Where to do training rides?

Ft Hunt park is better than Hain’s Pt; only one stop sign and no police around, less traffic, etc.

This is about an hour’s drive outside DC, but the area around Thurmont, MD is fantastic for bike riding, very rural, good roads, and *very* little traffic on a weekend. There are hills if you want them, or you can avoid them by carefully choosing your routes. Pretty countryside too (covered bridges and farms). The area around Poolesville is nice too but there is more traffic, some of which is quite impatient with bike riders.

Southern MD and the Eastern Shore are very good too but I find them rather boring (very flat, with little to look at for the most part) but you can go fast.

Also keep in mind that indoor training is very time efficient. (You don’t have to stop for intersections/lights, etc.).

A bike trainer would allow him to use his racing bike. You would also keep road salt, grit and slush off the racing bike over the winter. A spin bike is a decent alternative for winter/off-season training too.

Indoor training is not as fun as riding outside, and you still need to do at least some outdoor riding to develop bike handling skills. (Hill work is better outdoors too, unless you can prop up the front wheel a lot.) But if he’s not interested in bike commuting and bike touring, indoor cycling is a very good option. Some top pro triathletes and road cyclists do much or most of their bike training indoors. Partly because it’s time efficient, but also because it is safer. (No risk of colliding with a car indoors, although you never know if an out-of-control driver will come barreling through your garage door or front door. It happens.) This is especially true for faster sessions. Faster speeds always lower safety margins, all other things being equal, especially for faster riders.

Of course, he wouldn’t have to ride indoors all the time.

@Chasingpars 100936 wrote:

Members.

Any solid recommendations on roads/trails for time trialing in NoVa? I’m familiar with the WO&D and am looking for additional places to get into an areo tuck and hammer. I am certainly willing to drive to a more rural area if it facilitates a flat course with few stops.

Thanks!

You could ride training loops around this area all day without putting your foot down more than a couple times. Of course, it’s not NoVa… -Jeff

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/6564888

Many local shops lead training rides and fitness rides.

@rcannon100 100961 wrote:

Pete’s rides are excellent!

Thanks! I lead rides at Bikenetic in Falls Church. They are Sunday morning rides and change each week. Some are training rides, some are just fun or touristy rides. They are announced on our Facebook page. We also lead Tuesday night mountain bike rides at Wakefield (Audrey Moore Rec Center) in Fairfax.

Most shops lead rides during the season. There aren’t too many shops that lead through the winter. Basically I’d start by contacting your favorite local shop and see what they do. Broaden your search until you find the rides that you want.

Tri360 does their Saturday morning ride all year. 20 miles or so in north Arlington, with a lot of tri athletes in the group.