Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride 2025

Challenge Ride Route

Yesterday I rode in the 2025 Armed Forces Cycling Classic Challenge Ride. I’ve done this once before, but skipped recent years because of other plans. This year is the first iteration of this ride in which the start/finish line is actually in DC adjacent to the US Capitol building. I’ve been training all winter; I wanted to see if I could get another gold medal.

Sadly, I just missed the cut-off; I wasn’t able to start another lap with about 30 minutes left to go in the three-hour window. I completed four laps, enough only for a silver medal. They physically blocked the course to prevent riders from going out for another lap.

It was really cool to be able to ride in DC without worrying about cars. In fact, this was my first time ever riding in the District. I parked in East Potomac Park near Hains Point, then rode to the starting area. I was near the front at the start and we got going much faster than last time because there weren’t so many early choke points. I quickly learned that there are hills that I had never noticed when I drove on those streets. There are also lots of manhole covers, some with deep depressions. The course proceeded west on Independence, south on 14th, and across the Potomac on the I395 express lanes, then, near the Pentagon, joined the course from previous years between Crystal City and Rosslyn. The course was mostly in pretty good shape, with only a few places where there were deep gaps in the concrete. I really didn't like the expansion joints on the 14th Street Bridge; they look like intermeshing teeth with gaps that could grab my wheels, but I never had any trouble with them. There was a lot of rain overnight and the road started out damp with a few puddles, but it mostly dried out before the end of the ride. It was pretty cool at the start but I warmed up quickly and only broke out in a brief sweat a few times.

So how did it go?

• I think I’m in better shape than last time. I actually rode slightly faster, on average.
• The wind sucked; it was windy all morning.
• I tried to be mindful about drinking but should have done it more often. Same for eating.
• I was able to produce power surges whenever I needed for climbs.
• If I do it again, I need to show up in better shape to get past the cut-off at 2 1/2 hours.