Visiting D.C. September - October.

[Jcole7]

It's been a long journey through the online bike community to get to this forum, but this seems like a great source for info! I will be in town for a solid month in September into early October, and will have minimal obligations and so I'm planning on doing ALOT of riding. I do a bit of racing down here in Texas, but it looks like the season for you guys is basically over after August (only bringing the road bike, leaving the cross bike behind). I've looked over the Dcpaceline site and had a few questions:

I'll be based in the silver springs area and it looks like a fair number of rides start close by.
How many of those rides are year-round or even still active? Im not sure how recently that site has been updated and I can't find any confirmation of the rides on the groups websites or Facebook pages.

Are the Hain's Point informal rides a year round thing, just from the description they look like fun, and I could see myself hitting those up daily, maybe at both noon and 6?

Any routes you would recommend? I've heard the w&od trail is nice, and the mt Vernon trail was recommended to me, but I've heard mixed things. The c&o towpath looks great as well, but I'm not sure my bike is up to the challenge. I might head down to the blue ridge parkway or skyline drive to get in some climbing (a novelty for someone from Texas), plus it looks beautiful.

Your thoughts and suggestions are much appreciated!

[hozn]

Sept - Oct is a nice time to ride in the DC area. Welcome! You might want to bring some bigger tires if your bike will fit them, since having some versatility for C&O towpath and some of the gravel roads out west (Loudoun County VA) would make for some fun riding. (The gravel is all rideable on 28s. Here are some ideas http://grindinggravel.blogspot.ch/20...utside-of.html)

The Hains Point Hammerfest 6:30am rides should keep running during that timeframe, yes. There's a facebook group -- you'll want to join that. There is another FB group too where rides like the TMBRK are organized; hard rides, great group. Shoot me a PM with your name / info and I'll friend you and add you to some of these groups.

I think the weekend morning rides should still be happening too. With loss of daylight in AM, some of those rides may pause and resume again when time changes back to standard time. In general, lights are required for the morning rides, though. Definitely rides like HPH are strict about everyone having lights.

Maryland has tons of excellent road routes going West. A fun loop is riding out River Rd (or tributary roads) and crossing the ferry. MacAurthur Blvd is a good road too -- especially quiet outside of the Beltway (495), Falls Rd. etc. Having the bigger tires would make a combination of MacAurther / Great Falls / C&O. You could find lots of routes on ridewithgps.com, here are a few variations I've collected and/or ridden in that area:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2774024
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6209774
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6209823
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6722589
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6723087

Those routes all include going out the W&OD, but that is really just because that is easier for me to do as a loop. If you're starting in MD, I probably would do the W&OD once to experience it and then just stay on the MD side of the river, since that's where the better riding is. Near the city the W&OD, Custis and Mt. Vernon Trails (MVT) get busy on the weekends (when it's nice), so that isn't the best place to ride if you want to ride quickly. The W&OD west of Arlington is less busy, but it's also pretty boring.

Skyline sounds fun. I've actually never ridden Skyline drive. Also, if you want mountains, the Catoctin Mountains are just up north. That is some beautiful riding. Here's an example route, but you can search for "Murders Row" in RWGPS to see variations.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/2312330

Enjoy the riding!

[dbb]

If you're comfortable with cycling on city streets, registration for WABA's 50 States may still be open (hurry). 9 Sep.

An epic metric century.

Waba.org

[dkel]

If you're comfortable with cycling on city streets, registration for WABA's 50 States may still be open (hurry). 9 Sep.

An epic metric century.

Epic, but slow! Lots of stop and go city traffic; a fair amount of staring at the cue sheet, and then looking around and scratching your head; also occasional turning around and trying to figure out how to get back on the route.

[AFHokie]

Some upcoming rides in the region:

September 9th Civil War Century (May be sold out, but very scenic & if you do the full century over 6k ft of climbing)
September 17th Back Roads Century
September 24th Cannonball Century
October 1st Lifeline 100

I've ridden both the Civil War and the Lifeline 100 and would recommend both. All are within the same travel distance from the city as Skyline.

I'm sure there are other upcoming events in the area I'm missing.

As far as trails, also check out the Anacostia River Trail. It doesn't get as packed on the weekends and you can combine it with the Sligo Creek Trail & Capitol Crescent Trail to make a 40ish mile loop around the city.

[Rootchopper]

The ONLY way to see the city. Just do it. It takes all day. It's hard. It's worth the effort. Plus you get to go the pizza and beer party at the finish with a couple hundred other bicycling nuts who did the ride (or parts of it, then quit and rode to the party like a bunch of pathetic losers)

[Jcole7]

Wow, did not expect so many replies so quickly! You guys are awesome. Looks like I'm going to have to procure some lights! We don't have much occasion to use then down here. I think the widest tires I can fit on my bike are 26s which would make gravel tough, but manageable for short segments. Those gps routes look great too.

Any idea if the weekday rides are still happening that time of year? I've heard mention of the "goon ride"? Thoughts?

[hozn]

I've only heard of the goon ride (not very positive), never ridden it. That time of year, I suspect the weekday rides are mostly on. Definitely HP rides. Probably most morning rides. I plan to be riding in the morning for sure! :-)

[secstate]

Based on the pictures I see weekly on Strava, the Silver Spring coffee club on Tuesdays attracts a good crowd. I bet some of those folks would have suggestions and would be delighted to have you stop by. 7am-ish at Kaldi's Social House near downtown, I believe. It tends to wrap up on the early side so people can commute into DC.

[Steve O]

Based on the pictures I see weekly on Strava, the Silver Spring coffee club on Tuesdays attracts a good crowd. I bet some of those folks would have suggestions and would be delighted to have you stop by. 7am-ish at Kaldi's Social House near downtown, I believe. It tends to wrap up on the early side so people can commute into DC.

The hard core from the DTSSCC (Downtown Silver Spring Coffee Club) do a hill ride beforehand that starts at like 5am or 5:30am. Then they get coffee & go to work. You definitely need to hook up with Eric Williams, who lives in that neck of the woods: https://www.strava.com/athletes/640673

If you want to meet the peeps from this forum, check out the coffee club/shop rides/other events calendar posted at www.freezingsaddles.com