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!
Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.
Results 1 to 15 of 43
Thread: TE-DC ride in December?
Hybrid View
-
11-30-2006, 08:34 AM #1
Head up. Shoulders down.
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
- Posts
- 4,171
-
11-30-2006, 09:16 AM #2
Head up. Shoulders down.
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
- Posts
- 4,171
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
-
11-30-2006, 09:41 AM #3
Ooo, talk tri to me!
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Olney, MD
- Posts
- 3,063
Thanks for plotting it out; I couldn't quite figure out all the twists and turns.
Originally Posted by Regina
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?
I'd rather be swimming...biking...running...and eating cheesecake...
--===--
2008 Cervelo P2C Tri bike
2011 Trek Madone 5.5/Cobb V-Flow Max
2007 Jamis Coda/Terry Liberator
2011 Trek Mamba 29er
-
11-30-2006, 09:45 AM #4
Ooo, talk tri to me!
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Olney, MD
- Posts
- 3,063
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.
I'd rather be swimming...biking...running...and eating cheesecake...
--===--
2008 Cervelo P2C Tri bike
2011 Trek Madone 5.5/Cobb V-Flow Max
2007 Jamis Coda/Terry Liberator
2011 Trek Mamba 29er
-
11-30-2006, 09:50 AM #5
Head up. Shoulders down.
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
- Posts
- 4,171
It's not bad. Trust me! Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
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 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."
-
11-30-2006, 10:38 AM #6
Registered User
- Join Date
- Sep 2006
- Location
- Washington, DC
- Posts
- 1,315
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)
-
11-30-2006, 09:49 AM #7
Head up. Shoulders down.
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Location
- Looking at all the love there that's sleeping
- Posts
- 4,171
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!! Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
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? 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.
Reply With Quote
