[Nuke]

I travel a similar commute (mine is from Ballston to the Hill). I have a few sets of routes I use based on my goal for that ride: shortest time, good target heart rate, or safety.

For shortest commute, every morning I take Claraden Blvd to 15th, 15th to Arlington Blvd Access Rd, through Iwo Jima, around Arlington Cementary, over Memorial Bridge, and then down the Mall. Except for the GW Parkway crossing, I feel this route is fairly safe. Its mostly bike lanes, MUP, or streets with very little traffic. In the morning, tourists are not an issue. This takes me about 30 minutes to work, 40 back. I just started biking in March so I’m not that fast.

For a better training/workout commute, most afternoons I take Penn to 15th, north side of the White House, through GWU (I take G st but still trying to find the best route), over TR bridge, and then Custis. This takes about 10-15 minutes more than the other route. Although it avoids the GWP crossing, I find TR bridge to be pretty hairy. There is barely enought room for two bikes to pass by eachother. The tourists are fairly tollerable this route even in the afternoon.

I would avoid M. St in Georgetown. I probably haven’t given 14th St Bridge a fair shot, might try it this afternoon.

I’d be happy to ride with her if our schedules work.

[Nuke]

There is a little hill as you approch the interception, very little but enought to slow me down enough so I don’t like being in a car lane. Once I get to the top off the hill, I will either get over to the left turn lane if possible and go through the last piece of Fairfax/parking lot for the Church and coffee shop, or use the cross walks to get over there. I do not like that intersection of 10th and Wilson.

[Nuke]

Talking about signage, I would like to see some signs in DC that would inform people, including the CABI riders, of the no bikes on sidewalk areas, along with signs explaining who belongs in the bike lane.

On Penn Ave I saw two moto scooters in bike lanes. That’s just dumbfounding.

[Nuke]

Maybe I’m missing something, buy why not use the Rock Creek Trail, then take TDR? CCT seems like a big detour. No need to carry. The roads on the VA side of Chain Bridge do not seem too bike friendly to me.

[Nuke]

We use a Co-Pilot child carrier

http://www.amazon.com/CoPilot-Taxi-Bicycle-Child-Seat/dp/B000G22QHW

It works pretty well but we are condsidering a trailer as this carrier is limited to 40lbs. Takes up a lot less space than a trailer.

For helmets, although there are probably many online, at toys r us there was only one that was designed for a todler made by Bell. Works fine.

Also, someone asked about newborns. Confirm with a pediatrician if you disagree, but infants should not be riding on a bike until at least they can hold there head up. One year plus seams to be the standard recommendation.

[Nuke]

My wife and I just also got back into cycling after a 20 years absence. I commute to work (40 minutes there, 55 back). One the weekends, we explore DC on 5-10 mile trips.

What bike to get: we got mountain bikes as I hope to do some trails even though I have yet to do so. I would highly recommend hybrids or comfort bikes as they are designed to do what you describe. I see no reason to get a road bike unless you plan on frequent 2+ hour rides or really want to go fast (I accept the flames for that). It seems like you just want to ride. I got both of ours on Craigslist; I am fairly sure they weren’t stolen.

As a newbie here, I hate to contradict the senior member above, but I feel a long list of requirements may discourage you and others. Don’t worry about gloves, clip pedals, clipless pedals, or bike shorts. If you will ride in traffic, I would recommend lights, reflectors and a hi viz top. For a hi viz top, I use an orange reflective safety vest so I did not have buy many new clothes. I use the same vest everyday and it works in all weather. As for shorts, I wear the same kind I would work out in—synthetic fabric that will dry quickly and wick away moisture. I have not had a need for any padding although I have bought non-cotton athletic underwear for my commute and long trips.

As far as tools and such, I did invest in them but have yet to need to use any of them. I could probably get by with not having them.

Get the basics, a bike, helmet and lock, and just start ridding. You can figure out the rest as you go.

[Nuke]

As someone who uses headphones to listed to podcasts and audio books to multi task when doing monotonous tasks like working out, lawn work, driving by myself, etc I was very tempted to use them when I started communting on my bike. I can see how it could be done, but never on streets. I’m going to stick to the sounds of nature and my own thoughts for now.

There has been many comments about walkers/runners who can’t hear a cyclist’s pass call. I think this and other reasons are why we all should have bells. With their higher pitch sounds, they are more likely to be heard. Also, pedestrians are likely not to know what to do when some one yell, “Pass on your left,” possibly mumbled. Even though they may not know what to do, a bike bell is easier to quickly realize that its a bike, not just some person on the trail yelling at you.

[Nuke]

I didn’t know what the objection to e-bikes until yesterday when I was on a MUP in the Iwo Jima park. I was slowing going up a hill on a path that is not that wide. With no warning, an e-bike passes me going rather fast. Scare the cr@p out of me since I would not expect to passed at that speed going up a hill. Sure, a warning would have helped but if I heard a bell, I still woulded be expecting a bike at that speed. Now maybe a horn would be better but then that’s when e-bikes really are more like mopeds.

What pisses me off the most about was that there was no good reason to be on the trail. The roads around there would have gotten the guy to the same place.

[Author]

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