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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does registration cost?

WABA in the Wild registration is $250, paid in two installments. This covers all of the costs to put on the ride for you (transportation, lodging, and meals), meaning that 100% of what you fundraise directly supports WABA’s mission. For comparison, private companies offer similar three-day C&O Canal tours for ~$750, or you can do the tour by yourself by taking Amtrak to Cumberland. But trust us, it will be much more fun to join WABA in the Wild!

Will I have to take any time off of work to do this trip?

Probably. This trip takes three-and-a-half days: we will leave for Cumberland on Friday afternoon and return to Georgetown on Monday evening. It will be worth the time off, though!

How much do I have to fundraise?

You must raise a minimum of $1,000 for WABA, but we will encourage you—and challenge you—to raise more! Everything raised directly supports WABA’s work to make bicycling better in the Washington region. In 2017, twenty WABA in the Wild riders collectively raised $28,138.47, a huge accomplishment (they can share their tips with you!).

Where do people send donations?

We will set up a personal fundraising page for you through the WABA website, using a photo and narrative that you provide for us. Here is a great example from a spring 2018 rider. People who want to donate to your campaign can do so by credit card through this page. Fundraising through your page is not optional—this is how we track your progress towards your fundraising goal. While you may receive donations by cash, we ask that you make those donations through your own fundraising page in the name of the person, event, or group that provided them. We can work with you on any other logistics.

When is the fundraising deadline?

You must raise $1,000 by Friday, October 5th. This gives you a little more than two months to fundraise the full amount.

What happens if I don’t meet my minimum fundraising goal?

We know that fundraising $1,000 is an intimidating task for first-time fundraisers. We will do a lot to support you along the way. You can attend an in-person fundraising workshop, where we will walk you through developing a strategy; we’ll send you ample resources to help brainstorm how you will raise the money; and we will check-in with you personally if you are struggling to help you meet your goal—or are looking for strategies to blow it out of the water. Given all that, we expect that everyone will meet, if not exceed, their fundraising goal. However, if you don’t fundraise the full amount by the start of the trip, you will complete a pledge form and your credit card will be charged on Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

How many miles per day will we ride?

You will ride about 65 miles per day. That adds up to more than 184.5 miles: you’ll bike a few extra miles over the course of the trip to get between the towpath and campsites, restaurants, and other sites.

I’m not used to biking that much—should I still register?

Most likely, yes! Our general rule is that if you have experience riding ~30+ miles and you could do so a few days in a row, then, with a good pair of padded bike shorts, you can probably do ~65 miles a day. You also have plenty of time to get into shape for riding the distance (we’ll even provide a training plan!). On the ride itself, people self-select into the “tortoise” or “hare” group based on their usual riding speed—the tortoise group will leave a little earlier in the morning to give them more time reach each stop. Additionally, we will have a sweep rider to make sure that nobody gets left behind and give you a little extra encouragement if you need it to finish the last few miles.

Do I have to carry all my stuff?

Absolutely not! Each morning, you’ll pack up your gear (in one soft-sided bag, such as a duffel, weighing no more than 50lbs) and pile it near the gear vehicle. We’ll load up your gear into the van each morning and have it ready to unload each evening at the next campsite. You will need to carry water, snacks if you need to eat more than every 10-15 miles, and any other supplies you need to feel comfortable while riding.

What type of bike do I need?

You’ll need a bike that is comfortable for you, since you’ll be on your bike basically all day for three days—but it can be a hybrid, touring, road, cyclocross, or mountain bike! We don’t recommend using a racing, triathlon, or BMX bicycle. E-bikes are not permitted on National Park Service trails, which includes the C&O Canal towpath. You may want to read about bike fit or get a professional bike fit before the trip. We also recommend you use wider tires (ideally 32mm or wider) that are a bit tougher and knobby. Although the canal towpath is mostly smooth dirt and small crushed rocks, it does have larger rocks, potholes, wet spots, and ruts and wider, tougher, knobby tires will resist puncture and reduce slipping.

Can I bring multiple bikes?

Each rider can only bring one bicycle on WABA in the Wild.

Will there be a bike mechanic on the ride?

No. While there are bike shops in Cumberland, Hancock, and Brunswick, there will not be a mechanic associated with the trip. Because of this, it’s important to make sure your bike is in top condition before the ride. In the event of a mechanical failure, we will carry some basic supplies to fix it yourself or you can choose to take your bike to one of the shops to get it fixed.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Yes. You have to wear a helmet every moment you’re on your bike. WABA’s insurance requires it. This is standard for organized rides across the country.

What other major pieces of equipment will I need?

Other than a bike and helmet, you’ll need a tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. Read over the spring 2018 packing list to see what else you might need!

What if I don’t have a bike, tent, sleeping bag, or sleeping pad?

You can rent the gear or borrow it from a friend! If you choose to rent gear, we can provide you with a list of bike rental and camping retail locations and you can arrange to rent equipment for the tour.

Will I need a lock?

We will lock all the bikes together each evening using a long cable lock and U-lock. However, if you feel safer bringing your own lock, please feel free to do so.

What does a typical day look like?

Do I need to bring food and water?

No. WABA will provide all meals, snacks, and water. However, if you like having extra snacks while riding, like granola bars, or if you have specific tastes in food or drink when you ride, you may consider bringing those yourself.

Are there vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free food options?

Yes! Once you register, we’ll ask you for your dietary preferences. Our menu is primarily vegetarian, with options to substitute gluten-free products, add meat or remove animal products.

Can I stay in a hotel?

No. WABA in the Wild is incredibly special as a shared experience between riders, volunteers, and staff, and we do not have the capacity to account for riders splitting off from the main group at camp.

Will I get to shower on this trip? What about bathrooms?

There are shower facilities on the first and third nights. There are permanent bathrooms at each campsite and at some points along the way. There are portable bathrooms available consistently during the ride.

Will campsites have electricity?

All three campsites have limited electrical outlets that will be available for charging phones and other small electronics. We strongly discourage bringing any large electronics, such as laptops or tablets. Priority use of electrical outlets will be given to WABA staff for meal preparation and any riders who need electricity for medical reasons, such as CPAP machines.

How do I get to and from the start and end locations?

The start location will be at a REI in North Bethesda. This location is 0.3mi from White Flint Metro Station (Red). If you have a family member or friend with a car, there is paid parking at Pike & Rose where REI is located. You will not be able to leave your car at the start location over the weekend. The end location is Thompson Boat Center (TBC) in Georgetown, Washington, DC. If you have a family member or friend with a car, TBC has a pay-to-park lot where someone can pick you up at the end of the ride. Or, TBC is 0.6mi from Foggy Bottom Metro Station (Orange/Blue).

Can I drop off my bag beforehand at the WABA office?

Yes. In fact, any gear you want us to transport for you, you must drop off in one soft-sided bag, such as a duffel, weighing no more than 50lbs at the WABA office (2599 Ontario Rd NW, Washington, DC) no later than Wednesday, October 3rd at 7pm. We will transport your gear directly from the office, and you will not be able to access it until we arrive at camp in Cumberland on Friday evening.

Do I get anything to commemorate this huge personal challenge?

Each WABA in the Wild rider will receive a new, custom WABA in the Wild jersey, thanks to our friends and official merchandise sponsors Primal Wear. Primal supports biking at all levels, from multi-day road races to advances in local bike infrastructure. (Thanks to Primal’s support, we’re able to offer WABA members 20% off jerseys, socks, and t-shirts and use the funds to support our work for better biking.) Buy other WABA merchandise!

What is the cancellation policy?

Registration for WABA in the Wild, like our other signature events, is nonrefundable and happens rain or shine. If you cancel before registration is over (Monday, August 6th), you are not liable for the $1,000 fundraising commitment. If you cancel after registration closes, you are liable for the $1,000 fundraising commitment, except in situations with extenuating circumstances. We’ll address these on a case-by-case basis. This ride will sell out, and dropping out will not only impact fundraising for WABA, but will take away another member’s opportunity to participate.

I have more questions.

Please ask us! Contact the WABA events team at events@waba.org or 202-518-0524 x218 with any questions.