[eminva]

@Dirt 15859 wrote:

Registering helps with headcount, but I don’t think it is mandatory. If it feels good, do it.

Okay, so I just registered to help them with their head count, and they set up a fundraising page for me. Now I have the lofty goal of raising $2500! They are crafty.

Liz

[eminva]

vvill, we are practically on the same block — I’m at 18th & L. I used to commute up through Columbia Heights so I can get us to 9th and T.

I am also flexible on time — I’m planning to take the day off as well. Shall we meet at 19th & L between 11:15 and 11:30?

Liz

[eminva]

I agree with everything you say, but what is wrong with “The Arlington Loop”?

The beltway-equivalent interstate in my hometown is called “The Loop” — gets the idea across about how it serves the regional transportation network. I think of the Arlington Loop as serving a similar function for non-motorized transit, no?

Liz

[eminva]

@karencoutts 15778 wrote:

Are DC drivers well behaved around cyclists? In Vancouver proper, they are fairly tolerant, but leave the city and it can be frightening how much motorists hate cyclists.

I would say the same holds true here. If you and your husband are regular commuters, you should feel very comfortable riding within DC. As for the kids, the trailer cycles sound like a good idea.

You can also get a lay of the land once you get here and decide what to do. Like you, I like to cycle in new places, but in DC there is so much to see and do, you probably won’t feel like you missed much even if you see the sites via metro and foot. You could get up early one morning and take a self-guided tour on Capital Bikeshare by yourself if you want to say you biked DC.

Liz

P.S. There is an indoor public pool near Eastern Market, but it might be set up just for lap swimming; not really sure.

[eminva]

Welcome to DC!

My answer is that it depends. Are you and your kids comfortable riding in urban traffic (getting to the mall and across streets on the mall, getting to Rock Creek Park, etc.)? Those are also some congested areas with lots of pedestrians, tourists, etc. Quite possibly you will be doing a lot of passing, as well as getting passed by other cyclists, and at places the Rock Creek Trail is right next to the parkway (I mean mere feet), and those cars go whizzing by at pretty high speeds. As long is this won’t rattle them or you, it would be okay.

I would think it would take a bit longer than 45 minutes with kids, but your kids might be more intrepid than mine.

I think from the mall to the zoo is a general uphill, but very gradual and not steep at all. You would want to go in the rear entrance off Beach Drive (I think there is a trail that gets you there from Rock Creek Parkway — others correct me if I am wrong). If you want to go to the main entrance on Connecticut Avenue, you would be introducing a steep and long hill, as well as some on-street riding (and those are BUSY streets).

Be sure to take good locks and bikes that are not too fancy.

National Cathedral is at the top of a long and somewhat steep hill from almost anywhere in DC. If you are a fit adult cyclist it should be no problem. I would hesitate with the kids, especially if you are coming all the way from Union Station.

As an alternative, you could take them cycling on the mall, maybe over to East Potomac Park, for some lower stress riding, and just take metro to the zoo.

Have fun!

Liz

[eminva]

Am I the only one wondering if Tim, having collected all the Strava KOMs within biking distance of North Arlington, is looking for a new network to dominate?

Liz

[eminva]

Isn’t it funny how a rainy day pretty much eliminates most of the problems discussed above? I don’t know how it was on the MVT, but I had the W&OD and Custis largely to myself.

On a less lucky note, I did review the weather conditions before leaving home, but somehow blew the translation into appropriate wardrobe choices. My fingers and feet were like ice cubes by the time I got to the office. Hoping the space heater can get everything dry by the evening.

Liz

[eminva]

Vvill, I might be interested. Would be coming through Roslyn and DC. I could navigate through DC well enough. I will study the map very carefully and possibly a Greenbelt video a couple of times and I could attempt the trail portions of the route. I don’t have any fancy navigational devices, unless a smartphone counts.

Liz

[eminva]

@WillStewart 15431 wrote:

My concerns are twofold;

1. Blowing through trail stop signs can lead to serious injury (often encouraging others to act in a similar manner), and

2. Such behavior can give a cyclists in general a black eye on the perception front.

I also think it can scare the heck out of pedestrians, kids on training wheels, dogs being walked, etc. I operate under the assumption that they have an equal right to enjoyment of the MUT and I should do what I can to ensure they do enjoy it.

I think it is great that super fit cyclists train hard; I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t want to keep up with them. I just think there is a time and place for that, and the W&OD through the heart of Falls Church on a 70 degree day in late afternoon is perhaps not it.

@WillStewart 15431 wrote:

I’d like for cyclists to consider themselves one major demographic – it’s easy to start separating us into the ‘spandex crowd’, the ‘slow recreational crowd’, the ‘poky commuter types’, the ‘recumbent snobs’, and so forth. I for one have to catch myself at times when I find myself thinking this way. The way we will achieve success wrt to improving bike infrastructure and overall acceptance is to act as a cohesive movement.

I’ve been trying to cultivate this attitude, too. Thanks for the reminder to keep at it!

Liz

[eminva]

I’m very sorry to hear you were so sick. I very much hope you are back to good health; the cycling will come along with patience, but health is the most important. No snickering whatsoever from these quarters (although I don’t really see much besides the back of my eyelids at the hour you usually ride).

Liz

[eminva]

I was thinking of joining in at College Park, too.

Pete, do you think anyone at or associated with Proteus be willing to guide a grupetto into DC? You have some fast company there and I’m guessing their definition of “mellow” would be on the fast side. I would offer myself, but I would probably get lost in that trail network and end up at the Severn River. Or the Missouri River. (with apologies to Greenbelt, who patiently guided me through there once before).

Liz

[eminva]

@americancyclo 15211 wrote:

hoping someone who commutes home today takes some video!

Wasn’t quite sure how to depict gale force winds, or total lack thereof, with a video or still photography, but here goes:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]781[/ATTACH]

Liz

[eminva]

@americancyclo 15175 wrote:

If you haven’t checked the google maps with bike route overlay, here is the route most folks (I think) would take from Vienna, VA to 11th and K St. It’s about 80% off street paved trails. Almost 100% through VA, but once you get to DC, you’re going to have to ride on some streets a bit. This would work for your commute in, but I might revise it a bit for the ride home.

http://g.co/maps/cw4hp

That takes you on M Street, Pennsylvania and L Street, which is fine (I do it), but he expressed a reluctance for city streets, and those are some congested streets with the usual assortment of urban hazards (delivery trucks stopped at the curb during rush hour, busses all over the place, taxis pulling random u-turns, etc.).

You could add a bit of distance and take the Roosevelt Bridge and go through the GW Campus on H Street (urban streets, but very tame). You could add more distance and take the MVT or W&OD down to the 14th Street Bridge and using a combination of National Park Service land and 15th Street cycletracks, get most of the way without too much time on city streets.

I live in Vienna and can highly recommend it as a place for a family. My commute is 14 miles each way, though, and I’m only going to 18th & L.

Liz

P.S. to the OP: The W&OD is very well maintained out to Vienna. It is very beautiful and natural; takes my breath away every morning when I turn onto it.

[eminva]

Excellent, Ann!

Don’t look now, but the forecast calls for 55 mph wind gusts this afternoon/evening!

Liz

[eminva]

I witnessed a Mixed Cat 6 this evening. I won’t go telling tales out of school, but it looked like the female cyclist was getting the better of the male cyclist.

(Nowhere near the 14th Street Bridge or MVT, so present company excepted, of course).

Liz

[Author]

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