Best DC intersections for "bike porn"

[ColumbiaHeights]

OK, I admit it. I like people watching lol. Hey, who doesn’t like to sit back and watch people passing by. Whether at an airport or busy public park, people watching is an interesting way to relax and take in the uniqueness of humanity.

Well, I also like looking at people’s bikes. Every now and then you see a custom welding job that boggles the mind, or homemade fenders and panniers. So the question beckons, if you want to sit back and watch people pass by on bikes, where are some good intersections to take in #BikeDC? I’m thinking something along the lines of a restaurant or coffee shop with window-facing stools, or outdoor seating on a public bench.

Topic

[83b]

I think you could do pretty well at the corner of 15th and Penn where the cycletrack meets the White House/Treasury Dept pedestrian plaza. I’ve seen lots of interesting bikes pass through there and they’re usually moving slowly enough to get a good leer in, rather than the fleeting glimpse you might get if bikes are at speed.

East Capitol Street also funnels lots of interesting rides downtown during morning rush. You’d get a decent view from the window booth in Jimmy T’s Place (and a tasty breakfast!).

[dasgeh]

I was at a work dinner at La Loma on Mass Ave just before Stanton Park. There was surprisingly good bike porn, good food, and a nice, big patio.

Eastern Market (any of the places with outdoor seating) would also probably work, plus, there are some really yummy places to eat.

[creadinger]

At the intersection of my kitchen and my living room.

Right at the kitchen table. It’s got good food, an assortment of bikes to look at including a custom frame, a custom build, and elegant indoor hangers for better storage. And it even has a mostly, kinda well behaved dog that loves guests.

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[dcv]

M.E. Swing’s on a Friday morning

[dasgeh]

@creadinger 85940 wrote:

At the intersection of my kitchen and my living room.

Right at the kitchen table. It’s got good food, an assortment of bikes to look at including a custom frame, a custom build, and elegant indoor hangers for better storage. And it even has a mostly, kinda well behaved dog that loves guests.

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Are yo inviting us over?

*60 seconds still too long between posts*

[Steve O]

@creadinger 85940 wrote:

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Odd ratio – 8 wheels:1 fender

[jrenaut]

@dcv 85955 wrote:

M.E. Swing’s on a Friday morning

Definitely this. Especially now, in the nice weather, more than half of FCC is spent checking out bikes.

[creadinger]

@Steve O 85966 wrote:

Odd ratio – 8 wheels:1 fender

You noticed that eh? I had one set of fenders, but the front one eventually got so mangled by rubbing on the tire and stuff that I just ripped it off one day because it was ruining my day. I want to get another set, but being a fair weather commuter I’m not in a big rush.

As for an invitation. I guess I better get cleaning. Anyone object to an all veggie menu? Also, I have NO idea how to make coffee, so I hope you like tea. And BYOB.

[dasgeh]

The start of any Kidical Mass ride. I hear there’s on THIS SUNDAY AT 11:30AM meeting at Bikenetic in Falls Church.

[KWL]

@dcv 85955 wrote:

M.E. Swing’s on a Friday morning

Dunno which M.E. Swing’s you are referring to, but I’ve seen some pretty fine ones at the Monroe Street location. Just have to navigate around the strollers and dogs.

[vvill]

K/L St & 19th NW and up to Dupont is my favourite.

FCC obviously is great but you see a bit more in the urban/beater variety with bikes that are locked up on street racks. Downtube shifters, well used and loved lugged steel, highly-commuterized hybrids, fixies, restaurant delivery vehicles, GMC Denalis, semi-horizontal dropouts, it’s all there.

[ColumbiaHeights]

@vvill 86028 wrote:

K/L St & 19th NW and up to Dupont is my favourite.

Any good places to sit?

[Steve O]

@KWL 86008 wrote:

Dunno which M.E. Swing’s you are referring to, but I’ve seen some pretty fine ones at the Monroe Street location. Just have to navigate around the strollers and dogs.

Hey KWL – this is a reference to Friday Morning Coffee Club, held at Swing’s by the White House every Friday morning. You should go sometime.
1702 G St NW
Washington, DC
(202) 628-7601

[Emm]

Gravely Point, although most of the bikes there are the road bike or hybrid types. I also like Del Ray in Alexandria, especially around Velocity. You can sit outside at a cafe, and some cool bikes roll by if the weather is nice.

[Author]

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