Northeast - DC Road Rides

What are some good road rides originating in DC? I'm sick of the trails (Capital Crescent, C&O, W&OD, Mt. Vernon, etc.) and want to get out on some good stretches of road.

I've heard the following thrown around:

MacArthur Blvd
Poolesville
Beach Drive


and only know how to get to Beach Drive. What is MacArthur Blvd? How do I ride to Poolesville? What other good roads are there that lead out of the city?

Beach is good. Low traffic / no traffic on weekends. Not sure about weekdays. At the Viers Mill end a lot of roadies turn off and head ..... somewhere. I usually switch to the Rock Creek Trail and head for Rockville. Not much traffic on that stretch of trail.

MacArthur runs west from Georgetown, parallel to the river. It has a bike lane or side path for much of its length. If you go out Canal Rd past Georgetown U, continue up the hill. MacArthur is left at the first light. There is also a connection to the Capital Cresent, just south of the Delacarlia Bridge. I sometimes go out to Widewater on the C&O and back on MacArthur. Around 30 miles if you start in Georgetown.

Poolesville is at the north end of Montgomery County. Nice riding up there, but you have to get past the suburbs, Rockville and Gaithersburg. A far drive, but worth it. Long ways to get to by bike, but Seven Locks, Tuckerman, Falls, Glen, Query Mill, Esworthy, Seneca, River, Montevideo, and Sugarland will get you close. (Gets pretty after Falls, Sugarland is a hoot.)

I like the roads in Loudon County. If you can get to Leesburg, there is a nice 50ish mile loop thru serveral towns - Hamilton, Purcellville, Airmont, Round Hill, Hillsboro, Lovettsville, Waterford.
Nokesville is another good starting place. Other side of Manassas. Good place to head south. Conncets up with Fredricksburg if you keep going.

Why not just pick some roads and ride? Or go to the PPTC web site and check their cue sheet library. Several good close in routes that they sometimes use.
Next month the PPTC starts their winter training ride out of Bell Haven, Alexandria. They take the back roads past Mount Vernon to Belvoir. Some good hills on the return trip.
GW Parkway south of Old Town is a good run. Just watch the traffic and stormgrates.

You can get to Poolesville from the end of MacArthur via Falls Rd. Both begin/end at the entrance to Great Falls Park. Falls Rd has a path up to Potomac Village and I've seen serious roadies riding on the road.

BEWARE!!! Potomac is home to the cell-phoning, platinum-blond SUVer. They are not known for paying close attention to they're driving.:(

From Potomac Village you turn north and go out River Rd. with a tiny shoulder/bike lane for parts. Once again, beware of drivers!!!!! Speed limit on River Rd. is 45mph and some consider that a minimum. River Rd. gets you out towards Poolesville which is really nice.

I've never done those roads because they make me nervous, but I've seen others that do

The option is to take the Towpath out to SwainsLock (I think) or one of the ferries (can't remember the names but White's is one)

I thought about MacArthur to Falls, but I really don't like riding that part of River Road because of the nut-job drivers I always seen to find there. Seen other bikes on River, but I've always found Glen and the others to be "friendlier"

Towpath's a good idea.

Toepath will be rough on my road tires though, won't it?

yup. bumpy

Last night from 9:30 to 11:00, I rode 35 miles (8 laps at 3.15~ miles each, plus to and from) at Haines Point. It was a fantastic ride because I stopped to make a clip adjustment after lap #1 and was passed by a sporty looking roadbiker. We immediately got into a friendly race, I passed him in the middle of lap #3, and then managed to stay about 100 feet from him for the next 20 miles.

It was a particularly lovely night for a ride last night. 66 degrees when I left the house, and there was a hazy fog all across the Point. It felt kind of ominous. Plus, other than me and my new riding buddy, there was noone else around.

I've been doing a 20+ mile loop through the city (basically up Connecticut to E/W Hwy, and down Wisconsin and through town back toward Union Station) for over a decade, but I've been obsessed with doing speed laps at the Point for the last month or two. At night, there's usually noone there but me.

Anyone interested in joining me some night, drop a line. I usually arrive there at around 9:00/9:15.

I do the Point a lot with my collegiate team (George Washington U.), it's awesome. Very humbling to get passed by DC Velo or NCVC doing like, oh, 35mph.

I drove out there on Wednesday night around 9:30 to check out if anyone was there. I didn't see anyone. I thought it would have been cool to ride. I bought a tail flasher light but thought I would have needed headlights due to someone (you?) warning about pedestrians.


Last night from 9:30 to 11:00, I rode 35 miles (8 laps at 3.15~ miles each, plus to and from) at Haines Point. It was a fantastic ride because I stopped to make a clip adjustment after lap #1 and was passed by a sporty looking roadbiker. We immediately got into a friendly race, I passed him in the middle of lap #3, and then managed to stay about 100 feet from him for the next 20 miles.

It was a particularly lovely night for a ride last night. 66 degrees when I left the house, and there was a hazy fog all across the Point. It felt kind of ominous. Plus, other than me and my new riding buddy, there was noone else around.

I've been doing a 20+ mile loop through the city (basically up Connecticut to E/W Hwy, and down Wisconsin and through town back toward Union Station) for over a decade, but I've been obsessed with doing speed laps at the Point for the last month or two. At night, there's usually noone there but me.

Anyone interested in joining me some night, drop a line. I usually arrive there at around 9:00/9:15.

Interesting. Based on when I posted, I'm pretty certain I was there Wednesday night, might've been a little later than 9:30 though. Maybe we were at opposite ends of the loop when you came.

As for lights, I only have a tail light, which probably isn't too smart, but I bought a front light and it didn't fit my handlebars, so I put it on a different bike (which I use for through-town rides). That would definitely be a good idea though, because I often don't see the pedestrians until the last minute, and there are many spots on that loop where the lighting is very dim.

What's (sort of) interesting is that I've been doing the Haines Point loop a lot lately, instead of the city loop I've been doing for years. I feel like I go real hard when I'm at the Point, and so figured I was still in good shape to do my city loop. But I did the city Friday night and I was WAY more winded than I should've been. The city loop has a lot of hills (Conn. Ave) and you have to do more sprint bursts because of the traffic. So now I'm thinking that I need to mix it up a bit more.

Morning Ride leaves Pierce Mill in Rock Creek around 10 ish Saturday & Sunday

http://www.google.com/maps?

Google Pierce Mill :

Travelling North on Beach through Rock Creek park to Grosvenor, crosses rt 355 through the housing complex onto Tuckerman turns left onto Falls Road
then right onto Glenn. *heres where the fun starts; onto Esworthy then onto River Road.
If you fall off the back plenty of roads to get lost on. I love it..

Yeah, we must have missed each other. Man, if I had seen another biker out there, I would have gone back and gotten my bike. It was a really nice, warm night. Do you always ride at night? Isn't it cold nowadays? What about the summer nights? Is it as desolate?


Interesting. Based on when I posted, I'm pretty certain I was there Wednesday night, might've been a little later than 9:30 though. Maybe we were at opposite ends of the loop when you came.

In the summer, there are more people there. Now that it's cold, there's less. I have the standard 8-to-6 job during the day, so my hard rides have to be at night (I cycle-commute 9 miles each day to and from work, so my goal of at least 100 miles a week is usually pretty easy to hit).
And I always go at around 9, because I have a 2-year-old, so I spend time with him until he goes to bed at 8, and then an hour with the wife, so it's often 9-10 before I can actually walk out the door. Plus I live 4 miles away, so it takes 10-15 minutes to get there. Sometimes I'm amazed that I can get out there at all.
Last night I took a 22-mile ride through downtown and it was great. I LOVE biking in the winter, even more than the summer. I always feel that if I'm properly dressed, biking in sub-32 weather is like swimming in cool water without actually getting wet. The colder the better, so I'm excited for this winter.

If you're ever thinking of hitting the Point some evening and want some company, PM me and I"ll see if I can arrange it with my wife. Only caveat is that it pretty much has to be 9 or later.

I'm commend you for your dedication. I'm surprised you still find time to do it. During the summer, I ride everyday but when the cold creeps in, I get on the stationary bike. I can't handle cold at all. I consider 70 degrees a bit on the chilly side. My body responds much better around 75-80 and I'm not averse to riding when it's 100 out although I don't like it. But I can't ride in the cold. I'll keep you in mind next year when it warms up or we have a fluke warm night again.

Relaxer,

I went out to Hains Point tonight around 8:30pm. I looped it in the car twice just in case there were other cyclists around, too. There was no one. I road 5 loops and this is what I observed.

1. It felt really nice not having to jock for position on the asphalt with other cyclists, skaters, walkers, and joggers.
2. Although it was 50 degrees, I was relatively warm thanks to a windless night. However, I need to get one of those balaclava because my face was cold.
3. My nose was runny from the cold so it was a pain to breathe.
4. It felt and looked like I was going pretty fast due to the shadows. However, I actually was about 2-3 mph slower than normal.
5. The tail light seemed to be sufficient but I would prefer a headlight because there was a branch that obstructed the entire inner lane. Luckily, I saw it when I drove around in my car the first 2 times.

Well, maybe if it's a windless night again in the future, I'll try to hook up with you. Do you ride every night? I didn't see anyone out tonight.

Damn, I'm sorry I missed you. I did the Capitol Hill Bike Shop Sunday morning ride (30~ miles) at 9:00 am, so didn't do the Point last night. Funnily enough, my wife commended me on how much housework and childcare I did over the weekend, so last night she said, if you feel like going for another ride, that's okay with me. So I was *sorely* temped, but I had done 8 laps/34 miles at HP on Saturday (at around 11:00 am -- really sunny and pleasant, with a pretty good group of bikers out) and then the bike shop ride Sunday morning, so I decided to take a rest last night and stay home to play video games and chew.

I think the chances are very good that I will be there tonight, though it's hard to be 100% with a wife and child. I'm shooting for it though. What do you think?

I probably won't be able to make it tonight but if the wifey let's you, you should. It's quite warm out. Too bad we have to work! Although I guess you like colder temperatures so tonight wouldn't be a good night for you.

Well, the planets were all aligned, the wife gave me the okay, and it's a beautiful night. And I'm... still at the office working on a major deadline. So I'm glad you're not going out tonight because I'm not going to be able to make it either. Disappointed!

Bummer! But worse for you since you had to work.

So I heard (from man910) that there's a century ride in the DC area on New Years Day. Does anyone have any info on this? I've scoured the web and my usual biking sources, but haven't found anything. Any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks!

You didn't use the correct terms but this is all I could find.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41380-2005Jan1.html

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=152992&highlight=haines+point+century

Hola DC Riders,
I'm looking to do a 50-mile ride this weekend. Anyone have any suggestions on where to go? I live on Capitol Hill, and I'd like to start my ride there. Ideally, I'm looking for something that gets out of town quickly and goes to a place with minimal traffic lights/stops.
And if anyone is interested in joining, I thought I might do it Saturday morning.
Have a happy holiday, and hopefully some days off from work.

There are a LOT of options; see the attached file for some cue sheets.

Thanks! I will read this over and try one out this weekend.

I'm also a big fan of MacArthur (and avoid the trails around here -- too clogged w/joggers, strollers, bladers, etc.), though I generally only ride weekend/holiday mornings, when traffic isn't an issue. I live near RC Park, so I start there, head south into G'town, pick up MacArthur, take that out to Falls, and then follow Bradley back into Bethesda. I eventually end up back on Beach Drive. The whole loop, the way I've got it set up, is about 51 miles (including distance from home to the park), though there are lots of variations you can make on it.


What are some good road rides originating in DC? I'm sick of the trails (Capital Crescent, C&O, W&OD, Mt. Vernon, etc.) and want to get out on some good stretches of road.

I've heard the following thrown around:

MacArthur Blvd
Poolesville
Beach Drive


and only know how to get to Beach Drive. What is MacArthur Blvd? How do I ride to Poolesville? What other good roads are there that lead out of the city?

Is there a group ride at Hains Point after dark? Do you need a h/l to see or just a little blinking one to be seen?

Is there a group ride at Hains Point after dark? Do you need a h/l to see or just a little blinking one to be seen?

In the summer, there are usually a few or more people our riding the HP loop at around 9:00 or so. Nowadays, though, it's usually just me (I go out 2-3 times a week, always at around 9:00/9:30). I haven't seen a single other biker out there through four night rides over the last 10 days.

As for lights, they are definitely recommended, and I think you're fine with a blinking light just to be seen. The area is lit up, but there are stretches where they either don't work or aren't on. You can still see where the road is, but you'll be less visible. And surprisingly enough, no matter what time it is, you should always expect there to be at least one or two dudes walking alongside, or in, the road. That's where the blinking light comes in hand, because otherwise they won't see you.

I've heard that there are group rides at around 6:00 pm on Tuesday and Thursday, but have never been to one since I can only go later. Also, a regular group of guys meets every Sunday at around 3:00 pm, but I'm not sure if they continue to do it in the winter.

What's the latest with regard to a century on New Year's Day? Are people motivated or what? I'm down.

Also, my favorite way to get to MacArthur is to head north on Beach Drive through Rock Creek Park (get on in Woodley by the Omni), cut over to Bethesda via some tough hills on Leland Drive (in Chevy Chase), then take the surface roads over to MacArthur (Bradley, Mass. Ave., etc.). You wind up hitting Mcarthur right as it leaves DC, which is a grea thing since MacArthur Blvd through DC is riddled with potholes and cracks and is generally a sucky ride.

Beach Drive is "ok" during the week. Towards the bottom it gets a little nuts. No shoulder and impatient drivers.

-D

What do you consider "the bottom"? Rock Creek Parkway ends and Beach Drive begins at the Connecticut Avenue Bridge. I find the whole of Beach Drive to be comortable riding, but I would never on Rock Creek Parkway unless I was with big group. It's too fast and windy. You're right, however, that there are no shoulders, but the drivers have never given me any problems. But I will admit that Beach Drive gets quieter north of Piney Branch Parkway.

What do you consider "the bottom"? Rock Creek Parkway ends and Beach Drive begins at the Connecticut Avenue Bridge. I find the whole of Beach Drive to be comortable riding, but I would never on Rock Creek Parkway unless I was with big group. It's too fast and windy. You're right, however, that there are no shoulders, but the drivers have never given me any problems. But I will admit that Beach Drive gets quieter north of Piney Branch Parkway.

That is a good question. I have never paid attention to the roads, but pretty much south of the police station. North of there the traffic is generally slower and it isn't too bad. At the southern end the speeds picked up and I had quite a few vehicles buzz me. One SUV yelled a "remark" as he passed.

This was probably late morning on a weekday.

But I will still ride on it. Overall it is enjoyable.

-D

[QUOTE=slantrock]What's the latest with regard to a century on New Year's Day? Are people motivated or what? I'm down.
QUOTE]

I would sign up for this in a DC minute

[QUOTE=slantrock]What's the latest with regard to a century on New Year's Day? Are people motivated or what? I'm down.
QUOTE]

I would sign up for this in a DC minute


Depending on where I could be game. Especially if my inlaws are still in town.

-D

What do you consider "the bottom"? Rock Creek Parkway ends and Beach Drive begins at the Connecticut Avenue Bridge. I find the whole of Beach Drive to be comortable riding, but I would never on Rock Creek Parkway unless I was with big group. It's too fast and windy. You're right, however, that there are no shoulders, but the drivers have never given me any problems. But I will admit that Beach Drive gets quieter north of Piney Branch Parkway.
I'll solo on Beach from Pierces Mill to the zoo tunnel, traffic permitting, but below that I switch to the trail or ride up to Connecticut Ave. Even that little stretch of road can be nuts. Usually run into at least one pissed off driver each time. Above the mill I seldom have problems with traffic.


Maybe this Sunday should be an Rock Creek end-to-end. I haven't done that ride in a while.

Where is the northern end of Rock Creek?

I've ridden from Dupont Circle north to Garret Park where Beach Drive Ts with some major road. Can you go beyond that?

http://www.bikewashington.org/trails/rockcreek/md.htm

At the T at Garret Park you can switch from road to trail. Then it's another 7 or 8 miles to Lake Needwood in Rockville. I like that part of the trail - no cars, few other bikes, few pedestrians (until you get close to Needwood), paved trail, couple of good hills, lots of woods and a lake with bathrooms at the end. I see deer more often on this part of the RCT than any other trail in the area.
Or at the T, go right then left, taking Dewey which goes parallel to the trail. I think it ends at Viers Mill Road.

A lot of bikes head off on the roads at the T, but I don't know where they usually go. Maybe someone else can post.

How good is the trail after the T? Is it like the Rock Creek trail south of Conn. Ave.? That one's horrible for bikes.

The south end of the RTC in DC is awful. Sometimes I go up the BIG hill next to the zoo and ride down Connecticut Ave instead.

The middle trail from Candy Cane City to the T is ok, but I usually stay on Beach.

The upper trail is pretty good. A few parts are twisty, and because it follows Rock Creek there are a couple of places that might flood. Paving is in good shape. Best part is that the upper trail doesn't get a lot of use. At peak hours on a nice weekend there'll be some people near Viers Mill and closer to Needwood, but often I have big stretches of trail to myself.
If you're not in a big hurry and you want some woods without going full off-road, it's a nice ride.

I ride on Beach from the Ranger Station (by 16th street) up north. Below that I avoid, unless the group I'm with insists on going down there. plus, the hill getting up to 16th street is fune :)