Northeast - Winter riding in DC?

My wife might be working on a project in DC over the Winter Holidays, and since I will be on Winter vacation (I'm a teacher) I will be joining her. The question is, how is the weather in Dec/Jan there, and can you recommend a good site to get a forecast a week in advance so I can decide if it's worth taking my bike along or not? I don't want to say I'm a wimp, but my 5am commute in Jan/Feb never gets below 35 degrees and I'm not sure if I'd like riding in anything colder than that.

Also, if it seems too miserable to ride, any suggestions on what to see while the wife's working? I've already seen Arlington, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, and LOC.

It can be a crapshoot. We have had mild Dec/Jan, and hard core cold. Generally I would say you would be safe to still ride that time of year.

Plenty of other stuff to see as well. International Spy museum, Holocaust museum. Great food almost anywhere.

-D

80346

This picture was taken during a 50 miler on Christmas Eve last year.

This year it might snow.

But if you're OK down to 35 I'd say you'd have a good chance of getting some rides in.

I am interested to see what this year winter brings. This will be my first winter riding and I hope it stays somewhat decent, so my hands to freeze to my bars ha.

Farmer's almanac calls for rough winter this year with expectation of "higher than normal (16" total) snowfall". With that, until mid January, usually minimal precip and temps during the day above freezing. And with the inauguration in January, there'll be enough hot air around here to keep the snow and cold away until February! ;-) there's also some great local (not chains) coffee houses here.

Thanks! I'll plan on bringing the bike then. She got official word that she'll have to be there on Dec 20th for a week or two.

....hard core cold.

Surely you jest! Sure it gets cold here, but nothing compared to New England (compared to SoCal it is a bit cold, and with some humidity mixed in). The lowest you can typically expect in Dec-Jan-Feb is 20-ish, occasionally the teens (but that's usually out in the suburbs, away from the heat sink that is the city). One the sun comes out, it warms up to well above freezing more often than not. It's totally ride-ready weather, in my eyes.

Most of the local clubs and teams ride year-round, as the roads are seldom ever impassable due to snow and ice. On the colder mornings, it's easy enough to layer and go: I typically do 20 pre-dawn miles at Hains Point or out to Potomac and back during the winter months without any big problems. Just wear layers that can breathe and you'll be just fine.

Surely you jest! Sure it gets cold here, but nothing compared to New England (compared to SoCal it is a bit cold, and with some humidity mixed in). The lowest you can typically expect in Dec-Jan-Feb is 20-ish, occasionally the teens (but that's usually out in the suburbs, away from the heat sink that is the city). One the sun comes out, it warms up to well above freezing more often than not. It's totally ride-ready weather, in my eyes.

Most of the local clubs and teams ride year-round, as the roads are seldom ever impassable due to snow and ice. On the colder mornings, it's easy enough to layer and go: I typically do 20 pre-dawn miles at Hains Point or out to Potomac and back during the winter months without any big problems. Just wear layers that can breathe and you'll be just fine.

Whatever dude, sheesh. I was simply explaining that the temps can vary widly in this area. Some years it has been quite warm. I know because a couple years ago it rained on christmas day, and I had been up on the roof xmas eve patching it from the oak tree that fell on it.

Other years it can be pretty cold. Obviously not as bad a New England, but I was going off the OP's description, and teens I would think could be "brutal cold" for someone uninterested in going below 35.

-D

Whatever dude, sheesh. I was simply explaining that the temps can vary widly in this area. Some years it has been quite warm. I know because a couple years ago it rained on christmas day, and I had been up on the roof xmas eve patching it from the oak tree that fell on it.

Other years it can be pretty cold. Obviously not as bad a New England, but I was going off the OP's description, and teens I would think could be "brutal cold" for someone uninterested in going below 35.

Agreed there: if you're used to SoCal weather, anything in the east that's below 40 will seem very cold (the "raw cold" factor of cool temps and humidity - it shocked the snot out of me when I moved to New England from Utah).

But yes, the temperature can vary quite a bit. I've done New Year's Day rides where it's topped 70 as well as when it never crested 30 - such is the fickle nature of DC's climate! :)

But I'll stick to what I tell my skiing friends: it's always cycling season in the DC area! ;)

How cold is to cold for riding, know thats kinda a person to person question. Also what clothing are you wearing for it? Like winter bibs and underarmer with jacket?

Yes, teens is pretty cold to me. I've been in that climate before - New Year's in Upper Michigan and I used to ski a lot - but pretty bundled up and not doing an aerobic activity.

My morning commute starts before sun up, so I've ridden in 35-40 degree temps using regular shorts and jersey with a base layer, wind shell, arm/leg warmers, light toe covers and a headband that covers my ears. I'm just not sure how quickly it gets unbareable south of 35. I think my face would be sensitive to the cold wind, and I'd want to protect my chest of course.

I'm not much into cold weather riding, but I usually get one or two rides each month in January and February.
One year I rode about 12 miles (and back) on the C&O Canal around noon on New Year's Day. I think it was out at Swains Lock. Ground was a bit "crunchy" but the frozen waterfalls were spectacular.

Potomac Pedaler's do their winter training rides every Saturday from Belle Haven in Alexandria. Pretty good back road route to Mount Vernon.

And there is always Beach Drive.

I think it would just be fun to ride out in the cold just to see the peoples faces when they see you out their.

Farmer's almanac calls for rough winter this year with expectation of "higher than normal (16" total) snowfall".

I hope so, because the snow tires on my car have hardly earned their keep. :lol:

Winters can be nonexistent here, I'd say. They can get cold, but they haven't stayed cold -- it never really feels like "Winter" unless the snow on the ground is well over a month old.

It can be wet, or it can be as dry as a desert. Be flexible.

Oh yeah --

Also, if it seems too miserable to ride, any suggestions on what to see while the wife's working? I've already seen Arlington, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, and LOC.

Follow the tourists -- they'll show you what to see (it's like following the rats when the ship is sinking :lol: ).

Everywhere you turn, there's another exhibit, monument, or memorial. You can walk across the Navy Memorial on Penn Ave. without realizing it's even there; the Japanese American memorial is tucked between streets here. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=D+St+Nw,+New+Jersey+Ave+NW,+Washington,+DC&sll=38.894542,-77.010461&sspn=0.001315,0.00228&ie=UTF8&ll=38.894444,-77.01044&spn=0.001315,0.00228&t=h&z=19&iwloc=addr&lci=lmc:wikipedia_en) Basically, if you see a statue or sculpture, go check it out -- it's probably about something or someone with historical significance.

Each of the usual museums can take up half a day if you skim through; you can spend a full day per museum if you really pay attention and check everything out. Don't know if the American Indian museum was open yet when you were here, but it's pretty awesome. The Newseum is now open (paid admission, though) and is loaded with interesting stuff (especially if your dad's in the newspaper business like mine is).

You haven't really "seen" the Korean War Memorial until you've seen it covered in snow.

My wife might be working on a project in DC over the Winter Holidays, and since I will be on Winter vacation (I'm a teacher) I will be joining her. The question is, how is the weather in Dec/Jan there, and can you recommend a good site to get a forecast a week in advance so I can decide if it's worth taking my bike along or not? I don't want to say I'm a wimp, but my 5am commute in Jan/Feb never gets below 35 degrees and I'm not sure if I'd like riding in anything colder than that.

Also, if it seems too miserable to ride, any suggestions on what to see while the wife's working? I've already seen Arlington, Smithsonian, Lincoln Memorial, and LOC.

Not sure if its the same around you but here in the DC area people seem to freak out when it snows. Like you would think people would get uset to it, but no, they close schools even before snow or ice is on the ground. That said I dont mind the hole closing school part when I was in high school but its really funny. Stay away from your food stores cause its like a ware for milk and TP lol.

Not sure if its the same around you but here in the DC area people seem to freak out when it snows. Like you would think people would get uset to it, but no, they close schools even before snow or ice is on the ground. That said I dont mind the hole closing school part when I was in high school but its really funny. Stay away from your food stores cause its like a ware for milk and TP lol.
Around here, people freak out when it rains even lightly (it rains less than 20 days per year around here), driving really slow and/or crashing, running from building to building like they're gonna melt, and although we don't close the schools, some parents let their kids stay home for rain.

Even I'd freak out if it snowed here. The part of LA I grew up in only saw snow once in the 20 years I lived there, which made the news even though it snowed for less than 1 minute and didn't stay on the ground at all!

Any route suggestions? If it helps, we'll probably be close to the Pepperdine University campus since that's what my wife will be working on.

There's a Pepperdine Campus in DC? Who knew? Whats the address?

There's a Pepperdine Campus in DC? Who knew? Whats the address?
Apparently there will be soon. It never ceases to amaze me how far some of these universities will make satellite campuses. Rumor has it that only the law and business students go to the beautiful, spacious, Malibu campus. My friend got his psych degree from there and only set foot in the Encino campus, which is just an office building.

I'll see if my wife has a physical address for this place. It also amazes me that there's a demand for "graduate student dorms" which have shared rooms and a shared toilet.

I guess a satellite campus in DC isn't that unusual these days. Its good for summer internships, public policy programs, etc.

DC will be a nice change of pace from all that beautiful weather you guys have out there. Unless some freak weather thing happens it will be relatively mild but kind of cloudy and blah.

You haven't really "seen" the Korean War Memorial until you've seen it covered in snow.

+1 ...quite a sight.

As everyone else has said, DC winter weather is pretty variable. I ride year round here...the odds are you'll have at least a few days during the course of the week that are above freezing and dry.

Just watch out for any major snow storm...we don't get many but when we do, it can easily take them a week to get the streets plowed.

I guess a satellite campus in DC isn't that unusual these days. Its good for summer internships, public policy programs, etc.

You guessed it. It's for Poli Sci majors for a 1 semester internship. Nice address.
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Washington&state=DC&address=2011+Pennsylvania+Avenue#a/maps/m::12:38.900641:-77.047311:0::/e

Oh nice place for the campus, right downtown and in a very good area to. You will have all the monuments to ride around and things are flat around their. Also it wont be to packed like in the summer around the monuments with tourist that just stop in the middle of road.

On a side note since your going to be in DC suggest making a trip up to Georgetown which is not to far or a walk/ride from that location. Their are some great places for dinner, bars, and shops, along with a good LBS in my option Bike Pro Shop right at the far east part of Georgetown.

OK, 99.99% sure I'm going. We'll be staying at the Melrose Hotel (all but one night are on her company's tab). I found the C&O trail, and was wondering if that is any good? Also, any good places to rent a bike? It looks like it might be too expensive to put mine on the airplane.

It's forecast to snow tomorrow morning (October 29).

Sorry, I should have mentioned I'll be there from Dec 27 through Jan 1. If I try to take the bike along, I plan on checking the forecast before I fly out. No use in bringing it if they're expecting a week long blizzard!

It's forecast to snow tomorrow morning (October 29).

That was a bust like most forcasts here.
When I heard that last evening I was rolling my eyes in disbelief. I think the forecasters like to get the public all worked up.