This AM on a ride with my fiancée at Hains Point she said “on your left” to a runner who ran left into her, screamed at her, and then ran across the parking lot to cut us off and scream at her some more.

While this guy looked so so tough talking shit to a 4’ 10” woman in his Tri suit, my suggestion was that we simply take the lane when we’re down there to avoid something like that entirely in the future.

She is brand new to cycling, so any suggestions for timid, beginner friendly routes where we could loop away from cars would be appreciated. I’m doing research myself, but I am much more comfortable and don’t seem to be estimating “beginner friendly” well.

My wife and I are casual/moderate bike riders. We are thinking about riding the C&O Trail from Harpers Ferry to DC this October and taking Amtrak back to our starting point. We like to break it into two days. Any thoughts, suggestions or cautions?

Anyone have experiences cycling the entirety of skyline drive? Or maybe doing an out and back? Curious how people handle the logistics. I’m thinking of planning a trip and maybe even overnighting. Any convenient restaurants/towns along the way that are must visit?

Dumb question but are there any services that would transport you from one end to the other? Not sure if I can handle 200 miles lol. And if you do an out and back is it better to start on the northern part or southern?

Recently after buying my MTB bike I’ve been thinking about ride from my house to work every day or at least 3 times per week (petworth neighborhood to National mall area) does someone here has the same route as an everyday commute? Kinda scared riding in the city since I only rode before on trails when I used to live in Arlington.
Definitely trying to avoid Georgia Ave and Massachusetts Ave

Took my first longish ride (28 miles) of the year (the Metropolitan Branch-Sligo Creek-Anacostia River Trail loop). It's a route I've been tweaking for a bit, and always recommend for the scenery and paved trails. It's a little brown this time of year (cherry blossoms and callery pears in full bloom though), but in another month it'll be very green and full of wildlife (eagles, turtles, snakes, deer, marmots, etc). I started typing out detailed directions but realized no one wants that 😅; happy to share the GPX files. Not loving the last leg (after the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge), so recommendations for alternate/more scenic routes welcome. Happy riding.

Edit: Here's the GPX file if interested.

Howdy Yall, I'm visiting my mom in Fairfax from Texas. I brought my two little Texans (8 and 10.999 years old). We ride daily in Austin, and I am really trying to get in some good rides with them while we are here. They can easily do 5 or 8 miles in Austin ( only a few hills) and I want to see if y'all had any good suggestions. I know the mall is gonna be insane thanks to the 4th of July, but I might haul them down there anyway to see the madness. I also saw a lot of people on this sub talking about Rock Creek Park, so that's probably on the list. Finally, I was thinking of doing the C and O canal. I think we might see if we can bring the bikes in on the subway (we are near Vienna)

Does anyone have any suggestions for us? Like where to hop on any of these trails or even "don't go there"

From Monday, October 5 through the first week of November

Born and raised in DC and rode a single speed to Wilson hs everyday! Left for college and then my first job so I’ve been gone for almost 10 years. Moving home in about a month and am now riding and training 10-15 hours a week across road and gravel.

Never rode seriously when I was in DC so what are the best spots to do sustained intervals or climbing of any sort? I heard beach drive is closed now, not just on weekends like it used to be? Is the c&o canal or the ride to Mount Vernon a good spot for training or is it too busy? Prefer solo riding and will be starting rides from admo. Thanks!

Im hoping to bike from near Friendship Heights down to the mall next week. However, all the apps keep telling me to take Wisconsin or Connecticut Avenues, neither of which are exactly bike friendly. There has to be a trail or some streets with bike lanes that I could use instead, right? I don’t mind biking in the street where needed, but not the whole way… Thanks in advance and stay safe out there!

I ride this route to commute regularly and geez it's rough. I recently got a Tern Quick Haul and am looking at Redshift and similar shock absorbing seat posts. does anyone have experience if that's a significant upgrade in comfort?

my other option is to ride in the road, but I'm not confident enough to do that during rush hour

The Park Service announced that they have discovered safety issues with the pedestrian walkway alongside the railroad bridge, separate from the stairway replacement project. An inspection on September 21 "revealed the need to replace deteriorating deck planks and decking joists, and to stabilize a section of the security fence. To minimize risks to visitor health and safety and to scope and safely implement needed repairs, the walkway will be closed on September 22, 2026, and will remain closed until repairs can be made and inspections completed." (full post available here: RoD to temporarily close the pedestrian walkway across the Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Bridge - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service))

The main page to check on the current status of the Park (and the ongoing bridge closure) is available here: Current Conditions - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The bridge had been closed for the stairway replacement since the end of July, and this additional closure is unrelated, but it will extend the existing closure. This is really too bad, since Harper's Ferry is especially pretty in the fall as the leaves change. There is a shuttle running, but previous posts have noted that there is very limited space for bicycles.

Bonus for PBLs. Also, is there a good app for this kind of thing?

I’m looking to throw some wider tires on and do some gravel riding along the canal. I haven’t ridden gravel before, is 35mm sufficient for riding to Harper’s ferry? That’s the widest my bike can fit and just want to make sure that’s not too narrow for riding conditions.

Thanks

Does anyone know if we can ride the Indy track? I haven’t been down to the mall/downtown yet

My friends and I are going to ride to Glen echo today for her art show. Is the path less muddy from the great Falls direction or from the dc direction ?

Hello everyone, I am sure someone asked but I failed to search properly however I am going to be in Tysons for a week for work and planning on riding 3/4 days early in the morning prob start around 6am. I created a few routes based on other routes in the area. I wanted some feedback if I should make adjustments based on others experience. Ride will be solo road bike. I dont mind a little unpaved here and there. If there are group rides around also open to suggestions but what i found mostly everything is in the evening which wont work for this trip.

Routes:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56720671

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56720395

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56720352

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56720244

I have 28c WTB ThickSlick tires. I need to drop my car off at a workshop on US-1 and was thinking of riding my fixie back via the MVT. Is that doable? For context, I've never ridden a fixie on a trail before.

Thanks in advance for your guidance.

EDIT: Missed the "?" at the end of the title. Sorry

Need to get to wo&d trail from Columbia heights for 40+ mile rides. New to cycling and the city! Whats the best (most car free) way to get to the trail? I had a friend recommend taking rock creek down, crossing at Arlington mem bridge, going south on mt Vernon trail, and then taking a hard right turn to get to wo&d? I have another friend who bikes thru Arlington to get to the trail? I’m kind of clueless - appreciate any tips/tricks/explanations.

Assuming all of this is good on a road bike as well?

THANKS!

I usually mix in laps around Hains Point into my Saturday morning rides. With tomorrow being the "DC Bike Ride" event, should I consider the loop as essentially closed during those hours and stay away? I saw that their route has them going counter-clockwise around the point.

I'm trying to go Point of Rocks and google maps is trying to take me through Poolseville vs just staying on the C&O Canal.

(I do not want to pay for an app!!)

The mall is torn up, constitution is torn up, I would prefer not to go downtown during peak commuting times. Any ideas?

Commute changed from downtown to Tyson’s — one of those buildings around the mall. Trying to figure out if there’s a rational way to get there from Tenleytown. Nearest I can figure is either CCT to WOD and then? Or C&O to Chain Bridge and i can find my way from there, but man do I dread going up that hill during traffic — seems pretty narrow to be slogging up at my not-exactly-Pogacar w/kg. Is there a better way I’m missing?

Edit — destination is at the north side right up by the Dulles access road.

Hi BikeDC, trying to find a shorter one-way C&O journey that's fit for the whole family, was thinking I would do:

• Metro to Shady Grove
• Ride-On bus route 76 from Shady Grove to Poolesville (only runs on weekdays)
• Bike down Whites Ferry Rd to Whites Ferry Grill, catch C&O Towpath
• 35 mile ride back to DC
• Catch metro at Foggy Bottom near C&O terminus

Anyone have any experience on the 6 mile bike from Poolesville to the towpath? Would it be safe-ish for a couple of parents rocking toddlers on the back? Anything I'm missing with this plan?

Any other recommendations for a similar one-way bike where you go out on public transportation and end in DC in the 20-30 mile range that's good for kids? Staying as far away from traffic where we can is always a priority!