TheWashCycle: WAGBRAD II: Cruise Control (Sponsored by Anti-Monkey Butt Powder)

WAGBRAD II was last Saturday, and we had a very good ride. It was nice to be able to complete the circle for once.

We had 11 cyclists show up for WAGBRAD II. Not as many as for WAGBRAD I, but this year's wasn't promoted in the Express, or very well by me. One rider dropped out at Rosslyn by design, and two people dropped at Naylor Road (a fixie on some tough hills combined with 95 degree temperatures on hot treeless streets makes for a dangerous combination), but eight of us - including a repeat rider - made it back to the lighthouse that day and into Alexandria for some beers and Tour watching. And the other two finished it the next day.

Other than the heat, we got lucky. No rain. No one got lost. The cue sheet was accurate. And we only had one slow leak - which was a preexisting condition, and didn't require a tube change. I did lose a bolt off my rack, but that too might have been a preexisting condition. Still, everyone was in good spirits even during the difficult Southern Avenue stretch - and even though no one else took advantage of free Anti-Monkey Butt Powder I offered to any and all at the beginning of the ride.*

The big change between this ride and last years was, of course, the Wilson Bridge active transportation lane. It was only my second time over and the first for a few people. Heck of a way to finish a 50 mile ride (and wow, that sound barrier is fantastic). I'm not sure when WAGBRAD will next get any facilities help, but when they connect the Anacostia trails we should be able to avoid the Cheverly detour and its hills of death (the hill up Cheverly Avenue is not kind).

See you next year.

photo by ronwalf

* Aside: I received, in the mail, free of charge, a bottle of the aforementioned powder (retail $6.95 at Frager's FYI). It's basically Talc and Calamine mixed together. It is to be placed on one's money-maker to avoid the unpleasantness that arises from the combination of sweat, salt, friction and heat that can occur on a bike ride. I used some of this on this ride and my money-maker was not unhappy at the end. Of course it could be like the old vaudeville joke where one guy is spraying elephant repellent and another guysays "but there are no elephants in New York" and the first says, "I know, this stuff really works." Still, I plan to use it on other long rides and it's worth trying.