The snow started just as we stopped for lunch. :thumbsup:

We know the snow was coming so we decided to stay in town today. In riding 100K we never got much more than 12 miles from home. One thing is for sure after riding for 9 days and 900 miles in Florida we were both glad to get a chance to ride in some hills.

This is how it went;

We started out riding thru Georgetown.

I wanted to check out some potential spots for good snow photos. We headed past the security at the White House and up to the Washington Monument.

Then it was over to Lincoln and Korea.

During the week I had noticed some Cherry Blossoms blooming (thanks to what till this week had been a very warm winter). I wanted to make sure they were still there for the snowfall.

Yes I know it is dirt but we were less than a mile from the White House. :thumbsup:

Then we cut through town and DuPont Circle on our way to Rock Creek Park.

In Rock Creek Park a cyclist has a couple of choices; you can stay down by the creek where it is a slight climb or you can go up the hills.

Hmmmmmm, which one do you think Miss M decided we should do? :idea:

Then we took Tuckerman Lane over to Seven Locks and the tow path.

Then we took the Capital Crescent Trail up to Bethesda.

Don't ask me what the EMTs were doing on the trail or how I ended up in the dirt (but I did save it by getting a nice photo of Miss M speeding by (she did eventually stop and see how I was doing)).

What with the hills, cold and miles we were getting pretty hungry.

Time to eat!

Then we went home with the snow falling around us. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

We hung around the house for about an hour to change into warm dry clothes and let the snow accumulate before we went back out.

Tomorrow=snow pix!

Man, I wouldn't mind riding in winter as much if I had the stuff you do. You get some amazing pics too. Waiting for the snow. .. .

Man, I wouldn't mind riding in winter as much if I had the stuff you do..........

I suspect you could find similar riding in Reno.

If you think what we did to get in 100k without ever being more than a dozen miles from the house most folks living near a city could do it too.

We got a really early start on Sunday morning so the normally busy areas we rode through (Georgetown, Downtown, The Mall, Bethesda and DuPont Circle) were very quiet. Early Sunday morning is pretty much quiet everywhere in the US so this should work anywhere.

We did a bunch of loops that we had discovered by really spending some time exploring the area-every Saturday morning for a couple of years we cruised the city instead of driving somewhere to ride. Now we know the city very, very well.

The other thing we did was to take every chance we could to ride on dirt-it is amazing how many short little trails there are in almost any city. Again it took a long time to learn them all and we found a lot of dead ends but now we have a great assortment of dirt-cuts to choose from.

So everything we did to get a great varied ride within a few miles of the house is likely available to most city dwellers and likely in the burbs too. You just have to invest some time learning the area (if you call it "goofing off" or "exploring" it is a lot easier and a whole lot more fun to do).

Don't forget your camera.

MB1, I always find the lack of people in your DC photos remarkable. I suppose this is because you tend to snap the photos early in the day, but I always expect the monuments and mall area to be choked with sightseers. Could also be the time of the year?

I am helping chaperon my son's 8th grade DC trip next June, and I expect that we'll see a few more crowds when we visit all of those places.

MB1, I always find the lack of people in your DC photos remarkable. I suppose this is because you tend to snap the photos early in the day, but I always expect the monuments and mall area to be choked with sightseers. Could also be the time of the year?

I am helping chaperon my son's 8th grade DC trip next June, and I expect that we'll see a few more crowds when we visit all of those places.

OTOH I usually do avoid the normal crowds because I know how and when to go to avoid them.

Look at the 4th picture in this post-that should give you an idea of what to expect. http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=34118&highlight=Commuter+man

Or the Cherry Blossom Crowd shots in this one. http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=56945&highlight=Cherry+Blossom+Crowd

I thought I would post a fixed ride report in the Fixed Gear Forum for a change.

Great pics, as usual! They remind me that I need to track-down & post some pics from our trip to the DC area last October. We walked that section of the tow path, had dinner at Dupont Circle, and visited the DC monuments and downtown Bethesda.

We stayed in Sheperdstown, as you suggested, but at a little B&B (the Thomas Sheperd Inn) in town rather than the Bavarian Inn above the river. We did 3 rides, including the Antietam area, a Frederick County covered bridges ride, and a ride from Bethesda to Mt. Vernon & back.

It's not too late to post October ride pics, right?

........We stayed in Sheperdstown, as you suggested, but at a little B&B (the Thomas Sheperd Inn) in town rather than the Bavarian Inn above the river. We did 3 rides, including the Antietam area, a Frederick County covered bridges ride, and a ride from Bethesda to Mt. Vernon & back.

It's not too late to post October ride pics, right?

We've stayed there once too, it was nice enough but breakfast was served later than we prefer. As I recall we got up, rode to Harpers Ferry and back before breakfast.

BTW it is never too late for a ride report.

Your images really make me miss living in DC. The trail system there is what got me back into cycling some 15 or so years ago, and I haven't stopped since. I can't wait to come back for a visit with my bike. Amazing.

so where is the snow?

We have 10 inches on the ground now, and it appears that this time, it will be here till speing.

so where is the snow?

We have 10 inches on the ground now, and it appears that this time, it will be here till speing.

Just check the latest posts in the Commuting/Touring Forum for lots of snow rides and pix.