Ride with a 2 year old and a trailer

This topic has 24 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 11 months ago by jrenaut.

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August 17, 2012 at 1:01 am #911905

jrenaut
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Not this weekend but next I’m home alone with my nearly two year old. Starting from DC (right by Columbia Heights Metro), where can I take her that would be fun for both of us? She likes playgrounds and french fries. I’ve done Beach Drive for a while up to the school playground that’s maybe 7-10 miles north of the DC Zoo, and I could do that again, but I was looking for something else.

I think my range is 7-12 miles from the Columbia Heights Metro station, though I could push that a bit for something awesome.
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August 17, 2012 at 1:18 am #948845

ShawnoftheDread
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You could ride down to Yards Park and play in the fountains.

August 17, 2012 at 1:25 am #948846

jrenaut
Participant

We actually do that a lot – it’s awesome, but I’m looking for something different.

August 17, 2012 at 1:55 am #948854

SilverSpring
Participant

Gravelly Point to watch the planes (equipped with earmuffs, of course) and then fries at National?

The Canadian Embassy to stick hands in the flat wall fountain and then the Chinatown Five Guys?

Picking up fries and then eating them at the cool Caboose at Bluemont Park off the Custis/W&OD?

August 17, 2012 at 2:10 am #948856

jrenaut
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@SilverSpring 28529 wrote:

Picking up fries and then eating them at the cool Caboose at Bluemont Park off the Custis/W&OD?

Hmm . . . maybe Custis to Italian Store to as far as I can get before we’re totally starving? That might work.

August 17, 2012 at 2:13 am #948858

Bilsko
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I’m definitely keen to keep track of the suggestions in this thread – I’m home with my 15mo old daughter and am now equipped with a trailer. The first few weeks/months will mostly be around the neighborhood getting her – and me – used to riding together. Its gonna take a few tries before she resigns herself to the inescapability of the helmet.
I’ve been thinking of rides from me (Palisades on MacArthur) down to the Mall, and up the C&O Towpath (for a picnic maybe), out to Bethesda on the CCT…

Gravelly point is a great idea – she loves watching the planes go by.

August 17, 2012 at 12:51 pm #948871

baiskeli
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@SilverSpring 28529 wrote:

Gravelly Point to watch the planes (equipped with earmuffs, of course) and then fries at National?

The Canadian Embassy to stick hands in the flat wall fountain and then the Chinatown Five Guys?

Picking up fries and then eating them at the cool Caboose at Bluemont Park off the Custis/W&OD?

FYI, the McDonald’s on the Bluemont Junction Trail has been torn down, to make room for…a new McDonald’s.

August 17, 2012 at 12:53 pm #948872

dbb
Participant

@Bilsko 28533 wrote:

Gravelly point is a great idea – she loves watching the planes go by.

Might want to grab the picnic tables by the river about 100 yards north of the porta potties. Noise is dramatically less, which might be an issue for a young set of ears.

Still a great view.

August 17, 2012 at 1:08 pm #948876

GuyContinental
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@Bilsko 28533 wrote:

Its gonna take a few tries before she resigns herself to the inescapability of the helmet.

We managed to get our 2yr old excited about the helmet by all putting them on when we got home from work- yes, we looked ridiculous and no, it didn’t really make any sense, but the little dude got all excited about the helmet game in about 2 days and forgot to stress about it on rides.

As an added bonus he’s now “happened” to have a helmet on twice when taking kitchen faceplants, one of which probably would have been an ER visit.

August 17, 2012 at 1:10 pm #948877

eminva
Participant

Google Maps is telling me 10.1 miles from Columbia Heights to the College Park Aviation Museum by bicycle (you’ve been by there on the way to TJROW rendezvous). Don’t know about french fries around there, but the gift shop has freeze dried ice cream!

Liz

August 17, 2012 at 1:44 pm #948883

americancyclo
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@jrenaut 28531 wrote:

Hmm . . . maybe Custis to Italian Store to as far as I can get before we’re totally starving? That might work.

Mentioning the Italian Store made me think of Lyon Village Park. If you haven’t been to the Lyon Village park, it’s AWESOME! Super cool water features for the kids, might be perfect for a hot summer day
http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/parksrecreation/scripts/parks/LyonVillagePark.aspx

August 17, 2012 at 1:49 pm #948884

consularrider
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@Bilsko 28533 wrote:

…I’ve been thinking of rides from me (Palisades on MacArthur) …

Hill training on 41st from Chain Bridge?

August 17, 2012 at 1:51 pm #948886

jrenaut
Participant

If I’m coming home on the Custis mid day on a Saturday, am I going to have problems pulling the trailer? Will it be too crowded?

August 17, 2012 at 2:09 pm #948889

GuyContinental
Participant

@jrenaut 28561 wrote:

If I’m coming home on the Custis mid day on a Saturday, am I going to have problems pulling the trailer? Will it be too crowded?

Crowded, maybe- problems, not really. There will be lots of other trailer-laden folks out. Passing can be interesting if you have a burley-style (or are passing one) and the hills can be character building. But no major issues.

As much as I use the W&OD/Custis as a transportation corridor during the weekday rush hours- IMO on weekends it is absolutely for trailers, walkers, runners, family bike rides etc.

August 17, 2012 at 2:17 pm #948892

jrenaut
Participant

Not only is it a Burley, it’s a 2 kid trailer, so it’s kinda big. The S Curve of Death should be fun . . .

August 17, 2012 at 2:58 pm #948901

dbb
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I have been told that no actual deaths have occured there so the preferred term is something like “S curve of doom”
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