I’ve been doing some planning for the 100 miles to nowhere ride.  That planning has primarily consisted of the following:

1.  complaining about having to ride 100 miles

2.  walking out the front door to look up the road at the park

3.  pestering other people to do part of the ride.

4.  complaining that my foot hurts.

Today, Erin and I actually went out to the course to survey the lay of the land.  At .25 miles, it didn’t take long…:)  As we walked back to the house, we had a collective flash of insight:  we should take a couple of laps around the park in order to estimate the time necessary to finish the entire ride.  By “we should ride some laps” I mean, of course, me.  Erin was far too busy timing the ride and taking that picture over on the right.  She couldn’t be forced to squander her considerable timing and photographic talents on riding a bike around in a circle.  Only I’m that dumb 🙂

The result of that time trial is that it appears to take about a minute at a leisurely pace to go around the park.  400 laps = 400 minutes witch is 6 2/3 hours.  I think that’s reasonably optimistic too.  I’m guessing 7.5 hours….If you’re interested in taking a lap or 25 around the park let me know.  I signed up to do it in order to raise money for the Lance Armstrong foundation.  All you have to do is show up and ride.  It’s next Saturday or Sunday if it rains…

From Cindy Brookshire:

WHAT:   1 By Youth will complete a massive one day, one community, one impact neighborhood revitalization project in the Georgetown South neighborhood in Manassas, VA. Projects include laying down safety mulch on playgrounds, building soft-fill pathways, picking up trash and litter, and, weather permitting, painting electrical boxes and fences.

WHO:  Up to 2,000 youth and adult volunteers from VA, DC, MD and PA are participating.  Sponsors include Mike Garcia Construction, Habitat for Humanity, Lowes, Virginia Contracting Supply, Walgreens, EE Wine, Comcast, JC Penney, US Food Service and more.

WHEN and WHERE:  Saturday, April 24, 2010.  Arrive by 7:45 am for Kickoff Rally at Boys & Girls Club, 9501 Dean Park Lane, Manassas.  Press room is to right as you walk in front door.  Move to work projects in Georgetown South neighborhood at 8:30 a.m., Block Party starts at 2 p.m. at Community Center, 9444 Taney Rd.

WHY:   The City of Manassas was selected as the national pilot site for this concentrated “1 By Youth” effort by Colorado-based Group Workcamps Foundation, which has partnered with the City of Manassas’ award-winning Week of Hope program for the past three summers.

Georgetown South is a 45-year-old neighborhood of 860 townhomes located near Old Town Manassas. Rich in diversity, the community has nevertheless weathered more than their share of vacant homes due to the economic downturn and deterioration due to a high ratio of rental properties and lack of funds for neighborhood improvements.