Medium(+) Level : CBG After Dark - 4th of July Fireworks Ride

Put yourself on the waiting list if interested.
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Do you want turn by turn directions? Follow the instructions found here.
https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/271742916/

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The Ride: Summary
(Must Read)
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• RIDE NAME: 4th of July Fireworks Ride
• START LOC: Alexandria City Hall
• START GPS: https://goo.gl/maps/jMpzbaM45ey
• START PARKING: Parking Garage Under City Hall
• ARRIVAL: 6:00pm
• SPEECH: 6:15pm
• ROLLING: 6:30pm
• LEVEL: Medium(+) At Night
• PARTICIPATION: You have to have ridden with the group prior.
• DISTANCE: 14.5 miles
• PACE: 13+ mph
• TERRAIN: Mt. Vernon Trail (but crowded)
• RIDEWITHGPS ROUTE:
  CBG_AD_4TH_JULY
  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40065482

NOTES:

• Mandatory: Bring a good bike lock!!!!
• Mandatory: We will be waiting ONE HOUR after the end of the fireworks before heading home on the trail.
• Mandatory: Headlight of minimum 150 lumens. More info on headlights: https://www.meetup.com/novacbg/events/273787949/
• Mandatory: Please see "PICNIC PREPARATION" below
• I always put red/white/blue lights on my bike and wear 4th of July stuff... you don't have to, but don't be surprised when I do.

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The Ride : Detail
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For your riding pleasure NoVA CBG presents The 4th of July Fireworks Night Ride.

DO ... NOT ... BE ... LATE.

The ride will leave Alexandria City Hall and head down Royal Street where we will connect to the Mt. Vernon Trail at Slater's Lane. We will continue along the Mt. Vernon Trail and GO PAST the 14th street bridge and instead cross at the Memorial Bridge taking advantage of the West entrance security checkpoint located on the George Washington Memorial Parkway side of Memorial Bridge.

Once we cross the Memorial Bridge we will head to the south side of the Lincoln Memorial to lock up our bikes. We will take our picnic belongings with us (no alcoholic beverages) and find a nice spot to "set up camp" to watch the fireworks. Traditionally right in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

After the fireworks we must wait ONE HOUR before trying to head home. No less, No more.

I cannot stress this enough, there will be people all along the Mt. Vernon Trail. We will need to be very patient and respectful when doing this bike ride to all those on the trail.

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The Picnic Preparation:
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Everyone is asked to bring a picnic item to share (e.g. Cookies, Chips, Fruit, Pigs in a Blanket, etc..etc..). Let's be creative with this as we will have a few hours to kill before the fireworks.

If you have a picnic blanket you should bring that also so we can establish our base camp to stake our area.

Any bag you bring (panniers etc.) will be searched at the checkpoint so please pack and plan accordingly.

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The Bike Preparation:
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You must have a headlight that is at least 150 lumen. You must also have at least one red tail light. No 150 lumen headlight, no ride, no exceptions.

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The Meeting Spot:
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Alexandria City Hall
301 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
https://goo.gl/maps/jMpzbaM45ey
Park in the parking garage under City Hall.

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Ride Level Chart
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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.

• Advanced Level: You can ride for 20++ miles at a pace of 15+ mph with potentially major hills involved.

Both Medium and Advanced Levels might require handling various challenges such as reading cue sheets, using a Garmin or navigation app, night riding, out of town travel, or any other odd cycling situations.