Alexandria to Falls Church

[Al_Helmet]

Hi

In September I am moving to Alexandria from Norway. I have never been in the DC area, but really looking forward to my stay. I am going to live in an area called Carlyle, which is just south of Old Town as I have understood. I plan to commute with my road bike to an office close to Providence Recreational Center.

Browsing Google Maps it seems like the shortest route will be to follow the 650, turn up the Hemlock Drive and take the park the remaining distance. Two presumed negatives about this route is traffic and how road bike friendly the park is.

The other option I see is to go north on Commonwealth Av. to the W&OD trail. Then cut west at some point to ride Arlington Av.

My commute policy back home is I rather add half a mile than adding directional changes.

Appreciate your input.

Topic

[baiskeli]

Welcome to Washington. I ran into to women from Norway a few weeks ago who are riding across the U.S. I helped them find a Starbucks.

Commonwealth Ave. to the W&OD (via Mt. Vernon Ave.) is exactly how I would go. It will be easy to find your way to Commonwealth, and the trail should get you pretty close to your destination. It will be the easiest route to navigate, and the most bike-friendly.

If the Carlyle is the same one I see on the map, you’re just a few steps from Old Town.

[Dirt]

Welcome to the DC area. I live near Providence Rec Center and often ride through Old Town on my way places. The easiest route would be up the Mount Vernon Trail to 4-Mile Run Trail and then onto the Washington and Old Dominion Trail. At the end of the commute, there’s a route up West Street in Falls Church and then some small back streets that get you to Providence.

There are shorter routes through Alexandria to get to the W&OD Trail. I’ll try and map out one or two that I use often. There are some quick variations that you can do at the Falls Church end, but none are as pleasant as the ones that I’ve discussed.

I’ll play with some GPS maps and post up a few options.

Pete

[Dirt]

Here’s how I ride the beginning of your route most days: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/537548

Cameron is kind-of busy at the beginning, but there is room for bikes on the road and I have never had a problem.

Here is my favorite route from the W&OD to Providence: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/537589

This is a less pretty way to get from the W&OD to Providence, but it is shorter: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/537599

[Al_Helmet]

Thanks guys for the friendly welcome and the advice. I will definitely try your routs Dirt. I like to have some options as the same everyday commute might become somewhat boring after a while. Based on the routes it actually looks a bit more hilly than I imagined, having only seen the area from an airplane. Well that just makes it more possible to add some VO2max training

[Dirt]

Most of the hills are not long in this area. I’m someone who seeks them out. West street (On one of the routes I gave you) is one of my favorite hills in the area. It is part of my daily commute.

[PotomacCyclist]

The W&OD is mostly flat, with a couple modest hills. But if you’re itching to try a short but steep hill, turn off onto Four Mile Run Trail in Glencarlyn Park. (FMR runs side-by-side with W&OD in the park.) Take the steep path up to S. Harrison St. It’s not very long, maybe 200 ft total, but it’s very steep. I think it’s the only place in the DC area where I actually thought I might flip over backward on a hill.

Other than that steep hill, there’s no reason to take that side path (unless you happen to live in that neighborhood). But that hill is definitely not boring. Gut-busting, but not boring.

Here’s the link on Google Maps: Glencarlyn Park hill

[consularrider]

@PotomacCyclist 5677 wrote:

The W&OD is mostly flat, with a couple modest hills. But if you’re itching to try a short but steep hill, turn off onto Four Mile Run Trail in Glencarlyn Park. (FMR runs side-by-side with W&OD in the park.) Take the steep path up to S. Harrison St. It’s not very long, maybe 200 ft total, but it’s very steep. I think it’s the only place in the DC area where I actually thought I might flip over backward on a hill.

Other than that steep hill, there’s no reason to take that side path (unless you happen to live in that neighborhood). But that hill is definitely not boring. Gut-busting, but not boring.

Here’s the link on Google Maps: Glencarlyn Park hill

I have to assume you mean just that portion of the 4 Mile Run Trail with the sharp climb and subseguent descent. I will frequently take the 4 Mile Run Trail over the W&OD from Bluemont through Shirlington to enjoy the shade (it’s almost all under tree canopy), for the undulating topography, and to avoid the stoplights and street crossings between Columbia Pike and Shirlington. Just can’t do it during heavy rains because the steam crossings flood.

[Al_Helmet]

@PotomacCyclist 5677 wrote:

The W&OD is mostly flat, with a couple modest hills. But if you’re itching to try a short but steep hill, turn off onto Four Mile Run Trail in Glencarlyn Park. (FMR runs side-by-side with W&OD in the park.) Take the steep path up to S. Harrison St. It’s not very long, maybe 200 ft total, but it’s very steep. I think it’s the only place in the DC area where I actually thought I might flip over backward on a hill.

Other than that steep hill, there’s no reason to take that side path (unless you happen to live in that neighborhood). But that hill is definitely not boring. Gut-busting, but not boring.

Here’s the link on Google Maps: Glencarlyn Park hill

Thanks! Even though my 200 lbs body doesn’t like hills, my cycling brain for some reason does. I have a loop back home with 10 hills, some with a grade of 26% on the worst parts. That’s when you enjoy the smallest gears on the bike and hope no-one is around to hear your agony.

[PotomacCyclist]

@consularrider 5698 wrote:

I have to assume you mean just that portion of the 4 Mile Run Trail with the sharp climb and subseguent descent. I will frequently take the 4 Mile Run Trail over the W&OD from Bluemont through Shirlington to enjoy the shade (it’s almost all under tree canopy), for the undulating topography, and to avoid the stoplights and street crossings between Columbia Pike and Shirlington. Just can’t do it during heavy rains because the steam crossings flood.

It’s the turnoff from the small parking lot on FMR, up to Harrison St. It’s hard to see on the Google Map image. There’s a faint gray line. FMR Trail continues to the NNW, but there’s a 2nd path just to the west of that path. Both routes are very steep but the Harrison St. entrance is a bit steeper than the other one.

[JimF22003]

Took the long way into work this morning, and rode down that little stretch from Harrison (newly paved, thanks.)

Wheee!!

[Dirt]

It was nice this morning. Didn’t want to turn into the office today.

[Author]

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