Where to ride in DC/Montgomery Co. MD?

[jemoryl]

So I got laid off at the end of 2018 and it looks like I might be taking a job in DC. Considering my income and the commute, it looks like I would be best off living near one of the Metro red line stations in MD, maybe near Silver Spring. Is there anyway for a road cyclist to get out onto some nice country roads without getting killed or frustrated? I understand there are nice routes heading out towards Sugarloaf to the west. Not interested in riding in DC proper or gravel. Any advice? I currently live in Essex Co. NJ, so I have learned to live with busy roads and somewhat aggressive drivers.

[vincenz]

You will love cycling around here compared to NJ. I lived in NYC for 25 years before moving to MoCo and it’s another world.

You can easily find nice roads here west to Potomac and Poolesville and Sugarloaf Mountain like you mentioned. You can easily connect via local roads from silver spring. Also nice roads to the north in Olney and Laytonsville. I do prefer the west though. Lots of group rides everywhere also if that’s your thing too.

[ahumblecycler]

Welcome to the area!

River Road is a popular cycling route out to Poolesville and beyond; I used it as part of my loop to Harpers Ferry last year. It's a lovely area that will offer some great cycling.

I restrict DC cycling to Rock Creek Park on the weekends, Hains Point, and Nationals Baseball Park (guarded parking garage for bikes - awesome!).

[LJohnny]

Parts of Rockcreek PKWY are under construction currently. Check out Strava heatmaps for popular riding areas out in Potomac, etc. Great tool.
Good riding areas for sure

[jemoryl]

You will love cycling around here compared to NJ. I lived in NYC for 25 years before moving to MoCo and it’s another world.....


That is comforting to hear. Right now I need to ride west from home for 7-10 miles before hitting some decent roads (out towards the Great Swamp, mostly Morris Co.). Actually, there is some great riding in NJ if you get to places like Warren, Sussex or Hunterdon Counties. But after my recent visit to DC/MoCo I feared the worst, driving around Silver Spring, Bethesda and Rockville: horrible traffic, speed bumps, etc. Good to know there are routes out to better riding (took me a while after moving to NJ to figure out the best escape routes).

I stayed with friends near the National Zoo and noticed the trail in Rock Creek Park. Is that mostly paved?

[OtayBW]

I work in Gaithersburg, but live 55 mi N of there (~10 mi N of the Balto Beltway). Coincidentally, I was also born and raised in Essex Co, NJ, but left when I was 17 (the principal benefit of living there as I remember was being close to the Star Tavern in Orange whenever I wanted a great pizza, but I digress...). I really can't wait to get out of Mont. Co. at the end of the day. Not my cup of tea. That said, I do think the riding can be good in the northern and western (think Frederick Co) part of the country, but still a bit more congested than I like.

I think there's been a long-standing shop ride going out of Laytonsville on Wed nights that you might want to check in to. Good luck!

[echappist]

Downtown Silver Springs is a bit far from the less-traveled roads in Montgomery County. You'll probably spend a good 20-30 minutes one way before you get on country roads. River Road (MD-190), McArthur Blvd, and whatever else leads you to Poolesville, which by then gets you really close to Sugarloaf.

You'd want to stay West of I-270; too much development otherwise

Don't knock DC riding (specifically, Hain's) until you try it. I can't think of another place on the East Coast (other than Central Park) where one doesn't have to worry about cars and tourists

[dsimon]

Don't forget Capitol crescent trail

[flydhest]

I lived in the DC area essentially for 45 years.

If you are already ok with taking the Red Line to get into town, I would go for the western branch of the Red Line toward Shady Grove rather than the Silver Spring side. Grosvenor metro station is essential right in Tuckerman Lane and Rock Creek Park/Beach Drive. Great access to very good riding for being in such a developed area.

I agree with the sentiment that Hains Point is actually pretty good. I now live in NYC and laps in Central Park are twice as long and have a little up and down. But now that it is spring ... Hains is hard to beat if you live in the District and can get down there for mornjng sprint laps. Also, early morning rides at Hains, if you get there when the sun is rising, the reflection off the “new” terminal at National Airport is an amazing sight. You only get one or maybe two laps when the reflection is there, but it is beautiful.

[chromopromo]

If bike access is a primary concern, I agree that it is better to stick to the Shady Grove branch of the red line. I wouldn't dismiss riding out of DC. Rock Creek Park, MaCarthur Boulevard and the C and O canal are all excellent routes in and out of town that rival riding in the far reaches of Montgomery county. Rock Creek is only closed on weekends so doesn't works as well on weekdays. And currently is under construction for another year or so.

[bward1028]

https://dcpaceline.weebly.com/

[vincenz]

That is comforting to hear. Right now I need to ride west from home for 7-10 miles before hitting some decent roads (out towards the Great Swamp, mostly Morris Co.). Actually, there is some great riding in NJ if you get to places like Warren, Sussex or Hunterdon Counties. But after my recent visit to DC/MoCo I feared the worst, driving around Silver Spring, Bethesda and Rockville: horrible traffic, speed bumps, etc. Good to know there are routes out to better riding (took me a while after moving to NJ to figure out the best escape routes).



I stayed with friends near the National Zoo and noticed the trail in Rock Creek Park. Is that mostly paved?



Yes, definitely don’t want to ride around those areas you mentioned as they are busy.

Rock Creek Park is currently closed for renovations, but probably will be done in another year or two, should fix all the potholes and things. You can do some nice back and forths on Beach Drive on the weekends once it’s done.

All the roads others have mentioned here are tried and true. I also agree that if you are able to choose, look into areas on the Rockville end of the metro red line versus Silver Spring. It is just as convenient getting into DC (and arguably more so into VA if you work there), and imo a nicer area overall with easier access to cycling routes than silver spring (you can go west, north, or south as you would be right in the middle).

There is also an extensive network of trails in the whole DMV area that interconnect and you can ride for a few miles or a few hundred miles. Overall a lovely area to ride around. I haven’t found a better maintained infrastructure for cycling in a northeast metro area with courteous drivers than here (if there is, let me know!).

[OtayBW]

FYI - The MARC train Brunswick line gets you into Union Station from as far away as - well - Brunswick to the far NW in Frederick Co (actually, all the way to Martinsburg, WVA now that I look at the map). Similarly, the Penn or Camdem lines takes you in from NE towards Balto.

[zap]

All country roads in Montgomery and Frederick County and more have decades of Zap bicycle tires tracks.

Our first house was in Silver Spring...4 corners...and we rode regularly on roads next to the beltway into rock creek out Grosvenor up Tuckerman, Glen and beyond. You can also put a nice route together using neighborhood roads next to Rock Creek then away to McArthur up Anglers (Fly ;)) Falls back down Tuckerman.

The Bicycle Place in Silver Spring is also an excellent resource. Ask for Mike the owner.

We didn't stay in Silver Spring too long......moved to Potomac.

So, if you can find a place in Rockville.......that would be my pick for a number of reasons.


So I got laid off at the end of 2018 and it looks like I might be taking a job in DC. Considering my income and the commute, it looks like I would be best off living near one of the Metro red line stations in MD, maybe near Silver Spring.

[jemoryl]

Thanks for all the useful information. I'm going to be renting, and there will be other factors I need to consider (we like to live where there are walkable shops, etc.), but for cycling the area west of Rockville looks good. Nice to learn about all the routes in DC too, I didn't think they would be so extensive.

[LJohnny]

White Flint, Twinbrook and Rockville areas would be where is at in terms of looking for rentals and proximity to shops, walking distance to the red line. There likely be a premium associated with that.

[avalonracing]

And head up to just north of Baltimore sometime. It's only an hour (or less) by car and there are great roads through "horse country".

[jemoryl]

A short update. I have been in the area for about 3 months now and my time here has been coupled with a shoulder problem (non-cycling related) that has kept me off the bike. Only in the last couple weeks have things started to feel close to normal so I have done a couple short rides this week.

I now have an apartment in Bethesda, so not a bad location to ride from. My first ride, 12 Miles, was just to check out the Capital Crescent from Bethesda to around by the boat house: a bit busy on 4th of July morning but OK. Today did a ride down the CC trail again, hoping to get on MacArthur Blvd going north, but somehow missed the turn. Came back and wound up riding several miles down Bradley Blvd, which has a decent shoulder and enjoyed this more than the CC trail. Thinking about a ride west on Bradley and River Rd. to Potomac, then maybe back by Falls Rd. to MacArthur. Any tips from the locals? Taking it easy now to see how the shoulder handles the milage (so far, 20 miles seems OK).

[echappist]

A short update. I have been in the area for about 3 months now and my time here has been coupled with a shoulder problem (non-cycling related) that has kept me off the bike. Only in the last couple weeks have things started to feel close to normal so I have done a couple short rides this week.

I now have an apartment in Bethesda, so not a bad location to ride from. My first ride, 12 Miles, was just to check out the Capital Crescent from Bethesda to around by the boat house: a bit busy on 4th of July morning but OK. Today did a ride down the CC trail again, hoping to get on MacArthur Blvd going north, but somehow missed the turn. Came back and wound up riding several miles down Bradley Blvd, which has a decent shoulder and enjoyed this more than the CC trail. Thinking about a ride west on Bradley and River Rd. to Potomac, then maybe back by Falls Rd. to MacArthur. Any tips from the locals? Taking it easy now to see how the shoulder handles the milage (so far, 20 miles seems OK).
that should be fine

[mass_biker]

And head up to just north of Baltimore sometime. It's only an hour (or less) by car and there are great roads through "horse country".

Second the recommendation for riding north of Baltimore - as you get out past the Beltway (695) the riding just gets better and better in "horse country". Some of the more challenging up-and-down riding I've ever done. That 28t cog comes in handy.

[ultraman6970]

There a ride the guys from veloviet do, is up and down like a maniac, the darn profile looks like a guy having cardiac arrest. When i saw it the 1st time thought was wrong, good that day I took the compact and the 29T cog :D

Done that ride once... not willing to do it again ever! specially like with 10 miles in my legs during the whole summer.

:)

[zap]

Thinking about a ride west on Bradley and River Rd. to Potomac, then maybe back by Falls Rd. to MacArthur. Any tips from the locals? Taking it easy now to see how the shoulder handles the milage (so far, 20 miles seems OK).

Take Bradley all the way to Persimmon. Take Persimmon to Potomac Village. Or go straight onto Oaklyn. Less traffic than River Rd. You can add a hill if you ride down Falls (heading south) and turn right at the ss. This will take you down to the park, the park ranger will let you through then go around the circle to head back out and up the gradual hill. Then continue straight onto MacArthur. When you feel better you can also go up Mountain Gate and Brickyard (which does go to Falls) for some hill work.

Lots of neighborhood streets you can incorporate in that area.

[OtayBW]

Second the recommendation for riding north of Baltimore - as you get out past the Beltway (695) the riding just gets better and better in "horse country". Some of the more challenging up-and-down riding I've ever done. That 28t cog comes in handy.
I lives there. Gives me a holler if you wants some recommendations!

[DaveS]

I lives there. Gives me a holler if you wants some recommendations!



I’ll third the recommendation for North Baltimore county. Moved here about 6 months ago and really digging the riding!


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[Kevan]

No longer in NY’s Westchester County, I’m now a flatlander, living in Easton MD and managing a new cycling club called ‘Chesapeake Cycling Club’. Having hung up my bike for almost 5 years up there, there were no excuses once we moved here. Very few hills, by any definition, the obstacle here can be the wind.
Anyone interested in coming out here, join us for a ride.

[jemoryl]

Take Bradley all the way to Persimmon. Take Persimmon to Potomac Village. Or go straight onto Oaklyn. Less traffic than River Rd. You can add a hill if you ride down Falls (heading south) and turn right at the ss. This will take you down to the park, the park ranger will let you through then go around the circle to head back out and up the gradual hill. Then continue straight onto MacArthur. When you feel better you can also go up Mountain Gate and Brickyard (which does go to Falls) for some hill work.

Lots of neighborhood streets you can incorporate in that area.

This is just the kind of advice I need right now. I noticed Persimmon is marked on some maps as a bike route and many ridewithgps routes include Oaklyn. Hard to tell which local roads are the ones to concentrate on. Will want to work some hills into things as I get more miles in, with the goal of getting out to Sugarloaf eventually. Thanks.

[archig8r]

Yeah I would also say anything out and around Poolesville. Great loops around sugarloaf and to whites ferry.

Also some of the best gravel roads in the country are out by middleburg and Bluemont VA.


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[jimcav]

This is just the kind of advice I need right now. I noticed Persimmon is marked on some maps as a bike route and many ridewithgps routes include Oaklyn. Hard to tell which local roads are the ones to concentrate on. Will want to work some hills into things as I get more miles in, with the goal of getting out to Sugarloaf eventually. Thanks.

but lived in Bethesda not far from Glen Echo area near MacArthur Blvd. My Favorite ride was to head up MacArthur and eventually it curves right as Falls Rd, then left on River Rd all the way out until you go right on Seneca, then all the way on that until left on Darnestown , then left on White's Ferry. After that you have to go right to loop back but I forget the roads now. I'd end up coming around to Darnestown rd (also route 28 at some point) and eventually hit Seven Locks Rd south that goes back down to MacArthur.

Anyway, some beautiful riding and you can do even bigger loops where you go capitol cresent trail to C&O canal, through G-town and then north out of DC via rock creek park that you can take out into Rockville, then west on route 28/Darnestown and back into Bethesda via the reverse of my earlier description above.

jim

[zap]

Will want to work some hills into things as I get more miles in, with the goal of getting out to Sugarloaf eventually. Thanks.

Sugarloaf and the surrounding area is nice. Grade up is not hard. Take time to take in the views at both overlooks. The downhill portion gets a bit bumpy and you have to remember that the lower section has 2 way traffic.

[Dekonick]

I lives there. Gives me a holler if you wants some recommendations!

Baltimore is an easy MARC train ride to DC. LOTS of commuters live in the area and the cycling is nice - Avalon has some of the best mountain biking on the East Coast. There is a 50 mile 'hill' circuit around Ellicott City, and horse country to the west.