TE-DC ride in December?

[HillSlugger]

I was thinking just yesterday about maybe suggesting that we hook up at the top of Beach Drive in Garrett Park for a (relative) hammer ride (cruising at 17-20 mph) down Beach into Rock Creek Park some weekend day, when parts of the park are closed to cars. That route has the added bene of no hills (except the loop by the ranger's station)! I think it's about 25 miles or so as an out-and-back.

I'd be up for something like this, but I don't know if that's a pace I can maintain. Of course, I've never really ridden in a pace line so perhaps it would be doable. I'd definitely like to give it a try.

I feel the need for a (relative) hammer ride this Sunday. I was planning on doing something up on my usual routes but if you wanted to try this one then I'm game.

Please keep me in mind for a more casual ride, too.

[7rider]

You'd be surprised what you could maintain on that route - particularly north of East West Hwy. It can broken up with stop lights, so sometimes it's like "Sprint. Stop for a light. Sprint. Stop for at light." If you spot a rabbit up ahead (i.e., a faster cyclist) it gives you the incentive of chasing him/her down before the next light, so it's fun for working on speed. And, you re-group with your peeps at the light!

I don't think I've ever ridden the MUT thru the park - except past the stone house (?) and going by the zoo, and the route I had in mind wouldn't go that far south. I'll see if I can play with Routeslip some time and show what I had in mind. I never know the names of the streets there!

[7rider]

Check this out.
Note that this is my FIRST ever attempt at RouteSlip, so it may be a little rough.
http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=15634

[HillSlugger]

Check this out.
Note that this is my FIRST ever attempt at RouteSlip, so it may be a little rough.
http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=15634

Thanks for plotting it out; I couldn't quite figure out all the twists and turns.

The best suggestion I can make to anyone using RouteSlip is to plot all of your points at a very high zoom level; that helps ensure that your points actually follow the road and give a reasonably accurate estimate of distance and climbing.

Is there parking near the start point? How busy is the route on a Sunday morning? Are you up for it this Sunday? Can Regina come out to play?

[HillSlugger]

I just took a look at the elevation profile. Although we're not talking about a lot of climbing, basically all the climbing is on the home leg.

[7rider]

I just took a look at the elevation profile. Although we're not talking about a lot of climbing, basically all the climbing is on the home leg.

It's not bad. Trust me!
It's only 800 feet over 24 miles! And most of that is Ross Drive (the loop) which can easily be avoided by staying on Beach Drive to the end, and turning around for a true "out and back."

[aicabsolut]

The tunnel is where you go under Connecticut or Calvert (hard to tell by the map). That's where you ought to take the road when the trail crosses around 24th instead of following it along the parkway then left through the zoo (best for a MTB or at least a cross bike, IMO). The sidewalk under the tunnel is too narrow. Not that the trail south of there is great either. I haven't taken the road up this way but I've seen lots of other bikes there. I've taken it home without major incident.

On the southern end, going home (south) is pretty flat (and more downhill on the way back south). With a big enough group especially fairly early, we could go on-road all the way to Virginia Ave, probably.

I think the loop is fun, but that hill is a slow one if you don't know it's coming to get your momentum up. I've never done it the direction you've mapped it, only backwards a couple of times (from the south, Ridge/Ross north to Beach back to bottom of the loop). I've mapped it here: http://www.routeslip.com/map.php?map=14627

(haven't gotten around to doing the whole thing b/c the satellite view doesn't let you see the trail and I haven't mapped the road)

[7rider]

Thanks for plotting it out; I couldn't quite figure out all the twists and turns.

The best suggestion I can make to anyone using RouteSlip is to plot all of your points at a very high zoom level; that helps ensure that your points actually follow the road and give a reasonably accurate estimate of distance and climbing.

Is there parking near the start point? How busy is the route on a Sunday morning? Are you up for it this Sunday? Can Regina come out to play?

Even tho' it twists and turns...that's all pretty much one road (except for where it goes under Military Rd and makes that right towards Ross. I'm unsure if I hit the correct road there). There is a parking lot at the "T" of Beach and Garrett Park Road. And there's a porta-potty, too!! It's where the Rock Creek MUT goes on up towards Lake Needwood (another 7 miles beyond, I think), tho' I've never ventured beyond that parking lot really. It's where my friend and I occasionally meet for rides. It's 9 miles by bike from my house.

On Sunday a.m.s, it's not too bad. Lots of bikes. Not too many cars. Probably because they know there are lots of bikes. South of E/W Hwy, sections are gated off so no cars at all on the road. This Sunday, DH and I are planning (hoping?) to hook up with a friend at the C&O or other to demo a DSLR he's trying to sell us. I won't know until tomorrow if I can or not.