[mnaqvi1]

@sethpo 115409 wrote:

You should join our bike to work day convoy from Rockville to DC. We go right by downtown Bethesda.

Otherwise, there’s really three ways to do this from Rockville. For all three you need to get through the neighborhoods to Great Falls Road and Maryland Ave near Julius West Middle School.

1) Take Seven Locks to Bradley and Bradley straight into Bethesda. This is the fastest and easiest route but you do ride next to traffic the entire way. Mostly on shoulder.

2) Cut through Dogwood park, take Tower Oaks to Montrose. Cross Montrose. Cut through neighborhood to Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman. Take Tuckerman east to Bethesda Trolly Trail and take that into Bethesda. There’s about a mile section where you have to ride on sidewalk along Old Georgetown past NIH.

3). Same as 2 but you…well, it’s hard to explain. Here’s the route. https://www.strava.com/activities/297972853

I was actually really interested in Bike to Word day. I saw a convoy that starts at shady grove which is great for me but ends at US Nuclear regulatory commission which is just ~5miles short of Bethesda metro. Not sure if I would comfortable going it alone the rest of the way.

Thanks for the route suggestions! I will try to check them out in the coming weeks!

[mnaqvi1]

@americancyclo 82674 wrote:

Can you find out the names of the trails they ride on MTB? Might one of them indicate how much bike you might need? Or have a look at the bikes they use for these rides. If they are truly beginner trails, a CX bike might be enough with knobby tires and a set of slick tires for road/commute riding.

you need to move past it by pedaling faster!

They usually ride on Patapsco park,Schaeffer’s Farm, and Rockburn Branch Trail. Not sure about what exactly they are riding but its definitely not anything high end.

[mnaqvi1]

I’ve thought about Capital Bikeshare but the way I see it, I want to make biking part of my daily routine and so it might be best to invest in a bike that I will own.

[mnaqvi1]

@rcannon100 82643 wrote:

The question everyone is going to ask is “what do you want to use it for.” You are sort of saying a broad range from mountain biking to road biking. If you are like me, a one-bike person that has to do it all – then that probably means you want to go in the middle there with a cyclocross or a hybrid. I ride an urban canondale called a Bad Boy (okay I hate the name). It has 28 tires on it which can go bigger or smaller. Optional disc brakes (which I am about to install). Easily mounts racks. Flat handlebar for heads up riding. It is a good tough bike that takes commuting, can do trails altho not so good for mountain biking. Not as fast as other people’s bikes but is going to take a beating.

As for WHERE to buy a used bike, try Phoenix Bikes down in Barcroft. It is a youth non-profit organization, training kids on how to rebuild bikes and how to run a small business. Bikes like you are looking for might run high 200s. They usually sell out quick.

[IMG]http://www.viennabac.com/resources/Phoenix%20Logo.jpg?timestamp=1345237553884[/IMG]

Another option is Ye Olde Bike Shop in Arlington on Pershing. Guy refurbishes “vintage” bikes and sells them.

Yea after I posted I realized I was asking for a broad use for the bike, I guess my main goal is just to get in better shape, which ever style of bike optimizes for that so, trying to do as much cardio as possible.

[mnaqvi1]

@dbb 82644 wrote:

Welcome to the forum.

I went with a hybrid as it is a good all-around bike for roads and trails in the area. Sitting upright makes it easier to see in traffic. Virtually all my miles are commuting.

When I borrowed a mountain bike, I felt the suspension and tires were conspiring against me.

Check out the local bike shops that sell used (Phoenix in Arlington, Velocity in Alexandria and the others I’ve missed). I’d expect you may be upgrading in a couple of years so starting with a good bike will help delay that as long as possible.

I don’t know much about hybrids but I have been told unless you don’t get the higher end hybrid models you will just end up with a bike trying to be good on the road and rough terrain but eventually failing at both so stick with either a specific road or MTB.

[mnaqvi1]

Yea after I posted I realized I was asking for a broad use for the bike, I guess my main goal is just to get in better shape, which ever style of bike optimizes for that so, trying to do as much cardio as possible.

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