BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

All this is very easy. DC has good trails and it's touristy enough that it's easy to find restaurants etc. I'd start with something like http://bikewashington.org/visitor.htm But it's easy to find your way around.

I guess I was more looking for recommendations based on people's experience or favorites. Also any thoughts on the U-lock?

I would worry a lot about bike security in DC. So, if you have to leave your bike alone, use a U-lock. I didn't mean to preempt other people presenting their experiences. I'll bet you can learn a lot from the DC equivalent of the BikePgh message board. Whenever I've been there I've found my way around mostly using my wits, occasionally looking at Google maps. It's an easy place to bike, except for the traffic (bike and car).

#2: Definitely bring a U-lock unless you are sure you will be seated where you could see your bike at the restaurants. But most U-lock would take away a bottle cage space or significant amount of luggage space. I personally use TiGr Bow Lock - the standard or long one could lock both wheels and the frame to a pole, and could be strapped along the top tube and save precious luggage space: https://www.tigrlock.com/tigr-bow-lock/ #3: I recommend following the river trail until you almost reach the Lincoln Memorial. Use the crosswalks to get to the sidewalks of Constitution Ave, head east until you reach 15th St. Turn left onto 15th St, and at the third block, turn right onto F St. The F St is relatively quiet and has sharrow lane. Also, it goes straight to the Union Station. If you plan on using the bike roll-on service, make sure you arrive an hour before the departure time. It generally takes about 30-40 minutes to get there. P.S. I rode straight from Harpers Ferry to DC to catch the train for the past two trips. The reason was that I found accommodation in DC too expensive, and the Harpers Ferry Hostel is comfortable and cheap ($25 per night including breakfast). I left at 7 am, and arrived at mile 0 marker around 1 pm - just enough time to take a few pictures and grab a sandwich for lunch before heading toward the train station.    

This is good stuff, many thanks.

I rode in DC back in the Fall of 2015 while attending a national convention.  In order to get some riding in, I purposely stayed in a hotel about 4 miles from the convention hall (Walter Washington Convention Center). I don't know the answers to all of your questions but I would say the following, based upon my experiences. DC is like any other city, in the sense that there are plenty places you can go to dine while wearing whatever you happen to have on.  There are others where you might not be welcome and/or might not feel comfortable in cycling gear. You will be able to tell the difference.  There are several brew pubs in the area. I used a double locking combination of my U-lock and a long thick cable.  I had no trouble, despite leaving the bike locked on a busy street for 8-10 hours each day.  The city does have an ample supply of bike racks. Finally, getting around is a bit of an adventure.  DC is considered a bike-friendly city but don't expect some sort of peaceful riding situation.  There are bike lanes, sharrows, some side-street bike boulevard-like areas but there is also a shitload of traffic.  You have to be aggressive and careful at the same time, if that makes sense.  Everything funnels down into a very congested area and it is "every man for himself."  I kind of enjoyed it, after I acclimated.  I didn't have to go to Union Station but I'm sure you can get there on a bike.  I would be prepared to part of the traffic and all that comes with it.