Commuting to Work on Two Wheels – DC to Fairfax Edition

The route

After trying out my route on a weekend, I’ve biked to work a couple times. Rolling into the office I realized I didn’t have a lock for the rack, so I kept my bike in the office. With my trusty steed residing in my room, my co-workers had some questions.

• How did you find a route? WABA cue sheets. On WABA.org, they’ve got about 15 common commuter routes.
• 18 miles is far, how long does it take? An hour each way.
• How does that time compare to driving? Driving: wake up at 7:10 AM, at desk at 8:30 AM, total: 1:20. Riding: wake up 6:40 AM, at desk 8:15 AM, total: 1:35. The main difference is that when I ride, I  get up and go. On the other hand, driving, I wander around the apartment, stare out my window, take a long shower, and so forth. I end up saving that dilly dally time. Morning commute: 15 minutes longer by bicycle. Driving in the evening takes a bit longer than driving in the morning. This time is canceled out by the time it takes me to change into my gear. Evening commute is about 20 minutes longer. Overall, biking to work takes 35 minutes longer, but I get 2 hours of exercise.

I admit I’m not the typical rider. I’m more of an enthusiast than most. However, that doesn’t mean you can pull it off too. I reverse commute from DC to Fairfax. if you are driving into the city in the morning and out in the evening your driving times are probably longer than mine, so bicycling might be faster even though your ride time won’t be the same.

Not ready to bike the whole way? Try biking to the Metro first. Try driving half way, parking, and biking the rest. All I’m saying is give it a shot. For me biking is definitely more fun than sitting on the Parkway in bumper to bumper traffic watching other people ride, canoe, and run.

Going the Distance – Biking 18 miles to Work

Bike to Work Day 2009 - Freedom Plaza Washington DC

Bike to Work Day is on Friday May 21, 2010. I used to bike to work every day and Bike to Work was just another day. Since those good times, my office location moved from downtown DC to my current location existing in this strange land beyond the beltway. So I, like Energy Secretary Chu, must pick and choose the days I ride.

Now that the days are longer, I’m making the trip again. I planned a route and I gave it a test ride over the weekend. I wanted to figure out how long it would take me and work out any kinks before I ride it during rush hour. It took me a little over an hour at a decent pace.

Overall I learned, it’s not the most bike friendly route, but it has to be better than sitting in traffic on Rock Creek Pkwy  watching cyclists, rollerbladers, and joggers on the trail drop me in my car.

Below is a full recap of the adventure.

Getting out of the District in a timely manner posed some issues. Namely the National Mall. I choose to take the 14th St bridge. It’s the most direct route, but it meant navigating the Mall during the height of let’s wear our fanny packs and drink 20 oz Sprites while looking at something called a cherry blossom fever/festival (I think I’m still bitter that the paddle boat line was over an hour long). I avoided as much of the crowds as I could by staying on the streets, and jumped on the congested path just after the Thomas Jefferson memorial.

The red marks where the fanny pack territory

Once I successfully crossed the bridge, I was feed into the rollerblade river of the Mt. Vernon trail. There must have been some sort of flash mob formed on the internet dedicated to rollerbladers coming out in full force with synchronized iPods. So I took it easy for a mile or two, trying not to be that Lance Armstrong wannabe huffing and puffing whizzing past the joggers. Maybe one day I’ll find a better route from the 14th St bridge to Commonwealth Ave.

Unlike the magical land of MacArthur blvd, I was a lone wolf  traversing over a barren land. There were no Cat 3’s buzzing by, just me and my bike. I ran into another solo rider as I stuffed my face with my remaining snack at a stoplight. We nodded; solidarity in the concrete jungle.

My route, taken from a WABA cue sheet, took me through the great Clermont Overpass as my way under the Beltway.

The scenic under belly of the Beltway

This beautiful scene ended in this wall/zigzag structure. I reckoned that beyond that wall the rule of the Yuppie Kingdom did not apply.

The Clermont Overpass

Had I not know there was some way over the mountain/concrete wall, I would have turned back defeated, but I knew there was a way. I dismounted and in cyclocross fashion portaged the obstacle. Then I realized there was a ramp along the stair case.

The Ramp

Once on the other side of the galaxy, I was lost in a wandering maze of side streets that do not even pretend to be a grid like L’Enfant’s Federal City. Good thing they supplied this sign to show me how to get to the main road.

Bike Sign in Fairfax

From Franconia, I was able to make it into the office.

Stray Observations:

• First and foremost, neighborhoods with the word hill in the name typically contain large hills.
• It would have taken me a while to work out this route w/o the WABA cue sheet. If you are thinking of commuting, check the rest of them out.
• The closest place to my office that is not an office building is a 15 minute walk; however, by bike it’s just moments.
• 36 miles round trip, not a bad work out.
• Also, important there is a water park with water slides and a wave pool in Alexandria.

Bikes No Spandex Required – 4 Must Have Items for Around Town

Normal People straight ridin' in the Budapest

When you were a kid cruising the block on the same ride that used to have training wheels, you didn’t need any special equipment like clips, padded shorts, or a cadence censor. As an adult you still don’t need that junk/dork badges of honor or a fancy carbon fiber crotch rocket.

I’m a fan of local bicycle shops. Their service and enthusiasm for bicycles makes shops like Performance look like an unwashed armpit; however, too many times I’ve seen people buy the wrong bicycle there. The employees love bicycles. They’ll tell you this model or the other is a better deal. In absolute terms, the parts for the price, they are probably correct; in relative terms, the parts for the person, they could be mistaken.

If you want to ride to the coffee shop and bike to the park on a nice day, you don’t need a narrow carbon frame with a shorter chainstay to make it light, minimize wind resistance, and have great acceleration. When you buy a car, the salesman doesn’t only let you buy a sports car. For some people a hatchback is best.

Four things to look for or add on to a bicycle for around town use.

• A chain guard to keep you pants clean so you can just hop on and ride.
• A rack or basket to carry stuff
• A front and rear lights so you can be seen at all times of day.
• Fenders to keep rain and dirt off of you.

Leave others in the comments.

Cyclist Killed in Collision with Summit Security Last Night

You have probably heard already, but a cyclist was struck and killed last night by a military vehicle. It happened at 12th and New York Ave NW.

You can read about it here, here, here, here, and here.

I don’t have anything to add. Just didn’t feel right to blog without mentioning it. I echo Washcycle’s thoughts as they’re worth repeating:

Our thoughts should all be with the victim’s friends and family at the moment. While I don’t want to distract from that, I hope MPD and the Secret Service conduct a thorough investigation as well as take a long look at their security and motorcade policies after this tragedy.

15 St Cycle River

Bike salmon riding up stream on 15 St

The 15 St cycle track is up and running. It is a protected bicycle lane in the opposite direction of traffic and sharrows in the direction of traffic. Greater Greater Washington has some nice coverage.

This past week, I’ve rode up and down 15 St a few times to try it out. Most days I fight traffic on 16 St or 14th St. Skipping 14th St allowed me to avoid the intersection of left turning death carriages from Maryland, buses that can’t decide what lane to be in, and the rocky mountain range of pavement. Skipping 16th St allowed me to breathe; 16th is packed, but it’s the fastest option to and from work.

I think the cycle track is a great project, but the lane is off to a bit of a rough start. It’s kind of ugly, there were some cars parked in the lane, and I only saw bike salmons using the contraflow bike lane. There are some nice signs, but it will take time for people to understand the patterns.

I’m still curious who plans to use the contraflow lane on a daily basis. Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights, and Mt. Pleasant is the biking center of the District. CoHo and Mt. P  residents probably won’t use it, since 15 st North of U St only goes away from U St, taking a left off of 16th St onto T St is bold, and getting out of the bike lane on 14th St seems like a waste of time. For those in Adams Morgan who have to come East of 15th St will get some use out of it.

Anybody plan to use 15th St lane everyday?

Wet Slippery Conditions – Don’t Fall

Fall in DC

This weekend a couple friends were in from NYC. They were shocked that only two people lived in such a large apartment and that DC was so leafy. I have to agree that DC has many nice tree lined streets and the leaves change bringing in a nice autumn hue.

Those leaves also fall. They fall and wind up in the street near the curb. Then it rains. It becomes super slick. Other slick obstacles include The wet white paint on the street and wet metal grates.

In general when it rains I’m more cautious, I ride farther from the curb, and I take a bit off the pedals. Ride faster to get to work earlier; how about ride slower to spend more time on the bicycle.

I’ve noticed there are many trees between U St and P St on 16 th St, so watch out there.

Any other locations in DC you’ve noticed?

Air Travel and Two Wheels

We’ve talked a bit about biking to work in Washington DC, but what if you’re traveling for work? How do you bike to work then? The NYTimes does a nice write up of travelers and their options on the road: packing a bicycle, folding bicycle, or renting one from a hotel.

I understand the desire to keep biking on the road. When I don’t ride to work, I’m a big crank. During a stressful day, there’s nothing better than getting in the saddle and rolling home.

Also, when I’m traveling for work, I mostly experience the airport, a couple of highways that slice through town, and the room service menu. Biking would be a great way to see more of the city and get a better feel for the place, so I’m all for it.

Airline fees for bicycles vary. Check the airline’s website before hand to avoid being surprised with fees and make sure the bike fits the required dimensions.

Here’s a quick list of major airlines and their fees I just checked.

• American – $100 plus applicable checked baggage fee.
• Delta – $175
• Jet Blue – $50
• Northwest – $100
• Souhtwest – Substitute for one checked bag if it’s fits the 62-inch sizing limit (H + L+ W) and weighs 50 lbs or less. Otherwise, $50.
• United – $175
• US Airways – $175
• Virgin – Nothing extra if it fits the size! Next time I got to San Francisco, I’m flying Virgin.

More airline fees on Cyclelicio.us compiled in September 2008.

How to keep commuting in colder weather

You might have given riding to work a try during the warm weather or on bike to work day. Hopefully it went well and you enjoyed it. However, this week in DC, the mercury dropped a noticeable amount.

Late Fall and Winter are a great time to bike. Once you get going you’ll warm up and you won’t pour sweat out like the summer. Don’t stop riding now; just get the right gear.

Gear for cold weather riding:

• Vest – Yes, a puffy one like Marty McFly. If your core is not warm, your body will pump more blood there to warm the organs, and that takes away from the peripheries (arms, hands, legs, etc…) A coat works too, but it doesn’t breathe as well and sometimes can be a bit much for riding in 50 degree days. Luckily vests are in this year.
• Gloves – Your hands are riding out in front and there’s a lot of harsh wind going on out there. Get some wind proof gloves.
• Headband (or wool hat if you don’t wear a helmet) – Your ears are going to get cold, so get something that fits underneath the helmet and covers your ears.
• Lights – It gets dark out early, and the time change hasn’t happened yet. There is going to be limited light for a while. You need a white LED front light and a red rear light. WABA gives away free lights on October 29 and November 5.
• Wool Socks – My feet get cold, so I like a nice pair of wool socks. SmartWool is a lifesaver.
• Rain Coat – Wheelbrow weather is upon us. Taking the bus instead of riding is not fun.

Much of this stuff you might already have or you’ll find multiple uses for most of it. Next time you’re camping and it rains you won’t even notice.

Exercise Moderately – Stay Healthy

Today, the New York Times ran an article about the correlation between staying healthy and exercising. Like many things, the extremes – a sedintary life and an exhausted one – fared the worse. Moderate exercise seems to help. A great way to get moderate exercise 5 days a week without adding time to your overloaded schedule is biking to work.

Say you work four miles from home. A new cyclist could comfortably ride 10 – 12 mph. 20 minutes there; 20 minutes back. You just tricked yourself into exercising.

Go ride.