rogue9607

Well, the cherry blossoms lured me away from my planned ride and I only got one lap in at Hains Point and walked around the tidal basin.

Here are the maps and profiles for each ride. The Cameron Run ride runs counter-clockwise starting on Eisenhower at the bottom of the map. the Belle Haven ride runs clockwise starting from the upper right corner (I think this one is labeled, but I'm not sure which version I used). I prefer the ride from Cameron Run, but I don't see that one on their schedule yet. I have larger versions if anyone wants them, but there was a 100K upload limit per image.

What groups do the rides at Hains Point? I really enjoy riding there since it's out in the sun and I don't have to worry much about people/traffic.

man910

I did the Belle Haven ride last year and was in the fast group. Man, those guys are fast. I finally couldn't hang on to them and dropped off. One guy was very nice and stayed with me since it was my first ride. I told him not to bother. I would find my way out by asking people. 5 minutes later, I spotted the group and caught up to them. It was the end of the ride so I almost made it through all the way.

The nice part of the ride was that these 4 guys were doing pacelines for a "B" group. When I rode with the "B" group in Reston, they were much slower and did not do any pacelines.


I love Hains Point. I used to ride there every night after work last year. Unfortunately, I just got out of the hospital from some major surgery (appendix ruptured) and won't be able to get up to speed probably until the end of June. I'll look you up then and see if you're interested in riding together.

rogue9607

The first time I did that ride I was with the lead group until we were going around the athletic fields, when the line fractured and I was in the second half (actually took me a while to realize it). Another guy and I tried to bridge the gap, and we finally caught up right before the first climb. Between bridging the gap, the climb, and a bad shift, I blew up. When I got home and looked at the profile I could see exactly where it was. Kinda funny that I'd just thought to myself that this was a pretty nice flat ride. The other guy couldn't hold with them either, so we just took it easy until the next group came along.


We're going out to Hawaii on a cruise in June and should be back just before the end of the month (still trying to decide if we're taking the bikes). Send me a note when you're back in action.

Oh, on the Cameron Run profile, the flat section at the beginning and end is a bit longer than the actual ride since i started the GPS at Telegraph and rode to the starting area.

man910

Will do. When I went to Hawaii a few years ago, I saw triathletes training for the Iron Man on the Big Island. It was really hot and they were just riding on the wide shoulder of the highway near Hilo Airport.


I sent you a PM so that you could send me the bigger version. Did you get my e-mail?

rogue9607

Got the email... there were two addresses listed. I sent it to one of them this morning and just forwarded it to the other one. Let me know if you get either.

I'd really like to take our bikes with us, but I'm not sure if the cost of flying them out there would be justified by the amount of time we could use them.

roadrider_va

I live in Belleview Alexandria (just south of old town). I'm currently training for an 1800 mile ride in September, so I'm riding any chance I get and trying to slip one long ride in ever weekend. If anybody in my area is interested in training/riding, please contact me.

My favorite rides currently are the W&OD trail and Potomac MD/Great Falls Area. I also do quite a few quick rides on the Mt Vernon trail in the mornings and sometimes in the evenings. I am currently riding up to 60 miles when I head out for a long ride, but I'm working up to a century in the coming months. My average speeds are around 14mph on the longer rides and about 16mph on shorter sprint rides.

These long rides are starting to get a bit lonesome on my own, so it would be great to have one or 2 training partners!

rogue9607

When do you usually take your longer rides? Also, where do you ride towards Potomac and Great Falls? I've heard several people mention this area, but I'm not familiar with the route.

roadrider_va

We have started in the parking lot across from Old Angler Inn at Great Falls, then ridden north on River Road, through Potomac into Darnestown MD area. Very rural, not much traffic, horse farms, great scenery. As far as the longer rides, unfortunately, I only have time to do those on the weekends, starting around 10am. The W&OD gets pretty congested with "weekend strollers" that don't know the meaning of "passing on your left".

man910

If you have a cyclocross/hybrid/mountain bike, you can also get to Great Falls from the Mt. Vernon Trail. You just have to cross over to Key Bridge and pick up the C&O Canal Trail or for a little while, the paved Crescent Trail.


The Mt. Vernon Trail is worse I think although my brother hit the pavement on the W&OD when he was trying to avoid untethered little kids horsing on the wrong side of the trail.

rogue9607

All of the trails around here get crazy on weekends... especially Mount Vernon when you hit an unanticipated charity walk. (nothing against their causes, and I applaud them for taking action, but...)

I have every other Friday off, and I usually reserve my long rides for those days. It's so much easier to get in a rythem and just go when "on your left" isn't part of that rythem. Have you ever ridden River Road between the Cap Crescent trail and where you normall join River Road? If it's not terribly bad, it'd make a nice alternative giving me a ~60 trip.

I'm going to have to head up there one of these weekends and give that route a look. How long is the ride from Great Falls and how fast do you normally go? Most of my weekend rides are with my wife and she's just getting her cycling legs back this spring. Thanks!

joshdcu

Hey All,

I'm new to these boards, and just saw this thread. I'm in DC (Dupont) and I'm looking for others nearby to ride with. (Yeah, I know about Potomac Pedalers/etc.)

Basically, I'd like to find some semi-regular or occasional riding partners/group to go out on road rides with.

Send me a note if you feel like it.

Thanks,
Josh
joshdcu@hotmail.com

SSC

God I wished I lived closer to DC. I try to make the long drive on Thursdays to DC to run laps at Haines Point.

phillydcbiker

I'm looking for a riding partner in DC, anyone want to ride?

man910

When? Where? And how fast?

DC_Emily

I'm down. When are you trying to ride? I'll watch this thread, if I don't see you post, I'll pm you.

Cycloboy, moxfyre, velogirl? anybody else interested?

tulip

man910 asked the right questions, and I'll be looking forward to the answers. Still no road bike for me. I"m working on that, though.

tink20seven

Hey just saw the the thread,

joshdcu there's a ton of people up and around your way who are super friendly and willing to show you the city. Matter of fact, this friday a bunch of us are going to meet up in downtown and ride.

If your interested, I can fill you in on the details. Just shoot me a PM.

Other than friday, There are always the midweek afterwork laps around Haines point and the pack rides up the Crescent trail to Bethesda. Anytime you feel like meeting some new Dc/vA people let me know..

oh and what UP Dc_Emily!
Long time no talkie

DC_Emily

Hi babe. Just got back from PA. yipadeedoo.

It's on this Friday!!

Crinolin

I am going to come in town and ride this Saturday and I would love to meet up with some people. I could be at the Key Bridge at 8am.

911Steve

Anyone on here ever ride a little further out? I am in western Prince William County and did a search here for other riders, but haven't found many.

cc_rider

Potomac Pedalers do group rides out of Nokesville a couple of times a month. There was a 50 miler just last Sunday.
Check the ride list https://www.bikepptc.org/

strider

Another DC area rider here, and a newbie to road bikes who would welcome a ride partner. I'm south of Alexandria and off the Mt Vernon trail. Any thought given to a "forum encounter", a meeting of bike forumites from the area at a central location for a social or group ride?

moxfyre

I'd be up for that

911Steve

Thanks for the tip!
I'm trying to sort out what group I belong in. What are "advanced riding tecniques?"
https://www.bikepptc.org/classification.html

theopowers

I'm up for it depending on schedule. PM me details if I'm invited!