Capital ‘Cross Classic – local cyclocross race in Reston

[DaveK]

I’m considering racing it depending on how my other plans work out for the weekend.

The CCT in that area is rideable on a cross bike if you’ve got skillz. I have some skill, but not skillz, so my experience riding it was a bit nerve-wracking. Lots of clutching the brakes in terror. It’s closer to a mountain bike trail than packed gravel.

[GuyContinental]

@TwoWheelsDC 36761 wrote:

Same dilemma for me. Based on the photos I’ve seen of Difficult Run and my experiences with other sections of the CCT, it is at least mostly unpaved and probably not easy riding for regular road bikes. My plan is just to ride out to Wiehle and take that up and around the park. According to Google, it’s only like a mile or so longer, but it seems like the safest/easiest option, for me at least.

As a near-daily rider of the CCT to LFP (I do it on my commute whenever possible) entering Tamarack Park (just before HM) and exiting at Michael Faraday in Reston (Ice Rink) I can help here- It’s beginner MTB single track with a paved Difficult Run crossing that will have 4″ of water in it. There are no major technical features until you get into the park proper. That said, it is not a path for a true road bike or on slick tires (although I’ve done it).

Link to W&OD through park route: http://app.strava.com/activities/29675367

Hunter Mill as an alternate is not very bike friendly (but Sunday it’ll be better than usual) and it’s a surprisingly long ride to the park with virtually no shoulder. I’d enter at the Reston end… thing is, I have no idea how to do that without hitting the nicer (read harder) single track in the park.

[jabberwocky]

@creadinger 36754 wrote:

Not that I wouldn’t want to accompany Dirt to the event, but because I want to sleep in a bit on my weekend – what is the best way to bike there from the W&OD to spectate?

The best way, IMO, is to ride the W&OD out to the Ice Rink (at Michael Faraday), and then take the main Lake Fairfax doubletrack into the park proper. The doubletrack ain’t bad; I’ve ridden it on my carbon road bike with 23mm slicks many times, though I am an experienced mountain biker. After maybe 1.5 miles it comes out near one of the campgrounds, and from there you can take the gravel roads around to the main area near the dam where the race is being held. See my map here: http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=File:LORO_lake_fairfax_map_wip_11.jpg :Rails to River doubletrack to Camping area C, then around on gravel/pavement to the area marked with the picnic symbols below the dam.

If riding off road is totally unacceptable, I’d ride the W&OD to Wiehle, take that up to North Shore dr and turn right, around Ring Rd to Hunt Club Rd, then right on Lake Fairfax drive and into the main park. The Wiehle section isn’t great, but its a lightly trafficked 4 lane road so its generally ok, especially on weekends.

I wouldn’t recommend Hunters Mill on a bike, even on the weekend. Its doable, but far from ideal.

[GuyContinental]

@GuyContinental 36764 wrote:

It’s beginner MTB single track

Clarifying my own post- “beginner” is subjective, this section of the CCT is a solid step up from crushed gravel trails but does not have major logs or large rocks. Small roots and rocks abound and there are some stout climbs and descents on uneven terrain. Roughly equivalent to the main loop at Wakefield in difficulty *maybe* a smidge harder after Colvin Run. Also, the creek crossing is no joke, currently there is 6″ of mud on the entry and falling in in the pre-dawn hours would be… bad… (there is a pedestal trail detour) which I use when it’s super cold or the water is high.

I ride a CX in there in the dark- with a MTB and daylight, it’s no big deal

[GuyContinental]

@jabberwocky 36766 wrote:

See my map here: http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=File:LORO_lake_fairfax_map_wip_11.jpg

What a fantastic map! Thanks! I see that although my mileage in there is high, I have much more to explore. Any more of those up your sleeve? Avalon perhaps? Non-standard ‘Shed? EF?

[jabberwocky]

@GuyContinental 36768 wrote:

What a fantastic map! Thanks! I see that although my mileage in there is high, I have much more to explore. Any more of those up your sleeve? Avalon perhaps? Non-standard ‘Shed? EF?

Thanks! You can see the whole collection here: http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24821 (or on the LORO trail wiki, which is where all the links go). EF is on there; Patapsco/Avalon is on my to do list but not currently done. I actually do have a full gambrill/watershed map drawn, but I don’t release it publicly out of deference for that trail systems delicate legal status (though I crop the Gambrill portion down and use that, since Gambrill trails are all legal).

The Lake Fairfax map actually needs updating (the dancing leaf and some of the singletrack on the right near the entrance has been closed). But the doubletrack portion, which is what I’d recommend people coming in on road bikes take, is all correct.

[Bilsko]

@GuyContinental 36764 wrote:

As a near-daily rider of the CCT to LFP (I do it on my commute whenever possible) entering Tamarack Park (just before HM) and exiting at Michael Faraday in Reston (Ice Rink) I can help here- It’s beginner MTB single track with a paved Difficult Run crossing that will have 4″ of water in it. There are no major technical features until you get into the park proper. That said, it is not a path for a true road bike or on slick tires (although I’ve done it).

Link to W&OD through park route: http://app.strava.com/activities/29675367

Hunter Mill as an alternate is not very bike friendly (but Sunday it’ll be better than usual) and it’s a surprisingly long ride to the park with virtually no shoulder. I’d enter at the Reston end… thing is, I have no idea how to do that without hitting the nicer (read harder) single track in the park.

I’m thinking of riding up with Dirt and while I’m not sure what his planned route is, I can guess as much from his user handle. You say the CCT stretch is not road bike friendly – what about a tourer (Surly Disc Trucker) with stock Conti Contact 700×37 tires? I’ve been meaning to pick up a set of CX tires for the winter anyways and maybe this is a good excuse to do so…

[culimerc]

Dont forget about handups and practicing your heckling.

[Tim Kelley]

BikeArlington has vuvuzellas and cowbells available if anyone wants to swing by our offices tomorrow (or if someone wants to coordinate a group pickup).

I won’t be around, but Zanna will be in the office!

[jabberwocky]

@Bilsko 36774 wrote:

I’m thinking of riding up with Dirt and while I’m not sure what his planned route is, I can guess as much from his user handle. You say the CCT stretch is not road bike friendly – what about a tourer (Surly Disc Trucker) with stock Conti Contact 700×37 tires? I’ve been meaning to pick up a set of CX tires for the winter anyways and maybe this is a good excuse to do so…

The section from the W&OD to Carpers Farm isn’t bad. Its a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, gravel and paved, but all relatively easy and non-technical. The section from Carpers Farm around to Hunters Mill is more problematic; it isn’t difficult per se, but its all fairly old doubletrack, and some sections are eroded and a bit rooty and rocky. I’ve cyclocrossed it on 28mm tires and its certainly doable (depending on skill level), but I wouldn’t call it terribly pleasant.

[Dirt]

@Tim Kelley 36780 wrote:

BikeArlington has vuvuzellas and cowbells available if anyone wants to swing by our offices tomorrow (or if someone wants to coordinate a group pickup).

I won’t be around, but Zanna will be in the office!

I’ll be carrying mine.

[Dirt]

@jabberwocky 36782 wrote:

The section from the W&OD to Carpers Farm isn’t bad. Its a mix of singletrack, doubletrack, gravel and paved, but all relatively easy and non-technical. The section from Carpers Farm around to Hunters Mill is more problematic; it isn’t difficult per se, but its all fairly old doubletrack, and some sections are eroded and a bit rooty and rocky. I’ve cyclocrossed it on 28mm tires and its certainly doable (depending on skill level), but I wouldn’t call it terribly pleasant.

I was going to go in from the Ice Arena.

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 36788 wrote:

I was going to go in from the Ice Arena.

In that case, you can ride pretty much anything. From the ice rink to campground C is only like 1.5 miles, so its not even a long walk. And most of it is very easy doubletrack. Just realize that the very first 50 yards (from the ice rink) is the hardest thing you’ll ride and don’t get too worried.

Basic directions are: drop into the doubletrack from the corner of the ice rink. First section is super rooty and washed out, but only for a short bit, then it gets much smoother. As you come down the hill, stay left to continue on the doubletrack. Follow it for a mile or so to a stream crossing; after crossing, stay left to continue to the campground. A short bit later, you’ll be skirting the campground; hop out onto the gravel, follow it up the hill, across the end of the soccer fields, then go around the chain and down the hill to the paved trail over the dam. Spectating area is on your right on the far side.

[Dirt]

@jabberwocky 36792 wrote:

In that case, you can ride pretty much anything. From the ice rink to campground C is only like 1.5 miles, so its not even a long walk. And most of it is very easy doubletrack. Just realize that the very first 50 yards (from the ice rink) is the hardest thing you’ll ride and don’t get too worried.

Yarp. that”s the way we rode in last year.

[Bilsko]

@Dirt 36788 wrote:

I was going to go in from the Ice Arena.

This way?

[Author]

Posts