December 2013 Trail Conditions

[consularrider]

Monday, December 9
I benefited from the two hour federal office opening delay, so I was not on my bike until 9:00am. I rode a combination of the W&OD from Ohio St to Shirlington Rd, the 4MRT extention from Shirlington Rd to Reagan National, and the MVT from Reagan-National to Rosslyn. For the most part the trails were clears with on a few icy patches. The exceptions were the bridges and overpasses. All were covered with about two inches of a slushy ice. The wooden bridges were the worst since the wooded under the ice was slicker than the concrete on the others. From Ohio St to Columbia pike there were only two bike tire tracks. From Columbia Pike to Shirlington Rd there were four bike tire tracks, and from Shirlington Rd to Rosslyn there were about eight or ten. I didn’t see any sign that anyone wiped out on the Roosevelt Island trollheim wooden walkway, but clearly some riders were able to hold their line better than others.

I doubt the icy slush on the bridges and overpasses will totally melt off and where it gets in the 20s tonight could refreeze into real ice and it will be very rough. And we have more winter storm weather coming through for Tuesday’s commute. Oh joy! Glad I put the studded tires on yesterday!

Topic

[jrenaut]

@sleeplatekate 72283 wrote:

Rock Creek Trail between Randolph Rd. and Veirs Mill in Montgomery County is clear of leaves, ice-free, and beautiful, even in the shade and on bridges. The Matthew Henson Trail from the Connecticut Ave. underpass to Veirs Mill, also in Mo. Co., is icy, snowy, and ugly for skinny tires (on the 4 wood bridges). Making things worse, the entrance to the Connecticut Ave underpass is torn up for construction and not marked very well–a surprise in the dark).

ELITE-level first post. Welcome to the forum.

[dkel]

@JimF22003 72275 wrote:

What’s the story on the W&OD from say, Gallows west out to Ashburn?

I rode the W&OD from Falls Church past the Ayr Hill crossing in Vienna between 10:00 and 11:00 this morning. It was almost entirely clear, but it was damp throughout, which has me slightly concerned for my ride home late tonight. Can’t speak to the Reston to Ashburn portion of the trail.

[dasgeh]

@jrenaut 72270 wrote:

The bleeping bleep DDOT didn’t grade PA Ave properly when they repaved, and now instead of water pooling in the gutters, it pools in the cycletrack. It’s not too bad out there today – a bit slushy, and you should be careful, but 2-3 degrees colder and it’s going to be covered in sheets of ice.

You may want to start joining us on Madison/Jefferson. I know it’s out of your way, but it’s a BEAUTIFUL ride.

Oh, and some ice but no problems on the late shift commute Custis — Capitol Hill via TR Bridge

[JimF22003]

@dkel 72297 wrote:

I rode the W&OD from Falls Church past the Ayr Hill crossing in Vienna between 10:00 and 11:00 this morning. It was almost entirely clear, but it was damp throughout, which has me slightly concerned for my ride home late tonight. Can’t speak to the Reston to Ashburn portion of the trail.

Thanks. I was thinking about heading out into the wind after work, and sailing back. Hopefully it will be above freezing for that.

[jrenaut]

@dasgeh 72302 wrote:

You may want to start joining us on Madison/Jefferson. I know it’s out of your way, but it’s a BEAUTIFUL ride.

It’s not really out of my way, but we fought and continue to fight for those cycletracks on PA Ave and I refuse to stop using them just because bleeping DDOT is bleepety bleeping incompetent on so many levels it’s staggering.

[dbb]

@jrenaut 72311 wrote:

It’s not really out of my way, but we fought and continue to fight for those cycletracks on PA Ave.

That is why I often find myself on Pennsylvania Ave as I ride from the 14th Street Bridge to L’Enfant Plaza. More bike traffic is better (more miles also)

[OneEighth]

@jrenaut 72311 wrote:

It’s not really out of my way, but we fought and continue to fight for those cycletracks on PA Ave and I refuse to stop using them just because bleeping DDOT is bleepety bleeping incompetent on so many levels it’s staggering.

Wait…DC and incompetent in the same sentence?

[JimK]

JimF: I just rode from Vienna to Ashburn and back. The trail is in good shape: no ice packs, but some moisture in the vicinity of Reston. The trail is almost perfectly clear and dry from Rt. 28 to Ashburn.

[dbb]

@dbb 71466 wrote:

Just pulled the trigger on new wheels and studded tires. I am ready!

I am anticipating some sort of talisman effect, so winter may be over upon their delivery.

Crocus will be blooming on new years day.

Biggest impact will be to freezing saddles – no freezing. Sorry guys

From WJLA “Sunday – Cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning…then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s.”

Am I good or what?

[consularrider]

@dbb 72481 wrote:

From WJLA “Sunday – Cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning…then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s.”

Am I good or what?

Don’t pat yourself on the back too hard, things go back to normal by Tuesday.

[Author]

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