The Bike to Word Day 2023 weather forecast is promising. BTWD is Friday, May 19.
In Alexandria, it looks to be about 56 and clear at 8 a.m. (Weather Underground). A little cool, but winds under 5 MPH make up for it. The high temperature is headed to the low 70s – perfect for the ride home.
An annual tradition
It’s fun to get swag for something I already do. Sometimes, a bike shop will offer quick tuneups. BTWD is a good way to get a new t-shirt, water bottle or bike bell.1 In 2017, my bike got blessed.2
This year will be my fifth BTWD. The event was created by The League of American Bicyclists3 in 1956.4 The Washington Area Bicyclist Association‘s first BTWD was 2001. Over 10,000 cyclists are participate annually.
Alexandria’s mayor, Justin Wilson, typically makes BTWD appearances. It was a good opportunity to remind him that the Holmes Run Trail is never whole. He was understanding and explained why – supply chain issues, contractor availability. Mayor Wilson also awarded a raffle prize to a dude I see at cookouts from time to time.
This year’s shirt is green. Other recent colors are raspberry, pink, yellow, light blue and purple. I’ll take a photo of them together for instagram over the weekend.
Friday is also the first day of Potomac Yard Metro station service. There is an afternoon pitstop there too.5
Register
BTWD registration is open now with pit stops in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland. It’s rain or shine and it sure looks like it’ll shine. It’s free too.
Footnotes
1 Swag varies by pit stop.
2 It turns out my bike is Methodist. Also, I wasn’t working that year. Same as this year. Want to help?
3 In 2022, I helped put together a pitch deck for a League RFP. I think they went with a different agency.
4 I had to find that on wikipedia.
5 Hosted by a former client