With all the cycling-related news in recent weeks – the 15th Street contraflow lane; Mayor Adrian Fenty’s police-escorted daytime training rides; Capitol Hill Bikes closing its doors; Tweed – we’d be remiss in not mentioning that the Bicycle Film Festival is coming to the District.

Started in 2001 and now in 39 cities around the world, the festival is making its first appearance here in Washington December 4-5 with a small run of feature films, documentaries and shorts at the U.S. Navy Memorial’s Burke Theater (701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW). The festival kicks off Friday night with goldsprints at Asylum in Adams Morgan. Don’t know what goldsprints are? Take two stationary bikes and two people and have them sprint their hearts out for 30 seconds. In a bar. That’s pretty much it. The full program is here.

Leading into the film festival, a screening of “Adventures for the Cure” will be held at Bicycle Stations (2204 14th St NW) on Thursday, December 3 at 7 p.m. The documentary follows three locals who rode across the U.S. on single-speed bikes to raise money and awareness for diabetes.