Thanks for a Great 2013 50 States and 13 Colonies Ride!

>Last week, we shared with you just a few of the awesome photos snapped at the 2013 50 States and 13 Colonies rides. Here, we want to give a huge thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, and riders for making WABA’s signature event a great time for all—despite the torrential rain. Several friends of WABA wrote great recaps of the ride on their blogs: Read takes by Rambling Rider, Chasing Mailboxes, Posts by Gina, Ultrarunnergirl, and Rootchopper, who gives this extremely flattering take: “Despite the rain and hills and the flat tire,  I  had a great time. I’ve done this ride six times over the last decade. It’s always a great social experience. If it wasn’t for this ride, I wouldn’t know most of the #bikedc people I know. I wouldn’t have seen first hand how all areas of the city have blossomed. The people of DC, especially in Anacostia, never fail to cheer you on and make sure you stay on course. If you haven’t done this ride, DO IT.” Did you participate in either ride this year? If so, please take this short survey about your ride experience. On Oct. 31, we’ll randomly select from survey respondents a winner who will receive ride entry for themselves and one guest to the 2014 50 States ride. (Remember, 50 States always sells out!) And now, we’d like to thank… Chipotle Mexican Grill, the 2013 50 States’ premier sponsor, for providing burritos at the Eastern Market lunch stop and coupons for our afterparty. Few things fit better in your water-bottle cage than a Chipotle burrito. New Belgium Brewing, the title sponsor of this year’s 50 States afterparty. WABA and New Belgium have a longstanding partnership, and we were thrilled that they could provide our exhausted, wet cyclists with hugs, high-fives, pints—and fun screen-printing activities. Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan for hosting the afterparty and donating half of all Fat Tire sales to WABA. Check out Mellow Mushroom’s awesome daily happy hour.

Peter from Stonebrown Design, who designed the brand-new 50 States T-shirt riders received. If you liked the design, consider picking up Stonebrown’s rad “United Streets of America” poster print, which inspired the shirt.

Riley from ESP Sound, whose equipment enabled us to get directions out to riders ta the beginning of the day  loudly and clearly.

Drink More Water, a local water delivery service that supports biking for transportation. If you’re in need of a water-delivery service for your home or office, consider Drink More Water, which we can vouch for as a bike-friendly business: It keeps our riders happy and hydrated at our many events, including 50 States.

Giant Food, which donated the fresh fruit at the pit stops.

KIND Healthy Snacks, which not only backs our #bikeKINDly campaign, but kicked in hundreds of flavorful bars for 50 States.

Zipcar, which sponsored the American University pit stop and made it super-easy for us to borrow a Zipvan for necessary supplies transportation.

ProGold Lubricants, which donated bike-chain lube and frame-cleaning towels for riders to snag at the afterparty—a necessary element, given the weather!

All our local bike shop friends who sponsored pit stops and provided bike help and maintenance to our riders: Capitol Hill Bikes at Eastern Market (it’s not stocking Masi bikes, so stop by and maybe find a new ride!); VeloCity Co-Op in Anacostia (it’s pairing up with WABA’s Women & Bicycles program for a VeloCity Ladies’ Night next month!); the Bike House in Takoma (it’s contributed a huge amount of support to our east of the river mobile bike clinics this summer), District Hardware’s Bike Shop at the ride start, and the American University Cycling Team at the AU pit stop.

We couldn’t have pulled off the 2013 50 States and 13 Colonies ride without you! We’ll see you next year.