I can definitely see how riding in the park is not the best for someone who rides at a faster pace or is training with a team. You do have to be prepared to hit the brakes at any time in the car-free area, because there are people there at all different ages and skill levels. But I used to live near the park when I first got my bike, and I found it to be a good place to ride on weekends because it's pretty friendly for someone who's just getting started or re-acquainted with cycling.

I generally use Beach Dr for long training rides when I'm by myself -- I don't like to go too far afield on my own because if I have a mechanical or health problem there's no one I can call to come pick me up. I drive to the park and park my car in lot 6 just off Military Rd. Then I ride down to Pierce Mill, turn around and go north out of the park all the way to where Beach Dr ends at Viers Mill Park in Maryland, and then turn around and go back to my car. That's about 23 miles. I keep a cooler in my car with extra water bottles, so that's my "rest stop." Then I repeat the same route once or twice more, depending on how far I want to ride that day.

There are some parts of the road that are a bit rough but other sections have been totally repaved in the past few years. And overall the other cyclists and joggers have not bothered me because it's usually easy enough to co-exist with them given the pace I ride at. However, the last time I did this ride was a couple of weeks ago and I was pretty annoyed by all the other cyclists out on the road. Inside the park was actually fine, but north of the park in Maryland (north of East/West Hwy) there were too many people and it got annoying. So for next summer I will probably try to find a different place for my long rides. I probably just need to find the phone number of a cab company in Loudoun County and head out that way instead.