February 2015 Trail Conditions

[PotomacCyclist]

The weather isn’t that bad today. A slight chance of ice pellets, but nothing right now.

Rain all day on Monday. 40s most of the day. However, temperatures will drop off in the evening, below freezing. The rain is supposed to end by then, but the earlier rainfall could freeze over on Mon. night and Tue. morning.

The rest of the week looks clear with a high in the mid to upper 40s on Wed. and minimal chance of additional precipitation.

Topic

[jopamora]

Last night the GBT was large patches of thin ice and clear trail between them. Rode slowly on 35s. Some guy on a mtb passed me as he easily crunched through the ice. The trail is gonna be quite muddy when it thaws out which could be a bunch of fun.

[ebubar]

@datgl 107382 wrote:

What’s the condition of the GBT between Bethesda and Jones MIll rd?

I got word this morning from jopamora that its not rideable on slicks/skinny commuting tires. Perhaps with studs or large knobbies?

I’ve gotten sick of fighting cars in the city, so i’ve bailed to an alternate route through the neighborhoods of Bethesda/Chevy Chase.
Its a bit hilly, but not too bad. Nice and quiet with minimal traffic.

Here’s my strava route if you want to try bypassing GBT:

https://www.strava.com/activities/249876248

[vvill]

@bobco85 107264 wrote:

Warning to anyone wanting to use the Williamsburg Blvd bike lane in Arlington near Sycamore St: http://www.arlnow.com/2015/02/02/water-main-break-creates-sinkhole-on-williamsburg-blvd/

Quick note on this – it’s patched, but there is a big ice patch on the road (Williamsurg Blvd), going east about 100m (?) from where the sinkhole was, just after Sycamore (and before Little Falls). I’m guessing it’s related.

[PotomacCyclist]

Mild weather today. But snow possible on Monday afternoon through Tue. morning. Weather.com is forecasting a rain/snow mix. Weather Underground forecasts greater snow accumulation on Mon/Tue. Either way, conditions could be sloppy on Mon. evening and Tue. morning.

[dbb]

Remember to hydrate. Don’t want to see any heat injuries while cycling!

What is with this weather? I was seriously overdressed this evening.

[Starduster]

Don’t discard anything. You won’t be overdressed tomorrow. Back to 20’s.

[rcannon100]

Are you kidding?? Tomorrow is KOM weather!!!

[datgl]

@ebubar 107415 wrote:

I got word this morning from jopamora that its not rideable on slicks/skinny commuting tires. Perhaps with studs or large knobbies?

I’ve gotten sick of fighting cars in the city, so i’ve bailed to an alternate route through the neighborhoods of Bethesda/Chevy Chase.
Its a bit hilly, but not too bad. Nice and quiet with minimal traffic.

I’ve been going through Bethesda to the CCT via Cedar lane.. I was just thinking it’d be nice to take a longer route home.

Thanks

[sjclaeys]

Anyone notice any wind today?

[DismalScientist]

@sjclaeys 107696 wrote:

Anyone notice any wind today?

Only the standard warm breeze off of Capitol Hill.

[cvcalhoun]

@sjclaeys 107696 wrote:

Anyone notice any wind today?

I encountered a strong headwind as I biked uphill to my doctor’s office for my annual physical. However, when I arrived there, my blood pressure was still in the normal range. I’m considering this a victory.

[PotomacCyclist]

Looks like rough conditions for the weekend. Partly cloudy and 50F on Saturday. Even tougher on Sunday: partly cloudy and 60F. There could be as much as 0.02″ of rain on Sunday night. I don’t know how I will survive.

[pdubs]

W&od from custis to Columbia pike: wooden bridges are icy, and the concrete ones have some slick spots.

The overpass over 66 near n Ohio to custis was slippery also.

Wintry mix is falling

[hozn]

Yeah, the bridges and the Brandymore Castle “hills” are slippery. And lots of the W&OD around Vienna, the nexus of wintery doom. Oddly things were just wet, less icy, in Reston. Citizens bridge was hilariously slippery. I thought I would ride it [slowly] and got about a third of the way and decided that was completely ludicrous. Of course I slipped and fell as soon as I stepped off the bike; it was just as hard to walk [in cycling boots] as ride. Studded tires would have been the smart choice this AM.

[vern]

@hozn 107967 wrote:

Yeah, the bridges and the Brandymore Castle “hills” are slippery. And lots of the W&OD around Vienna, the nexus of wintery doom. Oddly things were just wet, less icy, in Reston. Citizens bridge was hilariously slippery. I thought I would ride it [slowly] and got about a third of the way and decided that was completely ludicrous. Of course I slipped and fell as soon as I stepped off the bike; it was just as hard to walk [in cycling boots] as ride. Studded tires would have been the smart choice this AM.

I had the exact same experience. Coming from Reston I was really surprised when I encountered ice beginning on the other side of Park St., Vienna. I went down twice: just west of Gallows, and just west of Rt. 29. Both times I fell on my left side so no derailleur damage. I did though, realize I would need to walk the Citizens Bridge rather than ride it. I also walked all the other wooden bridges.

[Author]

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