Bike Wash Fundraiser This Saturday!

Hi folks!

I haven't had much time for blogging lately (and that won't change for another month or so, unfortunately) but I did want to let you know of a fundraiser that The Daily Rider is hosting for me this Saturday.

If you are like me, you are GLAD that winter has finally ended (except for this sudden cold snap). The days are getting longer & the weather warmer, so its time to ride! But maybe your bike needs a little TLC from all the winter mud/salt from the past couple of months.

Let me wash it for you!

For $10 a bike, I will scrub down your frame & drivetrain. All you gotta do is sit back & relax. Browse the lovely selection of The Daily Rider. Have a few beers. Whatever. I'll be doing all the work ;-)

Where will your money go? To the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund via the The Police Unity Tour (in which I will be riding in less than 17 days, eeeep! Another reason why I haven't had much time for blogging).

When I did this fundraiser last year, it took approximately 20 minutes per bike, and we did 2 bikes at a time. So plan accordingly. I'll have a limited amount of stuff (buttons, water bottles, etc) to either raffle/give away. You might get something nice!

The Police Unity Tour Bike Wash Fundraiser

at The Daily Rider

1108 H St. NE

Saturday, April 27th

12pm-4pm

$10/bike

Police Unity Tour Swag Available.

Some photos in the meantime:

The National Law Enforcement Memorial Seal

In Valor There is Hope

A day at the Memorial

The Righteous are Bold as a Lion

How they Lived

This is the bike I'm riding in the tour itself. I borrowed it from a friend. Kermit was great last year, but I wanted to try something a bit lighter.

Remember when I said I was doing the Rock n Roll Half Marathon? Well here I am (was)  crossing the finish line!

I really hope that I will have time to write a little more about why this ride is so important, and the reasons behind it. I know I wrote a little bit about it last year, but this year has become even more important to me as I've had to say goodbye to yet another coworker & friend. Until then, check out my posts from last year's ride.

Here, here, here, and here.

P.S. There is nothing like going back through the blog archives to see how much this year's winter weather has sucked and kept me from getting in some good rides. Poo.

P.P.S I just want to mention that I went to The Bike Rack for a custom bike fit since I will be riding a borrowed bike, and not only was the bike fit super awesome, but they donated the cost of the fitting outright. SUPER nice of them to do that, unasked. So, yay local bike shops!

#30DaysofBiking: Day 14 & 15

I was so tired after work on Saturday that I couldn't muster the energy for a blog post about my ride. I got off work a little early, and had planned on riding to the Titanic Memorial to catch the last bit of the 100 year commemoration ceremony. Instead, I got a phone call from a friend with a minor emergency and ended up riding to see him instead. It turned out to be nothing, and I was in the Columbia Heights area so I stopped to check out a few places I haven't been to in awhile. (Wonderland Ballroom & Meridian Pint)

I didn't miss much.

Miles: 3

Yesterday was the Charity Bike Wash. I rode Betty out to the shop and got ready for 4 hours of filthy bike washing. It was a success. Folks started rolling in around 12:30 and we had a steady stream of bikes all the way to the end. We didn't even get a break. But it was a lot of fun, and we raised over $200 for the Unity Tour so that's awesome. That's about 20 bikes that we scrubbed. Next time, I will get more volunteers and bring along some music. Thank you to everyone that stopped by, and a big thank you to The Daily Rider for hosting us, and Finish Line for donating all of our bike scrubbing needs.

Our first customer:





Yikes.






Mir, hard at work.





Here I am (the back of me, anyway) working on a Raleigh. I have no idea why I have so many rags in my pockets.







People lining up:



(photos stolen from various sources)


Afterwards, we treated ourselves to a celebratory dinner at the Queen Vic, which is just down the street.

I found this:



And loved it. And drank a few more :-)

Then it was time to turn towards home.

Miles: 6ish. My iPhone died on the way home, so I'm not sure...
Yorkshire puddings consumed: 1
Number of times I had to shower to get all the bike grime off: 2

Bike Wash this weekend! Photo contest!

I hope you guys are ready for the Big Bike Wash this Sunday! I am super excited because it looks like its going to be a lot of fun. For those that might not know about it:

Bring your bikes to The Daily Rider (1108 H St NE) this Sunday from Noon until 4pm for a thorough scrubbing. $10 per bike will get you a wash & lube (including chain). The money is to support The Police Unity Tour, which myself & my friend Mir, are riding in May. The Police Unity Tour raises money for the Law Enforcement Memorial Fund. We will be riding from Richmond, VA to Washington, DC from May 10th-May 12th.

Finish Line Products (they make all sorts of bike maintenance goodies) is helping to sponsor the Bike Wash. And that means...prizes!

First up is this nifty Bike Bucket:




Tweet or email me a photo of your "filthy" bike by 11:59pm (EST) Saturday. Include the hashtag #bikefilthy. The person with the "filthiest" bike will win this bucket! (please keep photos safe for work).

We've got some other stuff too, but I haven't figured out a good contest for it yet.

Anyway, you will definitely want to be at this event! What if you don't have a bike to wash, or you want a wash but don't have the cash? You can always volunteer to help us wash them! Shoot me an email if you want to help out!

Note: it will be a lot easier if you bring your bikes directly to the rear of the shop, rather than through the front door. There is alley access off of 11th St. We will have banners and signs up, so don't worry.

Also, we will be having a #BikeDC happy hour (yes I know there's no happy hours on Sundays. We do our own thing) after the wash. It will most likely be at Lil Miss Whiskey's since its right next door. So make sure you stick around for that!

#30 Days of Biking: Day 10

I had planned on doing a 60 mile trip today, but gave up on the idea when I realized that merely wearing my bike clothes wasn't doing any good if I was just going to wear them on the couch. I was feeling out of sorts anyway. My days off were shifted around, and I have a super early training class tomorrow for work. So I decided to make today another Errands-by-Bike day.

I set off around the evening rush hour, but I was going in the opposite direction of most folks. I only needed to go about 10 blocks, but in that 10 blocks I managed to witness the most obnoxious bike behavior ever.

-I understand the light timing on the 15th St cycle track is terrible. I've often pulled an Idaho stop with them myself (IMO, bike infrastructure should also be convenient, not just safe. Stopping & waiting at every single intersection is not convenient.) However, rush hour IS NOT THE TIME FOR IT. It is saner & safer to simply wait. In case you didn't realize (and this goes for peds & drivers too): you will not get to where you are going any faster by disregarding traffic laws. Really. You won't. You are only increasing your chances of getting hurt or hurting others.

-See those painted white lines at every intersection (and sometimes between them)? Those are called CROSSWALKS. They are for PEDESTRIANS. They are not a spot to creep your bike in while you try to play frogger with cross traffic because you can't wait 45 seconds for the light to change. Pedestrians shouldn't have to dodge or walk around you.

-Speaking of pedestrians: you need to yield the right of way, especially if you are blowing a light. That doesn't mean weaving around between them. That doesn't mean crossing within inches of them. That means stopping (put your damn foot down) and waiting.

-it also means LOOKING for them. Just as many drivers suffer from "bike blindness", don't develop "pedestrian blindness". (it can go the other way too. Today, a jaywalking pedestrian was looking right at me as he was about to step in my path, but it was clear he didn't SEE me. He was looking right through me, looking for cars). Don't get tunnel vision. Make sure you are actually SEEING your surroundings. Other cyclists, pedestrians, dogs, children...don't look through them just to watch out for cars.

-Pass on the left. Pass on the left. PASS ON THE LEFT.

-If you are going to pass, make sure it's safe. Attempting to pass when there is oncoming traffic is unsafe & obnoxious.

-signal your intentions. Sudden turns without warning can be dangerous...

-and that brings me to this: do NOT pass someone at an intersection!! If the cyclist you are trying to pass decides to turn left, you will collide.

That's enough ranting for today.

I rode to a local bike shop was slightly annoyed by the sparse bike parking. Yet their front patio had ample room for a few racks. Instead they had a bench. I don't know about you, but when I go to a bike shop, its usually not to sit in the front of it.


Nice bench. I'll just put my bike on it.

It was odd because the building next door to the shop actually had quite a few bike racks in their front patio. Oh well.

My reason for stopping by the shop was to pick up some nutrition products to try on the bike. I'm terrible at properly hydrating & fueling on long rides. I tend to ride myself in the ground before I drink or eat, and by then I've lost my appetite and can't keep anything down. I need to practice and find what works for me before the 3-day ride in May.





These are a few of the products I picked up.

Do you guys have any hints or tips? What's your typical nutrition routine on long rides (4+ hours)?

After the bike shop, I stopped at Whole Foods to pick up dinner from the hot bar. I always forget what a zoo that place is. Then I rode home. The end.

Miles: 3.37
Cookies consumed on the ride: 2

30 Days of Biking: Day 8

Today was a bike errand day. Nothing terribly exciting.

I started off by stopping at a crepe place I've recently discovered. I ordered a nutella, banana, & coconut crepe and a latte to fuel my ride :-)



The first stop on my list was to stop by The Daily Rider to pick up a few things and check out the space for the Bike Wash next week. Getting to the H St NE area is a huge pain. In order to get there with the least amount of hassle, I need to ride at least part of the way on Florida Ave. Drivers are super aggressive on that street. It's 5 lanes wide and crosses another crappy road, New York Ave. Drivers treat it like a highway, and unless you are assertive and take the entire lane, they will try to squeeze you into the curb. Even on Easter Sunday it was a bit nerve-wracking. I was glad to get off it.

At one point, I discovered this bike pump bolted to the sidewalk for cyclists. What a great idea! (it's at 1st & M NE)





I continued on and made it to the shop without any incidents. The shop itself is gorgeous. I wish I had taken some photos. The window display kept drawing in people to check out the bikes inside.

The Bike Wash will be behind the shop. They have an open area (with hose & drain) and roll-down garage door area. It's perfect. I am so excited for the Wash! I just hope the weather cooperates.

(Speaking of the Bike Wash, if you are coming by next week, bring your bike directly behind the shop. You can reach it through the alley. We'll have banners & signs up, so don't worry!)

While I was there, I picked up a brass bell for Kermit, a couple of skirt garters (I might make this year the year I actually wear skirts...) and a really nice Po Campo bag (review coming soon once I've used it a bit).

Then I rode home, with a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up some last nuts items for Easter dinner. The wind was pretty brutal, so I felt wiped-out when I got home. I hate the wind.

Miles: 8.4
Sweet potatoes carried home: 3
Number of times I was whistled at: 1

Great News! Bike Wash & 30 Days of Biking

It appears Spring has sprung around here, judging from my itchy, watery eyes. The cherry blossoms have bloomed, and the trees are are getting greener by the day. This can mean only one thing: bike season has begun!

To kick it off, I'm starting with 30 Days of Biking tomorrow. This year I'm not counting work-related cycling, so I won't have an excuse not to get some "fun" riding in. This will be my 3rd year of participating. I love challenges like these, because it forces me to get creative with my bike trips and I always end up learning about something new & interesting to do. I'm going to make it a goal to blog everyday during this.

First up: planning tomorrow's ride. I think I'll head towards the SW area. I don't get over there very much, and my brief commute through the area this morning reminded me of how interesting that quadrant of the city really is. Of course, I will have to do a lot of tourist dodging...but meh. It will still be awesome. I'll be taking Betty, since its going to be more of a ramble than a ride.

Even more exciting is the Bike Wash I'm organizing on April 15th. If you're like me and ride your bike all year long, your bike might be overdue for a little TLC after all the cold, muddy rides this winter. If you are doing 30 Days of Biking, you'll need a shiny, clean bike after all that riding. Plus apartment living can make it difficult to keep your bike clean if you don't have the room & equipment to wash your bike. Let me (and some other volunteers) do it for you! And it's all for a good cause. 100% of the proceeds will go to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, via the Police Unity Tour.

The Daily Rider, a brand new awesome bike shop that recently opened on the H St. NE Corridor has agreed to let us have the Bike Wash in the rear of the shop. How awesome is that?! Don't have a bike to wash? You can buy one there! (just kidding. Maybe. The bikes are gorgeous. Don't say I didn't warn you about temptation.)

The Daily Rider at 1108 H St. NE

The best news of all? Finish Line has offered to help out and donate some products for the Bike Wash! That might mean not only will your bike be super clean & shiny, but you might walk away with some pretty nice swag too.

And the cleaner your bike gets, the dirtier I get*. So..there's that.

The details are as follows:

What? Bike Wash Fundraiser! Get your bike shiny & clean. I'll even get that nasty crud off of your chain.
Where? The Daily Rider: 1108 H St. NE
When? Sunday, April 15th from 12pm-4pm
Why? Fundraiser for the Police Unity Tour
How much? $10 per bike gets you a full wash.


And remember, 100% of the proceeds will go to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund and will help me meet my goal of raising $1700 by the end of this month.

Afterwards, there might be a #BikeDC "happy hour" at a nearby establishment so it might be worth your while!

Speaking of fundraising, it is time to ramp up my efforts. I'd like to raise at least $1,000 by the end of April. I am thinking of having a contest soon, where the winner that donates the most amount of money in a certain amount of time will win a prize from me. What do you think? Any other ideas?


*That's literally, not euphemistically.


Don't have a bike, but still want to participate? Volunteer to help me wash bikes! I will repay your efforts in beer. Just shoot me an email if you want to help out.