History
Photo by Mat Howie, used under a Creative Commons License
Cyclocross superstar Tim Johnson first imagined the Ride on Washington after attending the National Bike Summit in 2010. Johnson could not believe that there were no pro racers among the nearly 1,000 bicyclists present. Intent on raising funds and awareness for Bikes Belong, this world-championship medalist recruited a handful of stalwart riders to pedal from Boston to Washington over five days to attend the 2011 National Bike Summit.
Organized in just six weeks, this bold inaugural event garnered coverage in The Wall Street Journal, ESPN.com, The Boston Globe, New England Cable News, and countless cycling magazines, websites, blogs and social networking sites. A six-time national champion, Johnson’s star power delivered something to the National Bike Summit that advocacy alone has struggled to muster: major media attention for the societal benefits of bicycling.
The 2011 Ride on Washington saw seven riders complete the entire ride. As many as 45 others would join the core of the ride for one or two days. They departed Boston in 14 degree temperatures, rode through three inches of rainfall, climbed more than 12,000 feet, and finished in darkness three of the five days.
The ride raised more than $25,000 for Bikes Belong. It also exposed bicycle enthusiasts and racers to the mission of Bikes Belong and the National Bike Summit—making the roads safer for all who ride.
Coverage of the 2011 Ride on Washington
Wall Street Journal - “The City’s Misunderstood Cyclists”
ESPN.com - “Taking a Less-Traveled Road to Washington”
Boston Globe - “They Ride to Advocate for Cyclists Everywhere”
New England Cable News - “Cyclists Embark on 5-day Trip to D.C. for Charity”
Bike Radar - “Interview: Tim Johnson, the Unlikely Bike Advocate”
Velonews - “Tim Johnson Leads the Ride on Washington”
Cyclocross Magazine - “Tim Johnson and Bikes Belong Ride on Washington”
Velocity Nation - “Interview: Tim Johnson Ride on Washington”
Rapha blog - Intro, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3
NYC Velo blog
29er Crew blog
Pete Beers’ blog
Liberty Sports Magazine