Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Nation's Capital ride report

Done this one hundreds of times. Between a buddy coming, a wonderful fall day, a camera and that fact that I'd cross the 2,000 mile mark for the year, I thought I'd try a ride report.

Stats: 44.92 miles, a little over 3 hours. Temperature in the mid-60s, sunny.

Route: King Street metro (Alexandria) through Del Ray to Shirlington, up W&OD to Custis trail, along Custis to Roslyn, Across bridge to Georgetown, Along Canal to Capital Crescent trail, through Bethesda to top of Rock Creek Park, through park back to Georgetown, along monuments to 14th street bridge, then back along the water to Alexandria.

Start through under metro rail on Commonwealth:
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http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/001.jpg

Russel Road at speed:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/002.jpg[URL="http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/002.jpg"] (http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/001.jpg)

Here's my speed:
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/003.jpg

Crossing 395 into Shirlington:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/005.jpg

W&OD in Arlington:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/006.jpg

Georgetown from the bridge:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/010-1.jpg

Canal in Georgetown:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/011-1.jpg

Potomac from Capital Crescent trail:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/013.jpg

My buddy Eric next to the trail (he's a volunteer police officer):

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/020.jpg

Bethesda, where we stopped for fuel:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/022.jpg

Dirt path coming out of Bethesda

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/024.jpg

Shot of Rock Creek taken at speed through the park (they close besch drive to cars!):

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/032.jpg

Bridge in the Park, just below the zoo:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/035.jpg

Sunset from the monuments

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/038.jpg

Me in front of the Jefferson (thanks to the cycling team at McGill for the jersey!):

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/041.jpg

Sunset from 14th street bridge, over the Pentagon:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/042.jpg

View of King Street in Old Town Alexandria:

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd133/adrien_028/050.jpg

A wonderful day and one of the best rides in the area. If anybody ever comes to DC and wants to do it, PM me.

thanks for the ride report and photos. Looks like a great scenic ride. And talk about riding through/past points of history.

cool pics

Crossing the 395? Is that a freeway?...Where are all the cars? The fwys here are still packed at 2 am!:eek:

Nice pics and no hands!:D

Your pictures brought back many great memories of rides in DC, the Watergate, Georgetown, Rock Creek, the Potomac, the monuments and Old Town Alexandria. Great shots of the fall foliage, I loved riding in DC at this time of the year. My son graduated from American University in 2003. I took my bike with me twice a year to DC to visit. We used to do the Capital Crescent Trail, Rock Creek and my favorite was to ride to Mount Vernon. I liked to get up early, ride down to the Lincoln Memorial, climb to the top of the steps and watch the sun come up over DC. Again, thanks for sharing the pictures.

I visit DC twice a year on business and your pics are making me scheme about how to get ahold of a bike while I'm there. Thanks!

I visit DC twice a year on business and your pics are making me scheme about how to get ahold of a bike while I'm there. Thanks!

My LBS rents used bikes...let me know if you want a buddy for the ride

Great ride and pics! Thanks for posting your route. I spend most of my time on the MV Trail which is great....but I need to venture out a bit.

Thank you for sharing the report and photos. I was pleased to see the Potomac again - part of your route is part of the route I took to Milepost Zero on the C & O.

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for posting them.

I grew up in Alexandria and that was a nice reminder of 27 years ago, Thanks.