Where to ride in D.C.?
06-17-12, 03:45 PM
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Where to ride in D.C.?
I'm in D.C. for a few days and wondering where I should go for a good ride. I'm in Glover Park (Georgetown), and would leave from here. Any Ideas?
Thanks,
-Scott
Thanks,
-Scott
06-17-12, 03:51 PM
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A lot of folks ride the canal towpath along the C+O.....requires
some kinda MTB. I no longer live there, so some others ought to
chime in.
some kinda MTB. I no longer live there, so some others ought to
chime in.
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06-17-12, 05:23 PM
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I was in the same boat in late May. I rode the Capital Crescent trail, Mt. Vernon trail, and W&OD trail. These are multi-user and a little crowded on weekends, but still pretty nifty. From the Mt. Vernon trail in Arlington, VA, you can jump across the memorial bridge and do a loop of the capital mall. I found it's mostly resurfaced and way less of a pothole patch than in years past.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
06-17-12, 07:52 PM
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From the Mt. Vernon trail in Arlington, VA, you can jump across the memorial bridge and do a loop of the capital mall. I found it's mostly resurfaced and way less of a pothole patch than in years past.
06-17-12, 07:57 PM
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I was in the same boat in late May. I rode the Capital Crescent trail, Mt. Vernon trail, and W&OD trail. These are multi-user and a little crowded on weekends, but still pretty nifty. From the Mt. Vernon trail in Arlington, VA, you can jump across the memorial bridge and do a loop of the capital mall. I found it's mostly resurfaced and way less of a pothole patch than in years past.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
06-17-12, 08:48 PM
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Looks like you made up your mind. The Mt. Vernon trail is nice - Alexandria, cool views of Lincoln and Washington monuments, you can link back into the Mall and ride back to G-town right in front of the Kennedy Center, etc.
If you end up doing another ride, the Capital Crescent is very cool and links into Rock Creek Park, which makes for a nice big loop. That loop does a good job of masking the fact you're in a big city.
If you end up doing another ride, the Capital Crescent is very cool and links into Rock Creek Park, which makes for a nice big loop. That loop does a good job of masking the fact you're in a big city.
06-18-12, 12:44 PM
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Scott, not sure if you are just starting to ride or not but head over the key bridge and take a left on the mount vernon. But if you are good with hills (and watching out for pedestrian traffic) go to the Custis trail instead for a good workout. That trail intersects the W O&D. From there you can take a left and head to the mount vernon trail but its a ways to complete the loop back home. Ever want another vintage rider by your side give me a shout, I'm always on the W O&D - just posted my Fuji on https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...des-Thread-1-1 Happy riding.
06-18-12, 12:51 PM
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Alternately you can go north, up Rock Creek, either in the road or on the bike path. It goes miles and miles and is mostly very nice. Though now that I think about it, I haven't done that since about 1983. Is Rock Creek Park still there?
06-18-12, 01:15 PM
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One of the local bike shops runs a group ride with a good route you could do on your own on a weekend:
https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/30465866
I say on the weekend just because a large part of beach drive in rock creek park is closed to cars and there are lots of people biking. During the week this is high-speed commuter traffic hell.
There is also a paved path in rock creek park before the road part - you can take it from Georgetown north in the park: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/104200627
The paved path is much narrower and you can only go around 15mph so it wouldn't be a good fit if you're looking for a faster workout.
https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/30465866
I say on the weekend just because a large part of beach drive in rock creek park is closed to cars and there are lots of people biking. During the week this is high-speed commuter traffic hell.
There is also a paved path in rock creek park before the road part - you can take it from Georgetown north in the park: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/104200627
The paved path is much narrower and you can only go around 15mph so it wouldn't be a good fit if you're looking for a faster workout.
