That’s the route that a couple hundred area bad-asses on bikes are taking through the District today for the 50 States Ride, a commanding 65-mile tour of the city. From Alabama Avenue SE to Wyoming Avenue NW — though not necessarily in that order — bikers are riding through all 8 Wards in order to visit each of the District’s 50 avenues named after a United State. Organized by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, the 50 States Ride can be a brutal ride. It’s a rain-or-shine event, which is a real threat on a day like this, and the District isn’t closing off all 50 state avenues to car traffic for the ride. It’s not a race, the organizers say (though two participants I spoke to this morning said pffft, ‘course it’s a race).

Bikers looking for a slightly less rigorous ride had an alternative: the 13 Colonies Ride, a 15-mile ride that’s also taking place today. Ideal for the less-than-masochistic biker — but it’s also a violation of manifest destiny, that intertial urge that motivates the bicyclist no less than the feet pushing her clipless pedals! Hook ’em America woo! A 13-Colonies Ride mentality didn’t give us Teddy Roosevelt and a Spanish-American War, ‘s all I’m saying.

The racers have lucked out today. Though it’s been threatening weather since early this morning, the rain’s been delayed. And last year’s ride looked a lot warmer. So far, there hasn’t been a lot of activity via #50statesride on Twitter, which is probably a good thing — txting on a single speed is not advised. Have you seen the 50 Staters today, or are you yourself a 50 Stater?