Questions for the DC ladies?

[Kalidurga]

Do you think meeting at the Old Post Office pavilion would work to start the ride? It's right across from the Federal Triangle Metro stop. Bike the Sites doesn't open until 9:00, so that would be the earliest I could get started.

That'll require a transfer at Metro Center for those of us taking the Red Line into the city but, as you pointed out, it'll be early on a Saturday morning, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Has anyone come up with any other lunch ideas? If we start and end near the Old Post Office, that should give us some good options. Here's a list of possibilities: Yelp.com: Federal Triangle restaurants.

[divingbiker]

That'll require a transfer at Metro Center for those of us taking the Red Line into the city but, as you pointed out, it'll be early on a Saturday morning, so it shouldn't be a problem.

Has anyone come up with any other lunch ideas? If we start and end near the Old Post Office, that should give us some good options. Here's a list of possibilities: Yelp.com: Federal Triangle restaurants.

Actually, it's much easier and quicker just to get off the red line at Metro Center and ride down the hill two or three blocks to Federal Triangle.

Re restaurants, we can end up anywhere, really, since we're on our bikes. Within a mile or so of Federal Triangle are (the other) Cap City Brewery, Indian, Thai, lots of restaurants in Chinatown (not just Chinese), tapas, Austin Grill, etc. The challenge might be finding where to tie up the bikes...Chinatown's not great for that.

I work up in the area of 14th and K/L, and here are some restaurants I know about. They're all less than a mile (uphill) from Federal Triangle, and all are pretty cheap (less than $10), and there's lots of room for bikes at any of these.

Bangkok One (Thai)
Mayur Kabob (Indian/Pakistani)
Casa Blanca (Mexican/Peruvian)

If we want to go somewhere where everyone can find something to eat regardless of preferences, I'd suggest the Cap City Brewery at 1100 New York Avenue, which is very near Metro Center.

As for the tour route, I don't know if there are more sites that folks want to add to the route. For the basic tour we could start at Federal Triangle and do the route we did before--down Pennsylvania to the Victims of Communism Memorial, Union Station, Capitol, etc, and end up at the White House. Then go to lunch!

[Kalidurga]

I thought it might be fairly easy to pedal from Metro Center, but couldn't think of which streets would be involved. Anyone from Va planning to hop the Orange/Blue line and join us?

The one thing we do need to keep in mind about restaurants is whether they're open on weekends. I know that my lunch options in the Golden Triangle area are way limited when I work on Saturday. Cap City would probably be open (which brewery/restaurant did we eat at last time?).

Re: The route- Sounds good to me to repeat the route we did before, since it does cover all the major monuments (excellent planning, Janice ). We did end up with a time crunch last time and couldn't see everything. I can't remember, did we figure out how much time the whole tour should take?

I'm beginning to wish 11/3 wasn't so far away

[divingbiker]

The one thing we do need to keep in mind about restaurants is whether they're open on weekends. I know that my lunch options in the Golden Triangle area are way limited when I work on Saturday. Cap City would probably be open (which brewery/restaurant did we eat at last time?).

I checked and the three restaurants I listed, and Cap City, are all open on Saturday.

[HillSlugger]

I'm beginning to wish 11/3 wasn't so far away

I'm hoping it's far enough off that my knees will be improved and allow me to ride

[Livin the Dream]

That looks like an awesome route! Janice -- from Kalidurga's comment you planned the route for your previous ride? It sure looks like you put a lot of work into it.

Would it make more sense to meet at Metro Center? I'll be heading down from the Hyatt, which is very close to Metro Center, to the Old Post Office pavilion to get the bike, so it's no problem to make my way back up there to meet everyone else.

As far as food.... I'm open to anything. I'll follow y'all to wherever you decide to go. The only thing I try to avoid is chains that I can go to at home

[7rider]

Janice is a GREAT D.C. Tour Guide.
I think she has forgotten more about that city than I will ever know!

I, too, avoid chains - even when I'm home!

Just tell me where to go and what stop to get off of from the Metro, and I'll be there!

[divingbiker]

Janice is a GREAT D.C. Tour Guide.
I think she has forgotten more about that city than I will ever know!

Uh, gee thanks, but I only know the basics to get me through a tour for out of town relatives. Mostly I just look at a map.

Like Tam, I wish that November wasn't two months away, but I guess we have something to look forward to!

[bicyclulz]

This ride sounds great! I can't seem to convince any of my gal pals to get on a bike (someone is always preggers, or just had a baby--even if it was a year ago, or think that riding a bike in dee cee is suicide!).

I'd love to hear the details and meet up! I usually go on that arlington loop around the W & OD to the Custis Trail, etc. There are a great many ways to get into Downtown DC for me ....

....also....I highly recommend Bens Chili Bowl.....OR on a sunday after a nice ride to get biking up Connecticut ave to the front page in dupont cir. for their amazing all you can eat $20 brunch and for an extra $5 you get unlimited mimosas.....although it might be best to make this an after ride thing....unlimited mimosas +biking (god forbid on clipless)=bad news....