PDA

View Full Version : In DC? want loan out a bike?




Jake_M
10-30-07, 12:57 AM
I'm coming into town for a convention from Wednesday to Sunday.

I was wondering if anyone in the DC area wouldn't mind loaning me their beater bike or something so I could remain carfree for the trip. (Granted, I'm flying out there, but I'm doing what I can.)

I'm about 6'1" and would treat it like my own...

Thanks
knucklesandwich
10-30-07, 06:28 AM
You caught me on the wrong week. I recently left my MTB at my folks place (closer to better trails), and my commuter is in the shop. Good luck.
Melalvai
10-30-07, 06:55 AM
I'm coming into town for a convention from Wednesday to Sunday.
Me too, Wed - Fri anyway. I'm going to rent one for a couple hours, there's a place called Bike the Sites near the mall that is $7/hr, I think they rent by the day as well. My convention is at my hotel so other than site seeing I don't need a vehicle.
craptastico
10-30-07, 06:56 AM
There is the Metro which will keep you ar free and offers access to all of DC and many of the suburbs. I would see that as a good solution should you not be able to find a loaner bike.
gwd
10-30-07, 09:46 AM
Me too, Wed - Fri anyway. I'm going to rent one for a couple hours, there's a place called Bike the Sites near the mall that is $7/hr, I think they rent by the day as well. My convention is at my hotel so other than site seeing I don't need a vehicle.

I was just talking to a couple the other week who rented bikes from bike the sites on a weekly rate. They kept the bikes in the hotel parking garage. Parking garages in DC are all supposed to supply bike parking and often it is in sight of the attendant's kiosk. I forgot the weekly rate but it sounded reasonable. The couple were interesting because they looked like out of shape overweight Americans yet they said they choose to get around DC by bike to avoid the hassles of driving. Very smart. I ran into them at a nice park off the beaten tourist trail too. Actually you don't need a bike or car to keep yourself busy site seeing downtown. A bike will save you a lot of time walking between places.
Amber_
10-30-07, 10:16 AM
There is the Metro which will keep you ar free and offers access to all of DC and many of the suburbs. I would see that as a good solution should you not be able to find a loaner bike.

yep, DC metro is great, it goes everywhere and it's not too pricey.
MyBikeGotStolen
10-30-07, 06:50 PM
If you are planning to rent a bike for a week, it might be cheaper to just buy the $55 Wal-Mart Mt. Fury or whatever it is and just donate it to Goodwill when you leave.
BarracksSi
10-30-07, 06:55 PM
You just might be able to take your bike (whatever you get) into your hotel, too; I took mine up the elevator to my room at the Doubletree in Crystal City with no complaints or problems.

Whenever I visited DC in the past, I didn't use a car at all. I still can get around to anything I need without driving (never have to park at the airports, either).
fordfasterr
10-30-07, 07:28 PM
If you are planning to rent a bike for a week, it might be cheaper to just buy the $55 Wal-Mart Mt. Fury or whatever it is and just donate it to Goodwill when you leave.


I bought a similar bike like that years ago when I was still addicted to cages.... the rear tire blew up the minute I inflated it to the proper pressure..

The tire stretched beyond the rim and the inner tube hemorrhaged between the gap !!!! OUCH !

Thanks wally-hell.


omg.... I found it online... (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1977659) it's actually $ 49.73. How in the universe can these people actually make a complete bike with upteen gears for this price ? ??

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/03/86/75/44/0003867544168_500X500.jpg



The chain ring on my fixed gear bike cost me $ 49.99 + tax.

Damn I feel ripped off.
BarracksSi
10-30-07, 08:14 PM
There's also Bike Washington's site, in case you haven't seen it already:
http://www.bikewashington.org/visitor.htm
cerewa
10-31-07, 05:01 PM
I'm going to be in DC the weekend of the 10th for a Quaker conference, and I'm thinking of driving down from Philly with my folding bike...

does anybody know of a spot where I could park for free for 48 hours within an easy ride of the Capitol area?

(yeah, thumbs-down to me for driving )
BarracksSi
10-31-07, 05:33 PM
(yeah, thumbs-down to me for driving )

:D

I could tell ya, but then I'd have to kill ya... ;)
photoassign
11-01-07, 02:49 PM
well, i have no beater to offer, but my specialized globe is not in use this week.
gwd
11-02-07, 12:17 PM
I'm going to be in DC the weekend of the 10th for a Quaker conference, and I'm thinking of driving down from Philly with my folding bike...

does anybody know of a spot where I could park for free for 48 hours within an easy ride of the Capitol area?

(yeah, thumbs-down to me for driving )

Take the train. The station is right at the capitol. You can box a full sized bike.
If you must drive, you can probably get away with 48 hours in many shopping malls or further out residential areas near one of the many bike trails into the city. The bus station is right near the capitol too.
lebowitz
11-04-07, 10:57 AM
Jake just returned my bike... he's a nice guy and was prompt in picking up and dropping off. Clean as a whistle, too!

Is there a community place (other than here) that people can borrow and loan bikes ? Seems like a cool idea for the car free lifestyle. You should build up credit like on Ebay

I'm coming into town for a convention from Wednesday to Sunday.

I was wondering if anyone in the DC area wouldn't mind loaning me their beater bike or something so I could remain carfree for the trip. (Granted, I'm flying out there, but I'm doing what I can.)

I'm about 6'1" and would treat it like my own...

Thanks
BarracksSi
11-04-07, 01:49 PM
Jake just returned my bike... he's a nice guy and was prompt in picking up and dropping off. Clean as a whistle, too!

Maybe I shoulda PM'd him quicker to borrow my old Schwinn MTB. ;)