Last Call: Invitation to Clarendon Cup + Beer on May 30th

by Sui Juris on May 29, 2009 9:38 PM EDT

Update II: Looking forward to meeting a number of you. See the "directions and details" link below for my address and phone. I'll be on course for most of the races, shooting it (look for the lame Crocodile Hunter hat (it works!)) from around 9am onward, or - after 11:30 or so - for Megabeth in her pink Castelli hat). Cold beer and hot grill at my place around 3:30, if all goes according to plan. (Duvel on offer for the first few folks to show up).

Update: directions and details here. Please drop me a note if you think you'll be coming. Not looking for iron-clad promises, just a count to make sure I don't commit that most heinous of sins: running out of beer. Very much looking forward to seeing everyone.

This coming Saturday, the Air Force Cycling Classic Clarendon Cup (previously CSC Invitational) will see its 12th edition take place in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington. It's a great race. In fact, this tight and twisty circuit is what got me into pro cycling in the first place (I literally stumbled onto it, one summer afternoon). The DC area is very lucky to have a race like this, I think (see the "CSC Invitational" link above for a preview of the 2008 edition), and even luckier that it has survived. So let's get out and support it, yes?

While I have a general hope that all DC area PdC members will come out to support pro racing in their backyard, I also hope that I can entice you to join me and other cycling fans after the race for a beer or three. PdC member Megabeth and I live about 4-5 blocks off the race route, and are planning to break out the grill and coolers of beer not too long after the podium presentation for the men's pro race. We hope that you will join us for a beer and munchies. We're a quick roll, easy walk, or one metro stop (Virginia Square) down Wilson Boulevard from the action. If you think you might be able to make it, please drop me a note at clarendoncup@blacknell.net, and I'll shoot you an address and directions. I'll have another post on it later this week with additional details. Late deciders are welcome, of course, but I want to make sure that we've got enough beer on hand. Seriously, even if you're feeling a bit shy, I hope you'll come out and say hi. PdC'ers are uniformly fantastic people (well, except for the Chris . . . guy, who likes to dress up like the Green Lantern when he rides. And he's just . . . odd. Not bad.), and we'd love to see/meet more of you.

Also? I'll be abusing my positing privileges to keep this near the top for the next couple of days. It's practice for me trying to harangue you into joining me and your fellow PdC'ers at the Philadelphia International Championship the following weekend.

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Comments

mmm wonder if I can get a cheap flight

I mean there are 2 races in your hood next weekend….

by lyne on May 24, 2009 10:29 PM EDT reply actions

Virgin Atlantic

Shockingly cheap, on the right days.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Virgin America, I mean.

Obviously, the same thing. Unless you’re a regulator.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions

mmmmmmm

by lyne on May 25, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Beware

the beer carries a terrible curse.

Abruzziamo!

by Chris Fontecchio on May 24, 2009 11:34 PM EDT reply actions

Well

As best I can tell, I am that terrible curse. So it’s all good, for me.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes it does!

But I’ve yet to succumb to it!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 28, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions

Wish I lived closer :-(

At least, for this weekend. The rest of the year, forget it ;-)

by Jen See on May 24, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

See? Never a DC'er!

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

lol

Well, I was once for about a year. But that was enough for me ;-)

by Jen See on May 25, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

can't come put and play I have to slink through my 46th

at home.

by Christopher See on May 25, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

Fred

if you drive that snowcat all the way here, it’s all the beer you can drink.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 1:42 AM EDT up reply actions

ok...

see in time for what the 2020 event? 9 mph is pretty damn slow… oh wait the company frowns on off site traffic…

by Christopher See on May 25, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

See ya there!

I’ll have ice and Hoegaardens in my courier bags!

And my Tour de France coozies!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 25, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

I'll be there

at least to return your green coozie.

by rocketpress on May 25, 2009 6:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Excellent.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

What a nice offer

I’ve actually gone down to VA in the past from NY for this race (when it was CSC), but won’t be able to make it this year. Hopefully this weill become a tradition (the offer I mean, not the not being able to make it part)

by Katiek on May 25, 2009 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

I hope so, too.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Dang! I knew this was coming up soon.

sorry, Sui. I got 2 soccer games and a ballet recital this Saturday. Well, not me personally…but you know, I got to be there and such.

O lactic acid, where is thy sting?

by swells on May 25, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

Presumably there's a uniform change between events.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Touche.

Respect the Shit List; it respects you.

by crashdan on May 30, 2009 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Tried to email you

but got a spam-filter bounceback. I’m hoping to make it.

Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.

by OnTheRivet on May 25, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry about that.

Providers decided that today would be a great time to completely screw my email system up. It’s fixed now, and I’ve got your email. Details out soon.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to come

but my folks are in town. Makes me about a 50/50 proposition.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 25, 2009 2:08 PM EDT reply actions

on the 50% chance that you will be there

we will expect you to show up in your Podium Cafe Snuggie

by roadside on May 25, 2009 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

yup. Consider it a cover of sorts.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Snuggie in late May

Good way to lose weight.

When I'm on the mic, I'm like global warming, you can't ignore me.

by tehGrindCrusher on May 26, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions

I will be there

by roadside on May 25, 2009 2:23 PM EDT reply actions

fantastic.

by Sui Juris on May 25, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait. What?!?

We’re having people over and I have to come here to find out? Don’t you remember? I have part three of my “How to Bedazzle a Snuggie” class on Saturday. I guess I’ll have to skip the all important multi-color rhinestone pattern development lesson. Great.

by Megabeth on May 26, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

If you ask nicely, I bet Roadside

will teach you a thing or two.

by Sui Juris on May 26, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Bedazzling a snuggie is out of my league

However, after a few beers it might be possible

by roadside on May 27, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm jealous.

I love C, not because he rocks as a cyclist, but because deep down he's a band geek! LOL!

by nikki on May 26, 2009 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

By the way...

On race day, I’ll be wandering around the course stylin’ in my pink Castelli bike cap. Sadly, it will be too warm to wear the matching Bejeweled Snuggie. But, feel free to stop me in my tracks to say “hey”.

by Megabeth on May 28, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions

Yo Blacknell

Any particular corner to congregate at?

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 28, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions

Two points

Folks can pick up the hot chick in the pink Castelli cap during the race (I’m guessing she’ll be rotating between the finish and the Highland/Wilson Blvd corner, moving to the finish as it gets near), or after the race you can look for me and my red GT Rebound at the west point of the course after the race (the “Silver Diner corner”). I’ll hang around for a bit to collect anyone wants to join the, uh, paceline back.

by Sui Juris on May 28, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll probably be riding my orange/black Jamis

and wearing a bright yellow TdF shirt.

Jens Voigt doesn’t know where you live, but he knows exactly where you will die.

by OnTheRivet on May 29, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Just to be sure

we’re talking about the Clarendon Cup tomorrow, Saturday May 30 and not the Air Force Cycling Classic the next day, right?

by Le Comte on May 29, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Yes the Clarendon cup tomorrow

But the Clarendon crit is now part of the Air Force Cycling classic ( expanded to two days now) which includes Saturday’s crit and the Sunday race.

by roadside on May 29, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

by Sui Juris on May 29, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Well BMC and Fuji won't be participating I guess...The UCI again instituted code 2.1.009 which prohibits them from starting

same one they used against BMC and Astana at Gila

by Vlaanderen90 on May 29, 2009 10:14 PM EDT reply actions

Seriously lame

I just don’t know who to blame for the lame. On one hand, I guess the teams were on notice after Gila. On the other, isn’t the UCI in the business of promoting cycling? I don’t think there is anyone racing the Clarendon Cup tomorrow who is happy about this.

Fucking lame.

by Sui Juris on May 29, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions

It's unfortunate that UCI has imperfect rules and it should be resolved ASAP

But the teams should have been on notice when they signed up. Did nobody read the UCI rules looking for differences between Conti and Pro Conti before they committed? That is lame.

by tedvdw on May 30, 2009 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions

BMC has 5 riders

on the roster for the Sunday race ( part two of the Air Force Classic, so I am confused

by roadside on May 30, 2009 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions

sunday is a UCI race so there's no problem

by lyne on May 30, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

the rule has never been enforced before and was not enforced this year prior to Gila

so I can understand why they were blindsided by this

by lyne on May 30, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I tried to make it to the shindig...

but my morning was crazy.

After running numerous errands and attending my son’s drum recital, I came back home and packed the courier bag with ice and eight Hoegaardens and got ready to roll. But my tires were low and I could find my hand pump- my only hand pump. And I just used my last CO2 cartridge on a stranded biker the other day. So I ride to Wisconsin Ave and to Griffin Cycle to buy some CO2 and air up my tires to 120.

I give the mechanic a Hoegaarden and start riding down Wisconsin again. I hit a bit bump and a bottle flies out of my bag and shatters on the road. I stop to pick it up. Damn!

I finally ride into Georgetown and over the Key Bridge and hustle to the race. I get there in time for the last three laps and get to see Borajo wins again.

But I never saw the PdC crew! :(

And I forgot Blacknell’s phone number and address, because I was sure I would see you all there! :( :(

So I drank A Hoegaarden in the park by the elevator and the Rock Racing crew and headed down to Farragut and Metro’d back home! :( :( :(

Anyhoo, thanks for the invite Blacknell and MegaBeth and I hope to see you all there next year!!!

And except for the super-condensation of the ice in my courier bag, it was almost like a Garmin ice vest!, but full of beer!

Cheers, you guys!!! Have fun!!! Going to Baskin-Robbins with the wifey!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 30, 2009 5:19 PM EDT reply actions

Ha.

Dude. Looked for you. Clearly, you should have been standing instead of drinking in the park like a vagrant, so I could ID you. Anyway, there was a whole section of Sierra Nevada Torpedo that was reserved for you. If that makes you feel bad, then no worries, glad you caught some of the race. If it doesn’t, well, I will spill more beer on you at the Cap Criterium. Heh.

But seriously, good to meet and see everyone (including the PdC lurkers!). I’d post pics, but, uh, there’s a giant mess in my back yard that needs some attention.

by Sui Juris on May 30, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions

How many people were there?

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
A date with the VDS of Team Txirrindulariak? Aah you know what they say about british girls.. No?

by Frinking on May 31, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Attendance overall seemed WAY DOWN!

Thanks UCI for trying to keep interest in cycling down!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 31, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry we missed you

Next year we will look for the guy in the park drinking out of a little brown bag.

by roadside on May 31, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions

Forgot my TdF coozies and I had no brown bag!

The fuzz was EVERYWHERE!

Racing for Victory and Free Beer!

by DemonCats on May 31, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Good race today

Amore e Vita’s Chad Gerlach didn’t win, but he was the story of the race. 60 lap breakaway, coming within 6-12 seconds of lapping the field (with multiple tries – seriously badass, folks) before sucumbing to a chase group that eventually produced winner Alejandro Barrajo (Colavita). And Barrajo came within inches (if that) of a very embarrassing lesson about celebrating too early.

Pics and more tomorrow. If you’re interested in following the progress of the Air Force Cycling Classic (you know, beyond how many laps Megabeth gets in before getting pulled from the course), check out twitter member @AFCC. Was doing a very good job of keeping everyone apprised of the race, today. Credit to the organizer (Arlington Sports) for “getting” the value of a twitter channel.

by Sui Juris on May 30, 2009 9:12 PM EDT reply actions