At the bottom of this post  is a map that shows the general direction of the ride.  If you have questions about the ride, send Phil an email.

From Phil:

Family, as I am looking at the weather, it's calling for the temp to be about in the mid to high 30's by the time we start riding. I think it might be a little better to stay in or around the city instead of riding toward the water. So I suggest that we do Wisconsin Ave. From the point and return on Beach Drive. We will still have our 40 mile plus ride.

Any comments I am willing to hear, complaints goes to Jeanine & John. If Jeanine & John complain, I'll get over it. 

Be safe & keep the rubber side down.

Since it will be cold, please dress warm and bring snacks to keep your energy up.  Below is a map that provides an approximate distance and direction of travel.

View Phil ride - Wisconsin Avenue - Beach Drive in a larger map

We are looking for new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, and  bikes to donate to children in the community.  In addition, the organizers need help in the form of volunteers (elves) to help repair bikes, manage the disbursement of toys during the day of the giveaway and help set up other activities for that day. To volunteer, you must first register for the event by contacting MCC so that you may be added to the guest list.

The drop off location will be the  Metropolitan Community Church, 474 Ridge Street, N.W. at the corner of 5th Street between M and N,  Sunday through Thursday starting December 01, 2011 during business hours.

Below is a sample of the beneficiary organizations for this year's event:

Children's Hospital
Max Robinson Center/WWH
La Clinica
Building Futures
Women's Collective
Dominion Minorities

and other AIDS Service organization and support service providers!

This event has provided toys to hundreds of children and young adults. The assistance you provide in the form of a gift or by helping will help bring happiness to someone who may not have otherwise received it.

For more information,  please contact MCC at 202-638-7373 or Wallace Corbett at 202-257-1484.

Below are pictures from previous toy drives. You can see more pictures here...

Second, the next ride will be this Friday, November 25 instead of the usual Sunday. Phil says that he will be riding to Mount Vernon on his  mountain bike with the route being about 40 miles.

Trying ride off some of the food he ate Thursday, Phil will hold a ride at the East Potomac Golf Course Parking Lot at 9:30am and leave promptly 10am. At the bottom of this post  is a map that shows the general direction of the ride.  If you have questions about the ride, send Phil an email.

Last Sunday's ride was a challenge due to a couple mishaps.

One rider caught a flat inner tube and then a sliced tire. That caused the group to split, creating a 10-mile gap. Riders had to stop at the Bicycle Place bike shop on Grubb Road in Maryland to get a new tire. In Phil's words:

While the second group tried to catch up with the first; we lost a rider, so we had to wait and more time to locate him. He made it back safely. Then a rider in the first group all most got turned around.

The key is that we all make it back but we need to be aware of other individuals riding with us. We are all accountable for other riders in our group. We left together, let’s come back together.

Phil also gave a shout out to Lloyd, who did a good job continuing the ride for the first group.

As Phil always says, be safe and keep the rubber side down.

View Phil's Ride - Mt. Vernon in a larger map

This is a relatively long and challenging ride with lots of hills. Also, the weather is expected to be somewhat cool so dress accordingly. Performance Bike shop has a nice video showing what to wear and what not to wear for cold weather riding.

Remember to bring your helmet,  cell phone,  and something to eat. There will likely be a pit stop at a store along the way.

The riders will meet at the East Potomac Golf Course Parking Lot at 9:30am and leaving promptly 10am. Below is an approximate cue sheet that gives you an idea of direction. The ride will likely turn around prior to Seneca Road.

View Phil's River Road Route - Urban in a larger map

As Phil always says, be safe and keep the rubber side down.

While the objective of the ride is to just ride around the District, the hope is that this will turn into a much larger event next summer to raise money for charity so think of this as a training ride.

Cecil and the crew will do a ride around downtown, starting at 9:30 pm at the East Potomac Park Tennis Center parking lot at Hains Point at Ohio and Buckeye Drives SW. This is the parking lot the fronts the golf course, see map below.

View Friday nite lites starting location in a larger map

The ride will not go far or go fast. This is ride is just a few miles around downtown, the Mall, maybe the White House. The ride is free form with decisions made on-the-fly and they might stop for food or to warm up.

The weather is expected to be chilly so you should dress accordingly. You also may want to bring a bike lock, just in case the group stops for food.

If you are  interested in riding, please reply to Cecil.

According to Jeanine,  a number of  people have contacted her about the right which typically happens during the summer. Rider Cecil is willing to get a group together tomorrow just to do a ride around the monuments, starting at 9:00 pm and meeting at the Hains Point parking lot by the tennis courts on Ohio Drive NW.

The ride will not go far, just getting together and riding in the immediate area after dark.  The weather is expected to be somewhat chilly so you should dress accordingly.

Additionally,  we will accept  donations (strictly optional) which will be given to a charity agreed upon by the group.

If you are  interested in riding, please reply to Jeanine or Cecil.

The showing will be at the the International AIDS Conference coming to Washington DC on July 22-27 2012 at the Washington Convention Center.  The conference is expecting  over 30,000 guest from around the world to come to the District for this event.

This exhibit is a 150 piece black and white photography collection of those people, places and events that marked or charged the history of HIV/AIDS in Washington,DC in the last 25 years. And will be adding an additional 50 new pieces this year. The Metropolitan Community Church is asking the community for help in naming selecting the next 50 additions.

The first meeting to select the candidate works will be this Wednesday, September 14.  As second meeting will be held  the following Wednesday, September 21. The meeting time will be from 4:30pm to 6:30pm both days and the selection meetings are open to everyone; however, the Church will need each nominators  name and contact information  and  a brief paragraph describing your efforts in fighting HIV in Washington,DC.

For more information, please contact the Metropolitan Community Church at 202-638-7373  or Wallace Corbett, Chairperson of the OUR HEROES EXHIBIT at 202-257-1484. Kevin Kenner is the Lead Photographer for the exhibit.

LARRY'S RIDE AND RUN – SEPTEMBER 24TH - A Premier Baltimore County Bicycle Tour!  Pump up those tires and lace up those sneakers, Larry's Ride and Run is back for its second year and will be held at Spring Meadow Farms (Baltimore County) on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Larry's Ride and Run continues to honor avid biker Larry Bensky who tragically lost his life while biking in 2010. This year's event includes many new bike routes and a 3.6 mile run that meanders through scenic Baltimore County. Following the bike rides and run, celebration activities include lunch and music. All friends and family are welcome to attend, participate and enjoy the day!

TOUR DU PORT – OCTOBER 9TH – BALTIMORE CITY – A SUPER COOL BICYCLING EVENT!  Join 2500 bicyclist to tour the City and surrounding rural areas. During the Tour du Port you will experience Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, waterfront areas and beautiful parks in a way that can't be experienced from the seat of your car. Tour du Port is a superb way to intimately tour Baltimore. Routes: 13 to a new 65 ride! This fully supported tour includes lunch,  refreshments at rest stops and a post-ride celebration with live music at Tour's end.

Carol adds to please register now for the early bird rate - to increase Maryland's bike-ability! Both tours travel through beautiful Maryland areas and end with fun celebrations that include music and lunch!

The ride is a 100-mile loop from East Potomac Park in the District to Federal Hill Park in Baltimore, Maryland and back.  This is a difficult ride not just because of the miles but because of the heat and terrain.  This gives riders the chance to show off their skills as they ride over rolling hills and up to the 400 foot overlook of the Baltimore Inner Harbor at Federal Hill.  Co-organizer Jerry Mccalop puts the ride this way:

Ok, maybe (it's) folks time to make that life changing decision, it's u ridin' or hidin, time is of the ESSENCE. We put in a lot of work to make these rides successful . I know its hot, it's summertime... you can do it that's why you train the way you do ( the thought of affliction is worst then affliction itself ) (like my father said) -  now go get the belt, real talk.

Riders should get to the East Potomac Park Tennis Center parking lot by 6:45a to ensure that they register (the fee is $20) and prepare to get underway.  The ride will begin promptly @ 7:30a and last until about 2:00p (depending on the pace).  Directions to the Tennis Center can be found here. The registration fee covers sweep support and the end-of-ride cookout at Hains Point.  For more information, including the cue sheet, please contact Jonny Mack.

BBSSU provides advise regarding preparing for long rides like this one. The best advice, however, is to pace yourself, hydrate, eat and apply sun protection periodically. According to one of the ride organizers, Jonny Mack, "thankfully the last day of severe heat appears to be Saturday but it will of course still be hot on Sunday. We will have plenty of fluid available and take extra care to look after everyone".

Dandies & Quaintrelles will have a night time ride called White Nights, don't forget to register.  It's a free ride but remember to use your imagination with what you wear.

Black Women Bike DC will have a ride this Saturday morning from 9a to 11a starting from Eastern Market.  No dudes allowed this time.

Bicyclespace will hold a kids bikes fix and provide useful information for groups of young people eager to get out and ride. It's 11a to 2p on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, Pocket Park (S and 4th NE).

Phillip is holding a ride from Hains Point in DC to around MacArthur Blvd in MD this Sunday.  Try arriving early because it will be hot and hilly and looking for a large amount of miles. We will be meeting at 7:00am and leaving at 8. We are leaving on time!

Sergeant Jon Dorrough of the Metropolitan Police Department reported that there was a robbery on the Metropolitan Branch Trail last Saturday night. An adult male and female were riding their bikes on the trail at about 11 PM.  They were confronted by two black males, aged approximately 18-25, 5'5" – 5'10" in height. Both of the victims were forced from their bicycles and the male was struck once. The suspects then stole one of the bikes and fled the scene.

The Final Metropolitan Branch Trail Environmental Assessment (EA) will be available for public review on July 14, 2011. The project area is adjacent to CSX railroad tracks and the WMATA Metro Red Line from the Fort Totten to the Takoma Station.

The Bike House co-op will have its annual fundraising party, to celebrate our third year of helping people work on, learn about, and enjoy bikes, and keep us going for years to come. $10 gets you a cup and entrance to the hottest party thrown by a bicycle co-op in DC this summer.