Westside D.C. Bikeways - a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour

Westside D.C. Bikeways - a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour

Immerse into D.C.'s best-kept secret - a collection of bikeways woven throughout its consistent award-winning inner-city park system.

By CycleNuts

Select date and time

Starts on Saturday, May 10 · 11am EDT

Location

Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium - CycleNuts D.C. Bikeways Smart-guided Cycle Tour

5200 Glover Road Northwest Washington, DC 20015

Refund Policy

No Refunds

About this event

Westside D.C. Bikeways


- a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour


Immerse into D.C.'s best-kept secret - a collection of bikeways woven throughout its consistent award-winning inner-city park system.


The District of Columbia (D.C.) may be one of America's most toured locations. Especially, in the Washington area where there is no shortage of touring companies to help tourists see what it is all about. This tour is different than all the rest. It is a smart-guided tour*. And, it takes you away from downtown Washington to explore the surrounding park bikeways. Did I mention award-winning parks - year after year?


Natural beauty is the highlight of this bikeway tour. A large segment of the route travels through Rock Creek National Park, right past the Washington Zoo, where you may hear or smell some of its residents, but probably not see any from the bikeway. A midway tasty spot in upscale Chevy Chase presents a dazzling contrast to the wooded serenity. The tasty spot is pet-friendly, too, if you are touring with your furry friend.


Besides Rock Creek, which the route crosses several times, there is a dockside segment along the Potomac River at Georgetown Waterfront Park. And Georgetown, too, gives a quick appearance, where its historical neighborhood is just minutes off route. The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal adds its historical flare to the tour for several miles. There is even a segment of bikeway built upon a former trolly track, to add a bit more for the imaginative mind. Rivers, canals, and trolly cars were all major influences on the growth of the D.C. area, and are now as vital in their new roles for us cycle tourists!


Something else unique about this cycle tour is that you ride on closed parkway roads. That's right, some Rock Creek National Park roads are closed to motor vehicles. This has been an on-and-off thing for several years, but now it is set in place for the enjoyment of cyclists and pedestrians.


The route follows the lay of the land which is fairly level with only 400' of climbing over 24 miles - about 29% is a former canal towpath and a trolly car rail-to-trail. As usual, this tour comes with the CycleNuts 50% downhill guarantee. There are a few segments where you might use your bike gears, but nothing to work up too much of a sweat about. Speaking of sweating - it's optional. You set your pace, starting time, and touring agenda with CycleNuts' expert smart-guided cycle tour pattern. The route is 83% bikeway and bike lane. In some short segments the route shares the road with motor vehicles. The tour route is shaded except for the Potomac, C&O Canal, and Chevy Chase segments.


Points of interest on and near the tour route:

  • Georgetown
  • Chevy Chase
  • Fletchers Cove
  • Rock Creek Park
  • The Washington Harbor
  • Washington D.C. downtown (near route)
  • Georgetown Waterfront Park
  • Trailhead C&O Canal Towpath
  • Washington National Cathedral (near route)
  • Smithsonian National Zoological Park
  • Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium
  • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park


Bikeways on the route:

  • Western Ridge Trail
  • C&O Canal Towpath
  • U.S. Bicycle Route 50
  • Capital Crescent Trail
  • The Bethesda Trolley Trail


WHY CHOOSE a Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tour?

You get all the benefits of a guided tour without the drawbacks of a tour guide, other tourists, time restrictions, and a rigid tour agenda. With this smart-guided tour, you can go when you want, at your speed, and hang out at a spot as long as you wish. You can even wander off the planned route and the smart guide will get you back on track when you are ready.


HERE'S THE PLAN: You bring a bike and a smartphone. CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide links! You will receive an expertly designed tour route via email. Click the emailed link and follow the Selfie Tour route using your smartphone as your smart-tour guide for the Voice and Map guided turn-by-turn instructions.


SHORT INSTRUCTIONS: From your location, using your cell phone click on the starting spot link and follow the Google Maps directions. When you arrive, click the emailed tour navigation links to begin the tour. The navigation links will be either Google Maps, Ride With GPS (RWGPS), or both. For more complex tours, there may be several links to click with additional instructions. With Google Maps, the navigator will prompt you at each checkpoint to continue navigation.


BUY NOW AND RIDE WHENEVER AND FOREVER. The route links do not expire. Buy now and plan your adventure - invite your favorite peeps or ride solo; make overnight accommodation reservations; reserve a sitter for your pets. Many tours include dog-friendly tasty spots, as noted in the tour instructions. Here are two CycleNuts tested and approved sites for pet owners: Bring Fido for those touring with dogs; and Rover for those needing pet sitters. The purchase is for the CycleNuts Selfie Smart-guided route links and instructions. Attractions, lodgings, food, bike rental, etc. are not included.


CYCLENUTS SELFIE TOURS tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway-focused tour route where you ride at your pace and pleasure. You are the tour boss. You choose the date and time - the tour is good for any day or time.


With these Smart-guided Selfie Cycle Tours, you bring the bike, and the smartphone - CycleNuts provides the smart-guided links. The smart guide gives voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed tour route.


Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the smart guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.


Got questions? - Get answers! – http://CycleNuts.link FAQS

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In a nutshell...

​CycleNuts Selfie Cycle Tours

tie together fun, interesting, scenic, historic, tasty, and refreshing points of interest along a bikeway focused tour route where you ride at your pace and your pleasure. You are the tour boss. You pick the date, time, and tour pace.

With these smart-guided bikeway cycling adventures you bring the bike and smart phone, and ​CycleNuts provides the smart-tour guide. The smart guide gives you voice and visual turn-by-turn instructions along an expertly designed tour route.

Do the tour solo or bring along your crew. Easily stop anywhere along the way to visit attractions or refreshments and the Smart Guide will continue the route from wherever you are when you are ready to roll.

CycleNuts Group Rides on Meetup

are an alternative cycle touring experience where seeing and socializing take emphasis over speed and (ugh!) sweat. Join along on bikeway touring adventures to destinations near and far as we strive for the

  • Goal: to create bikeway touring opportunities for cyclists of all types to enjoy together
  • Mission: to encourage casual cyclists and cyclists interested in casual cycling to tour together
  • Vision: a united cycling community that tours together on bikeway adventures for the holistic benefit of all

What to expect - Casual social cycle touring where exercise is optional, everybody finishes together, and nobody is dropped, abandoned, or left to fend for their self (unless they wish to be). Expect a slow pace under 11 mph average with CycleNuts’ 50% downhill guarantee. Sweating is optional. Pictures, merriment, and other tourist activities heartily encouraged. Allow ample time for the nature of CycleNuts tours including

  • Trail-side breaks
  • Eating and drinking
  • Picture taking and posing
  • Pacing with the slowest riders
  • Looking at cool stuff along the way
  • And other sorts of tourist activities – as well as unforeseen detours, breakdowns, and delays of various sorts.

Helmets are not mandatory - cycleNuts tours give preference to bikeways - bicycle trails and protected bicycle lanes. Routes may include dedicated bicycle lanes on streets, bicycle ‘friendly’ streets, and of necessity, regular streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and unpaved trails. Darkness may be experienced on evening or early morning rides. Lights in good working order at all times on CycleNuts tours are a great idea – to be seen and to see!

SAG-free - CycleNuts tours, including travel and over-night accommodations, are self-supported with the slightest of guidance. SAG is not provided. Carpools and caravans are individual choices. Emergency road support – if necessary – may be a creative, collective group effort or you may need to fend for yourself. Be prepared with options.

Recommended Gear - A cycle (uni, bi, tri, tandem, E, recumbent, or cycle/trailer rig). Protective gear of your choice. ID. Front and rear lighting. Communication device. Spare tube. Patch kit. Air pump. Wrench kit. Cycle lock. Water. Energy bar. Funds for refreshment breaks and emergencies. Sun screen. Pest repellent.

Recommended Preparation – Pre-check (before you load that bike for transport to the starting spot) brakes, tire pressure, lights, and rideability. Consider what you are wearing on tour and what you may need for changing weather conditions.

Yes – CycleNuts will offer cycling events in all four seasons – what else could be expected from CycleNuts?

Learn more about CycleNuts at www.CycleNuts.link

Got questions? Get Answers! CycleNuts FAQs