Update 1/19: The cyclists have arrived in Washington D.C. See pictures above.  

A group of Raleigh cyclists will not only be attending a memorable presidential inauguration, but the way they will get to Capitol Hill will also be one to talk about.

Matt Huffman, Darryl Jones and their other friend Matt will brave the frigid temperatures as they embark on their four-day, almost 300 mile trip to Washington D.C. to witness the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.

The trio says this trip will be furthest they've ever traveled and hope others decide to join along.

"It'd be nice if we could pick up, oh, several other bikers 'Forrest Gump' style," Jones said.

Jones is especially pumped up about the inauguration because he worked on Obama's presidential campaign.

The organizer of the trek, Matt Huffman, said they'll also spread their own message about the economy and environment.

"We wanted to say look at this, this is how we can move, how we can travel," Huffman said.

But while morale is high, the high temperatures will be low at their daily starting points.

The riders can expect highs of around 41 degrees in Raleigh on Thursday; 29 degrees in South Hill, Va. on Friday; 36 degrees in Midlothian, Va. on Saturday and 38 degrees in Fredericksburg, Va. on Sunday morning. By the time they arrive in Washington, the high is expected to be around 35 degrees with a chance of snow.

Huffman said he and his friends are packing plenty of cold weather gear.

"There were so many things that were going to make it difficult, but at some point you just say, you layer up with clothing, you make sure you have all the supplies you have and you just go out and do it," Huffman said.

As for where they'll stay at night, they'll bring cold weather camping gear, but may choose a hotel depending on how they are feeling. But no matter where they sleep or how they travel, Jones said the trip isn't negotiable.

"There was no way we were going to miss this, it will be the most amount of people that have ever gathered in an outdoor space in America in modern history, and I want to see that," Jones said.

The group plans to hit the road around 8 a.m. on Thursday and plans to return to the Triangle via train. 

You can track the four day journey by clicking here for a link to the group's blog.