February 2015 Trail Conditions

[GB]

@Tom H 109259 wrote:

A thin sanding would work wonders on that Custis Spout Run bridge, for peds and bikes alike. Bad, bad drainage design (or total lack thereof…)

While I agree that the drainage isn’t great I don’t think sand is the answer. It will linger long after the ice is gone and destroy gears and reduce traction on the otherwise dry path.

[Crickey7]

We may have hit one of those rare days when WTOP, car-oriented as it is, actually understates the effect of the weather on commuting. Walking and biking today are much more challenging than usual.

[rcannon100]

@GB 109260 wrote:

While I agree that the drainage isn’t great I don’t think sand is the answer. It will linger long after the ice is gone and destroy gears and reduce traction on the otherwise dry path.

If you havent seen it, there is a WAPO article about how bad brine is for your car, er, bicycle.

[Tom H]

I’ve finally bought a chain cleaning gimzmo, for better or worse. And I crossed that bridge 20 min ago, it’s getting treacherous…

[slowtriguy]

@Steve O 109257 wrote:

IF YOU TURN RIGHT OFF THE OUTBOUND CUSTIS ONTO THE W&OD, READ THIS
There is a lot of water on the W&OD just after the intersection. I don’t know when it is going to freeze, but if you take this corner at the usual speed, and it’s turned to ice, you will suffer a serious crash. I recommend extreme caution to assess the condition of the trail before you zoom around the corner.

Steve O, thanks for the heads-up! It was pretty slick there when I went through about 1730; I slipped a little just walking to take these pictures.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7927[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7928[/ATTACH]

There’s also a potentially dangerous patch of ice at the corner by the basketball courts in Banneker Park:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7929[/ATTACH]

There are a few short (~1-2 bike lengths) icy stretches through Banneker Park, but those two areas are by far the worst.

[KWL]

@DismalScientist 109238 wrote:

You might find that you have less to walk if you do Crystal City to Long Bridge to Boundary Channel to Washington Blvd bike path to Memorial Bridge (south side). The only problematic area is the Washington Blvd glorified sidewalk from Boundary Channel to wherever the NPS stops clearing the south sidewalk of Memorial Bridge.

A number of years ago I occasionally took the lane on Washington Blvd. to avoid the uncleared overpass sidewalk and the equally uncleared trail to Memorial Bridge. The folly of youth (shaking head). One year, not only was the overpass sideway not cleared, snow plowed from Washington Blvd. was dumped on it.

[Rod Smith]

Taking the lane on the South Capitol Street Bridge in a snow storm because the sidewalk is covered deep in snow is not a good idea. That grate is VERY slippery!

[hozn]

They plowed the W&OD — or took a snowblower to it between EFC and Reston (maybe further west, dunno). Reston to Vienna was nice (granted, I took Beulah, but that was not due to trail being bad).

East of Vienna the plowing did little to help the quality of the trail. Some great jackhammer sections. Was fine on studs, but definitely wanted studs.

[jopamora]

MVT Trail from Crystal City to the 14th St Bridge is icy ruts with some bare pavement. So great, if you like walking some sections or have studs or a fat bike. The airport bridge is icy ruts of death. The 14 St Bridge was in great shape except for the usual section at the beginning/end on the VA side.

CCT has been plowed from DC to Bethesda. The DC portion still has some packed snow/thin ice sections, but rideable.

[consularrider]

@Steve O 109257 wrote:

I just rode in the Custis. It’s great. However, there has been a good deal of melting in a number of spots and there is water on the trail. It may freeze when the sun goes down, so be careful. And a lot of it will freeze by tomorrow morning. The Spout Run skating rink will be open for business; bring your skates.

IF YOU TURN RIGHT OFF THE OUTBOUND CUSTIS ONTO THE W&OD, READ THIS
There is a lot of water on the W&OD just after the intersection. I don’t know when it is going to freeze, but if you take this corner at the usual speed, and it’s turned to ice, you will suffer a serious crash. I recommend extreme caution to assess the condition of the trail before you zoom around the corner.

I was frozen by 6:30 pm. Frozen melt off also a problem at East Falls Church from the basketball court to the W&OD bridge across 4MR.

[consularrider]

@hozn 109275 wrote:

They plowed the W&OD — or took a snowblower to it between EFC and Reston (maybe further west, dunno). Reston to Vienna was nice (granted, I took Beulah, but that was not due to trail being bad).

East of Vienna the plowing did little to help the quality of the trail. Some great jackhammer sections. Was fine on studs, but definitely wanted studs.

I started to take the W&OD heading east from West St in Fall Church. The first block was 80% ice so I got off and took Lincoln instead.

[dkel]

@hozn 109275 wrote:

They plowed the W&OD — or took a snowblower to it between EFC and Reston (maybe further west, dunno). Reston to Vienna was nice (granted, I took Beulah, but that was not due to trail being bad).

East of Vienna the plowing did little to help the quality of the trail. Some great jackhammer sections. Was fine on studs, but definitely wanted studs.

True case of a day late and a dollar short. I guess we can only say, “thanks anyway” to NVRPA.

[consularrider]

Originally Posted by DismalScientist View Post
You might find that you have less to walk if you do Crystal City to Long Bridge to Boundary Channel to Washington Blvd bike path to Memorial Bridge (south side). The only problematic area is the Washington Blvd glorified sidewalk from Boundary Channel to wherever the NPS stops clearing the south sidewalk of Memorial Bridge.

The Memorial Circle to Boundary Channel is mostly very rough ice. There is a very narrow way that is about 75% clear, but sections of that single track are on the grass instead of the pavement and it was still soft after yesterday and this afternoon’s sun. With the single digits tonight it should be good and had for mtb or cross tires tomorrow morning.

[NickBull]

Fish Market -> Ohio Drive -> Rock Creek Park Tr -> Key Bridge -> Custis

All of that is easy going except the first 1/2 mile of Rock Creek Park Tr north of Ohio Drive. There are initially a lot of large iceballs thrown off by snowplows. Then by the volleyball courts, what had been drifted snow is now partially-melted but with icy ruts that are deep enough to catch your wheels and make progress dicey. Elsewhere, lots of singletrack that’s OK as long as you can stay within the lines–to the right or left if you make a little mistake then you are on rutted glare-ice that seemed slippery even on Nokian Extreme tires.

Nick

[Crickey7]

@jopamora 109276 wrote:

CCT has been plowed from DC to Bethesda. The DC portion still has some packed snow/thin ice sections, but rideable.

This is true. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to ride over the occasional hundred-foot long stretch of packed snow and ice, and even longer stretches where the strip of dry pavement is about 6 inches wide, but it is passable even with semi-slicks.

[Author]

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