), and if I go to court (which I am eager to do), I'd like to be able to cite data to say that I am X times more likely to be killed crossing with the light than against it - which, of oourse, is true.

Many thanks.