cc_rider

Not forgotten. I try not to think about it.
Pretty much correct. And Glebe House still exists (current one from 1808, the original burned down)
https://www.co.arlington.va.us/Depart...yPichistB.aspx

Guest

Funny... I live at the corner of Glebe, Glebe and Glebe. I couldn't believe the nutiness when I saw it. And mapquest still doesn't get that crap right! I gave up with mapquest a loooooooong time ago!

Thanks for the well wishes. I took my first ride in today- a chilly 46 degrees heading out in near darnkess/early sunrise with winds in my face and it took nearly an hour because I somehow made the wrong turn when I got into DC (doh!), but I quickly saved it and rode through the park, then down a deserted one way, which got me onto 12th St. pretty quick, and from there, I just jumped E Street. And doh! I missed every green, so I spent most of my time waiting at those long assed lights. But I finally did get up to work... in just under an hour. I had 3 changes of clothes, two heavy bike locks, my radio, some books, and a pair of shoes on me. Coming back was much easier... I left at about 4:07pm, then got stopped for 5 minutes by the Rosa Parks motorcade, then finally made it home at about 4:45pm. That was a fast commute home! But then again, I had nearly all greens headed back.

It must be more of a downhill or just less hills in general coming back. Then again, my bag was a lot lighter headed home too. And it was much warmer. It was a perfect 70 degrees headed home!

Tomorrow, I work the late shift. I have to decide if I'm going to take the bike on the train when I'm headed back or drag the lights and ride back. We'll see.

Koffee

tokolosh

i dunno. wouldn't it be more efficient to just lick yourself clean?

or a vogon, she said darkly.

poor koffee. she just wants to get around dc, not the galaxy. maybe the galaxy would be easier though.

Guest

Shoot, if I shot myself out at warp 9 to a whole nuther universe, and I got caught in a time-space continuum, it would be easier than riding around DC.

We need Trump to come build an 80 foot building so I've got a landmark I can see no matter where I am in DC, Maryland, or Virginia (NoVa, that is).

Koffee

unkchunk

I understand competely. When I lived in SF I could look at the Sutro Tower and know exactly where I was. Plus there wasn't an unending sprawl in all directions. In DC nothing can be taller than the Washington monument, which isn't very tall, so there won't be a visable landmark. How about using air planes on landing approach for for a visual reference. It may look chaotic at first, but airlines have one or two (depending on the wind direction) set final landing approaches. They are still pretty high, higher than the Sears tower, and don't vary that final leg. Hold on, let me see if I can find a map.

Guest

I've been using the planes, but somehow, I think DC is on a slant, because when I'm approaching DC, you can see the Washington Monument and Capital Hill, and they look side by side. Then when I hit DC, they clearly aren't. But when I'm really lost, if I look overhead, I can see the planes coming in. But sometimes they make all planes come in from the south, and sometimes they make all planes come in from the north. And sometimes, they have them come in from one direction in the morning, and the other direction in the afternoon. That's when I know I can't totally rely on the planes.

But it does explain why they don't go over Gravelly Point all the time.

Koffee

huhenio

One trick I learned getting lost in suburban/rural PA.

Learn the topography. Uphill and downhill are noticed more on a bike. Once you learn the topography of your area, the likelyhood of getting lost will be reduced.

Even the slightest slope can help you find your way.

10ch

Word. This is one of my favorite things about commuting.

Guest

Slopes and hills are everywhere in every direction, man. That's not going to help. But I am just riding as much as possible, and I have the bike map for NoVa/DC/So.MD. I consult the map every day before I head out, and that makes a difference I'm sure of it.

I'm glad to get my sun back. It stimulates my retina and makes me feel more awake when I get to work!

Koffee

tulip

IN DC, at least the part you are in (Capitol Hill area), all hills go down toward the Potomac River. Further north, it gets rolling, but generally, if you are going downhill, you are heading towards the river.

NoVA's a mess, though. Can't help you there.

catatonic

That's my problem....well not baggy pants (I wear those as well), but my whole life, even when I weighed 150lbs, I had huge freaking legs...which have been made even larger from riding...so even the XL pant from performance bike was worse than tights!

I just get away with a change of everything belt down, my labcoat and anti-static shoes (work requirement), a u-lock and padlock (for the bike lockers, if one is avalible), a map, rainjacket (cheapo performancebike one), and my repair kit.

The performancebike jacket is not all that good...it was waterproof for about 6 months, but now it's only water-resistant....also had terrible ventilation, especially if you use a messenger bag.

Paul L.

Maybe a GPS would help. I use one for my bike computer and love it. I also use it as a navigational aid on longer rides in terrain I am not familiar with. Anyway, kind of a pricy solution I guess but it would solve the no landmarks problem.

It would not do much to help you navigate around the galaxy though.

catatonic

For ghetto GPS, a decent compass (hint---boy scout compasses, there are tricks with them to get latitude and longitude), and a map work wonders.

cc_rider

Took you this long to realize that this town is crooked?

In DC, most things drain down to the swamp in front of where the White House now stands.
If it's going downhill, it's probably headed for the river.

On weekends I sometimes use L street to go east and M street to go west. Light timing seems to work. Don't know how it is on weekdays or in real traffic.

kbabin

Also, you can use this link in "hybrid" mode to help plan your route. It helps you see the thru streets...

https://maps.google.com/

dynaryder

Rain pants: Red Ledge Thunderlights are the only ones I've found that actually breathe. This is a major deal in DC due to the humidity. Only bad things are they only come in black and they don't have zipper openings at the bottom. Not too bad to put on over sneakers,just watch if you're wearing cleats. I've also got a pair of the yellow Performance ones,but they run small and I can only wear them over bike shorts.

Rain gloves: 2nd the Sealskinz. They're genuinely waterproof,warm enough to wear alone over 30deg or so,and the rubber palms really grip. They also breathe. I tried using a set of my motorcycle gauntlets once,but my hands sweated like crazy in them. Just be careful when taking them on/off so you don't tear the internal membrane.

Navigating: 2nd the Google maps,you can drag it around and zoom in and out to easily plan your routes. Also,in DC north generally equates to uphill. I learned my way around by the quadrant method,plus learning the major routes. Once you figure out where major roads(Wisc NW,16th NW,Constitution) go,you can connect between them. Be real careful in traffic circles,American drivers don't know how to use them properly. And any street called "unit" is only a partial street;it dead-ends in an alley or connects 2 real streets.

Bike shops: I can highly recommend Revolution Cycles in Georgetown(right accross from the Key Bridge). They do good work and are usually faster than other shops(I've heard negatives about the Arlington location,but Georgetown is cool). HTO(Hudson Trail Outfitters) in Tenleytown(Wisconsin Ave NW,above Cathedral) also has a good service dept. The afformentioned City Bikes in Adams Morgan has a good selection of gear. I haven't had any bike work done there,but Chimblysweep works there,so it should be pretty good. I've also gotten good service from Bicycle Pro Shop in Georgetown(next to Revolution Cycles),but I bought an expensive Cannondale there and others have complained about them,so YMMV. I'm not too impressed with any of the Big Wheel Bikes locations,but they're the only ones who sell Kona,and I believe Marin,so if you're interested in one of those you'll have to deal with them. Performance Bikes in Rockville is pretty cool,but may be a bit of a haul for you. And if you're looking for used bikes or older parts,there's Chain Reaction on 6th NE just off Rhode Island. They seemed cool,and poopncow volunteers there,so they should be good.

Otherwise,welcome to DC,the town that invented the phrase 'aggressive driver'. Watch the idiots with cell phones,they just don't care about anything else on the road. Be careful in the bike lanes,they almost always are in the door zone. And some side streets in Georgetown still have cobblestones,so be warned.

Oh,and since you're in DC,you'll be wanting to be a Pirate,right? Our next outing will be polo on Wed at Sherwood Forest. 14th and K NW;cross the Key bridge into Georgetown,take M to 14th,then go south to K:
https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?cente...ine=ebmlFdgduM

We'll be expecting you. And the other Washingtonians. Where are you arrr-ll?

Guest

I only almost got hit once... some idiot in a car trying to turn in front of me as I was descending a slight hill. I screamed a curse word at him and he looked up and stopped. I got lucky. And today, it only took me about 35 min. I got lost only once because I decided to try a different way, and ended up turning on a one way going in the wrong direction and had to hop the sidewalk to get to the next street so I could get off the one way. Strangely, the cop was the one who told me to turn onto the one way... hey buddy, some of us cyclists LIKE to obey the laws of the traffic already!

I gotta ride home all in the dark, so that'll be when I really find out what kind of stomach I have. DC in the dark.... *shudder*

Koffee

rickwilliams

Regarding the whole route and wayfinding thing. Earlier this year I spent about 5 months in Taiwan in a city of about 2 million people. Against the advice of almost everyone I bought a bike to commute the 10 km between my apartment and work. No one, including my Chinese co-workers, could recommend a route. I read almost no Chinese but I bought a map, sketched a route with the help of Chinese friends, and laboriously biked it one Sunday by comparing Chinese street names on the map to street signs. As I rode I noted buildings and landmarks. The first commute I got lost once. In subsequent days I found shorter routes and things got much easier. I used the same method to ride all over the city. By the end of my stay I knew my way around better than many of my Chinese friends, all without relying on street signs.

I'll bet in no time you'll be finding your way all over Washingon like a pro. Good luck with your bike commuting. I love it. One of the best decisions I ever made.

wheezl

You sir, are a rock star

StanSeven

Oh, was that you?

huhenio

Ok ... your orienteering excersise is getting fairly long...

Have you learned your routes yet?

Walkafire

Koffee....

Keep up the Good Work!

Light up the Night with LIGHTS!

Best of Luck to ya in the DC Streets!

I wonder what it would be like to cruise like a Bat out of HeII in Big City Streets LOL

I'll be thinking of ya on my ride on the back roads here.

Walk

Guest

I still keep trying to find new routes... I'm finding that a lot of the streets are not continuous, so that's slowing me down with going to work. I'll probably give it another try this weekend.

Koffee

Guest

Ok, after all this, I got a call from a place I interviewed in November, and get this- they are seriously considering me for a position in Ashburn, VA... it's like 38 miles away. So now I'm thinking about going in to interview again, just for the heck of it. Of course, while I did my initial phone interview, I was thinking about how it would even be possible to try this commute... any takers wanna try to figure out this one?

Koffee

oknups

Koffee,
Not good closet marc station is 12+ mile away. Closet metro is vienna @ 25+ road miles away, bit of a ride, but not impossible. Marc is out due to the " where the hell do I catch this train, and what kind of a schedule is that anyway, you mean I have to go to union station then to baltimore to catch a train that goes to 20 miles from where I live, sort of thing"
Best bet:
Blue line from nearest station to you in arlington, and change trains @ Rosslyn to orange line, ride that to the end and bike for 25+ miles. Looking at a good 2 hour one way commute, if you ride fast (15+mph)