The 2016 Monument to Monument ride

It was about what I expected: cold riding and a steady light rain as I rode from Hampden down to the start of this year’s M2M. Not comfortable, but it could’ve been colder… and, wetter. When I got to the start no one was there. I envisioned riding to DC alone. Through the rain, John and Marcia rode up. Then Tom, Che, and Dan. PJ and Dave finally swung around the corner. Everyone looked well-prepared for the weather and the ride. As we rolled out down Cathedral st, Dan and Rod joined us. And, that was it: a small and dedicated group of ten. We would ride the entire 97 miles, staying almost entirely within sight of one another.

All of us rode strong and steady. I didn’t hear a single complaint about the weather. The roads were slick and we had two slips that were thankfully not serious. I wound up being the unlucky one to get a flat (through a kevlar belted tire no less). Every one waited patiently while I wrestled with a tire which hadn’t been off it’s rim in ages. The group calmly negotiated a closed section of Metropolitan Branch Trail due to a train derailment on Sunday. We quipped, we told stories, we rode quietly and we enjoyed each other’s company. Thanks all.

 

Would I be riding alone?

Marcia, Che and John at the start.

Dave, riding strong on River rd.

The group on beautiful Race rd.

The distinctive mud stripe.

Dan, along the Anacostia trail

train derailment along the Met Branch Trail

PJ, Dan, Rod and Marcia on 3rd st. approaching the DC monument.

Smiles all around. Dan, Dan, PJ, Marcia, Che and Rod.

Rod northbound on the NW Branch Trail

After ride beers taste so good.

More pics of mine (click to enlarge):

John on River rd

 

Check out Dave’s blog post and pics here: Bikes n’Coffee
Couple of nice #bikem2m shots I found HERE