I second that….I ride in to work from up on East West Highway down to Independence and 3rd SW (Near the American Indian Museum) and I have tried all three routes on numerous occasions….even though the CCT is technically a couple miles longer than the other routes, I consistently shave about 10-15 minutes off my trip by using it because of the subtle grade….it’s also WAY prettier to look at.
Connecticut Ave is really an up and down trip….after the one big hill heading north from Dupont, you really are constantly going uphill and then down over and over…if you’re not one that likes to ride with traffic, and wants to use the sidewalks, they are abyssmal especially past Chevy Chase Circle (where you also have to contend with numerous driveways that are filled with blind-spots for drivers)
Wisconsin is a little better I have found, but you still have to go up some pretty severe hills any route you take (Wisconsin from G-Town, Massachusetts from Dupont, nearly any sidestreet from Connecticut) in order to access it…then there’s that “Dead Zone” between Friendship Heights and Bethesda that’s a little hairy if you’re not comfortable with cars….the sidewalks here are in even worse shape than CT Ave and VERY narrow….
Just my two cents….good luck, and see ya out there!
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