May 16th Cycling Movie Night at the Drafthouse!

[txgoonie]

Some stoke for the mountain biker crowd (and anyone who enjoys cycling movies)!

My good friend, Jason Berry – local cyclist and film director – is having a special screening of 24 Solo at the Arlington Cinema Drafthouse next Wednesday, May 16th. If you've never seen the film, 24 Solo is a documentary that follows Chris Eatough, six-time 24 Hour Solo World Champion, is his bid for a 7th title. Chris Eatough, you say? You mean the Program Manager at BikeArlington? Why, yes, the same! Come meet Chris and Jason, watch the film (which I've seen about a thousand times, but I'm going anyway and win some great stuff! It's going to be a really fun event.

Jason is holding the screening as a fundraiser for his participation in the Bailey HUNDO 100-mile MTB bike race in Colorado in June, which will benefit Trips for Kids and IMBA.

Tickets – which get you admission and a raffle ticket – are only $5, which is a steal because there will be tons of giveaways and raffles of some sweet cycling gear from Cannondale, FreshBikes, Zipp, Sram, Mad Alchemy, PowerBar & more!

Tickets here: http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/?page=event&eid=1523

Can't make the show? You can still contribute:
http://www.prerace.com/registration/donation/26725

[eminva]

Hello --

I am planning to attend and will be going from work. I work near Farragut North. Google Maps routes me down through GWU, to the mall, around the Lincoln, over the Memorial Bridge (south side), down Washington Avenue (or a trail next to it, can't tell), to S. Southgate Road and from there onto Columbia Pike.

This would be a first for me (crossing the Memorial Bridge, that is) and I know a lot of you are very familiar with this area, so let me know if Google Maps has steered me wrong. Am I going over one of those GW Parkway Intersections of Mortal Peril? Not that I can avoid it, although I have somehow all these years . . . .

Thanks.

Liz

[5555624]

I am planning to attend and will be going from work. I work near Farragut North. Google Maps routes me down through GWU, to the mall, around the Lincoln, over the Memorial Bridge (south side), down Washington Avenue (or a trail next to it, can't tell), to S. Southgate Road and from there onto Columbia Pike.

This would be a first for me (crossing the Memorial Bridge, that is) and I know a lot of you are very familiar with this area, so let me know if Google Maps has steered me wrong. Am I going over one of those GW Parkway Intersections of Mortal Peril? Not that I can avoid it, although I have somehow all these years . . . .

It's Washington Boulevard, but that route will work and the intersections are not too bad. (You'll be facing traffic.)

When you get to the top of Southgate Road, make the second left, on S Ode St. (The first left, S Oak St is one-way the wrong way.) The intersection of S Ode St and Columbia Pike is easier than the intersection of S Orme St and Columbia Pike. (Unless you're making this trip on the sidewalk.)

That stretch of Columbia Pike, past the Sheraton and under Washington Boulevard can be dicey at times.

[eminva]

Thank you, very helpful.

Liz

[5555624]

You're welcome. Although I don't cross at the Memorial Bridge, that's my afternnon/evening commute. Unfortunately, you were a couple of hours too late to see the Lil' Latina Babe, which is the "real" reason to turn left on Ode. If she waves at you and you wave back, you get rewarded with at least a smile that threatens to split her four-year -old face. (More often, though, she starts waving more, laughing, and cheering.)

[eminva]

Thank you again! I found my way fairly easily, with a little help from a cyclist who showed me where to go when the paved trail kind of ends near the Pentagon. Man, that trail must be interesting in winter evenings with the headlights coming straight at you. Still, it worked well for getting from Point A to Point B. I missed the little girl, sadly.

What do cyclists do on that early stretch of Columbia Pike? I took the lane, but it is kind of a long climb and the road is in poor condition, with cars raring to go fast. I saw another cyclist on the sidewalk.

By the way, the movie was excellent. If you get a chance, do see it. Nice to see Skreamingquadz and of course, Chris Eatough. I got a preview of the Bike to Work Day giveaway this year. My friend won a Cannondale bike frame in the raffle!

Thanks.

Liz

[5555624]

I found my way fairly easily, with a little help from a cyclist who showed me where to go when the paved trail kind of ends near the Pentagon.

Which way? For a while, post-9/11 (and after the trail had been rebuilt), the route followed the on-ramp from Columbia Pike to Washington Boulevard. Although not paved well, it was paved. Roughly once the 9/11 Memorial opened, they tore that up stretch up and the trail continues through he bollards and by the memorial. (They tore it up one evening, after 4:00 p.m., because it was gone at 2:30 a.m. the next morning.) Some cyclists still use the dirt route along the ramp and some simply ride on the ramp and into traffic.

What do cyclists do on that early stretch of Columbia Pike? I took the lane, but it is kind of a long climb and the road is in poor condition, with cars raring to go fast. I saw another cyclist on the sidewalk.

Whichever they're more comfortable with, I guess. I normally take the road. (If I get stopped at the light at the bottom of the hill, I'll sometimes bail onto the sidewalk, since getting started and the poor road condition just makes it slow going to start.) The sidewalk from the Sheraton and then under Washington Boulevard is not in good shape, anyway.

The project to replace the bridge and re-do the intersection is just starting. The end result is supposed to have a wide sidewalk for pedestrians and cyclists.

Jim

[txgoonie]

My friend won a Cannondale bike frame in the raffle!

That's awesome! I was SO jealous of the raffles (sadly as an official helper (I was the one running around handing the merch out) I was ineligible).

I used my hatred of Columbia Pike as an excuse to take the long way around to the theater and try my hand at the Walter Reed hill for the first time. In 80-something degree weather. That was fun

Anyway, thanks for coming out!

[KLizotte]

What do cyclists do on that early stretch of Columbia Pike? I took the lane, but it is kind of a long climb and the road is in poor condition, with cars raring to go fast. I saw another cyclist on the sidewalk.

Liz

I generally avoid Columbia Pike like the plague but when I do have to go in that direction, I skip Columbia Pike up to the Air Force Memorial by taking S Southgate Road instead - it takes you up the same hill on the other side of the Navy Annex. It's still a long hill but there is little traffic. I take a left at Ft Myers (they don't let cyclists through at this gate) on to the road that takes you by the Sheraton. Once you are at the intersection of the Sheraton and Columbia Pike you either have to suffer the indignities of the sidewalk heading west (narrow and in poor shape) or risk getting squashed by a car or bus along the Pike. Whether I take street or sidewalk depends a lot on time of day and which bike I'm riding. I really hope the County is able to make this stretch more bike friendly. I know plans are in the works and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[eminva]

Which way? For a while, post-9/11 (and after the trail had been rebuilt), the route followed the on-ramp from Columbia Pike to Washington Boulevard. Although not paved well, it was paved. Roughly once the 9/11 Memorial opened, they tore that up stretch up and the trail continues through he bollards and by the memorial. (They tore it up one evening, after 4:00 p.m., because it was gone at 2:30 a.m. the next morning.) Some cyclists still use the dirt route along the ramp and some simply ride on the ramp and into traffic.

I followed the other cyclist on the ramp, but there was no traffic on it at the time.

I generally avoid Columbia Pike like the plague but when I do have to go in that direction, I skip Columbia Pike up to the Air Force Memorial by taking S Southgate Road instead - it takes you up the same hill on the other side of the Navy Annex. It's still a long hill but there is little traffic. I take a left at Ft Myers (they don't let cyclists through at this gate) on to the road that takes you by the Sheraton. Once you are at the intersection of the Sheraton and Columbia Pike you either have to suffer the indignities of the sidewalk heading west (narrow and in poor shape) or risk getting squashed by a car or bus along the Pike. Whether I take street or sidewalk depends a lot on time of day and which bike I'm riding. I really hope the County is able to make this stretch more bike friendly. I know plans are in the works and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Google Maps did route me on S. Southgate Road; I turned on S. Ode Street per the directions above. Good to know the county may be making changes in the future.

Liz