Trail Blazer: Capital Criterium Bike Race

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE LAUNCH of the nation's first bike-sharing program (Smartbikedc.com) and our spandex-sporting mayor falling off his Cannondale while training with the D.C. Velo team: It happened. D.C. became a glorious 'n gritty cycling city.

D.C. Velo President Mark Sommers knows this, but admits "there hasn't been a big cycling event in the center of D.C. for many years." That changes on Sunday. As race director for the Capital Criterium, he's invited professional racers to up D.C.'s street cred. At 11:30 a.m. superstars including Tour de France vet Christian Vande Velde will loop 85 times around a 1-kilometer course that starts at Pennsylvania Avenue and runs between 10th and 13th Streets. With $50,000 in prizes up for grabs, Sommers expects a fast and furious race. "It's a course where you'll find your lungs in the back of your throat pretty quickly."

Prior to the pro event there will be kids races (the first 300 wheely-whipper snappers score free helmets and jerseys) as well as events for men's licensed category one, two and three riders (See Capitalcriterium.com for times, entry info). Sorry newbies, those without USA Cycling licenses are stuck on the sidewalk. But that doesn't mean one can't start thinking ahead to next year's action.

The first step is simple: Apply for a license (Usacycling.org, $60). All newly registered men start out as category five (for women it's four). The more one races and places, the more points one accrues toward moving up a category. Next, link up with some local training rides. Sommers suggests getting on the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association list-serv (Mabra.org) to keep up with online chatter about rides. "There's also a wonderful ride for people to start on at 8:30 on Sunday mornings out of The Bicycle Place in Silver Spring," he adds.

Intimidated? Try a private lesson. When CycleLife (Cyclelifeusa.com, 3255 K St. NW) opens in mid-October, individual training sessions will be one service on offer at the 12,000 sq. ft Georgetown facility. Smoothies whipped up at their in-house cafe are another. Sweet.