Fast Peloton Rides in DC/North Virginia?
#126
Dopamine Junkie
Thread Starter
The CycleLife bike shop closed a year or so ago. So I assume their ride also stopped.
I updated a couple of my posts, here above, to avoid making the thread any longer. There are probably more updates. If y'all send them my way, I will modify my previous posts. I was hoping the DC Paceline web page, would be a comprehensive information source, but several rides are not mentioned on it, and it appears that errors persist in the listings despite repeated requests to have them fixed, so I guess this thread here will continue to be useful.
12/30/18: I just heard about a ride, it might be a new one? It starts Wednesdays at 6:30 somewhere in Kensington, MD, comes down to Beach Drive and continues south. I heard the group is about 10 or 15 riders, some overlap with the Goon Ride crowd. Obviously, headlights are needed.
I don't think anyone has mentioned the Arlington Tuesday evening ride that used to originate out of the FreshBikes store. I think FreshBikes was taken over by Spokes. I did the ride once, a few years ago. It was a huge group of riders--maybe 60 or so--which soon split into groups according to speed. Very challenging, lots of hills, about 17 miles. Here is a map that is similar to the route.
February 2019: The NCVC 'Espresso Ride' appears to be ongoing, 50 miles long, Sundays, 9 am, in the winter season only. Here's another look at the map using a different mapping engine.
I updated a couple of my posts, here above, to avoid making the thread any longer. There are probably more updates. If y'all send them my way, I will modify my previous posts. I was hoping the DC Paceline web page, would be a comprehensive information source, but several rides are not mentioned on it, and it appears that errors persist in the listings despite repeated requests to have them fixed, so I guess this thread here will continue to be useful.
12/30/18: I just heard about a ride, it might be a new one? It starts Wednesdays at 6:30 somewhere in Kensington, MD, comes down to Beach Drive and continues south. I heard the group is about 10 or 15 riders, some overlap with the Goon Ride crowd. Obviously, headlights are needed.
I don't think anyone has mentioned the Arlington Tuesday evening ride that used to originate out of the FreshBikes store. I think FreshBikes was taken over by Spokes. I did the ride once, a few years ago. It was a huge group of riders--maybe 60 or so--which soon split into groups according to speed. Very challenging, lots of hills, about 17 miles. Here is a map that is similar to the route.
February 2019: The NCVC 'Espresso Ride' appears to be ongoing, 50 miles long, Sundays, 9 am, in the winter season only. Here's another look at the map using a different mapping engine.
Last edited by dglevy; 02-18-19 at 03:21 PM.
#127
Dopamine Junkie
Thread Starter
I ran into someone today who mentioned the 'Tomahawk Ride'. It's listed on the DC Paceline website; it originates in Arlington. He said it's very hilly, didn't realize there were so many hills in the DC area...
#128
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They are short punchy hills, about .5mi @4-5%avg. There are tons of them in the DC area. You cannot find any hills near the district longer than a mile.
#129
Dopamine Junkie
Thread Starter
The 'DC Pacelines' website mentioned here above appears to have been abandoned. It hasn't been updated in a long time. I submitted a correction and addition twice and the changes were not made to the site. A ride leader I know has also been persistently trying to get their ride description corrected--without success.
So, as far as I know, this forum thread returns to being the most up to date and comprehensive source for fast training rides.
I have put in an update to the weekdays 12:30 pm Bethesda Ride at post #54 .
I was told the following regarding the Tuesday/Thursday Goon Ride (described at least once here, previously): The ride starts in Garrett Park at or near the northernmost end of Beach Drive. The start time varies according to sunset times. Right now, it's starting at 6:30 pm; it will start earlier as the days become shorter--it has been 5:30 pm in late October. The hardest parts are the climbs up Ridge Rd and Stoneybrook Dr.
I have been told there is Tuesday/Thursday 6 pm Hains Point ride that starts out with a fairly large pack but gets whittled down due to the high speeds. Personally, I will check out the Tuesday edition--Thursdays are too crowded for comfort with pedestrians, rollerbladers and slow riders...
9/4/19: I just learned about a Bicycle Place Wednesday Evening Ride. The start times get earlier as the days get shorter. 6:15 pm, at the moment. Looks like they aim for about a 1 1/4 hour ride, assuming it ends at sundown. Part of the ride is on the newly paved, super smooth, Beach Drive...
So, as far as I know, this forum thread returns to being the most up to date and comprehensive source for fast training rides.
I have put in an update to the weekdays 12:30 pm Bethesda Ride at post #54 .
I was told the following regarding the Tuesday/Thursday Goon Ride (described at least once here, previously): The ride starts in Garrett Park at or near the northernmost end of Beach Drive. The start time varies according to sunset times. Right now, it's starting at 6:30 pm; it will start earlier as the days become shorter--it has been 5:30 pm in late October. The hardest parts are the climbs up Ridge Rd and Stoneybrook Dr.
I have been told there is Tuesday/Thursday 6 pm Hains Point ride that starts out with a fairly large pack but gets whittled down due to the high speeds. Personally, I will check out the Tuesday edition--Thursdays are too crowded for comfort with pedestrians, rollerbladers and slow riders...
9/4/19: I just learned about a Bicycle Place Wednesday Evening Ride. The start times get earlier as the days get shorter. 6:15 pm, at the moment. Looks like they aim for about a 1 1/4 hour ride, assuming it ends at sundown. Part of the ride is on the newly paved, super smooth, Beach Drive...
Last edited by dglevy; 09-04-19 at 11:28 AM.
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