[thecyclingeconomist]

Hey Continental:

We have a 2.5 year old, so the school thing isn’t much of an issue for at least another couple years (in which time we’ll probably end up getting to know the area/purchase). I’m more into knowing the resources close by and how the commute will be up through Alexandria and then out the 4-mile-run trail onto the MVT.

Here’s my commuter as I plan to ride it (or at least very close to how it will be setup):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]910[/ATTACH]

Thank you!

[thecyclingeconomist]

Well… today I ran into yet another place that I had to submit an application on… so I figure I best diversify as it IS REALLY CRAZY how competitive the rental market is.

I’ve put in applications on places near:
1. Cross-Streets are 120 and the 29 (Brandywine) in Arlington
2. Cross-Streets are 7 and Braddock (Near the Bradley shopping center) in Alexandria

Any opinions on the locations?

[thecyclingeconomist]

Thank you again to you all! I’ve put in an application on a place today in Arlington. Tri-story town house, but it fits the necessities for storage etc. Not what I’d planned on, but still good nonetheless. I guess that even after thinking I’d prepared myself for the increased expenses here, it still wasn’t enough. Just can’t get into a detached home for under $3K and have it be anything but a pile O’ junk. Not unless I’m WAY out there, and I really want to be able to be car-free for my commute. I’ll be 7.8 miles via the Custis trail (and a lil one mile jaunt through Arlington to connect).

[thecyclingeconomist]

@CCrew 16671 wrote:

Dunno where you are, but I’ve got way more scars from Ortho’s than I care to admit. (both shoulders, one knee full reconstruct) Went through a couple of quacks to find an ace one, and I’d drive across the country for this guy. Hopkins trained knee and shoulder specialist.

http://www.baogroup.com/bao/index.html

Guys name is Stephen Brown. He’s a flipping god. To give you an idea, I drive 150 miles to see him…

Thank you! This is the type of referral I’m looking for… I’ll be living in N. Virginia (Arlington area), so I don’t much care how far I have to drive to be honest. I just want someone that will do what is actually going to provide long-term healing and ability to ride.

[thecyclingeconomist]

Diggin’ the comments! Keep em’ coming!

I just signed the shipping contract, and don’t have a destination yet! YIKES!!!

[thecyclingeconomist]

Another vote for the Topeak morph pumps (i have both the road and mountain morph… both are stellar.)

[thecyclingeconomist]

Thanks for the further details. Let me reiterate that I am not freaked by the thought of ANY urban commuting, but mainly do not want the majority of by daily commute to be with cars (I don’t want to breath their exhaust, and car congested streets are not beautiful to look at IMO.)

I used to cycle-commute in Los Angeles! There aren’t even bike lanes as part of any thought process there… I built a 29er so I could bunny hop 2 foot curbs to get out of the way of buses/semi-trucks going 50mph where there was no shoulder. I’m all good with a little bit… but it sounds to me like the W&OD trail is what I want to ride daily.

To do the folder legitimately, I might have to get a bike-friday! That makes 12 bikes I need to house now. Thanks a lot!

Last question: what about the cycling route along the banks of the Potomac going up and out northwest from the district?

Thank you again for the overwhelming response and VERY helpful hints. Honestly, this is what is dictating where I live more than any other information.

[thecyclingeconomist]

Thanks again! I just was hoping to have a less urban (off city streets), more natural surrounding when riding in. I guess 14th is the best route North to South in and out of the district.

Is the W&OD trail well maintained out to Vienna then?

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 15072 wrote:

I just get nervous when people start saying you NEED super expensive cycling clothing. Its one of those things that seems like an impediment to new riders.

Agreed: however… it does depend on rider weight too. I guess I should have mentioned that. I’m a clydesdale at my fittest (always 180+ and more like around 200lbs.) Shorts/chamois/saddles are a GIGANTIC (and primary) place where money equivocates to comfort for me. Much rather have those three be great and buy an ultegra equipped bike and have the bike weigh a whopping lb. more than a dura-ace bike and save at least a grand on the component cost. (oh yeah… I can lose a lb. easily in five days for free too.)

~TCE

[thecyclingeconomist]

Is the trail through Rock Creek Park north to Chevy-Chase/South Kensington safe?

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 14990 wrote:

I disagree that expensive shorts are somehow necessary, at least for the majority of recreational cyclists. Obviously everyone is different, but I have a few pairs of cheap nashbar shorts that were like 15 bucks each, and they’ve held up fine for several years, and I’ve ridden them on many long rides and been happy with them.

Any bike shorts are worlds better than riding in cotton underwear.

I guess it depends on definition of “recreational cyclist”… I ride about 5K per year, and am definitely just a recreational cyclist. I also do agree that ANY padded cycling short is better than cotton undies. However, when you ride 40 to 60 miles on a regular basis, the difference between a cheap entry level short/chamois and a “good one” becomes light-years away from each-other…

That being said: good sales at REI, Performancebike, and nashbar (as well as sites like bonktown.com and realcyclist.com) can save you hundreds of dollars! I just make sure I’ve tried on the stuff before buying online… as sizes/fit are SO different from manufacturer to manufacturer.

Also, how you wash/dry them makes a huge difference as to the longevity of the chamois.

I love my pearl izumo P.R.O. stuff, and can say that the bibs I bought are the best I’ve ever had. However, they cost nearly as much as a friggen suit (dress suit)…

I’ve also had a pair of cheap ($30) louis garneau shorts that were adequate for commuting/rides up to about 30 miles. However, the chamois broke down within 6 months (and I always line dry.)

Just my opinion/what I’ve learned over the years…

God bless and safe cycling!

[thecyclingeconomist]

@creadinger 15043 wrote:

Not wanting to look like an internet stalker or anything

Anyway, welcome to the area, and good luck with your search!

As long as your stalking helps me with good info/a good place to locate my family… stalk away! LOL

[thecyclingeconomist]

@americancyclo 15044 wrote:

I’m sure you’ve got an agent on the case, but feel free to come back here to ask about any areas. Google maps has most of the cycling routes mapped out pretty well, so you can check that against any listings.

Good Luck and Welcome!

Actually: if any of you have a Realtor that you’d highly recommend, I’m open for suggestions. Annie’s list and google-reviews don’t exactly make me excited about randomly contacting an agent.

I’m used to huge climbs in the Sierra’s (One of my favorite routes is a 64 mile loop with 5600ft. of elevation gain), but my commute to work is flat as a pancake… To be honest, I’m looking forward to having some topography in my daily commute life.

It looks like either: Arlington/Falls Church or Kensington/South Kensington/Chevy-Chase are the two basic regions in the search…

[thecyclingeconomist]

Thank you all of you for your awesome responses and information… I am a total nube to the D.C. area, and maybe even blindly moving there (totally relying on tips/friends that live there to sign a lease: YIKES)

I am not completely limited to 10 miles each way, but since I plan on doing it 5 days a week and hope to do some evening legit longer rides, I think that 100miles commuting is plenty.

I do not “have” to have a detached home, but if townhouse option is what we go with, I do need a legit garage. We plan on having one car.

It looks like a pretty overwhelming positive response to go into looking in much more detail at Arlington… which is what I plan on doing this week. Thank you again, and I look forward to becoming part of the cycling community there in D.C.

I’ve been highly involved with starting and getting our local bicycle coalition running (including being a steering committee member, running our annual road-ride, and completely starting our website from scratch: http://www.mercedbicyclecoalition.org)…

The amount of cyclists in D.C. alone is amazing!

[thecyclingeconomist]

@adamx 14962 wrote:

you might want to check realty on line because what you are looking for…house, garage for 11 bikes at $2500 or less…sorry my friend but not w/in 5 miles of the district…uh..maybe not even w/in 15 miles of the district…

I know… but I figured I can always put what I “want”… not what I’ll actually get… hehehe!

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