Anybody interested in a monument tour ride?

[divingbiker]

After my ride downtown yesterday, I thought maybe it would be fun for all of us to meet and do a bicycle tour of the monuments sometime, then go out to eat. Maybe Velobambina, dingster, zencentury, and others could join us so we could all meet each other. Our varying speeds wouldn't matter, because we'd be riding on city streets.

Just a thought...

[Zen]

Me!Me!Me!Me!Me!

[Kalidurga]

I'd be up for that. I've read about guided rides like that and they sound like fun. Maybe we could find a web page for that and poach their route.

I wouldn't be able to do it until the end of June or sometime in July, though. Were you hoping to do it sooner, or would that work for everyone?

[HillSlugger]

Sure, as long as I can fit it into my schedule ;) (There are several monuments I've never been to, like the WW2 monument)

[F8th637]

Schedule-willing I think I'd like to go as well.

[7rider]

Sure. Same reply - if my schedule allows, I'd be up for that.

[divingbiker]

I didn't have any schedule in mine, just floating the idea. It gets tricky to schedule anything in the summer, but we can try.

These are dates that would work for me:

Sat June 23
Sun June 24
Sat June 30
Sun July 1
Sat July 7
Sun July 8
Sat July 28
Sun July 29

I looked for a cue sheet online, but couldn't find anything. I did find someone's blog about doing the Potomac Pedalers moonlight monument tour, but he didn't get a cue sheet. He only listed a partial route, but I'd imagine it would go something like this:

Union Station (or wherever we start)
Supreme Court
Capitol
Washington Monument
World War II
Vietnam
Lincoln
Arlington Cemetery
Korean
Roosevelt
Jefferson
Hains Point
White House
back to beginning

I think without Arlington it was something like 15 miles. I can try to do a route and see what it looks like.

This could be fun!

[crazycanuck]

Can i come with you in spirit? :o I'll bike some extra km's for you if you bike for me on your ride..

Take lots of photos k.

Envious C...

[HillSlugger]

I could do Sat June 23 or Sun June 24 but these look better overall:
Sat July 7
Sun July 8
Sat July 28
Sun July 29

What's the story with bringing bike on Metro?

[7rider]

I think right now the June dates would work best for me.
July is looking crazy at this point.

[divingbiker]

Crazycanuck, get on a plane and join us! I've got several spare bikes...

I did a quick route in Routeslip, but it wouldn't let me save it. I really hate that program. It was 15.6 miles, including Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima memorial.

Nicole, you can bring your bike on Metro on weekends, any car, front or back (not middle) doors. Have to use the elevator, not escalator.

[bike4ever]

I can actually do the June 23rd ride. I need to drop off one of my boys with my brother in Laurel for a few days.

[Kalidurga]

Sat June 23
Sun June 24
Sat June 30
Sun July 1
Sat July 7
Sun July 8
Sat July 28
Sun July 29


I can do any of those dates except Sat, June 23. Maybe we could plan two of these rides, one for folks who can make it in June and one for folks who can make it in July. Or do we want to set a date in August and get it on everyone's calendar now?

And, Janice, try bikely.com (http://www.bikely.com/). I find it much easier to work with than Routeslip.

[Velobambina]

I'll see if I can make it. Sounds like fun! See "The Awakening" while it's still at Haines Point. I've heard that they are moving it to the waterfront area where they are building the new stadium.

[Kalidurga]

I'll see if I can make it. Sounds like fun! See "The Awakening" while it's still at Haines Point. I've heard that they are moving it to the waterfront area where they are building the new stadium.

Now, why can't they just leave well enough alone? That thing's been at Haines Point for decades.

[divingbiker]

Now, why can't they just leave well enough alone? That thing's been at Haines Point for decades.

Apparently the Park Service doesn't own it, and the owner has sold it (http://216.116.230.75/stories/051007/aviator_28092.shtml) to a developer for $750K.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to find out the schedule for demonstrations, marches, races, charity events, etc that might close roads in DC this summer? That might dictate when we could do a ride.

[Kalidurga]

Apparently the Park Service doesn't own it, and the owner has sold it (http://216.116.230.75/stories/051007/aviator_28092.shtml) to a developer for $750K.

Bah! "Developer" has become a dirty word to me.


Does anyone have any ideas on how to find out the schedule for demonstrations, marches, races, charity events, etc that might close roads in DC this summer? That might dictate when we could do a ride.

Good idea. My family had that problem in trying to go to the Nat'l History Museum on Memorial Day. There's got to be some office of something or other that would oversee all the different organizations planning things that affect the roads. Though we could always ride on the *gasp* sidewalk for short distances, if we had to ;)

[HillSlugger]

I'll see if I can make it. Sounds like fun! See "The Awakening" while it's still at Haines Point. I've heard that they are moving it to the waterfront area where they are building the new stadium.

I have to admit that I've never seen it. Is it on our itinerary?

[7rider]

I have to admit that I've never seen it. Is it on our itinerary?

Janice mentioned Haines Pt as a possible destination in her post #7.
I think that would be great. I've never been to Haines Pt., although I've heard a lot about it.

I know there's a pro-Palestine demonstration on the south (north?) lawn of the Capital on June 10th. It was in this morning's Express re: the advertising controversy with the Isreal/Palestinian ads on Metro.

I would think perhaps the Park Service might have some info??

[Zen]

I don't think there's anything coming up large enough to close the streets.

I knew about The Awakening and was shocked. People, especially kids, love that. Theres a statue of A.Einstein on Constitution that's well worn, maybe around 16th or 17th st.

I can't do the last weekend in June, thats my Big Ride for the year though I may do the Civil War (half) Century with Slug in September.

[Velobambina]

Now, why can't they just leave well enough alone? That thing's been at Haines Point for decades.

Hon, around the DC area they never can leave well enough alone. If moving it will make some rich person richer, forget about it. In the 20 (uggh) years that I've lived here, it's gotten worse with all the development, crowding,mcmansion infill building, traffic, and lack of a sense of community. All in the name of a "thriving economy." Did you hear that we have the 4th worst summer air quality in the US? I think today's going to be a code red air day, too.

[Kalidurga]

Hon, around the DC area they never can leave well enough alone. If moving it will make some rich person richer, forget about it. In the 20 (uggh) years that I've lived here, it's gotten worse with all the development, crowding,mcmansion infill building, traffic, and lack of a sense of community. All in the name of a "thriving economy." Did you hear that we have the 4th worst summer air quality in the US? I think today's going to be a code red air day, too.

Yeah, you'd think that I'd be used to it by now, considering I'm a native of the DC suburbs. I'm at the age, too, that I can say "I remember when..." over half of the communities in this area were farmland or forest. Sad...

So, are we still trying to set a date for this? The week of July 4th would probably be the worst of the road closures. I'd think any others would be minimal enough to work around.

[divingbiker]

So, are we still trying to set a date for this? The week of July 4th would probably be the worst of the road closures. I'd think any others would be minimal enough to work around.

I'm not sure where we stand on a date. I think it would be great to have a ride on June 23, while bikemom is in town. But then Tam couldn't go, and that just wouldn't be right. If we don't do June, we move to August, since Regina is busy in July. August is really hot, unless we start early in the morning. So maybe we ought to wait until the fall when the tourists go home?

What do you all think?

[Zen]

I can't go on the 23rd either.
Grrrr
And if all goes well today I'll be working Saturdays in September.
We will see...

[7rider]

Code red today, huh???
Oh, that will make this afternoon's ride home a joy. Not.
I can hear my DH now.. "So, hon. Did you push yourself on the ride?"
Gee, no, hon. I decided I rather like keeping my lungs inside my body and didn't want to be coughing them up with all the junk in the air. :rolleyes:

Re: the ride. Why don't we do it on the 23rd with those who can join us? There nothing saying we can't do it again in September to "hit" all the things we don't get to this time. Or, see them again.

[Kalidurga]

Code red today, huh???
Oh, that will make this afternoon's ride home a joy. Not.
I can hear my DH now.. "So, hon. Did you push yourself on the ride?"
Gee, no, hon. I decided I rather like keeping my lungs inside my body and didn't want to be coughing them up with all the junk in the air. :rolleyes:

Lovely imagery :D


Re: the ride. Why don't we do it on the 23rd with those who can join us? There nothing saying we can't do it again in September to "hit" all the things we don't get to this time. Or, see them again.

That sounds fine to me. I'll be sorry to miss it (though if anyone wants to swing up Connecticut Ave towards Dupont Circle, you could stop by to visit me at work...), but we could certainly plan for another ride later on when ZenC and I are available. I also work a lot of Saturday's, but my Sunday's are pretty much wide open throughout the year.

[HillSlugger]

I can do the 23rd.




That sounds fine to me. I'll be sorry to miss it (though if anyone wants to swing up Connecticut Ave towards Dupont Circle, you could stop by to visit me at work...), but we could certainly plan for another ride later on when ZenC and I are available. I also work a lot of Saturday's, but my Sunday's are pretty much wide open throughout the year.

Do you want a bunch of sweaty gals hanging out at your store :eek:

Let's plan for a second ride, maybe waiting until September when it may have cooled down a bit?

I'm on my second commute ride today. Is it really a red day?

BTW, now that I'm trying to make bike commuting a regular thing I'm really itching to trade "The Beast" for a flat bar road bike. I've got my eye on a Jamis Coda on Ebay. It would be perfect, unfortunately, it's a pretty hideous color.

[divingbiker]

Code red today, huh???
Oh, that will make this afternoon's ride home a joy. Not.

Re: the ride. Why don't we do it on the 23rd with those who can join us? There nothing saying we can't do it again in September to "hit" all the things we don't get to this time. Or, see them again.

Wow, I didn't realize it was a code red day. I'm glad I've got the day off. :)

Sounds like a plan--we'll do the monument tour on June 23, then again in the fall. I'll try to map it out on bikely (or whatever). We may have to wing it a bit depending on one way streets, traffic, etc.

Anybody have any preferences where we start? I'd assume a metro station would be a good bet, maybe Union Station or Metro Center?

[7rider]

I just checked WTOP. It's "only" a code orange day today. :rolleyes:

The 23rd sounds good - earlier rather than later sounds good, too.
I've never taken my bike on Metro, but I'd be up for the attempt. Either Union Station or Metro Center would be fine. Whatever looks best from a route point of view.

[HillSlugger]

Anybody have any preferences where we start? I'd assume a metro station would be a good bet, maybe Union Station or Metro Center?

Union Station usually seems less chaotic than Metro Center so might be better for dealing with a bike.

I'll get two new experiences in one day: bringing a bike on the Metro and biking DC.

[divingbiker]

Here's a first cut at a route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/42304) in Bikely.com. It goes from Union Station to the Capitol, down the Mall, over to Arlington and the Iwo Jima memorial, down to Hains Point and the Awakening, back up around the White House, and back to Union Station. Changes/suggestions are welcome. There will of course be lots of stops at monuments along the way for photo ops and such.

I agree that we should do this as early as is reasonable, and end up somewhere for lunch. Maybe Tam can join us for lunch?

[7rider]

Looks great!
Does it hit the FDR memorial? I love the FDR site (can we walk bikes through it?).

[HillSlugger]

I agree, looks great! :cool:

[divingbiker]

Does it hit the FDR memorial? I love the FDR site (can we walk bikes through it?).

Yeah, as we head down to Hains Point the FDR is right along Ohio Drive. The FDR is my favorite, too. We should probably bring a bunch of locks and just tie all the bikes together, so if we want to walk around we can without worrying about stolen bikes. We'll have to have a way to secure them if we go to lunch, too.

I'm figuring that we'll find a way to hit all the memorials.

[HillSlugger]

We should probably bring a bunch of locks and just tie all the bikes together, so if we want to walk around we can without worrying about stolen bikes. We'll have to have a way to secure them if we go to lunch, too.

I'm figuring that we'll find a way to hit all the memorials.

I've got 7 ft and 4 ft cable/locks I can bring.

[F8th637]

I just might be there, ladies!

[Kalidurga]

I agree that we should do this as early as is reasonable, and end up somewhere for lunch. Maybe Tam can join us for lunch?

Awww, thanks for thinking of me :D If you figure out where you're going to eat, let me know. If it's Metro accessible, I'd love to meet a bunch of sweaty gals for lunch.

[logdiva32]

can a rookie like myself join?

[divingbiker]

I just might be there, ladies!

Great! It will be nice to meet you!


can a rookie like myself join?

Everybody's welcome...but we're a long way from Washington state. Will you be in town then?

Edit: Oh, I see on the other thread that you're in the area for a couple of months. Yes, please join us on June 23rd!

[bike4ever]

I'm in on the 23rd. Since I'll be in Laurel before heading to Charlottesville, I will need someplace to park. I will have my bike with me - it always travels east!!! Definitely earlier would be easier

[HillSlugger]

Here's a first cut at a route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/42304) in Bikely.com. It goes from Union Station to the Capitol, down the Mall, over to Arlington and the Iwo Jima memorial, down to Hains Point and the Awakening, back up around the White House, and back to Union Station. Changes/suggestions are welcome. There will of course be lots of stops at monuments along the way for photo ops and such.

I agree that we should do this as early as is reasonable, and end up somewhere for lunch. Maybe Tam can join us for lunch?

Might it be possible to add the points of interest to the route?

[HillSlugger]

If we add a ride over to the Pentagon we can add the new Air Force Memorial to the tour.

[Zen]

I guess I won't be able to make it. That sucks .

I'll be climbing the hills of northern Maryland, through Gettysburg to Waynesboro, PA that day. Next day is almost all down hill through Catoctin Mountain National Park and back to Thurmont.

Maybe Tam and I can do it sometime ;)

[divingbiker]

Might it be possible to add the points of interest to the route?

I'll try to do that. I attempted to when I created the route, and it didn't seem to like what I was doing so I kept it simple.

I'm not sure I know how to ride to the Pentagon, but I'll look at the map and figure it out, or ask someone around here what to do.

[7rider]

I have a book at the house - "Short Bike Rides in and around D.C." and I know they have a few in the Arlington area (off road - bike path sort of jaunts). I noticed one started at the Cemetary and may have hit the Pentagon. I can check and post something - not tonight, I'll be out - but soon.
(oh...that reminds me. I owe Nicole some info on data from my Garmin).
Hmmmm.....

[HillSlugger]

DP suggests that we might want to go by the Eastern Market. It's on 7th St, south of Independence. It might be a good place for lunch, but we go closest to it on the outbound part of our tour.

[7rider]

Well, this route - From "Short Bike Rides in and Around Washington, D.C. (3rd ed.). Michael Leccese. The Globe Pequot Press. 1996" - mimics some of Janice's route. It shows the Pentagon, but doesn't have any routes that go specifically by it.
The book has has another route that goes around Arlington that is on the Mt. Vernon trail. Anyone know if that trail goes by the Air Force Memorial?
Here's a link to the ride....Sorry about the crummy quality - the scan looks fine. PM me if you want a higher quality file. (ed. Actually, it's not too bad)

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z85/7rider/Monumentride.jpg

[HillSlugger]

I'm not sure I know how to ride to the Pentagon, but I'll look at the map and figure it out, or ask someone around here what to do.

I found this about the Air Force Memorial:

One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA, 22204.
The memorial is located off of Columbia Pike near VA-244.

That puts it just east of the Navy Annex at the southern edge of Arlington Cemetery. Is it possible to ride through the cemetery?

[divingbiker]

I found this about the Air Force Memorial:

One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA, 22204.
The memorial is located off of Columbia Pike near VA-244.

That puts it just east of the Navy Annex at the southern edge of Arlington Cemetery. Is it possible to ride through the cemetery?

I know that you can ride your bike in Arlington Cemetery, because our office picnics are held at Fort Myer and some people ride there. I think I'll be riding to the picnic next Thursday, so if I have time I'll check out what the traffic would be like and how hard it would be to get to the Air Force Memorial. I know the roads are pretty busy down toward the Pentagon.

Here's a map of where the Air Force Memorial is.

3480

[7rider]

Did we decide on a time to meet at Union Station for this ride on June 23rd?

[HillSlugger]

Did we decide on a time to meet at Union Station for this ride on June 23rd?

Will you be starting at Glenmont? Maybe we can meet there and Metro down together. I'm debating biking to the Metro station, too.

[7rider]

Will you be starting at Glenmont? Maybe we can meet there and Metro down together. I'm debating biking to the Metro station, too.

Yes. I am meeting BikeMom at Glenmont. She's arriving by car and will park there; I am riding my bike over from the house. Join us there. We'll take over a car! :cool:

[Velobambina]

I don't think you can ride through Arlington Cemetery. The last time I was there, I believe I saw a sign that said no bicycles. Best to check.

[HillSlugger]

There's a brand new monument to Victims of Communism. It's located at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave., N.W., New Jersey Ave., N.W., and G St., N.W., two blocks from Union Station. Maybe we can/should add it to the tour?

[Kalidurga]

Turns out I'm not working next Saturday after all, so I can make it for this ride :D I see that some folks are meeting at Glenmont to ride the subway down, but I don't see a time for meeting at Union Station (I'll be Metro'ing from Shady Grove). Was that decided?

[7rider]

I think we need a time.
But I recall there was some discussion of "early."
Does 8:30 at Union Station sound okay?
That would be 7:45 at Glenmont, for those meeting there.
I have a 2:30 appt (that I can change) so I'd personally prefer earlier rather than later (allowing time for lunch, of course!).

[bike4ever]

Those times are fine for me. I also prefer earlier since I will still be heading to Charlottesville (actually Afton) that afternoon.

I guess if necessary, Regina and I can bug back out to Glenmont early.

In case anyone might be confused, I changed my log in from "bikemom" to "bike4ever". Someone pointed out a while ago that we had too many "mom" names as logins. So it just took me some time to figure out something different.

[Kalidurga]

You guys are killin' me with these early rides :eek: My favorite time to start a ride last summer was 4:00pm! But, the earlier the better to avoid the tourons, so 8:30am at Union Station it is. Just don't expect me to be coherent ;)

[HillSlugger]

Does 8:30 at Union Station sound okay?
That would be 7:45 at Glenmont, for those meeting there.


The Metro website gives three itineraries with arrivals by 8:30

Depart Glenmont @ 7:38 Arrive Union Station @ 8:01
Depart Glenmont @ 7:51 Arrive Union Station @ 8:13
Depart Glenmont @ 8:03 Arrive Union Station @ 8:25

So, assemble at Glenmont by 7:45 for the 7:51 train?

[7rider]

Yup. And if we miss that one (not that I have any faith that trains actually depart on their scheduled times! :rolleyes: ), we'll always catch the 8:01 and still get to Union Station close to 8:30.

[Kalidurga]

Well, the meeting time/place seems to be all set. The next most important question (for me, at least :rolleyes: ) is: Has anyone talked about lunch?

[HillSlugger]

Has anyone talked about lunch?

You are starting to sound like my grandparents. Perhaps you have a bit of Hobbit in you? ;)

Yes, lunch sounds good. I don't know DC well at all and will defer to others.

[bike4ever]

I'm all for food!!:p

[Zen]

Hot dog carts!

[Kalidurga]

You are starting to sound like my grandparents. Perhaps you have a bit of Hobbit in you? ;)

Yes, lunch sounds good. I don't know DC well at all and will defer to others.

Hobbit, huh? I don't think so. My feet are too small ;)

I'm not too familiar with that area of DC, food-wise, but I believe there's a food court at Union Station. If we wait till the end of the ride, we could grab lunch before getting back on Metro to go home. If we can't wait that long, there are food courts/cafes/restaurants in the museums/galleries along the Mall, or there are always hot dog vendors (dunno if they have any vegetarian options, though). Or there's a scattering of restaurants in the business district a block or so above Constitution Ave.

Bike4ever, thanks for backin' me up on the food concern! :D

[Kalidurga]

Hot dog carts!

You sure you don't wanna blow off your organized ride for this? ;)

[HillSlugger]

We probably want to keep an eye over the bikes at all times, either a sidewalk cafe or somewhere we can take turns getting our food while someone keeps watch and then all eat together outside with our bikes.

Am I being overly paranoid?

[7rider]

Yes.

No....just kidding!!! You can never be too paranoid in D.C. Remember...there will ALWAYS be someone more paranoid than you in that town!

Food is good as long as I can cut loose and be home (and showered) for my 2:30 appt. We could always cable-lock all the bikes together in a big tangled mess. Sort of like schooling fish - safety in confusing numbers.

Early start - hot dog vendors - bike ride - taking in the sites with a fun group -- it's all good.

[Kalidurga]

The other option is to bring food and have a picnic, but that would mean putting in an effort to prepare something. Dunno if I can handle that...

[bike4ever]

I'd actually rather buy food. I'm coming from my brother's house in Laurel. He definitely wouldn't have food for me to take.:p

[HillSlugger]

The doctor says I have a moderate sprain. Continue the Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE Therapy).


No running the rest of this week or next week; ok to try the following week.
Swimming ok next week.
Biking ok next week; ok for our Saturday monument tour ride if everything feels ok on Friday.


I'm thinking that twisting out of the clipless pedals might not be a good thing for a while so I'm gonna put toe clip pedals on for now.

[divingbiker]

OK, the family's on the airplane and now I can get back to taking care of my own life's details.

--I will attempt to update the route in bikely with locations of monuments etc (but the last time I tried it didn't work).

--I didn't get to ride my bike to the office picnic to check out the biking in Arlington Cemetery, but I asked a Fort Myer guard and a Tourmobile tour guide if it was possible to bike to the new Air Force memorial and they said yes. We will have to wing it.

--8:30 at Union Station sounds good...early is good. There are LOTS of tourists around right now. I guess we'll find each other, but maybe we can plan to meet near the metro escalators at the southwest corner of Union Station, or else on the opposite end (southeast corner) which would be nearer First Street, where we will be heading out on the ride.

--Re lunch, one possibility is the Old Ebbitt Grill, which is right across from the Treasury Dept building, a block from the White House. We'll be ending up in that vicinity toward the end of our ride. They don't have outdoor seating, but they have a bike rack right outside and they don't have a dress code (bike shorts are ok). We'd probably need to make a reservation. (no hot dog carts for me, thanks.) Sequoia on the waterfront in Georgetown is right on the bike path, and has outdoor seating. It's a little pricier I think. Another option might be somewhere in Chinatown, but the sidewalks there tend to be very narrow so there isn't a lot of room for bikes.

--How many of us are coming? We need a headcount!
This is what I've gathered:
Yes: Regina, Nicole, Tam, bike4ever, Janice
Maybe: logdiva32, f8th637, velobambina, Bridget (Janice's friend)
No: zencentury

[HillSlugger]

It looks like you must have been successful with adding the points of interest because if I click on the link for the cue sheet I get this info:

Cumulative Notes
0mi Union Station
0.5mi Supreme Court on left, Capitol on right
1.1mi Capitol on right, mall on left
2.3mi Washington Monument
2.6mi World War II memorial
3.1mi Vietnam Veterans Memorial on right, Lincoln Memorial ahead
4.3mi Arlington National Cemetery
4.8mi Iwo Jima Memorial
6.5mi Korean War Memorial on right
7.1mi FDR memorial
9.8mi The Awakening statue
12.2mi Thomas Jefferson Memorial
13.6mi White House to your right
16.3mi Union Station

You can also click from one to another with the 'Start Tour' and the arrow buttons. It looks great so far!

[Kalidurga]

--8:30 at Union Station sounds good...early is good. There are LOTS of tourists around right now. I guess we'll find each other, but maybe we can plan to meet near the metro escalators at the southwest corner of Union Station, or else on the opposite end (southeast corner) which would be nearer First Street, where we will be heading out on the ride.


I vote for the escalators at the southeast corner of the Union Station Metro platform exiting to First Street, at 8:30am. And Miss Scarlet with a gun.

[7rider]

And Miss Scarlet with a gun.

???

I figured hot dog stands were a joke. In addition to consideration for Janice, I'd have to be hard pressed to eat at one! There's only so much questionable meat-like products I can consume in a month, and I think our recent trip to Bassetts took care of my quota. :cool:

Old Ebbit's sounds good. What about the Capital City Brew Pub?

Janice, can you post a link to the route again?

I'll try to remember to bring my U-lock when I ride home on Thursday - normally, I leave it on the rack in the parking garage here. Otherwise, options are old (i.e., pickable) U-lock and some cable locks.

[HillSlugger]

Capital City Brew Pub seems more reasonably priced.

[F8th637]

I love Old Ebbit Grill. That is our good ol' standby favorite.

[divingbiker]

I vote for the escalators at the southeast corner of the Union Station Metro platform exiting to First Street, at 8:30am.

I think I wasn't clear. I only know of two Metro escalators--at the southwest corner, and on the west side (by the Amtrak trains). If we want to meet at the southeast corner, we'll have to walk our bikes down there, which would be fine, too. I think that might be a less busy place to meet.

Cap City Brewery would be good, but I don't know what the bike rack/lockup situation is there. There are a lot of windows, so we'd be able to keep an eye on the bikes easily. Maybe we should just keep our options open and decide on Saturday. It sounds like we've got a couple of good choices.

F8th637, are you going to join us, or are you still a maybe? It would be great to meet you!


Janice, can you post a link to the route again?

Here's the link (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/42304).

[Kalidurga]

Sorry about the obscure Clue reference. I was getting punchy at work yesterday. Ok, so we're meeting at the southeast corner outside of Union Station, at 8:30am Saturday morning?

[7rider]

Okay.
For the directionally challenged among us (who? me?)....
Where, exactly IS the "southeast corner"???
Can you give me a landmark?

[divingbiker]

Okay.
For the directionally challenged among us (who? me?)....
Where, exactly IS the "southeast corner"???
Can you give me a landmark?

In this picture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Union_Station_at_Dusk.jpg), it's the arch at the far right side of Union Station. You'll come out of the Metro either along the left side of the station or through the arch at the left (don't know exactly where the elevator is), and walk along the front of the building, past all the taxis and tour buses, to the arch on the right.

Hope that makes sense...

[7rider]

Perfect.
Thanks!

[divingbiker]

OK, I finally had the patience to enter the route again into Bikely adding in all the points of interest and the Air Force Memorial and the Victims of Communism Memorial. The cue sheet gets pretty busy with all the sightseeing info in there. Here's the new route (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bike-Tour-of-DC-Monuments).

I assume that everyone knows we're going to have to play it by ear depending on traffic, street closures, etc, that don't show up on the mapping software. It will be especially confusing around the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and the White House as the roads always seem to be a mess around there. And of course we have no idea what's happening in Arlington Cemetery, though I was told we could ride our bikes there.

Is that enough caveats for you????

My neighbor thinks that there might be places to park our bikes at the Capitol City Brewery next to Union Station (she works near there and checked as she walked by). If not there, there are lots of bike racks right across the street at Union Station and there are cops around there so thefts would be unlikely.

A new TE member, Sunnyside, is still setting up her profile but emailed me that she'll be joining us. So, see y'all at the southeast corner/rightmost arch (see two posts ago) of Union Station at 8:30 Saturday morning!

[Zen]

You guys get all the bugs worked out so the NEXT time you do this all will go smoothly for me:D

I'll be somewhere north of Thurmont by 8:30 heehee!

[Kalidurga]

Janice, it seems you've done a great job of organizing this ride, so thank you! If none of us get run over by a touron, it should be a ton of fun :D

ZenC, wave to the Catoctins for me! I love those mountains, but I wouldn't wanna ride 'em.

[HillSlugger]

Janice,

Awesome job on the route map! Thanks for taking care of this.

See you tomorrow by 8:30, Metro permitting. ;)

[7rider]

Janice...you rock! Thanks.
I just got back from the Hill - had some meetings in Dirkson and Longworth. The toutistas were everywhere (even saw a pack of segways go by). The duck busses and double-deckers were out in force. I didn't have as much time as I wanted to scope out Union Station area for bike racks/traffic issues, but it did seem like there is a lot of construction in the area.

[F8th637]

Hi Ladies, what time do you think we'll be back? Just trying to get a sense of the time so that I can decide whether or not to join you this time around. Thanks!

[HillSlugger]

Regina needs to be "home (and showered) for my 2:30 appt." That would seem to mean she's done and headed home by 1 at the latest.

[F8th637]

I think I will have to pass this time around, ladies. Sunday would have worked better for me. It looks like I'll have to get some work done this weekend but I will definitely get some ride time in. I hope you ladies have fun and I hope to catch you next time around!

[Kalidurga]

Shame you couldn't have joined us, F8th, it was a great ride! Hopefully you can make it for the next one.

[7rider]

If you didn't see the Saturday ride thread, there are some pix of the day posted here (http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z85/7rider/Washington_DC_June23/).

[dingster1]

Looks like you guys had a blast! Saw a couple of non-drop bars in there too!

[HillSlugger]

It was a great way to see the sites.

I think that we only had one drop-bar bike in the pack.

[F8th637]

I know . . it was just bad timing for me. I will join you ladies one day, I swear! I'll check out the pictures once I get home but I don't see how it couldn't have been a blast. ;)

[Kalidurga]

I think that we only had one drop-bar bike in the pack.

Bike4ever and I both had drop bars, but mine's certainly no race machine. Her LeMond could smoke my 'cross bike ;) The "chicken brakes" on my bars definitely came in handy for this ride, though, as I did ride mostly on the flats so I could be more upright.

Do we want to consider doing another ride like this in July or August, or would it be better to wait until post-Labor Day in September?

[F8th637]

I don't have a ton of free weekends in July anymore. I am doing the Harlem Valley Rail Ride up in NY the last weekend of the month. The only weekend I don't have free in August is the 25th.

[Zen]

September is the Civil War Century. Not sure if I'm doing the 50 or the 25 on that one.

July and August are so hot, it would be a good time for a CANAL RIDE.

How about October?

[Sunnyside]

I'm not very good at this posting thing yet, but here are a few photos from Saturday's Monument Tour. Thanks everyone for such a great ride! I'd be up for doing this again in the fall. We still need to ride to the White House and the Jefferson Memorial. Besides, that'll give me enough time to figure out how to get to the new Air Force Memorial by bike!

[Kalidurga]

Great photos, Sunnyside! I think my favorite is the shot of the hand reaching out towards our bikes.

[7rider]

Oh, noooooo!!!!!
It's about to grab Janice's bike!!!!! :eek: :eek:
Great pictures!
Thanks for posting them.