[MattAune]

@thucydides 60118 wrote:

(I guess some folks checked the weather.)

Me. I don’t have a waterproof backpack yet, and the thought of getting to work and having all my work clothes soaking wet sounded like no fun.

[MattAune]

Haha. That’s definitely not the normal commuter, but I am worse than a two year old when it comes to new toys. Couldn’t wait a few days to ride it.

[MattAune]

@ShawnoftheDread 60020 wrote:

Pics or it didn’t happen.

The proof.

[MattAune]

@ShawnoftheDread 60020 wrote:

Pics or it didn’t happen.

Dirt can vouch for the new bike, he was at Freshbikes when I picked it up last night. I will gather photographic evidence of actual use of said bike on the evening commute.

[MattAune]

I am 6’4″ with a 34.5 inseam and ride a 58 in both the Venge and Crux. The Allez has very similar geometry to my Venge and would not be surprised if he likes the 58 better.

That said, Specialized does seem to spec these with 120mm stems and you could make the reach on the 61 much shorter by swapping it for a 90. The two sizes only differ by 5mm in reach, but 25mm in stack. The choice between these two sizes IMO comes down to how low you want the bars.

[MattAune]

… Was the very first ride on a brand new bike! Also, my fingers were freezing. Going to have to start wearing long finger gloves soon.

[MattAune]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I tried the Army Navy Drive route from 4MRT and it was fantastic. http://goo.gl/maps/CcF6G

The only part that is not fun is the Braddock/495 interchange. This might be frowned upon but I think I am going to ride the left side of the road on the median next time. Most cars are using the right 3 lanes and taking the 495 on ramps, and having to merge across the 2 right exit lanes is interesting.

I am going to try the Hummer/Annandale -> Cherry -> W&OD route next week when I get back from New York. I will try both taking the Custis/MVT and also dasgeh’s Ft. Meyer cut through. This morning’s route was just about 14 miles, so the W&OD will add 2.5-3 miles to my trip which is not a big deal, unless I am running late.

[MattAune]

@DismalScientist 58556 wrote:

I might take Army Navy drive from Shirlington to the Pentagon:
After going under 395 on 4MRT take the left to that little bit of Four Mile Run Dr to the gas station on Glebe just south of 395. Turn left of Glebe and right on 26th in one block. Turn left on Adams, which becomes Army Navy Drive. Continue until opposite the Pentagon City mall and take the pedestrian tunnel under 395 to the South Parking lot of the Pentagon. You can take the Washington Blvd bike path to get to the north side of the Pentagon.
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Washington+and+Old+Dominion+Trail&daddr=38.8456697,-77.0767088+to:The+Pentagon,+Pentagon+Pedestrian+Tunnel,+Washington,+DC&hl=en&ll=38.829211,-77.08437&spn=0.112197,0.070295&sll=38.842582,-77.078705&sspn=0.112176,0.070295&geocode=FR3CUAIdhp9n-w%3BFeW8UAIdHOdn-ymV_Qu0NbG3iTHtmq7nw99gIw%3BFdQfUQIdLzho-yEvUxPA-NCDryknLO0p37a3iTEvUxPA-NCDrw&oq=Pentagon&dirflg=b&mra=mrv&via=1&t=m&z=14&lci=bike

I have not though of that possibility. I llike it. Will try this tomorrow, thanks.

@Rogburt 58559 wrote:

Matt

I ride from North Springfield to Arlington via Hummer/Annandale Rd to WO&D to Custis/end at Glebe (12.1 mi)… after taking that you could continue on the WO&D to Army Navy Drive or Custis to Lady Bird Johnson park….just a thought.

This was my original plan, but i could not figure out the best way to navigate 7 corners. Any tips on what to do when you hit Rte. 50 on Annandale Rd? I would love to figure this out for weekend recreational riding routes headed west on the W&OD.

[MattAune]

@dasgeh 58502 wrote:

Bummer. Where are you going from/to? We’re here to help!

I am starting at wakefield park, ending at the Pentagon (North side via Boundary Channel)

The plan was Braddock -> 236 -> N. Beauregard -> 4MRT -> Jeff Davis -> Crystal Drive -> long Branch -> Pentagon. Long Bridge was bad, and the Rte. 1 to Crystal drive was probably worth bypassing as well. I could take Eads from the trail and go all the way to the south side of the pentagon, or I could go a mile extra and take the MVT.

Any advice on cutting through crystal city would be appreciated, or really any advice on getting from annandale to the pentagon.

[MattAune]

@Bilsko 58492 wrote:

Yeah, LBD is awful right now, but it looks like they’re getting pretty close to getting the repaving started. Hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll have a nicely paved road to ride on.

So the plan is to continue that nice new pavement all the way to Boundary Channel? That would be lovely.

[MattAune]

My morning commute was my first, hopefully of many. Pretty uneventful until the last mile and a giant hole on long bridge drive that caused my bars to rotate downward and a front flat.

Better to take the Long Bridge Drive trail or EADS to the pentagon? I am done with Long Bridge Drive.

[MattAune]

As dasgeh said, cutting through Ft. Myer at the Hatfield Gate (2nd street) is the safest option. Go straight out from the gate around the 90* right turn and make a left and the T on Hobson. Follow that off the base and down the hill to the path on the north side of the Pike. This will take you right onto the reservation and there will be bike racks past the memorial on the left (on the inside of the dividing wall). This is the only good place to park your bike as a visitor and you will have to walk around the south side of the building to the visitors entrance.

Personally, even with a DOD ID I find cutting through Ft. Myer to be a pain in the butt. I will go south on Courthouse from 2nd, then brave traffic on the pike from there to the pentagon.

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