One-time (er, tonight) route request- Tenleytown to REI in Seven Corners…

[TwoWheelsDC]

I just rode to that REI this weekend (from the REI in Tyson’s, actually, which didn’t have what I needed). I would avoid Columbia Pike, and as much of Carlin Springs as possible…that said, if you really want to cut down the turns, you can basically ride the sidewalk on the Pike from the W&OD crossing all the way up to Carlin Springs. I have done this, but it’s a pain in the ass. Personally, I prefer getting off the W&OD at Glencarlyn and riding up from there. Getting out of Glencarlyn can be a little confusing, but just head uphill and you’ll find your way eventually.

Here’s the route I did from this weekend…it’s coming from the other way, but you can still get the general idea.

http://www.strava.com/activities/164993292

[bobco85]

There isn’t really an easy cycling route to the REI at Baileys Crossroads, but this is what I would recommend (note: I used to work at this REI years ago, and I would get there via bike):

starting from Key Bridge >> Custis >> Quincy St (becomes Henderson Rd) >> Arlington Blvd service road >> Park Dr >> W&OD/4MR >> trail along Long Branch (passes the nature center) >> Carlin Springs Dr

Due to construction, when you reach the W&OD/4MR you’ll have to turn left, ride 200 or so feet, then make a right U-turn to get down to the bridge to access the trail along Long Branch. When riding on the trail along Long Branch, you’ll pass a dog park, picnic shelters, the nature center, and small parking lots; there are a lot of branching paths, so stick to the one that runs closest to the stream so you don’t get lost. The only annoying part of this route is Carlin Springs Dr, but it is far better than riding along Columbia Pike. The last stoplight you’ll encounter (Carlin Springs/Columbia Pike) is at the bottom of a hill, so if you’re lucky you’ll hit it on a green light.

[dasgeh]

Lots of good advice. We use Park St a lot, and a tweak to Bobco’s route is to turn right onto 3rd St N, just after the light at George Mason, to get to Park (turn left) – it’s generally more pleasant than the 50 access road. Also, from the map, it looks like you could cut through the neighborhood by Lubber Run and avoid time on Carlin Springs, as shown in this 9.3 mile route. I’ve never done it, so others may know why it’s a bad idea. I’ve driven on Carlin Springs enough to think you’d want to stay off of it.

Just because I was curious, I plotted a route through Fort Meyer and using neighborhood streets to avoid the Pike (only works if you enter before 6pm, I believe, and have an ID). Kidical Mass has ridden these neighborhood streets and they’re quite cute. Google maps says this is 9.6 miles, but it forces you to take this weird bow on the west side of the W&OD that I think you can avoid. So I think it’d be around the same distance, though slower as you’re on roads with intersections more of the route. One more note: the route above takes you on 7th St S, which has a light to cross Glebe. If you instead take 9th St S, you’ll be on the official “bike boulevard”, which is cute, and you’ll get to ride on a particularly leafy, shaded block. You’ll have to cross Glebe without a light, but I understand that it’s not too hard (you’ll be just a block from the light at the Pike). This route is probably a better tour of Arlington, at least South Arlington.

PS. For both routes, I relied on google to route through DC.

[Terpfan]

Thank you on all the advice. Particularly helpful as I got to all of those random turnoffs in Long Branch. I remembered to stay to the stream and things i would pass. It wasn’t too bad of a ride. Carlin Springs was the probably the most annoying portion, but I caught a break in traffic and made it up to the top of the hill basically at the same time as cars because of a red light/me huffing-puffing.

Of course, I took Holmes Run on the way home (south Alexandria). That was an adventure. Especially at night. I had never ridden it up past Eisenhower Avenue so I didn’t realize it would be going through some dense woods, hopping back and forth across the creek basically at the creek level, and filled with bugs and bats. Speaking of bats, as I rode through the tunnel on it, I moved left to avoid mud and heard a thunk in my helmet. I immediately turn my head and see a bat sort of flying off diagonally from me. Good thing I was so intently focused on the trail, otherwise I may have fallen per how surprised I was.

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