Lionheart

Hi gang!

I'm a long time rider who just joined the BFs. I commute to work in Alexandria VA and love it. My fast rides happen on the weekends - if at all.

In the past I raced and toured and rode like a (young) man obsessed. Now I just want to lose 10 more pounds and be fitter. If I can get back to where I was, I'll buy a new Colnago with Campy Record (Oh baby!).

There's not too many commuters as you get out into the burbs of DC. Sometimes I feel like the only one. But if anyone wants commuting advice or needs a sensei lemme know.

Danno
Ride hard Floyd!

tulip

Welcome. I counted 120 bike commuters on my way to work in Alexandria a month or so ago. If you have a less-traveled route, some of us would be glad to know about it. The Mount Vernon Trail gets a bit crowded this time of year (but it's great in the winter!)

sfend002

What jobs do you guys have that lends itsel to bike commutes? If I did that, I wouldbe run over!

cc_rider

Welcome tp BF, Lionheart

From around Fort Hunt to around Bell Haven you can take parallel residential streets, Boulevard, Ridgecrest and Park Terrace. You'll still have to take the MVT into Alexandria, but you can switch to Commonwealth (good bike lanes) near the King St metro, take it to the end, cross Four Mile Run on the route 1 bridge, use the 4MR trail to cut over to Eads Street and take that up to Army Navy Drive and the tunnel under I-395, opposite the mall. Then across the parking lot and around the Pentagon to the Memorial Bridge.
More car traffic and slightly longer. Commonwealth is good, but I'd probably stick with the MVT.

Lionheart

Hi all,

I told you I was in the burbs. I ride from Lake Ridge to the Kingstowne area. It's 14 miles and takes me about 50 minutes. A lotta people don't know where Lake Ridge is, it's next to Occoquan.

So I use Rt. 123, Lorton Rd., Rt. 1, Telegraph Rd., Beulah (sp?) and Kingstowne Village Pkwy. It's all pretty good riding with designated bike lanes on Telegraph and Beulah. Kingstowne Village has wider right lanes that allow car and bike traffic to share the lane. This is my preference. Cars mostly stay out of marked bike lanes and so they're often full of debris.

On the busiest day of commuting I saw about 6 or 7 other riders. Not sure if they were all commuting.

Danno

tulip

The type of job is not important, just that I live in one place and work in another and connect them by a bicycle. There are other routes than the normal fastest car routes. You can get quite creative with routes, and it makes life alot more interesting.

Lionheart

If you do it you will come home like this

instead of like this

Just try it. It's good.

cc_rider

I know Lake Ridge. Used to work at Thackett's Mill, the comercial buildings down my the pond.
There's a triangle I ride at least once a year. You're close to part of it.
Fairfax to Occoquan on 123, Old Bridge and PW Parkway to Manassas, various roads through Manassas, Old Centerville Road and Braddock Road back to Fairfax. 40ish miles. A few hills but not bad. Not much shade, so I don't ride it this time of year.

Ever ridden up Tanyard Hill in Occaquan? It's a hoot.

Lionheart

Tanyard Hell... I mean Hill is on my daily commute, unless I go around it. It's a real character-builder.

cc_rider

In that case, you must have a lot of character.
Got to admire anyone who can ride up Tanyard Hill every day.