Northeast - DC morning road riding

Hello all,

New to the sport (just bought a road bike two weeks ago) and looking for good roads to ride in the mornings. I like to get out around 5:30am and prefer nice, long stretches where traffic is minimal/ courteous (don't we all); preferably 10-20 miles.

I live in Chevy Chase DC and usually do some sort of Western Ave/Utah Ave/Nebraska Ave/Broad Branch/Brookeville Rd loop, but would prefer something with less intersections and lights.

All suggestions appreciated, thanks in advance.

Marc

P.s. During working hours, all I can think about is getting back on the bike.

Beach Drive, north to Viers Mill Rec Center?
Don't know how it is on weekdays.

Thanks. I was on Beach this morning and was, uh, a little nervous. It was pitch black and cars were zooming by. I guess this will take getting used to?

Any way of getting down to Haines Point? I usually go there at night and do laps. You can go as fast as you want and never have to stop. Each lap is about 3.1 miles so you can customize your ride well.

They don't close the gates at night? Do you need lights? Night-riding @ Haines Point in the summer would be awesome.


Any way of getting down to Haines Point? I usually go there at night and do laps. You can go as fast as you want and never have to stop. Each lap is about 3.1 miles so you can customize your ride well.

They don't close the gates at night? Do you need lights? Night-riding @ Haines Point in the summer would be awesome.

I've never been there when they closed the gates, and I tend to go at around 10:00 pm or so. Possibly they close them at midnight, as I'm gone by then, but I kind of doubt it.

I do have a backlight (front one got stolen). Because it's so quiet there, I don't worry too much about being seen since I feel like I can see enough to avoid any obstacles. And anyway, cyclists and cars aren't the problem -- it's the people walking in the middle of the road. Some of them are either totally clueless or are blasted out of their minds.

The loop has lights, but there are spells where you're shooting through close to pitch dark (though I never worry about going off the road).

Great place for night riding, especially when the booze cruises are rolling by on the left and planes are landing across the river on the right. I'll be there tonight for a couple hours.

I've been there on Sunday afternoon during the summer months where they do close it. It sounds like fun. I'm going to try it next year when it's warmer.


I've never been there when they closed the gates, and I tend to go at around 10:00 pm or so. Possibly they close them at midnight, as I'm gone by then, but I kind of doubt it.