Custis Trail Conditions

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  • January 30, 2011 at 9:06 pm #924788
    Dirt
    Participant

    I rode the W&OD between Falls Church and Vienna today. It is normally in worse shape than the Custis. The W&OD was ridable, but it was not an easy going. With studs and a good freeze it will be much better. There’s really one line that can be ridden and it is pretty easy to wash out if you get too close to the edge.

    January 31, 2011 at 12:46 am #924790
    wbgookin
    Participant

    I ran it this afternoon from Glebe to the Mt Vernon trail, and the whole way was a mix of lumpy packed down ice, slush, and crusty snow (there was some “fresh” snow off to the sides in a lot of places too). Yes, there were spots of asphalt showing, but in Rosslyn I saw several bicyclists on road bikes turn back around because it was too bad to ride. Sorry I can’t be of more help, I’m not a bicyclist. But it seemed pretty bad to me for riding.

    January 31, 2011 at 12:48 am #924791
    wbgookin
    Participant

    OK, I just saw the picture posted in the W&OD thread today, and it was a lot like that. So if, like in that thread, you think it’s ridable, maybe you’re set. LOL But the road bike guys thought it was a no-go. Why the heck did I post again? :)

    January 31, 2011 at 3:13 am #924792
    Wiggly Amp
    Participant

    Dirt, Sir, you’re clearly made of steel! No doubt you’ll be out on the W&OD tomorrow at 20-someting degrees in your shorts and T-shirt…. And thanks for the photo on the W&OD thread – very useful. I’ll necessarily be keeping my road bike in the shed for a few days longer. Which means I’ll be running tomorrow again instead.

    January 31, 2011 at 6:45 am #924793
    CCrew
    Participant

    @wbgookin 2218 wrote:

    OK, I just saw the picture posted in the W&OD thread today, and it was a lot like that. So if, like in that thread, you think it’s ridable, maybe you’re set. LOL But the road bike guys thought it was a no-go. Why the heck did I post again? :)

    Rode it tonight based on Dirt’s recommendation. Remind me never to listen to him again :)

    It’s rideable with a MTB and studs. It kicked my butt without the studs, and when the front goes out from under you it goes out FAST. Nothing bruised but my pride. I made it but I bailed to the streets as much as possible.

    January 31, 2011 at 2:05 pm #924797
    Dirt
    Participant

    I rode it this morning and the overnight freeze were a big help. Studs are DEFINITELY suggested. It is rough going. It is like riding a very rough, rocky mountain bike trail. If it thaws, it will be a serious workout, but since it is supposed to stay cold and even snow more today, it should be fun.

    @CCrew 2221 wrote:

    Rode it tonight based on Dirt’s recommendation. Remind me never to listen to him again :)

    It’s rideable with a MTB and studs. It kicked my butt without the studs, and when the front goes out from under you it goes out FAST. Nothing bruised but my pride. I made it but I bailed to the streets as much as possible.

    Sorry about that. After riding it this morning, I thought I hit the description pretty well. I think Custis was a little more slushy than W&OD was, but it wasn’t that much different. None of these rides are easy.

    January 31, 2011 at 6:09 pm #924811
    CCrew
    Participant

    @Dirt 2225 wrote:

    Sorry about that. After riding it this morning, I thought I hit the description pretty well. I think Custis was a little more slushy than W&OD was, but it wasn’t that much different. None of these rides are easy.

    Naa, no harm, you called it pretty much on the money. Hence the smiley!

    January 31, 2011 at 8:12 pm #924813
    Steve O
    Participant

    The trail has not been touched by a plow or by any chemicals. It is almost entirely packed, glaciated ice–lumpy from the pedestrians. Someone with a mountain bike and studded tires could probably ride on it slowly, but you won’t make great time. Downhills might be dangerous, because it would difficult to stop.
    IMO this is unacceptable from a County that claims to want to become a LAB Gold bicycling community–five day after the snow some sort of truck/tractor has been on my residential street three times, but not a single time on the #1 bike commuting route in the area.

    January 31, 2011 at 8:13 pm #924814
    Steve O
    Participant

    The trail has not been touched by a plow or by any chemicals. It is almost entirely packed, glaciated ice–lumpy from the pedestrians. Someone with a mountain bike and studded tires could probably ride on it slowly, but you won’t make great time. Downhills might be dangerous, because it would difficult to stop.
    IMO this is unacceptable from a County that claims to want to become a LAB Gold bicycling community–five day after the snow some sort of truck/tractor has been on my residential street three times, but not a single time on the #1 bike commuting route in the area.

    February 1, 2011 at 1:57 am #924817
    Dirt
    Participant

    You’re right. The surface was really bumpy. Mountain bike helped on that. I was super impressed with the studded tires on the ice though. I didn’t really slow much because of the ice except for the custis bridge near glebe road. That is absolutely sheer ice. My commute only took me about 10 minutes longer (for the 14 mile route) in the ice.

    Things will slow down a ton when things start to thaw.

    February 1, 2011 at 2:05 am #924818
    Dirt
    Participant

    I’ll also add that they did start to plow a little at the west end of the Custis… near the I-66 underpass. It didn’t help a lot, but it was nice to know they’re trying. :D

    February 1, 2011 at 1:21 pm #924822
    Dirt
    Participant

    Encountered a section of trail that was so slippery that a guy and his dog could not stand up on it. Both were sitting and scooting along. He was laughing (the guy, not the dog) at the situation.

    Studded tires didn’t bat an eyelash. Average speed on this morning’s ride in? 12mph for 13.2 miles… about 10 of which were on ice.

    I would not suggest riding the W&OD or Custis without studded tires and an adventurous spirit.

    February 1, 2011 at 6:51 pm #924827
    Mark Blacknell
    Participant

    I loaded up my adventurous spirit and studded tires and went to test Dirt’s recommendation this afternoon. Amazingly, he’s right!

    Interestingly, it appears that a plow has made its way along the Custis from Key Bridge to (at least) Quincy. Unfortunately, I don’t think it had any positive effect at all (tho’ I suppose the iced tire ruts did give me an easier place to ride a couple of times). Can anyone help me pinpoint when it was done? Definitely after last Thurs.

    February 1, 2011 at 8:55 pm #924829
    Dirt
    Participant

    There were clear sections between Lynn Street and the top of the hill on Monday before 0700. There’s still plenty of ice in there too. There was a fair amount of thaw on Sunday when I was out on the W&OD. The plowing done at the opposite end of Custis was done during the day on Monday.

    I saw a plow in Ste Anne’s parking lot when I rode past at 0615 this morning. I believe the driver was just working on emitting all the CO2 that I was saving by riding my bike. ;)

    February 1, 2011 at 11:51 pm #924832
    StopMeansStop
    Participant

    Custis trail was pretty gnarly Sunday. I can’t imagine its gotten any better.

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