Starting a new job in a few weeks up by Sidwell Friends, route suggestions….

[Rootchopper]

I live in MV and my kids used to go to Maret. The route you have is pretty much as good as any. probably the fewest traffic lights and least traffic. Riding across Key Bridge abd up Wisconsin is no easier, has beaucoup traffic and a lot of lights. You could exit the RCP trail at P street and wind your way to Wisconsin at S Street to avoid Georgetown traffic. Or take P east to a left on 22nd then do the long slog up Mass Ave.

[jrenaut]

The section of Ohio Drive/RCP trail that parallels the MVT is a lot more sidewalky than the MVT after you leave the actual road right before the Lincoln Memorial. But I greatly prefer crossing the river at 14th than over the Key Bridge, all other things being equal. So you’re probably going to have to try it and see which one you prefer.

Also, I hope you like hills in the morning.

[Terpfan]

I’m not a huge fan of the sidewalks, but then again, I tend to choose them in the morning from Maine & 15th over to 15th Cycletrack simply by default of not wanting to deal with the morning drivers. Whereas in the evenings, I usually opt for the roads oddly enough. Oh hills, they’re basically what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger. Last May I went from commuting from north OT to McPherson Square (very little in the way of hills) to commuting from atop Beacon Hill to McPherson, which means a fast start to the day, but a nice finish. So now I just tack on 5 miles and another few hills. Bright side, maybe it’ll my team’s BAFS points.

[dasgeh]

I find the RCP trail to be horrible. When we go to the zoo, we go across the Key Bridge, then through Georgetown University and Foxhall. Basically the way we came back on this ride: http://www.strava.com/activities/79500624

[Subby]

How early? Wisconsin is actually pretty awesome if it isn’t smack dab in the middle of rush hour and you will be a superhero with monster thighs after trekking up it for a few months. I would take the MVT to Key Bridge to M (which is totally fine before 8am) and then left on Wisconsin.

[Terpfan]

@Subby 76668 wrote:

How early? Wisconsin is actually pretty awesome if it isn’t smack dab in the middle of rush hour and you will be a superhero with monster thighs after trekking up it for a few months. I would take the MVT to Key Bridge to M (which is totally fine before 8am) and then left on Wisconsin.

In by say 8:00/8:15, so that would probably put me in Georgetown around 7:45 or so. I guess that’s borderline. Is there much traffic heading up Wisc in the morning? I’ve seen the evening traffic, but the evening commute doesn’t bother me much since time becomes less important.

[consularrider]

@Terpfan 76729 wrote:

… I’ve seen the evening traffic, but the evening commute doesn’t bother me much since time becomes less important.

Plus heading downhill you will be keeping up with traffic, if not passing it. Now if DDOT could only get the light timing right for bikes heading north on Wisconsin. Sigh.

[Terpfan]

I tried the google maps route today. The hills weren’t much fun, but they weren’t as bad as I thought. Or maybe I’m just conditioned from climbing Beacon Hill every night on the way home. The worst was really the jot up from Rock Creek Park to Calvert Street. Now the question is what’s fastest on the return? I’m thinking the same way, but wondering if going down Wisconsin to say 34th and grabbing that bike lane wouldn’t be faster? Any thoughts? Coming in was roughly 1.5 hours or so of moving time, but I was going a little slower in some areas as I don’t know certain paths/roads/etc well yet on riding.

[Steve O]

@Terpfan 78238 wrote:

Coming in was roughly 1.5 hours or so of moving time, but I was going a little slower in some areas as I don’t know certain paths/roads/etc well yet on riding.

Assume a 20%-30% improvement over your first ride to anyplace new once you have it down cold. All sorts of little things add up, like knowing how the lights work at a particular intersection or taking a parallel road that cuts off 25 seconds. Then summer will come, and you’ll have fewer clothes and the bike will move faster. Before you know it, your PR be under an hour.

[OneEighth]

@consularrider 76752 wrote:

Plus heading downhill you will be keeping up with traffic, if not passing it. Now if DDOT could only get the light timing right for bikes heading north on Wisconsin. Sigh.

I’ve never found the lights to be a hindrance when going up Wisconsin…

[Author]

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