You did it! Roundabout Century 2016

Congratulations to all the Roundabout Century 2016 cyclists! Another epic ride in support of Calvary Women's Services.  The "first century of the year" on Saturday, April 16 was amazing. A bunch of folks road the 50 mile route to Baltimore taking the MARC bike train back to DC and the hard core riders (Sari, Roger, Brian, Matt and Sam) opted for the full century route.  Enjoy the photos of the ride and after party BBQ from the day's event!


Major thank you's to The Bike Rack!  Especially, Chuck, Walker and Brooks (for providing SAG support along the entire 100 miles) and the goodie bottle gifts to riders and prizes.  Brookland Pint for setting up a great relaxed outdoor picnic BBQ and nice beer selection!

Big thanks to Roundabout ride volunteers - Michelle Escumbise, Nancy Coviello, Christina Bond, Antoinette and Jacques!  Without them the ride would not be possible!  Thank you!

This is an annual fundraising event supporting Calvary Women's Services in providing housing and support services to homeless women in Washington, DC.

Enjoy the photos from along the route and the after party!

Registration is open!

Registration is OPEN for Roundabout Century 2016!

3rd Annual Roundabout Century 2016 - Saturday, April 16, 2016

Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Roundabout Century 2016 - Saturday, April 16! Tell your friends.  Spread the news.  Sign-up before the slots fill up.

  Register here to help homeless women in DC by supporting Calvary Women's Services.
 
Calvary Women’s Services offers housing, health, employment and education programs that empower homeless women in Washington, DC to change their lives

• 100 mile century ride
• NEW! 50 mile ride option
• NEW! BBQ & Beer Party
  

NEW! There are a bunch of exciting things to know for this year's Roundabout Century 2016.

• Date for the ride and BBQ Beer party: Saturday, April 16
  
• Route: DC through Baltimore and back to DC for the 100 mile century ride
  
• NEW! 50 mile option this year!  Do the same first 50 mile route as the 100 mile and take the MARC "bike train" back to DC from Baltimore!  (The MARC bike car SO cool!!)
• NEW! Not riding? No problem.  Attend the post-ride party at Brookland Pint (3-6pm) - they are throwing an outdoor BBQ with beer specials to celebrate Roundabout Century. Be sure to register ahead!
  
• The Bike Rack Brookland Wheel of Fortune prize giveaways and raffle at the post ride party!
• Bike parking at the end of the ride provided by The Bike Rack, Brookland location
  

Things that stay the same:

• 100% of every dollar raised for Roundabout Century goes directly to Calvary Women's Services. Calvary offers housing, health, education and employment programs that empower women who are homeless to change their lives
• Registration fee is tax deductible.  Riders are encouraged to reach out to friends and family to support your ride
  
• Ride is fully supported with organized stops along the way with snacks and drinks
• The Bike Rack bike mechanics are on the entire 100 mile ride providing SAG support
• Create a personal profile when you register so your friends can support your ride!
  
• Bike for Good  : )
  

Use this link below to register and don't forget to ask your friends to support your ride and let them know even if they don't ride they can register for the post ride BBQ Beer party, too!

All donations are fully tax deductible and 100% of every online dollar raised goes directly to Calvary Women's Services. 

Register here to help homeless women in DC!

Any questions? Please feel free to reach out.

Cheers,
Gillian
Founder, Roundabout Century Ride
gillian@roundaboutcentury.com
202-255-0589 

Kick-off Ride (100,75,50) Nov 7, 2015 for Roundabout Century 2016

"Kick-Off" Ride for Next April 's Roundabout Century 2016

Some amazing cycling folks braved the all day rain and dropping temperatures to ride the "kick-off" Roundabout Century ride including some that did a full century (100 miles) from The Bike Rack in DC out to Purcellville,VA and finish at the Lincoln Memorial in DC.  Others did 50 mile routes out to Reston, VA and back to DC. The routes were along the Custis and W&OD trails.  Rain and wet leaves meant for a slower pace (safe is better than fast) but the rain and cold made it a challenging... but still totally fun ride.  Some folks stopped along the 100 miles at bike shops to purchase rain and cold weather gear, coffee and anything to keep dry and warmer!  Some even stopped at Caboose Brewing in Vienna,VA to stay dry and warm up.Yum!

Save the date! Roundabout Century 2016 is Saturday, April 16, 2016

Roundabout Century 2016 supporting Calvary Women's Services is Saturday, April 16, 2016.  We are so pleased the The Bike Rack will once again be supporting the ride.

And lot's of new information for the 2016 ride -  Roundabout Century 2016 ride will start and end in Washington, DC circling through Baltimore, MD.  In addition to the 100 mile full century option there will be a 50 mile ride option.  This is a ride for both advanced century cyclists and first time 50 mile or century riders!

Save the date and look for registration details coming soon!

You did it! 2nd Annual Roundabout Century, an epic ride!

Congratulations Roundabout Century Riders!  

The 2nd annual Roundabout Century supporting Calvary Women's Services held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 was amazing! Not the rain, cold or wind was going to stop Roundabout Century riders from completing the 100 mile ride in support of Calvary Women's Services.

Here are loads of pictures from ride day posted on Calvary's flickr album - thanks to picture takers photographer Rick Reinhard, Michelle Escumbise and Nancy Coviello capturing the ride start, during the ride and the post ride party.

Huge thanks to everyone at Calvary Women's Services, The Bike Rack, WABA and WABA Women & Bicycles, The Ugly Mug, Amsterdam Falafel.  Ride stop volunteers Lawrence, Don, Antoinette.  The Bike Rack SAG support team of Walker and Brooks.  Michelle Escumbise for filling in all gaps. Brian Paxson for being the ride lead for most of the 100 mile ride for most riders! Co-founder Matt for coming up with great training ride routes!

Take a look at all the pics from ride day: https://www.flickr.com/photos/calvaryservices/sets/72157646790491883/

See you next year for the 3rd Annual Roundabout Century ride!  Mark your calendars now!

Cycling Skills: Keep hydrating in the cooler weather

When it's hot outside it's fairly obvious that you need to hydrate and drink enough with electrolytes to keep you pedaling strong.

Keep in mind that the same general rules of hydration apply  in the cooler weather - If you're exercising for up to 1 hour, you can rehydrate with water alone. However, after an hour, add electrolytes and carbohydrates.

We Roundabout Century riders will be cycling for more than an hour so be sure to hydrate with your electrolyte mix and eat plenty of carbohydrates to keep you pedaling strong.  For more info, see this article 8 Tips for Hydrating in Cold Weather from active.com.

Cycling Skills: Riding in the cooler weather - Clothing

The leaves are turning and the temps are all over the place. On Saturday it's expected to be in the 70's and tonight the lows will be in the 40's.

For cycling, the cooler temps really can make for some ideal cycling.  The mornings can start out a bit cooler, but after a couple miles of pedaling, you'll be warmed up and removing that top layer.

And that's the point, be sure to layer your bike clothing this time of year.

Here are a couple of videos with some food for thought:  The first video is for cooler weather and the second video for cooler and colder weather.  Of course, you'll want to know your own best method that works for you but there might be some info here to consider.  And, talk to the folks at The Bike Rack for some additional great ideas and products to keep you riding comfortably.

Registration is still open!

Cyclists of all skill levels who are looking for one last ride before winter can register for the second annual Roundabout Century - a fully-supported, 100-mile ride to benefit Calvary Women's Services. Enjoy a scenic ride with stunning autumn views from DC to Annapolis and back! 

This year's event is generously supported by The Bike Rack, a DC bike shop. The Bike Rack will accompany riders on the route and perform bike tune-ups and adjustments prior to the ride. Female cyclists are welcome! The Bike Rack is committed to promoting women in cycling at all levels, from casual cyclists to commuters to competitive riders. 

Lunch will be at the Amsterdam Falafelshop in downtown Annapolis, and they have generously agreed to offer riders a 10% lunch discount. Roundabout riders and friends are also invited to a post-ride happy hour celebration at The Ugly Mug in Southeast DC! The Ugly Mug will donate 10% of sales from the group to Calvary.

All funds raised for the Roundabout Century, including the registration fee, are tax deductible donations to Calvary Women's Services. 

Spaces for the ride are limited, so register today! For more information and to register, click here. 

For additional information or questions, please contact us via email.

Sunday's Training Ride: Oct 12 - Matt's "Trails U Don't Know About" Ride

What a great training route Matt developed! The "Trails you don't know about" training ride.  Riding trails in DC, MD and VA totaling just over 60 miles leaving from Logan Circle, DC.  We rode at least 15 different trails. How cool is that. The ride really makes you appreciate how many great biking trails there are in the area.  It does also make you want to see that connecting trail aka "The Missing Link" on the Anacostia Tributary trail get finished.  We had a fun adventure for sure!  Next year's route will include even more connecting trails!

Why are we training?  We are riding in the upcoming Roundabout Century supporting Calvary Women's Services.  100% of every dollar raised is an investment directly to Calvary. We are pedaling with a purpose!  Want to join us? You can register here.  Your registration fee is a donation directly to Calvary Women's Services.

Sunday's Training Ride: Oct 6 - 50+ miles

Great training ride Sunday, October 6.  It started out a tad chilly but it sure ended up the perfect bike training ride day.  There really is something wonderful about riding in October - it's some of the best biking weather all year round.  : )

A big thanks to, Brian (aka Bike Dr) leading the group on a perfect pace. We headed out the W&OD Trail to Reston,VA and back. Great pic from the gang that day!

We are all training for the November 1, 2014 Roundabout Century supporting Calvary Women's Services.  Interested in riding? Contact Gillian via email for additional details. Interested in registering, check here to register.

Registration for Roundabout Century

Cyclists of all skill levels who are looking for one last ride before winter can register for the second annual Roundabout Century - a fully-supported, 100-mile ride to benefit Calvary Women's Services. Enjoy a scenic ride with stunning autumn views from DC to Annapolis and back! 

This year's event is generously supported by The Bike Rack, a DC bike shop. The Bike Rack will accompany riders on the route and perform bike tune-ups and adjustments prior to the ride. Female cyclists are welcome! The Bike Rack is committed to promoting women in cycling at all levels, from casual cyclists to commuters to competitive riders. 

Lunch will be at the Amsterdam Falafelshop in downtown Annapolis, and they have generously agreed to offer riders a 10% lunch discount. Roundabout riders and friends are also invited to a post-ride happy hour celebration at The Ugly Mug in Southeast DC! The Ugly Mug will donate 10% of sales from the group to Calvary.

All funds raised for the Roundabout Century, including the registration fee, are tax deductible donations to Calvary Women's Services. 

Spaces for the ride are limited, so register today! For more information and to register, click here. 

Sunday's Weekend Training Ride, Awesome!

What a great day Sunday (9-28-14)  was for a 50 mile training ride!  A few of us Roundabout Century riders were out pedaling and enjoying the day.  The Mt Vernon Trail was super busy that morning with everyone (runners, walkers, bikers) enjoying the day but once we got towards Maryland to Greenbelt the roads and trails opened up.  Great riding.

Here are Roundabout Century riders Mindy, Gillian and Sari just after finishing the 50 miles.  Awesome ride!

Checkout the upcoming training ride schedule so you can join us!  We have a weekday ride, every Thursday evening at 6pm and then varying Saturday and Sunday rides including Matt's famous Bike and Beer Tour!

This is all in prep for the upcoming 2nd Annual Roundabout Century supporting Calvary Women's Services taking place on Saturday, Nov 1.  There is still time to register and join us!

For additional info on those training rides, please contact Gillian at gillian@roundaboutcentury.com

Bike Maintenance: Chain Lube - Wow, who knew!

I don't know about you but chain lube is one of those things that I never really know exactly when and how much to apply.  Usually it's when my chain is actually super dry and squeaking. That's a bit too late.  And which is the best type to use?  There are like a million different types and brands.

I've personally settled on ProLink chain lube from recommendations from various folks including the awesome Bike Rack mechanics.  I like the results but there are a lot of options and vary depending on your different factors.

To learn a bit more, here's an article from Full Cycle Bikes that discusses all about chain lube that you might find interesting.

If you are really interested, check out this testing that was done to check chain friction with ProLinkGold chain lube.  VeloLab Revisited: Testing Chain Friction Over Time

Thursday Training Ride UPDATE - It's a tad rainy but we ride on!

Thursday 6:00pm Weekly Training Ride UPDATE   (9-25-14):

But of course we are still riding this evening.  A little drizzle never stopped us Roundabout Century riders!

See you 6pm at The Bike Rack.  It' a good chance to practice safe rain riding and to use your rain bike gear!

And, as always, don't forget your bike lights!

Thursday Training Ride: This Thursday, Sept 25, 6pm

Every Thursday evening at 6pm until the Roundabout Century ride we'll be doing a 20 mile weekday ride. This is in addition to the longer weekend training rides.  Check out the complete Roundabout Century training ride schedule.

This Thursday we'll once again be meeting at The Bike Rack at 6pm.  We'll depart at 6:05pm.  Be sure to email Gillian,  gillian@roundaboutcentury.com to sign-up.

Be sure to bring your BIKE LIGHTS!

Registration for Roundabout Century

Join us for the last century of the year on the first Saturday in November.

The 2nd Annual Roundabout Century scenic ride begins and ends in Washington, DC with a lunch stop in Annapolis. Fall foliage will be at its peak, as riders wind 100 miles through back roads, paved trails and city streets.  SAG support is provided by The Bike Rack. 

We encourage riders of all levels (cycling teams, female cyclists and first time century riders) to join and register.  Roundabout Century supports Calvary Women's Services in SE, DC – which provides homeless women with a place to live, comprehensive support services and empowers women for independent living. 

100% of registration fees and rider raised donations are tax deductible and directly benefit Calvary Women's Services.  The $100 registration fee is a donation to Calvary Women's Services. Although not required, we are encouraging riders to reach a fundraising goal of $500.

To register and donate, please visit at bit.ly/roundaboutcentury.  Riders and friends please join us at the Ugly Mug (Barracks Row on 8th St, SE) for the post ride party! Contact gillian@roundaboutcentury.com for additional information.

Registration: http://www.firstgiving.com/CalvaryServices/roundabout-century

Cool Rides Alert: Women's Road Ride at the Bike Rack, Tuesday, Sept 23 - 6pm

This is a really cool women focused bike event from the Bike Rack. And a chance for you to try out some women specific racing bikes from Liv Bicycles.

From The Bike Rack:

The Bike Rack and Liv Bicycles brings you a Women's No-Drop Road Ride. Join us on Tuesday, September 23rd for a casual and social evening road ride. We will meet at The Bike Rack at
6:00 pm and depart by 6:30. Our own Liv rep, Jen Audia will bring several brand new Liv road bikes for you to demo, simply call the shop ahead of time to reserve one.

There is no cost to join the ride, but we do ask you to register so we know how many will be riding. Don't forget to call the shop (202-387-2453) if you want to reserve a demo bike.
  

 

Safey Tip: Bike Lights, Don't Leave Home Without 'em

It's that time of year when it's a good idea to have your bike lights with you/on your bike all the times.You just never know when you'll need 'em.

And, did you know it's the law in DC to have bike lights when riding at night?!  Yup:  Section 1204.2  Pick up a copy of the WABA Pocket Guide to Washington, DC Bike Laws.  It's a very handy and informational pocket guide.  Well be getting those to you on Roundabout ride day!  Thanks WABA!

Looking to Register?

To register for the 2nd Annual Roundabout Century supporting Calvary Women's Services, visit the Calvary Roundabout Century Registration page. Roundabout Century is Saturday, November 1, 2014.

To register, visit http://www.firstgiving.com/CalvaryServices/roundabout-century and click the REGISTER button.

Your $100 registration fee is a tax deductible donation with 100% of the proceeds directly going to Calvary Women’s Services .  You and your cycling legs are supporting an amazing organization, Calvary Women's Services, a local DC non-profit organization that offers housing, health, education and employment programs that empower homeless women in Washington, DC to change their lives.

New this year, when you register you can create your own fundraising page that allows you to reach out to friends and family to support your ride!  Although it is not required, we encourage you to reach out to your supporters towards a suggested $500 total fundraising goal.

The route:  The ride begins and ends in Washington, DC with a lunch stop in Annapolis.  Fall foliage will be at its peak, as riders wind 100 miles through back roads, paved trails and city streets.

Post ride party:  For riders and friends, The Ugly Mug, Barracks Row, 8th St, SE  

Cheers,

Gillian (gillian@roundaboutcentury.com)

Proudly supported by The Bike Rack.

Roundabout Century - Biking for Good!