DC/MoCo loop?

[hozn]

Have you done the route where you come back down through Beach Dr?

[bobco85]

If I were to do this ride (I’ve done variants of it numerous times), I’d probably take something like this route (around 40 miles long): https://goo.gl/maps/9bn85fAihuC2

The only difficult part is getting from the end of the Georgetown Branch Trail into Silver Spring then to Fort Totten. There’s some zig-zagging you will have to do at the end of the GBT, but it’s pretty well signed as a bike route. 2nd Ave is pleasant to get into Silver Spring, and Fenton Ave has a side path. The turn from Fort Totten Dr onto Bates Rd is downhill and requires you to dismount and use the sidewalk due to a gate (you can see here: https://goo.gl/maps/v11psmDhHkz )

Two things to be mindful of: 1) the CCT gets really crowded on nice weekends as you approach Bethesda, and 2) the area around Silver Spring is a lot hillier than any other part of the route.

Also, when riding the Metropolitan Branch Trail, you have the option when you reach M St NE (after the hairpin turn down to street level) of turning left and using the 2-way protected cycletrack on M St NE -> 1st St NE which will take you to Union Station. It’s nicer than taking the sharrows/sidepath/sidewalk on 2nd St NE.

[lordofthemark]

@hozn 142003 wrote:

Have you done the route where you come back down through Beach Dr?

No. Maybe I should do that instead?

I want to do the Georgetown Branch before the Purple Line construction starts, and figure I might as well make it a loop (I have ridden the CCT once, and realize its pretty crowded with pedestrians, so better to take it uphill – not that it is much of a grade – than downhill)

[Steve O]

@lordofthemark 142006 wrote:

I want to do the Georgetown Branch before the Purple Line construction starts….

Or you retire, whichever comes first.

[lordofthemark]

So. The Georgetown Branch Trail was interesting. I liked the initial tunnel under the buildings, the shady ride by the NIMBY country club, some spots where I wonder how they will manage to fit both an LRT line and a paved trail. The on street to downtown Silver Spring was fairly well signed, although at first it was confusing that it was signed as the trail. Some folks heading in the opposite direction, looking for the way to the zoo were also confused. I helped as best I could. Fenton was not that bad, though there was no signage for the MBT until I crossed the DC line. Crossing Cedar on Blair was probably the least comfortable part of the ride. Fort Totten is impressively located for defense, and gave me a workout. I stopped briefly at the bike shop in the Brookland art walk, and would have been more tempted to get something (seeing it was afternoon, and warm , hot coffee, none decaf, was not tempting) if they had had WiFi.

[Crickey7]

The right of way on the GBT is much, much wider than what you see. They allowed the country club to build their fence inside the right of way for years, but that will be relocated. And over a dozen homeowners along the route had their fences and sheds in the right of way. With the lawsuit challenging their removal resolved in favor of the county, those will be relocated as well.

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