Tell me about the Arlington Loop

This topic has 37 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by baiskeli.

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February 15, 2013 at 1:42 am #912869

lordofthemark
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I think I will do it this weekend if weather is even semi-decent.

Now don’t laugh.

This should be easy, cause I did a 22 mile trip up and back on the W&OD a few months ago. But I’ve hardly ridden at all in the last two months. Cherrydale to Rosslyn on inauguration day (plus the quarter mile from home to the 3A bus stop) is the longest I’ve done in that period. So I am out of shape, and still riding my old mountain bike, and no lights so need to get all done and home by dark regardless of when I leave (and I will be taking a bus from Annandale and back – I do not intend to do the ride FROM Annandale)

Depending which bus I take, I could start at many different places (W&OD and Col Pike, Rosslyn, or Pentagon City) and could go in either direction. If I take a lunch with me I might want to picnic either in the WOD section, or along the river – if not, I would stop for lunch in Rosslyn or Shirlington. I’ve ridden much of it at least once, though not the section of the custis from Ballston to Rosslyn (yes, ive heard about and driven through the circle of death – I will be very careful there)

Any thoughts, hints, experiences, or just enticements to do it, will be appreciated.
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February 15, 2013 at 1:54 am #962567

Mikey
Participant

I prefer going clockwise, and saving the Custis till near the end.
A perfect way for me would be to park at Rosevelt Island, ride down the MVT to the airport, come up on 4MR/W&OD and then scream down the Custis. But really it’s nice just to be out on such great trails.

February 15, 2013 at 2:03 am #962569

TwoWheelsDC
Participant

Well, it’s about 15.5 miles, so even at a relaxed pace it takes about 1.5 hours. The easiest direction is clockwise…rather than climbing a couple hundred feet in a mile, you do it over 5 or 6. If you’re a bit rusty, I’d recommend starting maybe around Potomac Yard (where the 4MRT goes under Rt 1), then ride west to the Custis. That gives you a pretty flat ride to warm up before you hit the Custis. Going east, the Custis isn’t bad…a few small hills between Westover and Clarendon, but once you get past that, it’s all downhill. The MVT can get crowded if it’s nice, but it’s usually fine in the winter unless it’s amazing out on a weekend. If it’s windy, that can suck, but otherwise it’s a nice ride. Good luck!

February 15, 2013 at 2:05 am #962570

dcv
Participant

Can you make the Arlington loop one big Strava segment?

February 15, 2013 at 2:11 am #962571

TwoWheelsDC
Participant

@dcv 43920 wrote:

Can you make the Arlington loop one big Strava segment?

http://app.strava.com/segments/2433907

February 15, 2013 at 2:17 am #962574

dcv
Participant

@TwoWheelsDC 43921 wrote:

http://app.strava.com/segments/2433907

guess you have to start at westover park going counterclockwise

February 15, 2013 at 2:42 am #962578

ShawnoftheDread
Participant

You could take the 3A to East Falls Church and get on the W&OD there. That way your bus ride each way would be shorter than starting in Alexandria, and you add only about a mile to the loop. I agree with going clockwise to start so you don’t have to do the climbs on the last third of your ride on a heavy bike.

February 15, 2013 at 3:08 am #962582

bobco85
Participant

Going clockwise is easier, but you will notice that the 4MR-W&OD portion is actually uphill even if it seems rather flat. It’s that sort of uphill that only shows up when you check out the elevation map (like the Strava ride mentioned earlier in this thread).

Have fun with the Arlington Loop! When I was starting to get more physically fit on my bike (it feels like eons since I last struggled to do even 10 miles), I did the Arlington Loop a lot to help train myself.

February 15, 2013 at 3:34 am #962586

PeteD
Participant

@bobco85 43932 wrote:

Going clockwise is easier, but you will notice that the 4MR-W&OD portion is actually uphill even if it seems rather flat.

Agreed, anti-clockwise is the pain route. Starting in Rosslyn, you’d encounter the National airport hills early, and then the slight grade up W&OD to the Custis turn isn’t so bad, and you finish with a nice downhill back into Rosslyn. Plus you get some nice placed spots to rest if you need.

I made a few loops clockwise until I worked up the guts to go anticlockwise and take those rollers.

–Pete

February 15, 2013 at 2:36 pm #962616

consularrider
Participant

@ShawnoftheDread 43928 wrote:

You could take the 3A to East Falls Church and get on the W&OD there. That way your bus ride each way would be shorter than starting in Alexandria, and you add only about a mile to the loop. I agree with going clockwise to start so you don’t have to do the climbs on the last third of your ride on a heavy bike.

Looks like the winner! But depending on where you live in Annandale, you could also consider either the 16A or 16D bus and get off at 4 Mile Run Dr S near Barcroft. That puts you right on the W&OD near milepost 1. It starts you with the slight incline from George Mason to the Custis Trail at milepost 4 compared with the slight downhill from EFC (minus the Brandymore Castle bump) to the Custis.

It looks like the travel time may be slightly shorter on the 3A than 16A/D.

February 15, 2013 at 3:07 pm #962634

rcannon100
Participant

I am not getting why you need to take a bus. Where are you coming from.

3 bus goes from Rosslyn west to EFC. You can get off anywhere and be on the Custis in blocks.

23 bus goes from Shirlington to Ballston to Mclean. That’s WOD, then crossing Custis at Glebe.

Subway of course is Rosslyn (Custis and MVT), Crystals City (prob easier than airport which has lousy bike access – MVT) or EFC (orange, which is intersection of WOD and Custis).

These days it is a tremendously easy and fun ride. If you ride during peak recreational hours (weekends) the traffic can be horrendous and there are lots of noobs. Worst for me was an inspired dad taking his kid on the MVT on the weekend, yelling “left” and having the kid move to the left right in front of me. I now use a bell as I find it more effective. I also believe that an parent who takes their kids on a freeway before they know how to navigate minor arteries is all but negligent. Before I took my kid on the WOD, we worked on good cycling skills and understanding the rules of the road. Honestly, I dont ride the MVT between Rosslyn and Alex on the weekends.

Where you have a choice of FMR or WOD – take WOD. Four Mile Run goes through playgrounds and picnic areas. This can become very dangerous as kids dart across the path (an old woman was killed on the FMR last year).

An excellent place to stop for lunch is well – everywhere. Shirlington is tremendously bike friendly. Barcroft Park is great and has the added feature of Phoenix Bikes – stop by and buy a new used bike rebuilt by high school kids.

February 15, 2013 at 3:15 pm #962637

dasgeh
Participant

Don’t sell yourself short — if you’ve done Cherrydale – Rosslyn on the Custis, you’ve done most of the Custis.

I agree with everyone else comments. If I were you and had the option, I’d start Barcroft Park-ish, to get a warm up before the climb up the Custis. I’d stop at Lee Heights (at the bottom of the S curve of Doom — did I see someone call it the Custis Chute?) at have a burger (BGR) or yummy Italian (Italian Store) or Mediterranean (Tarbouch) depending on what you’re up for. I’d also stop for a beer in Shirlington when you get there.

February 15, 2013 at 3:40 pm #962644

Steve
Participant

@dasgeh 43991 wrote:

did I see someone call it the Custis Chute

If my memory serves me correct, I believe that is what the strava segment there is called.

February 15, 2013 at 3:50 pm #962647

Amalitza
Guest

@bobco85 43932 wrote:

Going clockwise is easier, but you will notice that the 4MR-W&OD portion is actually uphill even if it seems rather flat. It’s that sort of uphill that only shows up when you check out the elevation map (like the Strava ride mentioned earlier in this thread).

The first time I decided to check out the W&OD (heading west from MVT), I was getting really frustrated; I could not understand why I was moving so slow for the level of effort I was putting in. Am I tireder than I thought I was? Coming down with something? Just flat out lazy today? Then I turned around to head back home. ahhhhh….. that’s better….

February 15, 2013 at 3:55 pm #962650

baiskeli
Participant

@acl 44001 wrote:

The first time I decided to check out the W&OD (heading west from MVT), I was getting really frustrated; I could not understand why I was moving so slow for the level of effort I was putting in. Am I tireder than I thought I was? Coming down with something? Just flat out lazy today? Then I turned around to head back home. ahhhhh….. that’s better….

Yes, did you notice that the water in Four Mile Run was flowing the other way on your way west? That’s always a sign. Water is smart like that.

February 15, 2013 at 3:55 pm #962651

vvill
Participant

The W&OD from Columbia Pike to the Custis turn (and onto East Falls Church even) is a great little section. No intersections, no stop signs. Excellent visibility except for a couple of underpasses with sharpish turns to watch out for.
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