Hundreds of cyclists + dance music = fun

Good morning, DMV! It’s Thursday, Sept. 10.

I went out last night for my first DC Bike Party. Hundreds of cyclists + dance music = my kind of fun. Why did I wait so long?

DC Bike Party happens monthly. I did a quick search and found a blog post that said their inaugural ride was in July 2012.

Last night, we met up at Dupont Circle at 8 p.m., which is a late start on a week night and explains why I hadn’t gone before. But a friend/reader I met on a ride with blind cyclists emailed to say she’d be there, which was enough of a nudge for me, so I went!

People decked out their bikes in lights and speakers playing dance music. There was a guy with a bubble machine. Another brought his two little dogs along in his bike basket. Someone wore a tutu. I saw a sequined hat.

For a brief moment, the streets were ours. Surrounded by a party, biking up hills was effortless. The traffic was less intimidating because there was safety in numbers.

My riding buddy told me people really get into the Halloween ride. She said one year during the winter holiday season, a guy came fully decked out as a Christmas tree, and all one could see of him were his hands sticking out of the tree.

At about 9 p.m., we stopped in Wangari Gardens for a dance party. A group juggled colorful balls that were lit up from inside.

I was ready to call it a night. After an hour of biking glee, I peeled off and headed home.

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D.C. resident Jamie Scott, 38, sent in today’s pics. Here’s what he has to say about them.

“I encountered this ‘you are beautiful’ sticker on a trash can in Brookland on Friday night. I love the juxtaposition of this message against a public trash can — a reminder of beauty even a dirty setting (the trash can, not Brookland!). I wouldn’t have known about the you are beautiful stickers without having read your newsletter, and I’m grateful to you for introducing me to this quiet trend,” he wrote in an email.

The second photo is from a hike he, his wife and daughter took Saturday in Shenandoah National Park.

“We had anticipated a nice late summer day of hiking but were stymied by a storm,” he said.

The photo was taken at the summit of Stony Man Mountain, “looking straight out to what would be the valley below but it’s entirely fog. It was a surreal experience and certainly memorable!

“Shortly after we were pummeled with rain and wind but made it safely down the trail.”

For photo Friday tomorrow — Sept. 11 — I hope to share your images of peace, comfort and joy. Please share your photos here.

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