Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew

Well, it finally happened for real. After setbacks from inclement weather a few weeks before, the Capital Crescent Bike n' Brew went down on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The Virginia extreme team, comprised of NORSA triathletes Matt White, Russ Morton, and Jon Spurlock, biked up the trail to meet up with the Maryland Bn'B participants. Dressed in full kits and riding their road bikes, the extreme Virginians blasted the word "leisurely" right out of the Bike n' Brews' usual lexicon of descriptors.

Guest participant Steve-o was way too busy with law school finals coming down the barrel this week to do the full CCBn'B, but he joined up with the Maryland crew, comprised of Tom and NORSA newbie, Allison Tully, outside his driveway to bike to Fletcher's Boathouse for a partial Bn'B. After meeting the Virginians just north of the DC border, the team was complete with a full compliment of six riders.

Setbacks were not completely out of the picture as Russ blew a tire before getting to the C&O Canal. Matt White, despite earlier having been abandoned in the rain by Russ, decided to stay behind until the flat was fixed up. The rest of the crew biked to catch up to Spurlock who had led the pack and not noticed that Russ had flatted out. Jon, however, had already decided to wait up for the others since he'd been caught up at Fletcher's Boathouse for the Creekside Anglers' annual DC fly-fishing event for which the canal had been stocked. While waiting for Matt and Russ, the rest of the NORSA bikers saw a pretty cool chameleon on the gangplank near the boathouse.

Finally, unable to wait any longer, Spurlock biked back up the trail to meet up with Matt and Russ and returned with them in tow shortly thereafter. Russ, unsure of his tires, and Jon, who hadn't read the event e-mails closely and who had decided beers at the marina was not extreme enough, decided to bike directly back to their vehicles in Virginia rather than complete the Bike n' Brew. Steve had to part ways to get back to studying for his finals. The remaining party of Matt, Allison, and Tom pushed on to Georgetown, the Arlington Memorial Bridge (where they saw a black Northern water snake by the trail), and beyond towards Reagan National Airport before finally arriving at Daingerfield Island.

After resting for a while, the crew hung out and enjoyed some frosty cold "20 oz." beers that were served to them in 16 oz. plastic pint glasses. Despite Indigo Landing's shysteriffic fluid measurements, the beers were actually still not a bad price. Good times were had by all and after a few cold ones, the bikers decided to call it a success and head home. Future Bike n' Brews are certainly not out of the question, so come out and join us next time around.