HOLIDAY LIGHTS, Featuring 60+ degrees in December!!!!

Have you seen the forecast? I, for one, am loving the Holiday Spirit with a dose of 60+ degrees!!!! This calls for a HOLIDAY LIGHTS RIDE with Kidical Mass Arlington!

When: Saturday, December 12, 4:45pm (roll out at 5pm)
Meet: Key Elementary Key Blvd & N Veitch
End:  Westover Beer Garden Washington Blvd between N McKinley and N Longfellow
Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11436013 (I hear there's a good house up on 24th, which we can head up to via this route if we're feeling up to it. I haven't reconned this route and it's a bit longer.)

We'll meet at the playground at Key Elementary (come early to play) and we'll roll out by 5pm. We'll wind around Lyon Village, Virginia Square, Cherrydale, Waycroft/Woodlawn to end up at Westover Beer Garden

NOTE: This is a longer and hillier than our normal rides (5 miles, 275 ft or so of climbing) but worth it. We'll be riding in the evening, so bring lights. This ride isn't recommended for beginner kids riding their own bikes.

Halloween Ride: Sunday, November 1

It's that time of year again: time to put on your costume, light up your bike, and prepare to eat copious amounts of candy! Kidical Mass Arlington loves Halloween, and loves extending it into November! We're partnering up with Kidical Mass Arlington and FreshBikes again to have a little after party that promises to be fun for all!

We'll meet at FreshBikes Arlington, in Ballston, where families can come early to stock up on everything they need for their bikes and make sure they are adequately lit for the night's festivities. Then we will bike off through the Virginia Square and Ashton Heights neighborhoods! We'll see some of the spookiest decorated houses in Arlington, and return to FreshBikes, where we'll be treated to a family-friendly party with hot beverages and candy!

When: Sunday, November 1, 2015
Meet: 4:15pm - FreshBikes Arlington - Wilson Blvd & Quincy Street North (roll out 4:30pm)
Parking: Plenty in the FreshBikes parking lot
Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6224091

The route is fairly flat and easy. We will be riding during dusk and it will be dark by the time you're riding home: be sure you're adequately lit and reflective!

[UPDATED! New Date and Time!] Next ride: Arlington Fun Ride Family Ride - 10/4 12pm

[Update: Due to the approaching weather, the Arlington Fun Ride has been postponed, so we are similarly pushing back the date and time of the Kidical Mass Ride.  Please see below for the new details]

Kidical Massive was massively awesome -- thanks to all who came out, and especially to BikeArlington and KidicalMassDC for helping to make it happen.

For our next ride, Kidical Mass Arlington teams up with the Arlington Fun Ride on this Saturday, October 3, Sunday, October 4 for a super-extra special Family Ride.

When: Sunday, October 4
Meet: 12:00pm - Crystal City - 18th Street and Crystal Drive
Parking: All over Crystal City (garages and on-street)
Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3379060

Yes, this is our third year teaming up with the Fun Ride! We'll start in Crystal City, after the intrepid souls doing the full Arlington Fun Ride leave for the (long and hilly) Arlington loop.  After a safety briefing, we'll roll out along the streets of Crystal City, then through the new and amazing Long Bridge Park.  We'll bump over the "developing" pavement of Long Bridge Drive and head into the Pentagon Reservation on Boundary Channel.  After a jaunt over the Connector Road, through the Pentagon Parking Lot tunnel, we'll ride beside Pentagon City Mall.  After riding through Aurora Highlands, we'll join the festivities in Crystal City celebrating the Arlington Fun Ride and Phoenix Bikes. And, just like last year, we'll have a police escort! Amazing!

Registration for the Fun Ride is encouraged! (though not mandatory -- your fee does get you a cool t-shirt and goes to support Phoenix Bikes).

The entire ride is 3.5 miles and flat (only 102 total feet of going up).  It's a perfect ride for anyone new to group riding (with or without kids).


Interested in a double, but maybe not a full Arlington loop + kidical ride? This year, if you preregister, you can start at any of the Fun Ride's 4 pit stops, and ride from there to Crystal City, which means you can choose to ride 16 miles, 12 miles, 8 miles or 4 miles (or just our 3 miles Kidical Mass ride).

Hope to see y'all there!

Kidically MASSIVE! Saturday, September 19, 2015

This is going to be

On Saturday, September 19, 2015, the Kidical Masses of the Greater DC Area will join with other Kidical rides around the globe for the International Kidical MASSIVE. We are MASSIVEly excited.

Kidical Mass Arlington, Kidical Mass Alexandria and Kidical Mass Falls Church will join together on this MASSIVEly awesome day, and we will ride into the District to meet up with Kidical Mass DC (in a ride much last we had last September). Together, we'll enjoy MASSIVEly delicious pizza on the Mall and take some pictures to show our MASSIVE collection of friends around the world. (More on other DC area MASSIVE rides below).


When: Saturday, September 19, 10:00am (roll out 10:15am)


Meet & End : Columbia Island Marina, on the Pentagon side of the wooden bridge


Parking: Either in the Columbia Island Marina / LBJ Memorial parking lot, accessible from the southbound GW Parkway OR in the LBJ Grove Parking lot accessible from Boundary Channel Drive on the Pentagon Reservation.

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5725066

This ride will be long for us -- 3+ miles EACH WAY, but it will be awesome, and there will be a break in the middle. We'll meet at Columbia Island Marina at 10am, bike across the Memorial Bridge, meet our friends, eat pizza and be merry, then return via the 14th Street Bridge.

DC AREA MASSIVE RIDES:

Wanna start in DC? Kidical Mass DC will start in Stanton Park at 10am (to be confirmed)

Maryland-based? Kidical Mass Rockville and Bike Gaithersburg will ride from the Main Street Pavilion and Farmers Market to Downtown Crown at 10am



And the Greater DC Kidical Family is growing, once again: On September 19, College Park Kidical Mass will hold their inaugural ride, meeting at Calvert Park and riding to Old Town to Bagel Place.

Sunday, August 23, 2015 5:30pm: Choose your own adventure ride *LUBBER RUN TO BALLSTON*

We have a winner! We'll meet at Lubber Run and ride to Big Buns in Arlington. Join us early to play in the park, or stay after the ride and enjoy dinner (mmmm, burgers*) or dessert (mmmm, shakes) at Big Buns.

When: Sunday, August 23, 2015 5:30pm (roll out close to 5:30pm - come early to play in the park.)

Meet: Lubber Run Community Center - North Park Street and George Mason: Meet at the playground on the west side of the parking lot.

Parking: At the community center

End:  Big Buns Ballston - North Utah and Glebe

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/9893717

*Big Buns has veggie burgers too!

The route is pretty easy -- we'll cruise down neighborhood streets (including the downhill on Park) to the W&OD Trail. After a short ride on the W&OD, we'll turn onto the Bluemont Trail and encounter our only real hill. The Trail flattens out and brings us to Ballston, where we'll use wide sidewalks to pull right up to Big Buns!

Kidical Splash and Sweets! Saturday, July 18, 12:15pm Drew Elementary

Summer! It's hot, the days are long, and all you want to do is get wet and eat ice cream. We at Kidical Mass Arlington are here to oblige: this Saturday, July 18th, we'll meet at the sprayground at Drew and ride down to Shirlington, where we'll enjoy some ice cream (ok, frozen yogurt).

Once again, we're exploring a new part of town. The route isn't very long, and starts with a longish uphill, but then is basically all down hill after the first half mile. We'll mostly ride on neighborhood streets, and all crossings of major streets are at stop lights. We will be on the both the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trails for a few segments. The route back to the start is pretty easy - uphill but not too steep.

When: Saturday, July 18, 2015 12:15pm (roll out 12:30pm - come early to splash. The sprayground opens at noon, and we're planning to be there even earlier with a picnic)

Meet: Drew Elementary Sprayground - 23rd Street South and South Kenmore Street

Parking: At the school (which is also the community center).

End: Yogi Castle Shirlington - S Campbell Ave just west of South Quincy Street.

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8776186

(route back to the start - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/9243332)

As always, all are welcome. Hope to see you there, and don't forget the sunscreen!

Daddy Kidical 2015! Sunday, June 21st 5:15pm Rosslyn Highlands Park

It's time again to celebrate the Dads, and what better way than with a Kidical Mass Arlington ride! We'll meet at 5:15pm at Rosslyn Highlands Park, explore the flatter and quieter parts of Rosslyn. We'll look for the trail head of a secret (to me at least) hiking trail. Then we'll cruise down to Heavy Seas Alehouse, and those who wish can stick around for dinner with the peleton.

The route is a new one for Kidical Mass Arlington, in a new part of town (whoo-hoo!) and is on the short side. There are a few ups and downs, but nothing too steep. All crossings of major streets are at stop lights. We will be on the Custis Trail for a few segments. The route back to the start for those who go to dinner involves a short, steep hill, but we'll stop at the top of the hill so those not joining us for dinner don't have to go down and up again.

When: Sunday, June 21, 2015 5:15pm (roll out 5:30pm - come early to play!)

Meet: Rosslyn Highlands Park -- 18th St N between Quinn and Oak

Parking: On the surrounding residential streets.

End: Heavy Seas Alehouse - N Oak and 18th St N

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/8101197

Hope to see you there, and Happy Father's Day!

Kidically Bike Month! This SATURDAY, May 16 5:30pm Hayes Park

Happy Bike Month! We hope you're enjoying the weather and the fun out on two (or three) wheels. Our next ride is this Saturday (one day after Bike to Work Day, which will be awesome). We're going to start this ride at Hayes Park* -- come early, bring a picnic and enjoy this great park in what promises to be some amazing weather. We'll roll out (shortly after) 5:30pm and meander through the neighborhoods of Virginia Square, Ashton Heights and Clarendon, ending at the Clarendon Metro. Join us after for ice cream at Larry's!





The route is on the short side, and is pretty much as flat as they come in Arlington. All crossings of major streets are at stop lights. This route is great for beginners. The route back from the Metro stop to the park is short well signed, and involves one hill that's on the steep-side.

When: Saturday, May 16, 2015 5:30pm (roll out 5:45pm - come early to play and picnic!)

Meet: Hayes Park - North Lincoln Street between 14th Street North and I-66, Arlington

Parking: On the surrounding residential streets.

End: Clarendon Metro, Wilson Blvd and North Highland Street - join us for ice cream at Larry's after

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7303321http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7303321

Hope to see you there!

*If you were with us last month, you may be thinking "Hayes Park, that sounds familiar". Yep, we're back in my neighborhood, because I just had a baby (a boy, Milo, we're all doing great) and we're playing dealer's choice for another month. Over the summer, we will spread out the rides over more of Arlington. If you have requests or suggestions, please let me know in comments, or facebook, or twitter...

Kidically SPRING this SATURDAY, April 18 4:30pm Maywood Park [NOTE DATE CHANGE}

It's Spring! It's Spring! Time to ditch those winter coats, those dark, dark mornings, those heavy gloves. And it's time to ride bikes.

The weather has been gorgeous, and this Saturday promises to continue the trend. Kidical Mass Arlington will take the opportunity to venture through two new (to us) historic neighborhoods: Maywood and Cherrydale! We'll meet at Maywood Park, and ride around one of Arlington's few historic districts - Maywood. We'll cruise down to the Custis Trail (one of the few flat sections) and over to Hayes Park. After a short break to enjoy the park, we'll hop back on the bikes, and circle through Cherrydale, back through Maywood, and back to a little hidden trail through Thrifton Hills Park. Those that wish can join us at the Lyon Village shopping center for dinner (probably at BGR).


The route is on the short side, but has some notable downhill stretches -- please double check your brakes! The route back from the shopping center to the park is short but straight uphill.

When: Saturday, April 18, 2015 4:30pm (roll out 4:35pm - come early to play!)

Meet: Maywood Park -- 22nd Street North between Irving and Kenmore, Arlington

Parking: On the surrounding residential streets.

End: Lyon Village Shopping Center -- Lee Highway and Spout Run Parkway (don't worry - we don't bike on those roads to get there or to get back - about 1/4 mile from the start, via an uphill trail)

Route: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7303361

Hope to see you there!

Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling

Spring is here! Time to schedule up for the prime season! 

First up, a few events coming up:
Saturday, May 2, 2015: Phoenix Derby - a fun, unique event (a bike race in a parking garage) that benefits the awesome non-profit, Phoenix Bikes. Kids races for ages 11 & under around 2pm.

Saturday & Sunday, June 13 & 14, 2015: Air Force Cycling Classic --  Both the Saturday race in Clarendon and the Sunday race in Crystal City feature the Ethan Klancnik Memorial Kids Race for kids under 9 to support Tay-Sachs Awareness and Prevention (in partnership with a local Clarendon family who lost a child to a rare genetic disease). Both are around noon, just before the pro races.

And now for Kidical Mass Arlington's schedule! We're generally riding on the third weekend of the month, and will mix in both Saturdays and Sundays

Here is the tentative schedule:

Sunday, April 19
Saturday, May 16
Sunday, June 27*
Saturday, July 18
Sunday, August 23**
Saturday, September 19
Sunday, October 17: Halloween ride (should we push this to the next weekend?)

If you have any ideas or requests for any of these rides - start/end location, neighborhood, even time of day or theme, just let me know (comments; kidicalmassarl AT gmail DOT com). If you're interested in leading a ride, definitely email. You may have noticed that Gillian, who leads these rides, is increasingly pregnant. It would be VERY helpful to have a backup ride leader for the April 19 ride, and probably the May ride as well.

* Note June is the 4th weekend of the month

** Note August is also the 4th weekend of the month