Biking | WGIT | Washington DC
WGIT’s Guidebook to DC
Join D.C.’s Vibrant Bike Community & Explore New Trails
Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just getting started on two wheels, Washington, D.C. offers a thriving biking community waiting to be explored. Fun fact, did you know that DC ranked 5th best city in Bike Friendless as of 2023.
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Biking | WGIT | Washington DC
WGIT’s Guidebook to DC
Join D.C.’s Vibrant Bike Community & Explore New Trails
Major Bike Events
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- D.C. Bike Ride
- “DC Bike Ride is DC’s biggest celebration of bicycling. Join in the most fun you can have on two wheels while touring the city’s famous sights.”
- An annual non-competitive, scenic bike ride that typically takes participants on a car-free route through the city, passing many iconic landmarks.
- DC Bike Party
- “D.C. Bike Party is monthly ride around Washington. All are welcome!”
- A monthly community bike ride through D.C. that features themed costumes and music, promoting a fun and social cycling experience.
- DC Queer Bike Rides
- Armed Forces Cycling Classic
- “Arlington Sports is now proud to have been promoting and organizing amateur and professional cycling events since 1998. As a 501-(c)-3, we are dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur and professional cycling, and work to ensure that the events we produce have wider impact than just with the athletes. In addition to providing the platform and outlet for competitive and non-competitive cyclists, all of our events offer a way to help give back to the community, and have raised money and awareness for a wide range of beneficiaries.”
- A two-day cycling event that includes both professional and amateur races, attracting cyclists from the local area and beyond.
Bike Organizations
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- Area Bike Association (WABA)
- “WABA empowers people to ride bikes, build connections, and transform places. We fight for a just and sustainable transportation system where walking, biking, and transit are the best ways to get around.“
- WABA is a prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting biking in the D.C. area. They offer classes, events, programs, resources, and ample opportunities for advocacy and involvement.
- Potomac Pedalers
- “Potomac Pedalers is a non-profit educational, recreational and social organization for bicycling enthusiasts. We are one of the largest bicycle clubs in the United States, and the largest in the Metropolitan Washington D.C. area. Potomac Pedalers is affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists.
- Potomac Pedalers is an established cycling group that offers rides, has their own calendars for events and special signature events, opportunities for volunteering, and their own membership benefits.
- We Ride DC
- The Bike House
- “Bike House is a 100% volunteer run organization. We host weekend clinics where you can use our free tools to fix your bikes and work with our volunteers if you have a question on how to do something. We also run classes for those interested in learning more about bike maintenance.”
- The Bike House offers Weekend Clinics, Bike maintenance and repair classes, hosts special events, and has a large volunteer corps and is always looking for more volunteers.
- Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club
- This sophisticated and well developed club lists all club rides, events, volunteering, and reports on their easy to use website. Their calendar, community, and ride links can all be found on their site. They also conveniently list local organizations, recommended bike shops, bike resources
- Streets Calling Bike Club
- “Streets Calling Bike Club DC is a non-profit organization committed to empowering its cycling members and neighboring minority communities through education, advocacy, support, and overall promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Our mission is to utilize our resources to provide accessibility, conduct outreach initiatives, and cultivate professional partnerships which benefit our community.”
- Streets Calling Bike Club offers events, resource lists, and social media accounts for you to find out more about their cycling community.
- Bluemont Connection
- “Cycling experiences that put a smile on your face. We’ve been riding (and grinning) since we launched in 2016. These days, we offer road, gravel, and MTB rides and classes in the Washington, DC area and beyond. And in the fall, stop by our cyclocross team’s tent in DC-area races to say hi.
- Follow us on the ‘gram, or reach out to request a private class, ride, or relationship advice.”
- DC Randonneurs
- “DC Randonneurs sponsors long-distance cycling events in the Mid-Atlantic region ranging from 100 kilometers to 1,200 kilometers (60 – 750 miles) in length. Rides start from the Baltimore-Washington region but travel as far afield as State College PA, Buchanan VA, and Warm Springs WV. The terrain we ride ranges from the flatlands of the Eastern Shore to the rolling hills and valleys of the Piedmont and the sometimes steep flanks of the Appalachian mountain ridges to our west. Our routes, many of which we’ve ridden for years, take quiet back roads through gorgeous and varied scenery, with regular stops for supplies and rest.”
- If you’re into long-distance cycling, you can participate in brevets (long-distance, self-supported rides) organized by DC Randonneurs.
- High Road Cycling
- Multifunctional Bike & Coffee Shop offering bites, routes, servicing & repairs, as well as events & rides.
- Bike Arlington
- “BikeArlington is Arlington County’s bike education and encouragement program. Our mission is to make it easy to get around Arlington by bike. Active modes of transportation, including walking, biking and rolling, are central to Arlington’s vision of an equitable transportation system that enhances the overall quality of life for those who live, work and play in Arlington County. BikeArlington supports this vision by providing programs that support active transportation choices.
- BikeArlington is a program of Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS), a bureau of Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services. ACCS serves people who live, work or visit Arlington through programs and services that are designed to encourage the use of mass transit, carpooling and vanpooling, bicycling, walking, teleworking and other alternatives to driving alone.”
- Although not in DC, Bike Arlington is another advocacy organization and community group offering maps & routes, events & classes, and a variety of cycling resources.
- Meetup.com Cycling Groups
- Many more cycling groups seem to have active presences on Meetup.com. These include Getting it in Cyclists, District Cycling Collective, Goon Ride, Buna Saturday Rides, Always Visualize Success, Velo City Riders, Route 1 Velo. Inquire about riding groups at your local bike shop as well.
Cycling Teams
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- Unfortunately it looks like DC Paceline’s site is outdated but they did layout all of the DC / NOVA / MD Cycling Teams conveniently to look through and these organizations are all still active (National Capital Velo Club (NCVC), Squadra Coppit / Vapiano USA, DC Velo, DC Triathalon Club, Artemis, Route 1 Velo, Kelly Benefit Strategies / Lateral Stress Velo, District Velocity Racing, Reston Bike Club, Whole Wheel Velo Club, Evolution Cycling Club, Bike Rack Multisort Team, Bike Rack Road Team, Bike Doctor Racing Team, Veloworks -Spokes Etc. Race Team)
- To learn more about each organization and access their website, take a peak here.
- DC Paceline (Discontinued)
- “This website was designed to bring together the cycling community in and around Washington, DC. If you have lived in the area for decades, if you just moved here, if you are visiting, if you are in your 60s, if you are in your teen years, if you have been riding for 20 years or if you have picked up a bicycle for the first time… This website was designed for you. To connect people who are passionate about living healthy and active lives and doing it in the company of others.”
- Awesome site that lists all group rides in DC, MD, and VA area along with different skill levels. We left their info hear as it still list useful clubs and teams that are around today.
Bike Resources
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- District’s Department of Transportation
- DDOT offers a plethora of bike and scooter related information such as bicycle maps, capital bikeshare locations, guides to micromobility in the district, bike parking, and a DDOT Trails Program. https://ddot.dc.gov/page/bicycle-program
- GoDCGo.com
- “goDCgo is an initiative of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) that encourages the use of sustainable transportation. We provide complimentary transit resources and partner with DC organizations to provide education and assistance to commuters and visitors so they can make more informed choices about their daily travel. Our goal serves to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create a better quality of life in the DC area.”
- Capital Bikeshare
- Capital Bikeshare is a bike-sharing program in D.C. that provides easy access to rental bikes at various locations throughout the city. Their website offers information on station locations, memberships, and pricing.
- Online Communities / Bike Forums
- DC has its own Biking Subreddit
- Major Biking Trails
- The Capital Crescent (Georgetown to Bethesda)
- C&O Canal (Georgetown to Pittsburgh, turns into the GAP halfway through)
- Anacostia Riverwalk
- Rock Creek Park (Beach Drive is closed to car traffic)
- Metropolitan Branch Trail (aka Metropolitan Beer Trail thanks to the plethora of breweries along the route)
- VA has a ton of great trails to explore too (Mt Vernon Trail, W&OD)
Feedback & Input
Need a personal recommendation?
Have something that’s missing here you’d like to share? Email us at wgitdc@gmail.com or message us on instagram and we’ll help answer your questions
