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OK, maybe that's a little much: It's not like if you don't do the 16th Annual The Spin Cycle 4th of July Firecracker 100k and 50k, the terrorists win. At least, probably not.

Yes, the ride that started 16 years ago with a handful of Americans! taking an informal patriotic pedal on the 4th has grown into an Event, with more than 1,000 riders, SAG support, a post-ride buffet at The Hibernian restaurant and much, much more.

Now, if I were shilling the event I would have mentioned this yesterday, when there was still time to preregister. As it is, you'll have to show up early Friday — at 6:30 a.m. — to sign up. You can, however, streamline the process by downloading a registration form. It's $30 to ride, with half of that going to the local chapter of the National MS Society and the rest, after expenses, to the Capital City Cycling Club.

The ride starts at 8 a.m. from The Spin Cycle, located in Cary's Saltbox Village on Kildaire Farm Road near Cary Parkway. Both 64- and 32-mile routes are supported. The long route heads south through Holly Springs, skirts Fuquay-Varina to the west, then heads west on NC 42 before heading north to Jordan Lake and east back to the start. The shorter route does a similar but tighter route.

Find out more about the Firecracker here.