Relocation this Summer to N.Virginia- Any riders there in area?

I am actually thrilled to say... we're coming back home to the US, after 6 years living overseas. I am sooo looking forward to riding with other women. Looking forward to riding many a century and other supportive rides too!! I am not sure where we will be living- city?? My DH will be working in Fauquier County and sometimes DC area. We were thinking of looking down in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania area. For the houses in Fauquier Cnty is way high for what you get down in Fred/Spotsy. I will need to find a job for myself, as this is a transfer for my DH. Search of course for a home. Looking to get into an apartment for only a year or less to scope out the homes, schools and communities in which to set up camp for years to come. I have a son to enter HighSchool and the other to enter MS. Are there many road cyclists down that way in Spotsylvania-Fredericksburg-Stanton/Quantico??? I would love to live up off of 66 in the Front Royal- Linden area but the job sources look a bit limited and the commute could be too long for my DH as 66 is killer! The roadbiking in that area however appear to be real nice being by the Blue Ridge- Sheno. Mtn....:p Any advice appreciated!

Shoot, I thought you were going to say Florida...Oh well. Good luck with your move!

Nanci

AutumnB - First, take this with a grain of salt, as I do not like the DC-Northern VA are. I have lived in the DC metro area since 1987, having moved from Pittsburgh for job reasons. I lived in Quantico/Stafford from about '88-'96 and it was the pits because I had to commute to the Tysons/McLean area. Even then, the traffic on 95 was a complete nightmare. There were a couple occasions when it took FOUR hours to get home. From what I hear, that area has become a suburban sprawl. When we were there, it was still relatively rural, but now, it's tract-homes and chainstore/chain restaurants galore. Luckily, we were able to find a buyer for our place in Stafford before the area got too developed & buy a place in Arlington before the housing prices went too crazy. My commute is now 5 miles--back roads--so it isn't that bad. I prefer either living in a city where I can walk/metro places, like I do now, or in the country. I hate the suburbs, but that's just me. Anyway, my point is that your husband, when he comes into the city, will have a hellish time on 95, unless he rides the train. So, moving south to avoid having to drive 66 isn't going to do you any good.
The far suburbs---Leesburg, Winchester, etc to the West and Fred'burg, Spotsy, Stafford, to the South---have exploded. There are a lot of "gated" communities (BARF) with cookie cutter oversized homes. You might be able to find a couple places that are still fairly rural, but unless the bottom falls out of the housing market or/and the communities do something to control the over-development, you can bet someone will be putting up mcmansions before too long and your quality of life will go down the toilet.
Enough of that! :-)
I think there is a bike club in Fred'burg. Not sure about the cycling community down there, though. When I lived down that way, I was running marathons/1/2 marathons, and there was a decent running community. Prince William Forest Park is a good place to ride & run (if it hasn't gotten too busy!). Can't comment on what's out west.
Any direction you go, you are going to have to deal with over-crowding, over-priced houses, and the attitudes that come along with it. I have 13 years and two weeks before I can retire at full pension and move WEST, somewhere it doesn't snow, where people treat each other decently, and hopefully, where it isn't crowded.

I'm with mickchick on the far-out 'burbs, but if your job is in Faquier, you might as well live out there and not have to commute far.

I live on the Maryland-DC line and work in Alexandria, Va. I have a wonderful half urban-half bike path commute on my bike. DC is a great place to live--lots to do, see, eat, etc.

I hope you find some riding buddies in the area in which you settle. I would be willing to travel a bit for some good riding from time-to-time. Mickchick--wanna ride sometime?

I lived in Fredericksburg several years ago it is so over built now that you can hardly get anywhere! Spotsylvania isn't so bad, my sister lived out by Lake Anna but depending on if/where you work it may be a little hard getting there b/c of the traffic, I have a friend whose parents live there and she whines everytime she has to go to Fredburg about the traffic. It was not too bad when I was there but N. VA has gone south:)

I now live in Roanoke, small town, and few good paying jobs:mad: but you don't have near the traffic, or good shopping or grocery stores, I guess that's the price we pay to live in the Country. Good luck, let us know where you land!

Check out this website, Babes on Bikes. You will love it.

Hah, I tried Googling the phrase Babes on Bikes - it brought up some, um, interesting sites :eek: :D

But I think this is the one you had in mind:

http://www.babesonbikes.org/

Very cool website ! Do you belong to this group, Jen?

Babes on Bikes seems like a good group, and I would love to go riding with them. However, it seems like their rides are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. For those of us who work, such ride times are not possible (well, I'm riding at that time--but it's to the office!)

Tulip - Babes on Bikes are stay-at-home moms/wives. I belong to the group but have never ridden w/them because I work. Maybe you and I can ride some time? I'm in North Arlington---my neighborhood abuts the Custis Trail. I wish I could commute to work but there are no safe routes.

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Tulip - Babes on Bikes are stay-at-home moms/wives. I belong to the group but have never ridden w/them because I work. Maybe you and I can ride some time? I'm in North Arlington---my neighborhood abuts the Custis Trail. I wish I could commute to work but there are no safe routes.

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I'm surprised they don't do any weekend rides at all. Oh well. Sure, I'd be up for a ride. My commute is 14 miles each way between Alexandria and Prince Georges County Maryland.

Send me a PM if you want to ride sometime. I do ride all winter, commuting. I plan on doing some longer/harder road rides once the weather warms up (new road bike, can't wait to try it out on some longer rides). I'm not fast, but that doesn't mean that I can't GET fast. I'd even be up for driving (egads!) out further to discover new roads--maybe we can meet up with the OP of this thread?

Sounds good. I ride about 125 miles a week, on average. I don't ride the roads around here (too dangerous), just paved trails. I'm not too terribly fast or definitely not competitive. Just want to have a good time. ;) I'll PM

The main club in the washington DC, VA, MD area is Potomac Peddlers Club. Babes on Bikes only get together during the week because they had such a small to no turn out on weekends. Everyone went to Potomac Peddlers Club rides. I work and I am new to biking but would love to ride with the gals sometime. I would be willing to take a day off from work a month to do it. For now, I think I need to develop my bike handling skills so I won't be a danger to myself.

Warrenton area:
Here is the site for the LBS and you will see that it seems heavy with guys, seen a couple of gals. www.rideva.com
I have a feeling I will have to start up my own site and group in this area. There may be a couple of people I can round up to ride with.
Maybe they need someone in there to start things up??

The bike shop has an opening for sales and putting bikes together, I have the customer service/sales down and minor repair but the experience is limited. Says willing to train so, depending on the pay, I might find myself there, if they are willing to train a girl??? and wait till I relocate Hmmm...
I also wrote a letter to the store about bikejournal.com in case they did not know of it. Then pointed out the benefits of the premier bike store membership.

Why not start up a group like babes on bikes but for rides on weekends or holidays? The babes did a ride on the Capitol Cressent Trail. I think they went from Bethesda to Georgetown. I can't wait till spring to do that.

Where are you moving back from? DC area has lots of rides.

I have to find a place to live so I can get the kids registered for school. One middle school and the other entering HS. Don't want to move to a different school district unless I land in bad one at first. Looking at the schools on greatschools.com but some don't have comment/reviews and even there you don't know fully to guage. Fauquier County looks ok, Fairfax is too expensive of an area though the schools are great. If I could find a safe and reasonable place for us and the doggy. Spotsylvania/Freder look to be in our price range a bit more. Looking forward to riding once I get settled. Won't get our shipment till July/Aug. to have my bike back.

There still should be some affordable places, relatively speaking, in Fairfax County. Depends on where you look.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the schools in Fred-burg or Spotsy County. With the influx of "city folk" down that way, I'm sure the quality of the schools is decent, especially in Fred-burg. When you get there, go to Carl's and have a "jumbo" ice cream cone. They have the BEST soft serve at Carl's.

Hey, you should be able to rent a bike while you're waiting for your ride to arrive. :) Have a safe trip back home!

I work as a civilian at walter reed. Always am in awe of you military folks who have to find a decent area to live and go to school in a strange place.

Hi Autumn Breeze

Lots of wonderful places to cycle in Northern Virginia. Lots of bike trails in the DC area. There are a number of clubs two I am familiar with Potomac Peddlers and the Reston Bike Club. The bike shops in the various areas can help you locate groups to ride with.

I live in Manassas, VA and find it is a nice location since I can get to the Washington Old Domionion trail with a fairly short drive.

Barb

Hi everyone,

I would love to find some people to ride with on weekends. I have done a number of centuries over the past few years. I am an average rider, more stamina than speed. :) My average is probably 12-14 mph. My favorite trail is the WOD. Of course the trails further in -- are great too. I have a nice route in the Nokesville area which is safe and very scenic. We could meet at the Brentsville High School sometime. I have a 20 mile and 30 mile loop that is quite nice.

Maybe some of us could meet somewhere some weekend and ride together. Nice to have company while riding.

Hope to hear from "someone".

Barb

Barrb, mickchick, Jen and the others--LET'S GO FOR A RIDE! The weather is nice, my new road bike that I got last fall is getting restless, and quite jealous of my commuter bike, which I ride to work regularly.

I live in NE DC / PG MD area, but I can travel by car or by bike. I know the Mount Vernon Trail, but not the WO&D or Custis trails, and would be happy to follow along someone who does. I'm not fast, maybe 12-14 (although I don't use a computer), and I'm not ready to do anywhere near a century yet, but I'd be up for a ride of an hour or two. I'm still getting used to my new road bike.

Interested? Let's see what we can arrange.

I could be interested in this ride as well. I live in Delaware, but have lots of family in DC area, and they always say they don't get to see me much. Would have to be a weekend. I need to go to Trader Joe's anyway :) and the closest one is 2 hours away. Never rode anywhere in DC except for that path by National Airport - did not like that - way way too congested. Keep me posted if this happens.

Martha

Girls - Count me in. If we meet super early or later in the day, the trails shouldn't be TOO crowded.
Tulip, the Mt. Vernon Trail connects with the Custis up by Chain Bridge (Key Bridge Marriot). There's a stretch between Old Town that goes past Nat'l Airport---not sure if that's the Mt. Vernon Trail or something else. Anyway, it hooks up with the Custis, which will lead to the W&OD and we could head west. There are some dicey road crossings, but if we ride in a group, we should be OK.
I live about 1/2 mile from the Custis (my house is a mile north of Ballston Metro Station).
I wonder if we could ride at the Arboretum in DC? I'm not sure how busy the roads get there (I've been there only in the winter), but it's nice, quiet, and there's at least one good hill.
We can take it at a leisurely pace. Maybe stop somewhere for some eats?
I'll check w/the fellas at work to see if there are any less-busy places we can ride.

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Girls - Count me in. If we meet super early or later in the day, the trails shouldn't be TOO crowded.
Tulip, the Mt. Vernon Trail connects with the Custis up by Chain Bridge (Key Bridge Marriot). There's a stretch between Old Town that goes past Nat'l Airport---not sure if that's the Mt. Vernon Trail or something else. Anyway, it hooks up with the Custis, which will lead to the W&OD and we could head west. There are some dicey road crossings, but if we ride in a group, we should be OK.
I live about 1/2 mile from the Custis (my house is a mile north of Ballston Metro Station).
I wonder if we could ride at the Arboretum in DC? I'm not sure how busy the roads get there (I've been there only in the winter), but it's nice, quiet, and there's at least one good hill.
We can take it at a leisurely pace. Maybe stop somewhere for some eats?
I'll check w/the fellas at work to see if there are any less-busy places we can ride.

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I take the Mount Vernon Trail on my commute once I get to the Virginia side of the 14th Street Bridge. I work in Old Town Alexandria, so I go south. I have not been north of the Key Bridge on the MVT. I think that early would be okay, but it gets horribly crowded in nice weather, like you have to stop and wait crowded. I think the Arboretum would be a fabulous place to ride. I have seen people on bikes there, and the azaleas must be amazing right about now. I don't know about the traffic during azalea season, though. Lots of peole drive around there, although slowly. I'll do some investigating to make sure that bikes are allowed.

There's also a PPTC ride that I was thinking about this weekend. Here's a description (the last sentence is comforting):

C * 36 * VA * 9:30 AM * Nokesville Community Park (NCP) * 50%
South of Nokesville. Join us for this popular Virginia ride. We are able to stay relatively close to the Metro area, while still enjoying a rural setting. The ride is mostly flat to rolling with no serious hills to contend with. There are two rest stops to allow for regrouping and refreshment. I will lead at a true C pace and promise to leave no one behind.
C (9:30 AM) * Ed Kerr * ekerr56@comcast.net * 703/791-6113

Tulip - Looks like rain for the weekend, unfortunately. Heavy rain for Saturday. I guess we've been lucky, in comparison w/our Northern California pals. Hopefully, that ride in Nokesville in on Sunday because it's supposed to clear up.
Once I get my cyclocross bike (delivery date is late July/August), we should all take a day-long jaunt out the C&O!!
In the meantime, I look forward to meeeting everyone for a low key ride. If it works out, maybe we can get together on a regular basis? We can even make my place a rendevous point, as the folks who live a ways out can bring their bikes on the Metro. "No Cars" necessary!!!

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Tulip - Looks like rain for the weekend, unfortunately. Heavy rain for Saturday. I guess we've been lucky, in comparison w/our Northern California pals. Hopefully, that ride in Nokesville in on Sunday because it's supposed to clear up.
Once I get my cyclocross bike (delivery date is late July/August), we should all take a day-long jaunt out the C&O!!
In the meantime, I look forward to meeeting everyone for a low key ride. If it works out, maybe we can get together on a regular basis? We can even make my place a rendevous point, as the folks who live a ways out can bring their bikes on the Metro. "No Cars" necessary!!!

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Great idea, as I really don't like to drive in order to ride my bike, and I like low-key rides. As of now, the Nokesville ride is a go for me, but rain may put it on hold. Let's keep this thread going until we actually do a ride together!

Tulip - If you are able to do the Nokesville ride, let us know about it. I belong to Potomac Pedalers but have never done one of their group rides.

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Originally Posted by mickchick

Tulip - If you are able to do the Nokesville ride, let us know about it. I belong to Potomac Pedalers but have never done one of their group rides.

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Okay, I will let you know. I have to get my road bike out and pumped up (I ride another bike for daily commuting), and I'll check the weather. I also have to figure out if I'm REALLY up for driving 1 hour + to get there...check back tonight and I'll let you know yes or no.

I'm 90% for tomorrow's ride in Nokesville. The bike is ready, I even bought a Luna bar for the ride...and if I set the coffee pot for auto before I go to bed, I'll be ready, too.

It'll be my longest ride (36 miles) in a long time, although I regularly do 30 on my commute, but that's round trip. I'm also going to be riding my new road bike, which I have ridden only a few times. I guess I'm a bit nervous about keeping up is all, but 12-14mph ought not to be a problem.

Warrenton, in Fauquier Co., is a cute town. I wouldn't rule out living there or further west. The commute from Winchester to Fauquier isn't that bad on 66 (45 min.) - I've done it a few times. It's commute from Fauquier Co. to DC - now that gets a little sticky.
The Winchester Wheelmen usually have a pretty high male/female ratio when we road ride. Everyone is welcome. www.winchesterwheelmen.org.
Is anyone doing the MS 150 in Charlottesville?
On another subject, any ideas on living arrangements in Alexandria? I am job hunting in that area.

We are looking on line for homes, and the only ones affordable are in the Linden and FrontRoyal, without having to commute too long to Warrenton for work. With gas prices these days I don't want my husband to go broke going to work- bit ironic. In the summer the ride on his bike would not be so bad. 18 miles from Linden to Warrenton /visaversa. Winter and the snow, must drive, a given. Front Royal we would be close to the mtns. for rides too. The views would be nice. They are building two new High Schools out there and will be complete by 2007-2008 school year. That spells growth and equals a good time to buy it seems, while there is still land with the houses.
I am so excited! Looking to fly back to US in late June to start the search.

Anyone know an dog friendly temporary housing quarters to stay in Linden/FrontRoyal with my family (husband, two teen boys, and our doggy) Need to start making reservations soon. under $2000 for a month (prefer less).

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Originally Posted by amandaesq04

Warrenton, in Fauquier Co., is a cute town. I wouldn't rule out living there or further west. The commute from Winchester to Fauquier isn't that bad on 66 (45 min.) - I've done it a few times. It's commute from Fauquier Co. to DC - now that gets a little sticky.
The Winchester Wheelmen usually have a pretty high male/female ratio when we road ride. Everyone is welcome. www.winchesterwheelmen.org.
Is anyone doing the MS 150 in Charlottesville?
On another subject, any ideas on living arrangements in Alexandria? I am job hunting in that area.

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I work in Alexandria. Are you looking for jobs only in Alexandria or in DC metro area in general? Old Town Alexandria is very expensive. Farther out is more affordable to suburban (i.e. car-oriented) for me. Craig's List and the City Paper are good starts, as is Misha's Coffee on Patrick Street in Old Town.

I have a second interview with a firm in old town alexandria and I applied with another in Falls Church. It is so neat in old town. I will likely try to find a roommate situation if I get either job since purchasing a house or even a condo is totally unrealistic.
My goal is to live within biking distance of my job - or 30 minute or less commute. I hate driving - right now I am 1 hour each way to work, and gas is killing me.

Amanda - Good luck w/your job hunt! It would be a real hike to go from Winchester to Old Town every day. I have a couple friends who commute to McLean from there every day. If you move to Old Town, you'll have to join Tulip and me on a ride!

yeah, I refuse to commute that far. I'll definately let you know where I end up - I want to keep riding, and I'll need some cool chicks to bike with. :D

I commute (on my bike) 1 hour 15 minutes from Prince Georges County, Maryland to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. But then again, I'm perhaps a bit wacko in that regard.

I suggest that you get an ADC Bike Map of the DC Metro Area. It has all the bike trails and the on-road bike routes. It's very helpful and will be useful as you look for a place to live (you WILL get the job...I'm confident of it!)

Got a job...but it's in VA Beach, not Alexandria. Anyone ride there?

Looks like spring weather is here to stay!

I wanted to let you all know, I know the Nokesville ride quite well, since I have done it a number of times. I would be happy to meet everyone either at the Brentsville High School or Nokesville Community Park. It is a beautiful ride and really not all that hilly. I would provide maps for everyone. We could do 20 miles or 30 miles. I am not available this weekend or next, due to college graduations but the weekend of May 22, I would be. I suggest meeting early 8:30-9:00 for this ride to avoid traffic later in the day. Also if you ride the WOD, starting around 9 am the trail is not too busy. Later in the day the families come out and ride with their small children, which can be quite annoying sometimes. I love children, but they scare me with all the weaving they do!

Hopefully we can work out this ride or another soon.

Barb

Anyone want to meet and do a ride on the WOD on Saturday or Sunday??

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Originally Posted by barrb46

Anyone want to meet and do a ride on the WOD on Saturday or Sunday??

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My house is on a house tour on Saturday, so I have to make sure no one walks off with anything. It's an open studio tour of artists' studios in my neighborhood, not a fancy-house tour.

I am doing a PPTC ride on Sunday--the Civil War sites one. 50 miles C or CC pace. www.bikepptc.org.