Bike Arlington Loop Trail 20-30s

\Check back to see if the date or start time has changed. This ride will be postponed (possibly replaced with another ride) if the chance of rain is above 49%, or wind speed or wind gusts are above 15 mph (per Accuweather) \

TRAIN OR BUS STOPS
unknown

PARKING ADDRESS
Jennie Dean Playground parking area
3522 S. Four Mile Run Dr.
Arlington, VA

PARKING AND MEETUP SPOT
You can park at the Jennie Dean playground (south side of W&OD Trail) or you can park along the north side of the trail on a neighborhood street. The W&OD trailhead will be on the right, paralleling South Four Mile Run near the Jennie Dean playground, which is opposite the trailhead area (and has decent public bathrooms). Parking is only on adjacent streets. You will see the trail head and info boards at the end. Meet us there. If you’re running late, let us know.

BATHROOMS
Jennie Dean playground, and some other park restrooms along the way.

TYPE OF BIKE: Any kind of bike frame and tires. Most of us have road, hybrids, and cruisers. Ensure it is the correct frame size for your height so you can get maximum output. Participants are responsible for ensuring their bike tires, brakes, and chain are in good condition and they have a spare inner tube on hand. Organizers can try to help but aren't responsible for everyone's bike conditions.

BIKE ROUTE SUMMARY
The Arlington Loop Trail is a scenic 16-mile loop trail that links four trails into a continuous route. Offering a mix of river views, wooded paths, and and urban connections, it's a popular ride for cyclists of all levels and a great way to experience many of Arlington's most notable neighborhoods and landmarks.

I'll post a RideWithGPS link in the comments, before the event, so that you can use that to follow along. Last time we did this trail we found it was lacking in signs and easy to take a wrong turn.

What to expect:
Some root crops on Custis trail.
Mt. Vernon trail very smooth with water view on the left all the way.
Stop at Gravelly Point Park to watch airplanes and use food trucks.
Biking past the noisy airport complex.
The trail going along Route 66 barrier wall wasn’t scenic
Rest of the ride was nice.
The ride along the stream behind Dominion Electric was interesting.

SKILL LEVEL: All levels can enjoy this trail. It is mostly flat.

PACE: It’s up to you. Most trails have a 15 mph speed limit and since paved trails can sometimes be crowded, we don’t have expectations of being able to go very fast. We make stops at tricky points on the trail and /or to regroup every 2-4 miles.
· If you prefer a faster pace than the lead riders, you can make stops to wait for them to catch up.
· If you’re not sure what your avg. speed is, be prepared to use a nav app to ride solo in case you don’t catch up to us at our stops.

DISTANCE OPTIONS
Participants can choose to return at any point. The entire loop is about 16.2 miles long if you don't go off on any tangents.

BIKE RENTALS
To be added
BIKE REPAIR
To be added

FOOD & DRINK INFO
Unknown
OPTION TO SOCIALIZE AFTERWARDS
Feel free to make suggestions

RECOMMENDATIONS
Bring: Water bottles, snacks, biking gloves, bike bell, bike lock, helmet visor, sunglasses, bike tube, pump, patch, first aid kit, mobile phone with nav app installed (e.g. Google maps, we use RidewithGPS). If you get leg cramps during or after a ride, take electrolytes before and during your ride (or add salt and magnesium to your water). A change of clothes for your ride home or a car seat cover to absorb sweat.
Clothing: Wear biking gloves and durable clothing so that if you do fall, your skin is protected. Avoid wearing all black, all grey, all dark brown, or all dark blue, which blends in with pavement, especially while riding through a shady segment. Consider wearing something lighter to help others notice you.
REQUIREMENTS
Participants must wear tightly secured helmets when on their bike.
Be proactive to avoid a fall/crash and minimize injury:
· Keep a distance between yourself and other bikers. If the biker ahead of you suddenly stops, you should be able to avoid hitting them.
· Don’t make stops on the trail. Pull over to the side and use hand gestures to let people know you’re slowing down to make a stop.
· Yelling out “Passing on your left” and/or ringing a bike bell as you approach people ahead of you, so they don’t inadvertently move in your line of travel.
· Slowing down to wait, rather than speeding up when trying to pass people at the same time walkers/bikers are approaching you from the opposite direction.
· Avoid potholes and debris and slow down when approaching bumps
· When approaching road crossings and iffy situations, triple-check before crossing and don’t let yourself be distracted by talking, etc.
· Ensure your helmet is tightly secured so that it won’t move if you hit the ground.
MEETUP POLICIES
Participants should understand that biking is an inherently dangerous activity, and an accident could happen at any time. Participation is at your own risk.
An RSVP of “Yes” to an event is your digital signature acknowledging that you have read, understood, and agree with Meetup’s and MD Rail Trail Biking’s policies, esp. section 6 “Release” and section 8.2 ” Limitation of Liability,” found at https://www.meetup.com/terms/