Team 26 on their way to Washington D.C.
With the destination in sight, the schedule for the final day's ride appears to be set (courtesy of
Proteus Bicycles)
Folks who wish to join Team 26 for the last leg can meet them at Proteus Bicycles at 10:00 AM. Proteus is located at 9217 Baltimore Blvd. College Park, MD 20740. They can be reached by phone by dialing: 301.441.2928
According to their website:
The last leg to DC ride will take a moderate pace and there will be experienced riders to help guide first timers in the group. The course is mostly on paved trails, quiet residential streets, and bike lanes. Riders are welcome to join the ride along the way. Metro stops are alongside the route in several locations and Capital Bikeshare stands are can be found near the Brookland/CUA Metro station, along R Street NW, and along 15th Street NW.
If you are along the route and can give the riders some love, it would be appreciated!
The preliminary schedule for the day is as follows:
Time |
Location / Event |
7:30 |
Depart Baltimore |
10-10:30am |
Arrive at Proteus Bicycles in College Park, MD (15 miles from finish) |
11:00 |
Leave Proteus Bicycles. |
11:30 |
Pass Shortcake Bakery, Hyattsville MD (excellent meetup point!) |
12:00 |
Arrive at CaBi station at 12th and Newton St |
12:15 |
Florida and R streets, NW |
12:20 |
15th and P streets, NW |
12:30 |
White House (Lafayette Park) |
12:40 |
14th and D streets NW (Penn. Ave median cycletrack) |
12:45 |
possible diversion to take pictures at the Washington monument etc. if we’re running on time |
1PM |
Arrive at finish location at U.S. Capitol (exact location — probably on the West Front) |
1:30PM |
Finish ceremony concludes |
Sandy Hook Ride on Washington
Team 26 (AKA The Sandy Hook Riders) are a mix of professional, top amateur, and masters cyclists from the Northeast. Monte Frank, of Sandy Hook, Connecticut, started Team 26 as a way to deliver a message to Congress demanding common sense gun legislation.
Their team includes a former US National Team member, Canadian National Team member, Masters National Champion, and State and Regional Champions. Three members of the Team are from Newtown, including Monte Frank, Bill Muzzio and Chris Peck. Two of the riders have children who went to the Sandy Hook School. Their team includes parents, teachers, and a Vietnam Veteran. They all care deeply about our children and seek reasonable gun control legislation.
When Glen asked me to participate in this endeavor I was touched. For many years I lived a short distance from the school, I walked my dog in the area, I met and talked with many of the people who helped make Sandy Hook and Newtown the special town it is. As the days and weeks since the event unfolded, my thoughts have returned to that special area almost every day. How many of those children did I see having breakfast at the local diner? Did I happen to encounter the teachers and staff members while shopping at the Big Y? Did they pet my dog as we wandered through the area? Should I have tried to savor that chance brief moment a little longer not knowing that they would one day be heroes? We each had our lives to live and things to do, lingering a moment more didn't make as much sense then as it does now. I am sure that these are the same feelings those of you who live in Aurora, Oak Creek, Tuscon, Blacksburg, or Littleton feel. I am happy to thank a new group of heroes for making sure that the lives which may have crossed mine ever so briefly are not forgotten. Thanks to Team 26. And thank you Glen for allowing me to participate in your part of this remembrance.
Today will be the final day of the mini blogathon. A tip of the hat is required to the instigator of this endeavor - Glen the Plumber, and to the others who have helped him turn his vision into a reality. If you have missed any of the diaries in this series you can catch up here:
7:43 AM PT: Tweet from Elizabeth Esty (CT - CD 5)
7:47 AM PT: Va. Tech riders join Team 26: