Launch summer with a sweet bicycle ride through Arlington and Alexandria! 

Choose from a 16, 30, or 50 mile route and wind through Northern Virginia on a combination of bike lanes, quiet neighborhood streets, and trails. Enjoy, water, and WABA staff cheering you on at pit stops along the way. 

This ride is a fundraiser. Registration fees support WABA’s work in the DC region and our mission empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places. Thank you.  

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Register

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Ride Information:

About the routes…

• Sweet 16.  ($35 members; $55 non-members)
  • Good for beginners or anyone looking for a more leisurely ride!
  • This 16 mile ride is mostly on trails but does involve a few turns through intersections where bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles. 
  • This route is mostly flat, with a few small hills. 
  • Participants will receive snacks and water at one pit stops 
  • Includes lunch and Sweet Ride Bandana

• Sweet 30 ($50 members; $70 non-members)
  • Good for experienced bicyclists 
  • This 30 mile ride takes place on trails and in streets with varying levels of bicycle infrastructure (protected bike lanes, painted bike lanes, and roads without bike lanes where bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles. 
  • This route has about +1400 ft of climbing total. There are a few short but steep climbs.
  • Participants will receive snacks and water at two pit stops 
  • Includes lunch and Sweet Ride Bandana

• Sweet 50 ($65 members, $85 non-members)
  • This ride is for a bicyclist looking for a challenge!
  • This 50 mile ride takes place on trails and in streets with varying levels of bicycle infrastructure (protected bike lanes, painted bike lanes, and roads without bike lanes where bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles. 
  • This route has +2,654 ft of climbing  total. There are a few very  steep climbs.
  • Participants will receive snacks, water at three pit stops
  • Includes lunch and Sweet Ride Bandana

• Solo Sweet Ride ($18 routes only, $25 routes + Sweet Ride Bandana)
  • This does not include access to the in-person event on June 13.
  • Registrants will receive digital access to all 3 Sweet Ride routes on Monday, June 14 and can do the ride(s) on their own at any date or time that’s convenient
  • There are no pit stops or amenities available to Solo Sweet Ride participants

Other Important Details…

• The Sweet Ride is self-guided. Participants will be spread out along the route (not in a big group) and navigate using the provided physical cuesheet, or with free turn-by-turn navigation on their smartphone using the Ride with GPS app. 

• Each check-in group will have an optional group start led by a  Ride Marshal: a WABA volunteer who is there to help you navigate and offer encouragement and support. 

• All participants in the June 13 event will receive a box lunch courtesy of our sponsors, Nandos Peri-Peri (vegetarian and vegan options available). 

Route Maps:

Curious about where you’ll be riding? Check out the 2019 Sweet Ride routes! (The 2021 routes will be similar but not identical.)

Thank You to our Sponsors!

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COVID-19 Precautions during the 2021 Sweet Ride

Here is how WABA is taking precautions and enforcing the above policies at the 2021 Sweet Ride to keep participants, staff, and volunteers safe. 

All participants must follow the same mask and physical distancing guidelines, regardless of vaccination status. 

Outside event.

• The Sweet Ride is an outdoor event. 
• Restrooms (public park restrooms and/or portapotties) will be available at ride check-in, pit stops, and the finish line. 

Designated check-in times and registration caps.

• At registration, participants will select check-in times that cap at 20 people per 30 minute slot.
• Registration for each ride will close the week before the ride. At check-in, participants will be required to show proof of registration. 
• Registered ride participants will receive wristbands at check-in. Participants must wear or show their wristbands to enter the pit stop and finish line areas and receive their box lunch. 

Mask enforcement. 

• All ride and staff participants will wear masks covering their nose and mouth while at ride sites, in compliance with CDC guidelines for proper mask use. 
• WABA staff at check-in and pit stops will enforce mask use. 
• Participants who are not wearing a mask will be told to leave the event space. Masks may not be removed until they exit the pit stop area. 
• Masks may not be removed for eating or drinking in check-in, finish line, and pit stop areas— participants must consume snacks and water outside of the main pit stop area, maintaining 6 ft from fellow participants who aren’t in their household.

WABA has a zero tolerance policy for improper mask use (i.e., not wearing a mask, wearing a mask that does not cover both the mouth and nose or is not secured below the chin, pulling up part of a shirt over the face instead of a mask, etc.) 

Physical distancing enforcement.

•  Check-in, finish line,  and pit stops will be held at parks and other spacious sites with room for physical distancing. 
• While riding, walking, or taking a break along the ride routes, participants must maintain 6 ft of distance between themselves and others not in their households. 
• WABA staff will have basic first aid materials at the check-in, finish line, and pit stop areas. Staff will make these materials available to participants in case of minor injury.  In case of an emergency, WABA staff or volunteers will call 911.

No contact water and food.

• At check-in and pit stops, all snacks will be single-serving items that participants take from a table one at a time before exiting the ride site area
• Participants will take their food and water and eat it away from the ride site area so they can be appropriately distanced from others before removing their face mask to eat and drink.
• Participants must bring their own water bottles. Participants can fill and refill their personal water bottles at the ride start, pit stop(s), and finish line. 
• All participants will receive a box lunch courtesy of our sponsor, Nando’s Peri-Peri. Box lunches will be pre-packed by Nando’s in keeping with their food safety guidelines.

No post-ride celebration.

• Unfortunately, COVID-19 means we cannot hold a post-ride celebration.
• At the finish line, participants can catch their breath, refill on snacks and water, and collect their box lunch. 
• There will be no finish line activities. 

Refunds in case of exposure or illness.

• In the case that a participant is sick or has been exposed to COVID-19 in the two weeks before the event, WABA will offer refunds,  transfer registration to a future event, or convert your registration fee to a tax-deductible donation.
• This is a good faith policy. Participants who are sick or exposed to COVID-19 in the two weeks before the event should email events@waba.org to request their refund or transfer
• WABA will remind participants of this policy in emails in the days leading up to the event 

 Solo ride option.

• For those who don’t feel comfortable doing the group event, we will have Solo Sweet  Kits available for purchase so folks can do the ride FOLLOWING the June 13th event. 
• Routes will be released on Monday, June 14.
• Participants who have purchased Solo Ride Kits will NOT be able to join the in-person event on June 13th. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about who, what, where, when, and why! 

What is this event?

The Sweet Ride  is a bicycling event to raise funds for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)’s work in the DC region and our mission: empowering people to ride bikes, build connections and transform places.

Where does this event take place?

At registration, participants select a check-in time and location according to route and preference. 

Participants will choose from two check-in locations:

• Crystal City Water Park (1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202)
• Jones Point Park (Jones Point Dr, Alexandria, VA 22314)

When is this event?

The Sweet Ride will take place on Sunday, June 13, 2021. 

What time does this event start?

Participants will select a check-in window for this ride based on route preference:

For the Sweet 50, choose from:

• 7:30 AM
• 8:00 AM or
• 8:30 AM

For the Sweet 30, choose from:

•  9:00 AM
•  9:30 AM
• 10:00 AM
•  10:30 AM, or
• 11:00 AM

For the Sweet 16, choose from:

•  11:30 AM or
•  12:00 PM

Are the roads closed for this ride? Are there cars? 

Roads are NOT closed for this ride. This means:

• The route is NOT closed to motor vehicle traffic. 
• All three routes are on a combination of bike lanes, quiet neighborhood streets, and trails.
• All three routes have places where participants will share the road with cars

Is this ride supported? 

No. All three ride routes are unsupported. That means:

• Streets are not closed for this ride. You will ride on streets with motor vehicle traffic.
• The route is unmarked. 
• There is no support and gear vehicle to pick you up.  

Participants are expected to:

• Call 911 in case of an emergency.
• Have an emergency-contact who is not a ride participant “on call” during the ride.
• Carry a charged cell phone (and charged battery pack for the longer rides).

Is the route marked with signs or arrows?

No. The route is unmarked.

Participants should navigate using the physical cue sheet provided in their check-in packet, or with free turn-by-turn navigation on their smartphone using the Ride with GPS app. 

Will there be ride marshals?

Yes.  Ride Marshals are volunteers who are there to help participants navigate and offer encouragement and support. 

Each check-in group will haveRide Marshals: a Lead Ride Marshal and a Sweep Ride Marshal. 

Lead Ride Marshals will lead an optional group start for those in the check-in group who wish to ride together.

Sweep Ride Marshals will bring up the back of each check-in group. 

Where can I find information about the routes?

WABA will release the 2021 Sweet Ride routes in an email to registrants the week of the ride.  

In the meantime, you can check out the 2019 Sweet Ride routes! (The 2021 routes will be similar but not identical.)

I’m not sure which route is right for me! 

We’d love to talk to you about this and help you pick the route that is the best fit for the ride you want to have! Email Anna at events@waba.org if you’d like to chat about it.

Do I have to follow traffic laws?

Yes.  WABA asks and expects all participants to ride lawfully and with respect for other road users. This means:

• Stop at all red lights and stop signs. 
• Always yield to pedestrians. 
• Use hand signals when turning.
• Communicate verbally with other riders. 
• Do not ride more than two abreast, and do not take up more than one lane of travel. When riding on sidewalks, trails, or paths, be cautious when passing other users and slow down.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Yes. WABA’s insurance requires that everyone riding a bicycle on a WABA ride wears a helmet while riding.

Click this link for a resource on how to properly fit your helmet.

Questions about Registration and Check-in

I selected a check-in time/location but now I want to change it.

Please email Anna at events@waba.org. If registration for the ride is still open, it is possible (but NOT guaranteed) that we will be able to move you. 

Can I check-in at a time/location other than the time/location in my confirmation email?

No. You will have to show your confirmation email to gain admittance to check-in on the day of the ride. If you are at the wrong location or too early or too late, you will not be able to check in to the ride. 

Why are you being so strict about check-in times and locations? 

Making sure we have an accurate registration list and knowledge of who will arrive where at what time is part of our policies and procedures for holding events during COVID-19. It helps us keep crowd size down, and it is also necessary in the case of contact tracing after the event.

Why are there a limited number of registration slots?

For these rides, participants select specific check-in windows, so we can make sure there aren’t too many people at check-in at one time. This is so we can ensure appropriate space for physical distancing. 

We can only have 20 people per check in slot, which means registration has a firm cap based on check-in slot capacities.

The check in slot I wanted is full and I can’t register.

Sorry about that, but registration is first come, first serve. Please select a different slot. 

The ride I want to register for is full and I can’t register. 

I’m sorry. The registration cap is firm. 

However, you can still access the ride route by purchasing a Solo Ride Kit, which will give you access to the digital cue sheets, maps, and files for all 3 ride routes so you can ride them another time. We’ll even mail your swag item to your door. 

Do I have to be a WABA member to register for this ride? 

Nope! If you’re not a WABA member, you’ll get the non-member rate. It includes an annual Digital Membership. So if you’re not a member before you register, you will be one after! 

When I enter my email into the membership lookup box, it says I am not a member. But I am!

Sorry about that! Please email Jeslyn at membership@waba.org and she’ll help you get that cleared up so you can register for the ride.

What is your refund policy?

Because this is a fundraiser there will be no refunds or transfers for this event except in case of illness.

If you are feeling sick or have symptoms of an illness, do not come to the event. Email events@waba.org and let Anna know you cannot come because you are sick, and we will process your refund. 

This is a good faith policy. If you say you cannot attend because you are sick, we will believe you and process your refund. 

Is there a youth rate for this ride?

No.

Can I register a guest for this ride?

Yes. You can register multiple people at one time. However, you must provide the name and email address of every attendee. 

I want to register a child or person who does not have their own email address.

Please email Anna at events@waba.org and we will get this worked out. 

Is there a wait list for the ride?

No. Registration will close when registration reaches its limit.

Can I register onsite the day of the ride?

No. There is no onsite registration for any of these 3 rides. 

I purchased a Solo Ride Kit. Where are my route files?

The digital cue sheet, map, and route file for each ride will be emailed to you  on Monday, June 14th 2021.

If the date has passed and you still don’t have your route file, please email Anna at events@waba.org.

I purchased a Solo Ride Kit option that includes ride swag mailed to me. Where is my ride swag?

We are getting ride swag in the mail just as quick as we can! You should have it by mid-July. Thank you for your patience. 

Questions about COVID-19 Safety

What precautions are you taking to mitigate risk from COVID-19 during this event?

You can read our full policies and procedures for this event here.  Still have questions? Please email Anna at events@waba.org.

Is WABA requiring staff to work at this event? 

Safety policies and procedures were developed in a collaborative staff working group and approved by WABA’s leadership. This includes a measure that staff are not required to work at any in-person events, period, during COVID-19. 

The staff who are working at the Sweet Ride have opted in.

I have a question that you haven’t answered here.

We are happy to help! Email your question to Anna at events@waba.org.