condemakoto

I am about to visit Manassas for about a month, and I was planning to take my bike with me. There are some posts in the forum about the area, but they are quite old and I am wondering if anyone could share new experiences or suggestion about ridding there. Is it safe? Getting to dc from manassas is achievable ?

Just in case, I’d prefer paved roads, but I’m open for some off road

BrendaAnderson

Thanks for shraing your experience.

thumpism 

Are you interested specifically in the battlefield park or the town in general? Northern Virginia has a lot of traffic and it might be challenge getting to Manassas from D.C. I used to drive there on business; traffic was bad then and it has probably worsened since those days. Someone is bound to chime in with more info for you. Good luck and enjoy your visit!

hefeweizen

The OP is asking for advice because they have no experience.

Retro Grouch 

Oh man! Now you've got me wondering. Do the local signs call it "Manassas" or "Bull Run"?

Darth Lefty 

My employer formerly had a location in the area. My impression is that it was drag races between junctions, with vertical curbs along any landscaped property. I can't recall any provisions for bikes.

MoAlpha

A look at the Strava Global Heatmap will be informative.

condemakoto

Thanks for the answers. I'll be staying in Mannasas mostly, that's why I'm interested in that zone. Moving from the city to other places would be difficult since I won't probably have a car there. Probably another option to get to dc area with my bike would be using the train, but I will have to read more about it.

I continued to investigate a bit more and I saw some sort of bike lanes/trails on 294, so I will probably try that road. There seem to be also a circuit some people do around the airport.

Btw, I never used the heat map on Strava before, thanks for the tip. I was using Strava tho, searching some segments there that could give me a lead where to ride.

hagak

I live in Manassas. There is a Facebook group Prince William County Cycling (PWCC) that does a group ride at least once a week. They also post a few evening rides as well. Tuesday Night Ride hosted by Bull Run Cycles (not sure when the last one of the year will be, probably the week before DST ends) has a big group 30-40 riders of ALL skills. There usually is a Thursday Night Ride hosted by PWCC and they tend to post at least one weekend ride. Both groups are on Facebook, PWCC is private but just answer the basic questions and they will accept you. PWCC is a casual group, a few guys who race join but that is the exception.

As for getting to DC by bike from Manassas, I would not recommend it. What I would do is drive up to W&OD (Washington and Old Dominion). It is an rail to trail (all paved) route that runs 46 miles from Arlington out to Purceville. Many spots to park on and you can ride that into Arlington and there are other DC local trails that will get you across the water into DC. FOWOD to find places to park along W&OD. This is a very popular MUP and has nice connections to other trails and routes.

All that is assuming road biking, if mountain biking I have less experience other than I know there are several popular trails with Fountainhead being a rather popular one.

hagak

The airport circuit:
https://www.strava.com/routes/19497193

Also I believe when you said 294 you meant 234. There is a bike path that runs along it for about 10 miles, you can create a loop out of it. I personally hate this route and only do it because it is quick for me. Too noisy with traffic (234 is a busy highway), the bike path has MANY MANY cross streets so you constantly are slowing and checking traffic.
https://www.strava.com/routes/3282924

hagak

More options:
This is a park so I think there is a fee, but it is a small loop with little traffic and more than half is one way traffic. Some decent punchy climbs and you can just do more loops for more distance.
https://www.strava.com/routes/5455945

This loop takes you out through Nokesville (rural area for a little while longer) https://www.strava.com/routes/9286036

indyfabz

This place seems to get stranger every week.

hefeweizen

Went right over your head didn't it.

indyfabz

Uh...No. My comment comments on "her" inapt response.

coffeesnob

Drive south and go to Richmond and ride the Va capital trail. You can go from Richmond to Jamestown. It is about 52 miles one way. Very enjoyable scenic and historical all paved and safe.

TiHabanero

I just got back from Manassas and can tell you that riding out there pretty much stinks. Keep in mind this is coming from a boy who rides in farm land every day. Don't see how people out there deal with that nonsense, but sure am happy I don't have to!

hagak

I am guessing you did not go west into nokesville then? That gets you into farmland pretty quickly and is a bike ride from Manassas easily.