cc_rider

The annual DC event, sponsored by WABA
50 States / 13 colonies ride.

https://www.waba.org/events/50states.php

An all urban metric, and it's a tough one. The state-named streets are spread all over the city and DC has lot's of short, steep hills (coming back from Arizona Ave is a killer)
Not as bad now that they hold it in September instead of August, but still a "brutal" ride.

cc_rider

bump

Two days until the ride.

Consularrider

I'm signed up. Just noticed that they changed the starting location this year!

qmsdc15

Thanks for the reminder. I think I'll try to do this ride.

qmsdc15

It was an adventure. I inadvertently cut a mile or so off the course by going the wrong way a couple of times, but I added some distance by going the wrong way a couple of other times and back tracking. I left my cue sheet outside of the CVS in Brookland where I stopped for an energy bar and Gatorade. I had not seen another rider for the last 17 miles at that point. I rode another quarter mile or so, before I realized I no longer knew the way. I rode back to CVS, but the paper was gone. I was going to go home from there when I saw a group of seven riders. I followed wheels the rest of the way. I cramped up pretty bad about ten miles from the finish, but I pushed on. Despite the difficulties or because of them, it was a blast. I feel like I really did something today. I was the fourth rider to arrive at the finish, but I cut the course and it's not a race anyway.

qmsdc15

So how was it for you? I only got one good picture. Here it is with some others. I felt a little rushed having another commitment later in the day. I should have taken more pictures, but I didn't know how long the ride would take.

Case Bridge, from a vantage point that I shouldn't have seen. I went the wrong way by mistake on Buckeye and Ohio to get to Independence, which cut some distance off the route. Channel over it's bank here, has it rained recently?


Souza Bridge


The best picture I took was of a mural not visible from the course. After returning to where I lost my manifest and not finding it, rolling north on 12th, ride abandoned, heading home.


Moments later I spotted the first group of riders on the road. I turned around and joined them, back on course!

In pursuit


This group split up on the bridge over the Red Line track, some regrouping on the flat section following. Two faster riders came through and dropped all of us, some immediately, some later.

cc_rider

I watched them from the terrace of the Newseum. I had gotten free tickets so I went with family and some friends.
Rode to it, and rode after.

Consularrider

I enjoyed the ride, but not the 90+ temperature and the poor road conditions in many places. Doesn't look like DC has made very good use of stimulus money (either north or south of the Anacostia) for infrastructure improvements. My impression was that there were changes from last year's route and it seemed like we missed 50% or more of the lights (also seemed like there were more of them, maybe it was because we missed so many). It also seemed like a higher turn out this year.

qmsdc15

Pictures, please.

qmsdc15

I guess I didn't notice the heat so much because I ride every day wearing a large backpack. I did not bring the backpack on this ride, so I felt cooler. But the heat surely was a major cause of the severe cramping I experienced towards the end of the ride.

I rode one section of road where a full suspension MTB would have been the best choice, but I was lost and off course in SE at that time.