Greetings fellow two-wheeled Arlingtonians!
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@Emm 119510 wrote:
Um, are we twins?
… I’m also trying for my first century this year, although I think we’re looking at the Seagull Century since I wanted to avoid biking on 110 degree days.
Wouldn’t that count as a double Century (100 miles @ 100°F)? Or go for the triple century (100 miles @ 100°F @ 100% relative humidity).
@Kitty 119550 wrote:
Late last season I made it out to Rockville for the first time and was blown away by the northern part of the Rockcreek park trails and the Bethesda trolly trail! (Last summer was also a first for Sligo and MacArthur to Potomac, MD). I’m definitely interested in recommendations!
As for Purcellville, I was thinking about doing that for my last big ride before the century! The furthest I’ve gone on W&O was Gallows Rd… I need to find a good restroom option :confused:
The ride out to Lake Anacostia is great along the trails; you can cheat by taking the metro out to Hyattsville or Tacoma Park.
Regarding bathroom breaks along the W&OD, Shirlington is good at the start (you can use the library or Harris Teeter for instance). Get breakfast at Best Buns!
In Vienna, Whole Foods is located right on the trail.
Reston Town Center is a great stop for food and comfort breaks. The turn off isn’t marked so be sure to check a map before you go. There are a ton of restaurants and stores located right next to the trail; you just have to take the small spur uphill to reach the complex.
In Ashburn, there is the famed Carolina Brothers Pit B&B joint, also located on the trail (you can’t miss it). I’m not a big fan of their food but if you’ve been riding non-stop to get there, it suddenly tastes real good!
In Purcellville, there are a few eateries in the neighborhood (check your cellphone map) and if I recall correctly, bathrooms in the train depot at the end.
If you carry a cellphone, you will find that there are plenty of places to stop along the way that only require a quick detour off the trail. That convenience, combined with the fact that there are relatively few hills on the trail make it a very popular first century (when combined with say, the Arlington loop). Be careful about how much time you spend stopping if you are going for a personal best in terms of miles, you probably don’t want to be riding back in the dark. Be sure you bring an extra tube and know how to change a flat tire (though people are usually very good about offering assistance).
A word of caution, you won’t have any tree cover till you hit Leesburg so wear lots of sunscreen. The trail finally loses the electrical lines and is quite pretty west of Leesburg; I wished the whole trail looked that way; the trail also gets curvier. Up to Clarks Gap is a steady climb (1-3%?) which is a bit of a surprise but makes good fun coming back. Heading west on the trail is a bit uphill overall (about 1%) so coming back is usually faster.
Now I’m getting jealous since I wish I could do this ride. Alas, I am hobbled with a broken ankle (non cycling related) and won’t be on the bike for another month.
Ooo these are some great suggestions! Thank you so much!
Its nice to know where I can make pit stops on something like the WO&D (especially with all of the sun meaning a need to plenty of water).
And the ones starting from Phoenix Bikes are great because its a 6-8 mile ride for me to get down there, which only serves to pad the mileage for the ride!
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