Really, Mount Rainier is not so far. I commuted between there and Alexandria for work every day on my bike--14 miles. It's four miles, yes four miles from Logan Circle.

Kalidurga, I don't know where you live, but I would wager that there are plenty of ways to get around the region that do not involve the Beltway. Plus, on the weekends you could put your bike on the Metro and not deal with traffic at all (from W. Hyattsville station on the green (and yellow now?) line).

Plus, if you did come on the beltway, you could hit up Ikea on College Park. And that great bagel place, too.

Have fun, whoever does this. I wish I still lived there and I'd certainly sign up. PJ's pretty amazing. He rode his bike from MR to Veracruz Mexico a few years ago. He was trying to get to Brazil, but had to come back for his sister's wedding.