Moving to DC 🚲

[u/hikesbikessquats]

Hi! I’m moving to DC for a year and I’d like to bring my bike. I’ll be in DuPont circle and Hill East areas. I’m looking for advice re: a couple things:

+

1. what’s a good and friendly bike shop for me t

o ship

1. my bike to and have built upon arrival? My home bike shop recommended this vs driving with it across country.

+ what are some

1. fun and friendly cycling meet ups? I’m no pro, but I love group cycling.

   Currently I join a women’s ride as it fits my schedule but I’m open to any chill and welcoming group that isn’t trying it stay over 19mph. I average 13-18 depending on hills (I am a terrible climber right now).
   +

2. what trails do you recommend? I’m primarily a road cyclist

, considering bringing my gravel bike as well

1. .

   I love a good long autumn ride.

Anything else I shouldn’t miss?

Thanks so much!

[u/SquirrelsToTheRescue]

Do yourself a favor and just learn to work on your own stuff. While there are a few good mechanics scattered among the DC shops, something basic like reassembling a shipped bike is going to get handed to the most junior person.

As others have hinted, most of our shops in DC proper are pretty bad. The rent here is too damn high, and the few shops that had long-term leases on affordable spaces fumbled the bag through various combinations of being bad at running a business and good at consuming drugs.

It's a fantastic cycling town, of course, just not a great bike shop town.

[u/hikesbikessquats → u/SquirrelsToTheRescue]

Thanks for your perspective! To be honest, I assembled the bike when it came from Canyon, but my local shop recommended this route (they take it apart and mail it to a shop that will reassemble) and it felt easy. I know how to do most bike-related things, but it’s helpful to know I should err on giving it a go before dropping into a shop. I’m pretty fortunate to have a great shop here that I trust and cal roll in to any time, and that coordinates excellent group rides, I thought maybe I’d find something similar in DC with the cycling culture. Appreciate the info.

[u/SquirrelsToTheRescue → u/hikesbikessquats]

Yeah, I hate to be a hater but the shops here can only stay in business by moving a lot of high-end stuff so we just don't have the kind of friendly shops serving commuters and casual riders the way you find in lower cost of living towns. There are some nice people working at some of them but the owners and managers don't tend to be the kindest hearts.

Also, you're going to drop $500 or more on pack/ship/reassembly. Unless you've done a lot of customization to this bike I'd consider selling what you have and buying a new bike here even if it's an identical Canyon. You might not make up the whole cost delta, but it will be one less thing to deal with and you'll start over with new tires and drive train consumables.

[u/Sad_Recognition_6562 → u/SquirrelsToTheRescue]

Phil, the owner of BicycleSpace is a sweetheart. He's not a pure salesman (though he does a great job of moving product and keeping a business open. But I've never seen him mansplain to anyone, and I don't think you're going to get needlessly upsold there. The senior mechanic, Peter, is also a really gentle person who puts common sense ahead of ego. Ivy City is just about 2-3 miles north of Hill East, and therefore easy to get to, via West Virginia Avenue.