Northeast - Washington DC

Hey everyone!
I am from Washington (the state) and might get an internship in Washington DC for the summer. So before I go, I want to hear from you guys... What's the cycling like? I am racing for the first time this year (CAT5, RR/Crit/Track). Any clubs? Cool shops? Races? What's bicycle commuting like? Any cool rides? Tips? Secrets? Anything?

Hope to see you guys out on the roads there!

Thanks,
Benn

I don't race but I hear the races fill up really fast, esp. if you are a 4 or 5. There's tons of cyclists and lots of good places to ride, esp. if you have a car and can get out of the city on weekends. Even if you don't have a car you can still do some decent rides starting from the center of the city.

For recreational cycling info check out

http://www.bikepptc.org/

for commuting info

http://www.waba.org/

Once you find out where you are going to be living post again and people can give you more specific information. Its a big place.

Sweet Thanks! I'll check out those links.
Yeah as soon as I get some more info (like even get accepted...) I'll update for sure. Maybe I'll see you out there.

Good cycling area. Lots of options within a short distance travel - roads, trails, rural, suburb, city, flat land, hills, mountains.
The PPCT is a big club and does lots of rides at all level. Typical weekend day might have 20 or more ride to choose from.

Another good info site is http://bikewashington.org/

I don't race either, so I can't speak to that.

Ask again on the road racing forum - there's a large number of DC-area racers on it. Summer riding in DC is fun, you do have a lot more heat and humidity to deal with than you're accustomed to (when I lived in the Seattle area, it was never as hot in summer as DC, and when I was over in Eastern Wash, it was hotter but MUCH drier). If you wind up in the Reston/Herndon VA area (20-25 mi w of DC), Reston Bike Club has 6PM group rides with a large racer turnout on Tues & Thurs.

Racing: http://www.route1velo.com/GreenbeltInfo.asp