Biking out to Chantilly via Reston

[Tania]

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28533966

Is this a horrible idea? I need to go pick up my car tomorrow (someone backed into my car with their massive truck and thankfully hit only the tire…no body damage but my strut is broken 😡 )

I’m told there are two short stretches of busy/fast roads so any modifications are welcome.

[josh]

I’d assume Lawyers is the worst part. You can definitely take Hunter Station (from the W&OD to Lawyers) to shave off a little bit of mileage, I’ve never had any problems there (during my morning commute). After that, I have no experience riding down there.

More straightforward, but definitely longer, probably slower and sunnier would be the Fairfax County Parkway trail.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

There are some issues with this route. Lawyers road just west of Twin Branches is a two lane road with little or no shoulder. I would avoid taking Rout665 (no shoulder, hills, lotsa cars) and instead use sidepaths on Lawyers/Reston Parkway aka Route 602. Plus, cutting through South Reston isn’t really helping you much because of elevation changes.

I would take W&OD all the way to Fairfax County Parkway sidepath. That that south all the way to Springhaven as shown. It’s a lot more simple with fewer stream valleys to climb down/up.

[bentbike33]

You’re missing a kick-ass climb by not taking Hunter Station from W&OD to Lawyers, or some CX training by not taking Cross County Trail from W&OD to Twin Branches.

I find Lawyers road to be pretty decent between Hunter Station and Reston Parkway (east of there is harrowing, even on Sundays). I’ve been riding in that area a bit recently, and suggest going through the neighborhoods across Reston Parkway to work your way south and west instead of taking Fox Mill: McLaren, L on Quincy Adams, L on Viking, R on Reign, L on Timber Wood, R on West Ox (more traffic here, but the road is wide and the segment short), L on Dower House, R on Franklin Farm, then follow the rest of your route. See this ride which includes the bit described here.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Oh, I forgot to mention… As of Saturday Lawyers did not have any lines on the road. It looks like they recently slurry coated the road. It’ has some tar-and-chip patches as well. Just proceed with caution. @bentbike33’s route is also a good one with lots of neighborhood streets if you need to get from Lawyers/FoxMill/Reston Parkway area down to Chantilly.

[Tania]

OK! I adjusted it a bit to include the CCT over to twin branches and then I’m taking the turquoise trail which is what google maps recommended…which hopefully actually IS a bike path. This cuts down my time on lawyers to 1.5 miles

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28533966

[n18]

+1 for Fairfax County Parkway, then to Centreville Rd via Franklin Farm Dr. Here is Google Maps link. It’s 0.8 Miles shorter than your original route, and 0.3 miles longer than the second one, but it’s a lot less stressful, and it’s all on paved side paths(Except part of Franklin Farm Dr, which has a wide shoulder/unofficial bike lane(and a Giant). I have done that route many times, with some variations on both Hybrid/Road bikes.

[mstone]

Are you familiar with the CCT? If not, I’d definitely do the FFX co parkway trail instead. (CCT is a steep/rocky dirt path, not the W&OD.)

[Tania]

@mstone 180775 wrote:

Are you familiar with the CCT? If not, I’d definitely do the FFX co parkway trail instead. (CCT is a steep/rocky dirt path, not the W&OD.)

I’ve been on much worse.

[Judd]

@Tania 180778 wrote:

I’ve been on much worse.

I think mstone unintentionally sold you on the CCT.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[hozn]

@Tania, let us know how the CCT trail (Purple Trail) was between W&OD and Twin Branches (wet/dry). I’d like to ride it tomorrow up to LFX if it hasn’t started raining, yet, so that might be a good indication on how that’ll go.

[Tania]

@hozn 180791 wrote:

@Tania, let us know how the CCT trail (Purple Trail) was between W&OD and Twin Branches (wet/dry). I’d like to ride it tomorrow up to LFX if it hasn’t started raining, yet, so that might be a good indication on how that’ll go.

I was able to get a ride out there to pick up my car (so that I can attend NICA practice this afternoon). Sorry! It does sound fun and the CCT route is likely the one I’ll use the next time my car needs service.

I’m told Glade is a good road for bikes too.

[hozn]

Glade is a wonderful road, yes.

I’ve ridden Lawyers. It isn’t great to the east, but I rode it a couple times when the trail was snowed under and it didn’t feel unsafe.

Stuart Mill is an alternative to Lawyers, but I don’t think it’s a better option. Hunter Station to Twin Branches to Glade is a great way to get to FFX County Pkwy.

The Fairfax County Pkwy trail is terrible, especially the intersections, but ultimately that is how I also go to Chantilly (I think also via Franklin Farm).

[mstone]

@Judd 180786 wrote:

I think mstone unintentionally sold you on the CCT

It’s just a “make sure you know what you’re getting into”.

[Author]

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