InfiniteRegress

This week has been slow at the office because no one's been there. The only reason I had for going into work today was a meeting with some coworkers. So, I started my day out later than normal. I biked the 6 miles to the Metro station as usual and boarded the train. As soon as I sat down, I pulled out my Blackberry to see that the lone meeting of the day had been canceled. I called my coworker to tell him I was going to head home instead of going all the way downtown for absolutely nothing, got off at the next stop, unfolded my bike, and hopped on my bike. The weather was cool but the sun was out and I decided to just do a long bike ride home. Smiling, I thought to myself, "The day just can't get any better."

I exited the Rockville Metro station and proceeded to cross 355. I don't ride in this area often and had not been through the downtown area in quite a few years. So, you can imagine my surprise to see a whole bunch of new shops lining the street. And then, I saw it - a Fractured Prune! For those of you not familiar with this cool little place, they create hand-made, custom donuts right there while you wait. They are as delicious as anything with probably 1,000 calories in it can be. Well, I had to stop. I brought my bike inside, ordered up a chocolate and cherry glazed donut and ate the warm treat. After I finished, I hopped back on my bike for the 15-mile ride back home. The sun was shining and I had tons of energy (thanks to my 1,000 calorie breakfast) and I thought, "Wow. This just can't get any better!"

But better still it got....I discovered a beautiful, scenic ride along the Rockville Millennium Trail, which is basically a well-marked bike route through residential neighborhoods and well-maintained MUPs that allowed me to avoid all the nasty traffic on 355 and 28. And then I picked up a newly-installed bike lane along 28 and headed the rest of the way home in minimal traffic. There was a little headwind, but that just gave me more of an opportunity to burn off my donut. I got home, got back into my PJs, and am now cuddled on my couch with my dog.

What a perfect day.

Kabir424

Mmmmmm. Donuts.

Despite the fact that you live near DC I would say that you are a very very lucky person. Sounds like a great commute to me.

InfiniteRegress

They are the best. It was so warm and hot and crunchy on the outside but nice and moist on the inside. Auughh....

What's wrong with DC?

Kabir424

Politics: Poly = Many + Ticks = Blood Sucking Parasites

Besides the politicians and the fact that it gets cold and, from what I hear, the awful crime rate I guess there's nothing wrong with DC.

InfiniteRegress

It's not that bad. Actually, if we could just get rid of the lobbyists and lawyers, it would be fine here!

As for the weather, it's pretty darn mild, especially during the past 10 years. We rarely get snow and the temps during the winter months seem to stay in the 50s. It was 69 on Sunday. Regarding the crime, yes, there is crime and it's bad in parts of the District and PG county (MD), but fairly well-contained in those "bad" areas that most people know to just avoid. The police here seem to take the Hampsterdam approach. Montgomery County is really nice, as are many parts of NW DC.

Seriously, I've lived here all my life but am very well-traveled (both in the US and internationally). DC is really a great place to live. It has a little bit of everything. It's not really a big city, but more like a sleepy little town that wants to be a big city but just doesn't have the desire. Though I will admit that I am a tad biased

kegoguinness

Infinite! I just last night was looking for a way to get a longer bike portion of my commute from Tenleytown DC to Gaithersburg. Currently I bike to Tenley Metro and ride to Shady Grove, then ride 4.5 miles to the office. I was looking precisely at Rt 28/Damascus. Pray tell me more about that portion and also the Millenium trail. I was hoping basically ride only up to Bethesda, and then ride the rest.

kegoguinness

I meant ride Metro to Bethesda from Tenley, and bike the rest to Gaithersburg

InfiniteRegress

Kegoguinness, I just sent you a private message to discuss further and clarify what you're looking for. But as I re-read your post, I think I understand what you're asking. I believe that the Millenium Trail starts in downtown Rockville just outside the Rockville Metro Station. If you exit the Rockville station and cross 355, you can ride on the bike lane past the movie theater and then into the historic area (where all the houses are old and Victorian looking). You should immediately start to see signs to head to "West Rockville" and the Millenium Trail (they are green bike route signs). If you follow those signs, you will meander through a quaint little neighborhood and then onto some main road (can't think of the name, but it's where the Hard Time's Cafe is) which also has a nice bike lane. Continue following the signs and they will lead you to a little path that then takes you through a school yard. In less than a mile, you'll be dumped out onto East Gude Drive (still the Millenium Trail).

From here, depending on where you need to go, you can do one of two things. If you go left and head towards Key West Ave, the nicely paved trail will eventually become a more poorly maintained MUP that is not as nice to ride on, but upon crossing Shady Grove Rd you will have a bike lane all the way up Key West Ave. If instead you continue straight onto Piccard Drive, you will end up in King Farm, which has a very nice bike route that eventually takes you to Shady Grove Metro station. From there, you would proceed as usual. But contact me privately and I can share more details. It's a little hard in this area of MoCo to find decent bike routes, but they are there.

Just curious - when you leave Shady Grove and head to G'burg, what route do you take?

kegoguinness

I ride sidewalk along 355 for about 4 blocks, then turn left into some neighborhood on Westland Dr. There's a little cut-through trail next that puts me on West Deer Park Rd, and I take that to Muddy Branch. Then Left on West Diamond for a block, right on Perry Pkwy to my office!

InfiniteRegress

Too funny...we have an almost-identical commute, but in reverse. Yeah, I cut through that neighborhood as well and take the same path. If you want to avoid Muddy Branch, you can make a right on Cedar (off of W. Deer Park and just before you get to Muddy Branch), left on Miles, right on Water, and then left on W. Diamond. It's actually a little longer, but you don't have to deal with the sidewalk on Muddy Branch. Otherwise, you're pretty much doing the best commute that I could come up with. There's another route that goes through King Farm and then on to Industrial Drive, but then you have to cut through some nasty wooded area and then up a huge hill onto West Deer Park. Personally, I'd rather just do the sidewalk on 355 for the short distance up to Westland.

Alfster 

Sound's like a great commute. Especially when it ends up at a donut store

cyclefreaksix

mmmmmmm, sweet life giving doughnuts...(said in a Homer Simpson voice)

kegoguinness

Thanks Infinite! I don't mind Muddy Branch as that is 2 lanes in each direction as you know, so I chug along in the right lane. I'd love to cut out the few sidewalk blocks along 355, but don't feel comfortable riding the right lane on 355. Crazy fast lane with people trying to access 370/Sam Eig hwy. Again, appreciate the route hints and glad you had such a great ride way back at the start of this thread

UberIM

Nice.
What kind of dog?
We have three labs-two of whom are therapy dogs

InfiniteRegress

We have two dogs; one is an old golden retriever mutt who is originally from Israel (he only speaks Hebrew). He is 15 and just the sweetest guy in the world. He used to be a therapy dog when he lived in Israel (worked with children). Our other dog is an 11-pound Yorkie mix and he is a terror.