Advice for someone new to this

[dplasters]

First – the route
My wife and I are buying a town-home near the Vienna Metro (just south of it). She will be walking to the metro and I will be biking the whopping 3.2 miles to work just off of Gallows Road. My plan is to take Lee Highway. Does anyone have experience on this road? The lights aren’t super close together but my hope is that it keeps it relatively safe for bicycle traffic. Any feedback on Lee highway between Blake Lane and Gallows Road would be greatly appreciated.

Second – the bike
I don’t currently own a bike. So I’ll be needing to buy one of those two wheeled contraptions. As the bike will only be used for commuting to and from work and to and from the grocery store I’m not trying to spend a lot and I’m trying to keep it simple to keep the maintenance down. My inner cheapskate wants me to buy a Vilano Edge for only $250 and call it a day. My inner maintenancephobe wants me to purchase a Spot Dualie. Any advice on this? I am concerned that I will struggle on the hills particularly on Lee Highway between Blake and Nutley but I’ve never ridden a single speed bike so I don’t know how steep a hill needs to be before it becomes daunting. I have a psychological obsession with belt driven bikes since discovering them. Less maintenance is always better to me. The only reason my car runs is because it tells me when the tire pressure is low and when it needs servicing. But I’ll be storing the bike indoors, so is a belt really worth all that extra money?

Additional info:
My fitness – I work out 4-5 days a week, walk 18 holes a golf once a week and generally am very active. I feel fairly confident that I will do alright, but understand that everything uses muscles in a slightly different way.

Budget – Max is $900 would much rather spend less than $500.

My office has a gym/shower so getting a little sweaty on the way to work is no problem.

Topic

[hozn]

I think a single-speed is a great cost-saving idea. I don’t know the bikes you mentioned, but anything that has standard/modern components (1 1/8 threadless steerer, standard dimension bb shell, etc.) should be easy to service. The hills might be tough the first couple times, but there is nothing around here that can’t be ridden on a SS — just maybe gear it a bit easier (e.g. 44:16 instead of 48:16).

I would think an expectation of spending $400 (new) might be better than $250 from a maintenance perspective.

[Greenbelt]

I’ll put in a vote for a multi-geared bike. There are lots of great city bikes in the $500 range with a wide range of gears and pretty bulletproof for maintenance. With an 8 speed rear cassette, there is plenty of “space” for crud buildup — that is, even if you don’t keep your drive train all that clean, as many commuters don’t (especially me) it’ll still usually work decently. I like gears when riding in traffic because sometimes you just want to go fast and sometimes you need to go slow, and it’s easier for me to shift than change my cadence. Plus it’s easier getting up hills with a load of groceries.

In VA I try to steer people to a shop called Bikenetic, right off the W&OD trail — ask them about a Kona Dew (aluminum), which is right about $500 or a Jamis Coda Sport (steel, about $550). My wife owns a shop in MD that sells the same brands, they’re a good value — probably her two most popular commuter/hybrids. Both can easily be equipped with a rack and fenders for a bit more. -Jeff

[DismalScientist]

Lee Highway… I think it would suck. I would look at going north of 66. There is some bike trail on the north side of the Vienna Metro that ends up at Tapawingo. Follow that to the W&OD. Turn right at Gallows Road to Merrifield.

If you want a new bike cheap, try bikesdirect.com or Nashbar. There seems to be little price penalty to move up to a 3 speed internal hub or a 14 speed derailleur setup. I don’t think you “need” anything more than a fixie/singlespeed, but YMMV. Depending on your technical competence, I would also check out used bikes on Craigslist and refurbished bikes at the Old Bike Shop and Phoenix Bikes in Arlington.

If you are looking for a bike of the type Greenbelt suggests, I would look at a Motobecane Cafe Sprint, currently on sale at bikesdirect.com for $500.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I wouldn’t ride Lee Hwy. Try Vaden to the trail to Tapawingo, then Cottage to Gallows. Or Country Creek to Nutley, then Kingsley to Cottage.

[lordofthemark]

@Greenbelt 82895 wrote:

In VA I try to steer people to a shop called Bikenetic, right off the W&OD trail — ask them about a Kona Dew (aluminum), which is right about $500 or a Jamis Coda Sport (steel, about $550). My wife owns a shop in MD that sells the same brands, they’re a good value — probably her two most popular commuter/hybrids. Both can easily be equipped with a rack and fenders for a bit more. -Jeff

I got a Kona Dew from Bikenetics in December, and so far I like it very much. I am not in such good shape that I could manage the local hills on a single speed, and I use it for weekends rides as well as occasional the 5 and a half mile bike leg of a multimodal commute.

[n18]

First: the route

I walked and biked that segment many times on Lee Highway, using the sidewalk only. It’s not very bike friendly, but passable. I use a hybrid bike with front and seat suspension(Fuji Crosstown 1.3 2013, $350). Only the north side on Lee Highway has sidewalks. Here are some comments if you want to stick to Lee Highway(Going east while checking Google Maps):

• Between Vaden Dr and Nutley ST: Multispeed bike is required if you are going west, sometimes I just go to Vienna Metro, then south to Vaden Dr to avoid that uphill.
• Just east of Nutley ST, there is a gas station on the north side, and there is no accessibility entrance(not sure what else to call it) to the sidewalk. This is one of two areas that I have to stop and carry my bike over the edge of the sidewalk in the whole segment. After a while, I just could do it without getting off my bike.
• Between Hideaway RD and Hunter RD there is a hidden paved unmaintained bike path that is short, but has uphill spots. When you go west, the exit is in a very blind spot area for right-turning traffic, so just go north on Hideaway RD, and after about 10 Yards or so at the intersection, do a U-Turn.
• An alternative way between Nutley ST and Hunter RD exists on the south side, you don’t need to get off your bike, but there is a climb just east of the shopping center(near the barber shop). This gets you to sidewalks and service roads until you reach the intersection at Hunter RD. There is no sidewalk after Hunter RD on the south side.
• There is a small grassy segment with no sidewalk east of Espana CT, but there is a breakage in the sidewalk edge on both sides to let a bike to go through without having to stop. After that, there is a diesel station and service road that you can use to get to a sidewalk, and it’s easy after that if you use the service roads ahead.
• Just before Prosperity AVE you have to climb the sidewalk again.
• Between Prosperity AVE and Hilltop RD, go north on Prosperity AVE, then at the signal, go to the north side of Hilltop RD and use the sidewalk. After that, it’s a piece of cake.

Arlington BLVD(Route 50) is much worse, especially going west.

I tried going to Nutely, then Tapawingo, then to W&OD. Nutely is fine, but Tapawingo has some uphill/downhill areas.

If for any reason you try going south on Blake LN(Street name changes to Pickett RD), to Fair City Mall shopping center, then you get even a worse uphill than the one between Vaden Dr and Nutley ST. It’s even worse than any uphill I have seen in the entire W&OD. I am glad that I don’t need to go there that often.

Second: the bike

Most cheap bikes look nice, but take shortcuts in things that you don’t see. One important feature is what type of bottom bracket it has. Almost all Shwinn(including those in the $300 to $500 range) and some Diamond Back bikes use a regular bottom bracket that is not sealed, so after about 500 Miles(which takes 2 to 6 months based on use), you start hearing clicking and grinding noises from the dirt that gets into the bearing. To upgrade to a sealed bottom bracket, it costs you $15 to $25 at Amazon, or $30 at bike shops, and $30 for special hand tools to install it or remove it if you want to do it yourself, or pay a bike shop about $20 for the service. My bike has a sealed bottom bracket and after 2500 Miles, it’s still working smoothly.

Another feature is bike weight. Steel is heavier than Aluminum, and it’s harder to carry it on Metrobus if you need to.

The bike I am using is Fuji Crosstown 1.3 2013, I paid $350 for it. Fuji bikes seem to come with a sealed bottom bracket as a standard feature, and usually have better components for the price as compared to Shwinn, Diamond Back, and similar brands.

[Rod Smith]

Spot Dualie! You need one. I need one. We all need Spot Dualies! I wish you hadn’t told me this bike exists.

[dplasters]

Wow! Awesome feedback – From what I’m hearing Lee Highway is a no go? Which is what I was fearing. Living so close to work though I refuse to give up on my biking to work dreams.

For specifics – My office is actually at the corner of Gallows and Gatehouse Rd so not towards the Dunn Loring Metro.

It sounds like safety means I need to buck up and turn my 3 miles as the car goes into 6 miles as the bike goes and head north to Cottage and then down Gallows. I used to live in the Halstead Apartments off of Gallows and know there is a very wide sidewalk there and have also seen a few bikes on Gallows road proper. I’ll check out the hills on Tapawingo and see what I’m in for.

Keep the bike ideas coming! I have been shopping around for a month or so but new companies and bikes are always coming up. I had no idea there were so many.

Rod – The Spot Dualie is my unicorn. I want it bad. The only good thing is that I know if I get it and I can get my skinny butt up the hills I’ll ride it to death because I’m obsessed with it.

[americancyclo]

@dplasters 82909 wrote:

For specifics – My office is actually at the corner of Gallows and Gatehouse Rd so not towards the Dunn Loring Metro.

It sounds like safety means I need to buck up and turn my 3 miles as the car goes into 6 miles as the bike goes and head north to Cottage and then down Gallows.

Here’s the route I would take. we were just looking at some of the townhouses near Vaden, so I was plotting out rides from around there. This route is pretty residential, avoids tapawingo and keeps you off Gallows. It’s also only 4 miles.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4508111

[bobco85]

Here’s another route (about 3.7 miles) to consider that incorporates Nutley Street and the Route 50 service road: http://goo.gl/maps/A0ZfR

Note: the portion of Route 50 between Javier Rd and Williams Dr would use the service road and sidewalk/parking lot instead of the highway, but Google Maps does not list the parking lot as a road to use.

[dasgeh]

You’ve gotten lots of great advice, but I wanted to put in a plug for finding a local bike shop (LBS) that you like, and talking to them + test riding a bunch of bikes. Any LBS worth it’s weight will throw in at least two tune ups (one when you buy it and one a year later; Bikenetic includes tune ups for life), which I’ve found negates most of the savings from Craigslist/buying online. Plus, they’ll save you time speculating and get you on a bike riding.

The best bike for you is the bike you love to ride. You’re commute’s not that long, so you may find that you prefer a cruiser or dutch style bike. Or a fixie. You’ll know when you start riding them. A bike shop will also ask relevant questions, like: how much do you want to carry and how do you want to carry it (racks, backpack, front basket, you can even get a frame bag). They’ll ask you about brakes. About lights (dynahub? upgrade later?). About fenders. And they’ll be able to tell you how much it all really costs, and how many that they’ve sold have come back with problems. And if you have problems, you can come back. Oh, and they’ll fit you on the bike — make all the adjustments so you’re comfortable. Comfortable = ride more.

The Daily Rider in DC carries Spot, and they’re a great shop. In your shoes, I’d start there and see if I really like the Spot. If not, though, I might look for a shop close to home (like Bikenetic, or Bikes of Vienna, which I’ve heard good things about), because it’ll be easier for maintenance.

Good luck. It’s totally worth it.

[DismalScientist]

Freshbikes/Mosaic is right near your work, although I would recommend Bikinetics.

Before considering a fixie, you should ask yourself whether you possess the appropriate ironic facial hair.:rolleyes:

Also, just say “No” to front suspension forks.

[NicDiesel]

@DismalScientist 82955 wrote:

Before considering a fixie, you should ask yourself whether you possess the appropriate ironic facial hair.:rolleyes:

Don’t forget the ridiculous calves too.

[dplasters]

@NicDiesel 82957 wrote:

Don’t forget the ridiculous calves too.

Just want to point out that I never said anything about a fixie. although I get that I may be splitting hairs on SS vs fixie. I will have brakes etc, I like being alive and well. Just looking to not spend so much and not purchase more bike than I need.

Freshbikes terrifies me. All I ever see there is super expensive Cannondale stuff. Sub 1k is a must.

I will certainly have to check out some of the other local shops and was hoping I would get some reviews/advice on which one might be best (thank you for the info dasgeh).

Thank you for the possible routes! I have planned for and expect to do some early morning weekend exploring to see how I feel about them in the near future.

[mstone]

Why is tapawingo getting the hate? I like tapawingo!

[Author]

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