New female biker – University of Maryland to 17th and G NW

[newbiehere]

Hello. I have made up my mind to get a hybrid bike and commute about 10.5 miles to work. I spend more than $3600 a year commuting by BMW(bus, metro and walking) so I want to save money, and get more active. I have lurked through this forum a few times looking for tips for commuting to DC from College Park. Could anyone suggest a safe route for a 5’1 103lb female beginner bike starting from Adelphi/University of Maryland to 17th and G St NW? I am not concerned about the length of the commute right now. Once I get more comfortable on a bike, I will venture out to shorten my commute. I will be buying a bike (Giant Escape 3) in two weeks but I have not ridden a bike since I was 11 years old, so I would want to start out on a commute that is mostly trails and median bike lanes.

I would GREATLY appreciate any advice.

Topic

[vvill]

You can view many facebook pages even without an account, just make sure you’re logged out if you want to dump facebook, and don’t want to be tempted
http://www.facebook.com/wabadc
(Although obviously just viewing a page on facebook might tempt you, at least you won’t be logged in and see your notifications, etc.)

[Terpfan]

I like Greenbelt’s route on there and it’s basically what I did when I rode up from my house to a few tailgates. I once tried riding Rt 1 to a concert at Cole. That was fun and not recommended. His route is good

[newbiehere]

[HR][/HR] @Steve O 90795 wrote:

There are only two classes. You already know how to ride a bike, so you should sign up for the City Cycling class.

I’m embarrassed to say I was a little wobbly when I recently got on the bike I test rode, and I had trouble maintaining balance when turning so that’s why I was interested in the adult education classes as well. It’s been so long that I think I need to start from scratch.

@americancyclo 90804 wrote:

I’m sure you could just email Nelle Pierson

They also do an e-bulletin for those (i’m assuming) not on FB. more details here:
http://www.waba.org/programs/women-bicycles/

Thank you so much!

@vvill 90812 wrote:

You can view many facebook pages even without an account, just make sure you’re logged out if you want to dump facebook, and don’t want to be tempted
http://www.facebook.com/wabadc
(Although obviously just viewing a page on facebook might tempt you, at least you won’t be logged in and see your notifications, etc.)

Thank you. I am fully of aware of that. I have visited Facebook pages of organizations without logging in during past Facebook (mini) hiatuses. This time around, I just want to avoid it all together, not just the notifications and status updates.

I’ll mostly utilize the e-bulliten. It looks packed with events! Exciting!

[eminva]

Hello and welcome — like Steve, I am an LCI and teach classes with WABA. I would second his recommendation that you take City Cycling rather than Adult Learn to Ride. CC splits the group in two — mostly self selected, so you can sort yourself into the group working on basic skills. LTR is for those who truly never learned to ride at all. There is a long, long waiting list for that class. There will be instructors at CC who will work with you where you are. Have fun!

Liz

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[newbiehere]

@eminva 90858 wrote:

Hello and welcome — like Steve, I am an LCI and teach classes with WABA. I would second his recommendation that you take City Cycling rather than Adult Learn to Ride. CC splits the group in two — mostly self selected, so you can sort yourself into the group working on basic skills. LTR is for those who truly never learned to ride at all. There is a long, long waiting list for that class. There will be instructors at CC who will work with you where you are. Have fun!

Liz

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Oh I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[newbiehere]

Just bought my bike!

[rcannon100]

@newbiehere 91170 wrote:

Just bought my bike!

Pictures or it didnt happen!

[newbiehere]

The Giant Escape 3W is now being marketed as the “Alight 3′ under Giant’s new women’s line called “Liv.”

[newbiehere]

**Update**

After riding back and forth a few hundred feet near my house last weekend, I got on my bike yesterday afternoon and rode to 17th and G and back with a partner! I just wanted to practice my commute to get more familiar with the route. Few things:

1. I joined the NW Branch trail via University Blvd (somehow I missed Standford hill). When I reached 38th Ave, I followed Jeff’s route to get to Metropolitan Branch Trail.

2. Holy hell, that hill on 20th St NE is horrible. I changed to a lower gear and still ended up walking up the hill in exhaustion with my bike. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that every morning.

3. As Jeff suggested I took R street, then Q street eastbound to the 15th Street cycletrack down to the White House and merged onto 17th and G.

4. I love the 15th St cycletrack! It’s so convenient!

[cvcalhoun]

@newbiehere 92437 wrote:

2. Holy hell, that hill on 20th St NE is horrible. I changed to a lower gear and still ended up walking up the hill in exhaustion with my bike. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that every morning.

Practice, practice, practice! Just start by allowing lots of extra time. Walk your bike and/or stop to rest when you need to. It’s amazing how much less steep the hills will get after you’ve been biking for a while.

[Emm]

@cvcalhoun 92444 wrote:

Practice, practice, practice! Just start by allowing lots of extra time. Walk your bike and/or stop to rest when you need to. It’s amazing how much less steep the hills will get after you’ve been biking for a while.

I can’t agree more. On my commute home there used to be 2 hills that killed me. I walked my bike ALOT at the start. But after about 6 weeks of commuting I was able to ride up them without a problem. It just took practice, getting stronger, and also learning how to use my bike’s gears correctly–for example, I used to avoid using the smallest of my 3 chain rings and I also wouldn’t change gears early enough when encountering a steep hill, both of which I needed to master before I could handle steep hills. If you can tackle those issues, and give yourself some time to build up strength, you’ll be up the hill in no time. You’ll probably still be winded (4 months in, I still am at least), but you’ll make it to the top and feel like a champion

Also, my fiancee got me a book, “Every Woman’s Guide to Cycling” when I started biking. It was really useful in teaching me how and when to change gears, basic bike maintenance and developing training plans. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a good resource.

[mstone]

Yes, for some reason there are a lot of people who strain so they look like death to get up a hill instead of shifting. Just shift–your knees will thank you, and you aren’t getting bonus points for climbing below walking pace just because you’re in the big ring. When you’re stronger and spinning out the low gear, then try doing it one gear higher.

[lordofthemark]

@mstone 92472 wrote:

Yes, for some reason there are a lot of people who strain so they look like death to get up a hill instead of shifting. Just shift–your knees will thank you, and you aren’t getting bonus points for climbing below walking pace just because you’re in the big ring. When you’re stronger and spinning out the low gear, then try doing it one gear higher.

A lot easier to do after you finally buy a bike with modern shifters Plus get the hang of shifting in general.

[ebubar]

@newbiehere 92437 wrote:

**Update**

After riding back and forth a few hundred feet near my house last weekend, I got on my bike yesterday afternoon and rode to 17th and G and back with a partner! I just wanted to practice my commute to get more familiar with the route. Few things:

1. I joined the NW Branch trail via University Blvd (somehow I missed Standford hill). When I reached 38th Ave, I followed Jeff’s route to get to Metropolitan Branch Trail.

2. Holy hell, that hill on 20th St NE is horrible. I changed to a lower gear and still ended up walking up the hill in exhaustion with my bike. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that every morning.

3. As Jeff suggested I took R street, then Q street eastbound to the 15th Street cycletrack down to the White House and merged onto 17th and G.

4. I love the 15th St cycletrack! It’s so convenient!

Congrats and welcome to the bike commuter fold! A bit of practice and you’ll be riding up hills like nobody’s business. I used to huff and puff up some big hills in the Rosslyn area on the Custis trail (they’re often discussed here) and now I can spin up them with almost “normal” breathing. Maybe you’ll even start seeking out hills? Or perhaps a future “Kill Bill” Century rider

[ShawnoftheDread]

@lordofthemark 92477 wrote:

A lot easier to do after you finally buy a bike with modern shifters.

Dismal scoffs at this new-fangled notion. Friction shifters forever!

[Author]

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