[Artwork and text © Copyright 1997. All Rights Reserved.]

Washington Area Bicyclist Association
presents

[NatCap Logo]

5th Annual National Capital Bicycle Tours

Sunday, October 4, 1998


The National Capital Bicycle Tours offer bicyclists three distinctive rides, on Sunday, October 4, 1998. Whether you choose to explore city sights, urban greenways, or country roads, you'll join hundreds of fellow cyclists celebrating clean transportation while supporting WABA. WABA is the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, a nonprofit organization that advocates for better bicycling throughout the national capital region.

All rides begin and end on the beautiful campus of American University in northwest Washington, D.C. The fully-supported tour includes convenient parking, coffee and bagels at registration, mechanical assistance before and throughout the Tour, impeccable directions and route markings, rest stops with food and beverage, patrolling SAG vehicles, and a delicious lunch at the end of your ride. Both urban tours will have knowledgeable road marshalls at key locations. Take home a complete set of maps, cue sheets for all Tour routes, and a tour guide to points of interest for the City route.

[Bicyclist on the open road]

[U.S. Capitol Building]

1. Capital City Tour
This year's new 32 mile city route goes through all eight DC wards and features spectacular views from two bridge crossings. The Tour includes both well-known DC sites, such as Embassy Row and the White House, and hidden treasures such as the Southwest Waterfront, Anacostia Park and the Titanic Memorial. The ride culminates in a climb out of the beautiful Rock Creek stream valley.

[Road thru trees]

2. Capital Crescent Tour
Trail enthusiasts get to choose between a 9-mile or 23-mile tour of the premier paved trail in the nation's capital, the Capital Crescent Trail, and surrounding neighborhoods. Both Tour options include panoramic views of the Potomac River and take you on the recently restored historic railroad trestle bridge over Canal Road. The 23-mile option also includes a couple of miles on a crushed gravel trail, the newly opened tunnel under Wisconsin Avenue (scheduled to open in August) and Rock Creek Park.

[Sun above mountains]

3. Capital Countryside Tour
Experienced cyclists looking for a hilly challenge on quiet country roads can escape to the beauty of the nearby Maryland countryside on this Tour to western Montgomery County. This scenic "century" route with views of Sugarloaf Mountain will give riders options of 42, 50, 62, 80 or 100 mile tours.

When & Where
Sunday, October 4th, 1998. Registration will take place from 7:30 til 10:00 a.m. Register in American University's Quad adjacent to the Ward Circle Building (Nebraska and Massachusetts Avenues, NW). Park for free in the American University parking lot on Nebraska Avenue. The post-ride lunch will also take place on the Quad from 11:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m.

The National Capital Bicycle Tour takes place rain or shine.

What
The National Capital Bicycle Tour has been specifically planned to show cyclists the best routes in and around our city during the best time of year for a bicycle ride. Cyclists will be riding on urban streets and park roads under realistic conditions. Roads will be open to normal car traffic. District of Columbia and Maryland Motor Vehicle Codes require bicyclists to obey all traffic laws, signs and signals. Participants must wear bicycle helmets.

Why
The National Capital Bicycle Tour benefits the work of WABA. WABA is a nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization dedicated to promoting safe bicycling throughout the National Capital region. WABA is your voice where it counts the most -- in the governmental bodies and transportation, park, and planning agencies that are responsible for the places where you ride. WABA helps thousands of people each year with maps, routing assistance, and bicycle safety information. To learn more about WABA, call our office at (202) 628-2500 or visit our website www.waba.org.

Volunteers Ride Free!
Volunteers are needed to help with route marking, registration, marshalling, rest stops, and SAG vehicles. Volunteers receive a complimentary Tour registration. A special volunteer bike ride giving volunteers a sneak preview of this year's city route will take place on September 12th. Volunteer by September 14th and receive a free T-shirt. Recruit a friend to help and receive the additional bonus of a new one-year WABA membership for either you or your friend. Call WABA to volunteer.

Special WABA Membership Offer
Sign up for the Tour and get a special discount on a WABA membership -- normally $25/year, includes nine issues of Ride On!, discounts at 40 area bike shops, bicyclist alerts on local issues, and invitations to WABA activities and events -- combine the Tour and membership for only $40 (a $50 value)

Special Offer for Teams
Teams of 5 or more who register together by September 14th receive a discounted Tour registration of $20 per team member and get personalized Tour T-shirts with their team name or logo. Team registrations must be mailed or faxed together, along with the team name or logo for the T-shirts.

Special Weekend Package
A special weekend package including two hotel nights (1.5 miles from the ride start), breakfast, Tour registration, optional guided bicycle tour the day before or after the Tour, and optional bicycle rental, is available. Price varies according to the number of people per hotel room and options chosen. Hotel availablity is only guaranteed through September 1st. For further details on the Weekend Package, click here or contact WABA. For DC tourist information, call 202-347-2873. For additional information on DC hotel accomodations, call 1-800-554-2220.

Tour Fees
Include off-street parking, cue sheet and map, posted route markings, ride marshalls, support vehicles, mechanical assistance, rest stops, and post-ride lunch. All tour fees are non-refundable.

You will not receive a registration confirmation. To confirm, contact WABA. Cue sheets, maps, and T-shirts will be distributed at check-in on October 4th, and will not be available prior to this date.


SPONSORS

(Each logo is a link to the sponsor's web site)
[Bike the Sites, Starbuck's Coffee, Deloitte & Touche LLP, City Bikes, Metropolis Bicycles, UPN 20 WDCA-TV, Bikes USA, New York Life NYLCare Health Plans, PowerBar Athletic Energy Food, Subway (The Place Where Fresh is the Taste), Giant (The Quality Food People),
Spokes, Washington Gas]

Click below for:

Note: Choose either the first item above, or the last two. Print, complete, and mail (along with the appropriate payment) to:

Washington Area Bicyclist Association
733 15th Street, NW, #1030
Washington, DC 20005