We all know that exercise is a necessity. Though at times we find ourselves bored with the day-to-day gym equipment, there are options we can consider like biking. Biking is a great form of exercise that is frequently overlooked.
To make biking easier and beginner-friendly, My City Bikes and A-1 Cycling have teamed up to create a new app just for biking in Northern Virginia. The My City Bikes Northern Virginia app is tailored to help bikers of all stages to find routes to travel across the region. There are many types of trails the app provides: road and commuter, mountain and trail and recreation and touring. There is even a category for kid-friendly family trails.
Not only does this app list the trails for you, but it provides also information on where exactly the trail begins so you will not struggle to find it. There are numerous local listings, such as the Pimmit Run Trail in McLean, the Fairfax County Parkway Trail in Great Falls and the Cameron Station Linear Park in Alexandria.
The app also provides a plethora of information as well. Learn how to bike in the cold weather or how to inflate a bike tire. Discover bike groups in your area so you’re never alone on your adventures. Kids can interact with the app with the “Kids on a Roll” menu. Your child will learn the importance of bike safety, staying close to home and how to ride correctly on the street. One of the best features of this device is the ability to connect you to a bike expert for additional advice, tips and for help purchasing a bike.
Here are a few words from one of the bike app experts Tina Schmidt:
Here are three simple ways to inject happiness into your day by simply riding a bicycle.
1. Bike Commute. Who says getting to work has to be a hassle? Riding your bike to work will give you a healthy dose of fresh air along with an exercise-induced endorphin jolt that will make even the most mundane office tasks more bearable. Check out the “Road & Commuter” section of the My City Bikes Northern Virginia app for oodles of car-free bike paths that you can use on your commute, from the 2-mile Cameron Station Linear Park to the 28-mile Fairfax County Parkway Trail.
2. Go for a Bike Date. It’s old-fashioned and romantic, and it gets your blood flowing. Skip the boring dinner date and instead go share a cycling experience. Enjoy the dense, beautiful forest on the 8-mile Cub Run Stream Valley Park Path. Spot wildlife and take in peaceful waterfront views on the 4.5-mile Lake Accotink Trail, where you can also take a break at a picnic area or play a round of miniature golf. The opportunities go as far as your pedals will take you.
3. Join the Club. If you’re a social butterfly then a group ride is for you. A-1 Cycling has a weekly group mountain bike ride on Sundays, and women’s only group rides each month as well. The rides are all “no drop,” which means that you can ride as slow (or fast) as you want and nobody gets left behind. At the end of the ride the group cools down with a beer and a social hour. Happy trails!
Here is a list of a few trails that you and your family can enjoy with help from the My City Bikes Northern Virginia App.
* Blake Lane Sidepath (Oakton)
* Burke VRE Trail (Burke)
* Herndon Parkway Sidepath (Herndon)
* Ox Road Sidepath (Lorton)
* Sudley Manor Drive (Bristow)
The My City Bikes app is available for Apple and Android. For additional information and to access the app visit My City Bikes.
