
About us
NoVA CBG About Page
NoVA CBG Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/NOVACBG)
Welcome to the Northern Virginia Casual Biking Group (NOVA-CBG). For your cycling pleasure, please join us for various casual bicycle rides around the area. **************************************
How Do We Define "Casual"? : *************************************** Well, we really don't pressure anyone to be a professional cyclist.* We don't ask you to own any special gear (except for a helmet).* We don't ask you to wear special outfits (unless you want to).* All we ask is that you come as you are comfortably with a bike that is in well-tuned shape and a helmet. We ride with a "no man left behind" philosophy so that everyone can enjoy themselves without fear of getting lost or left behind. So the ride may have a few extra "re-grouping" stops if that is required due to various riding skills. Because of this philosophy we really try to ask that the cyclist's riding skill matches the ride they are on.
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Ride Levels: ************************************** NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types/levels of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best.
*Introductory Level:
If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle).
*Beginner Level:
You can easily ride your bike for 10 miles with some minor hills at a comfortable pace of 12+ mph.
*Medium Level:
You can do 20 miles pretty easily at a moderate pace of 13 to 15+ mph.
*Advanced Level: You can do 20++ miles easily at a 15+ pace and / or handle various challenges as rain, night riding, or other odd cycling situations.
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Riding Requirements: ************************************** Just like every other group we DO have some riding requirements: 1) Helmets are mandatory for every ride we do, no exceptions... period.
2) All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. Participating in a NoVA-CBG ride is voluntary and riders must be ready and able to participate in the ride as described in the meetup and under the conditions of the day. Riders have read and acknowledged by an RSVP 'YES' MEETUP.com's "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release " found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/ and NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/.
3) Just in case there is an emergency situation you should always have on you Identification, Insurance, and any other important medical information.
4) All riders must be at least 18 years of age.
5) No music is allowed on any of the rides. Headphones or otherwise.
6) We have a "three strikes" NO SHOW policy, so please honor your RSVP or change it accordingly as soon as your situation changes.
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Membership Dues: ************************************** Your first two months in the group are free, after that we have an annual $10.00 membership fee. This fee helps defer the cost of the MEETUP fees and facilitates our Annual "Company" Picnic and Annual Holiday Party. In addition these dues allow us to perform our Tire Changing and Gear classes and our Bike In Movies series during the winter.
Upcoming events
17

Beginner(+) Level: The OTHER Cherry Blossom Ride (Kenwood) 2026
Columbia Island Marina, George Washington Mem Pkwy, Arlington, VA, USPut yourself on the waiting list, we will add you once we have the organizers sorted.
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The Ride Summary:
(Must Read)
++++++++++++++++++++++- RIDE NAME: The OTHER Cherry Blossom Ride (Kenwood) 2026
- START LOC: Columbia Island Marina / LBJ Memorial Grove
- START GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/8t6o5ZWsQps
- START PARKING: Parking lot, ample parking.
- ARRIVAL: 11:00 a.m.
- SPEECH: 11:15 a.m.
- ROLLING: 11:30 a.m.
- LEVEL: Beginner(+) [distance considerations]
- DISTANCE: 20 miles
- PACE: 12 to 15mph
- TERRAIN: Mostly Trail, Some Street, Minor Hills.
- RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
CBG_CBLOSSOM_OTHER_RIDE_2026
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29679037
NOTES:
- Bring a camera.
- Bring a snack.
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The Ride: Detail
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For your riding pleasure NoVA CBG presents The OTHER Cherry Blossom Ride.While the famous cherry blossoms are around the Tidal Basin and Hains Point, the crowds there are truly stunning, it just isn't practical to RIDE there. (Our Tidal Basin cherry blossom rides are ride to the site, park, and walk around). Lucky for us that there are other collections of blossoms around the area. One of the best is up in the Kenwood area of Bethesda. Kenwood hosts around 1200 trees that were planted in the 1930s and 40s.
The route is an "out and back" starting from the LBJ Grove / Columbia Island Marina, heading up Mt Vernon trail to Key Bridge, where we cross over and take Capitol Crescent Trail up to Kenwood. We’ll take in the trees, and then reverse route back to the start.
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The Meeting Spot:
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Columbia Island Marina / LBJ Memorial Grove
George Washington Memorial Pkwy,
Arlington, VA 22202
https://goo.gl/maps/8t6o5ZWsQpsIMPORTANT: Give yourself ample time to find this location. We are starting from Columbia Island Marina/LBJ Memorial Grove on the river (not Pentagon) side. The location can be difficult to find because it has no exact physical address. USE THE GPS LINKS !!
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The Ride after the Ride:
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Island Time Bar & Grill at Columbia Island Marina++++++++++++++++++++
Ride Level Chart
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NoVA CBG tries to accommodate all levels of cyclists by offering different types of rides. We just ask that you come to the ride that suits your current riding ability the best.- Introductory Level : If you haven't ridden a bike in a number of years (or are uncertain of your abilities on a bicycle).
- Beginner Level : You can easily ride your bike for 10 miles with some minor hills at a comfortable pace of 10+ to 12+ mph.
- Medium Level : You can do 20 miles pretty easily at a moderate pace of 13 to 15+ mph.
- Advanced Level : You can do 20++ miles easily at a 15+ pace and / or handle various challenges as rain, night riding, or other odd cycling situations.
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The Fine Print:
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An RSVP of 'YES' is your digital signature and means you have read and understood MEETUP.com's:- "Terms of Service : Section 6. Release " found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/
- NOVA-CBG's "Assumption of Risk Agreement" found @ https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/pages/1942951/NOVA-CBG_Waiver/
- NoVA CBG's "COVID Policy" found @ http://bit.ly/2021_NoVACBG_COVID19_POLICY
Helmets are required to participate in all NOVA-CBG rides. NO exceptions. All riders ride at their own risk and with the understanding that cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. When coming to the meetup you do so voluntarily and are ready and able to participate in the ride as described under the conditions of the day.
Be on time for the "pre-ride" preparation. If you do not attend the pre-ride preparation you will not be allowed to participate on the ride. Again, no exceptions.29 attendees
NoVA CBG RideWithGPS Club Account: How To Get Yours
·OnlineOnlineGreetings CBG'ers,
NoVA CBG will traditionally post a RideWithGPS route (sometimes multiple) for any ride we currently have on our schedule for you to use during the actual ride. These routes are great since they will give you turn by turn directions.
If you are using a Bike Navigation Computer (Garmin, Wahoo, Etc..) you simply download the file format you want from the RideWithGPS route link posted for that meetup and load it accordingly for your bike computer. This will give you your turn by turn directions.
If you have the RideWithGPS app loaded on your phone and are a NoVA CBG RideWithGPS club member (one of your $10 club membership benefits) you also can get turn by turn directions.
Below is how you become a NoVA CBG RideWithGPS club member.
Step 1:
Be a card carrying, dues paying, member of NoVA CBG.Step 2:
Load the RideWithGPS App on your phone and have your own free RideWithGPS account.Step 3:
Join the NoVA CBG RideWithGPS Club Account by following this link:
https://ridewithgps.com/organizations/3166-nova-cbg
Click "Apply to Join" and then sign in using YOUR free RideWithGPS account username/password.*** NOTE: If you follow the above link and don't see the "Apply to Join" button ... make sure you are opening the link in a BROWSER window (even on your phone) and that it doesn't open by default in the RideWithGPS app. ***
Step 4:
Gary (ME) from NoVA CBG has to approve your account so please RSVP to this meetup once you've done steps 1 & 2 above. That will allow me to cross reference and approve your NoVA CBG RideWithGPS Club Account.Step 5:
Download the NoVA CBG RideWithGPS route you want to use and go have fun on the ride we have posted.As always, Stay Casual!!
Thanks
Gary Wolanske
gary@novacbg.org
703-568-1550 (cell/text)84 attendees
NoVA CBG Evening Rides: Guide to Headlights to SEE with at night!!
Online, Your Own House, Alexandria, va, US*** NOTE these lights appear to go on sale via Amazon frequently ***
Greetings CBG'ers,
Q: How many Lumens should your light be to be able to SEE at night?
A: It should be at least 100 Lumens.Q: Is there a brand that is good?
A: NiteRider has been a solid brand for years, I've (Gary) owned them and they have never busted, but I've lost a few (ha ha).Q: Can you give me some examples of what would be good?
A: Yup, see below but feel free to search Amazon for others as well.
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NiteRider Swift 300 Front Cycling Light - USB Rechargeable:
Lumens: 300
Price: $26.98 (PRIME)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6786-Swift-300-Black/dp/B07DWH2YJC
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NiteRider Swift 500 Front Cycling Light - USB Rechargeable:
Lumens: 500
Price: $39.99 (PRIME)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-6785-Swift-Size-Black/dp/B07DWJ5ZTN
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NiteRider Swift 300 Front Bike Light Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light (Combo Pack) - USB Rechargeable
Lumens: 300 / 110
Price: $41.95 (PRIME)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2X47SV
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NiteRider Swift 500 Front Cycling Light & Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light (Combo Pack) - USB Rechargeable
Lumens: 500 / 110
Price: $46.95 (PRIME)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Headlight-Resistant-Flashlight/dp/B08F2VCZFS
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NiteRider Sabre 110 Rear Bike Light:
Lumens: 110
List Price: $14.70 (see combo pack above)
https://www.amazon.com/NiteRider-Rechargeable-Taillight-Resistant-Commuting/dp/B08F12CWK3/
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Past events
2786

