February 2015 Trail Conditions

[Mikey]

@Arlingtonrider 109657 wrote:

Black pavement is so pretty!

Yep, so is salt-colored pavement, That’s my 50 shades of gray.

[consularrider]

I rode the MBT this morning for the first time since the snowfalls. While it was clear there was a long ice field in the Q St area.

[Greenbelt]

@consularrider 109665 wrote:

I rode the MBT this morning for the first time since the snowfalls. While it was clear there was a long ice field in the Q St area.

That area just north of the NY Ave underpass used to be known as “Swampdoodle” I think. For good reason.

[Sunyata]

@Tania 109630 wrote:

The reports of the W&OD east of Gallows give me hope that I can bike to the start of dcv’s coffee’s ride tomorrow (which is only a few miles) rather than driving.

Oh, and my Lake sub-zeroes came in the mail yesterday. Have you looked at next week’s forecast? You’re welcome.

This is why I asked. I am staying in Reston tonight and will be riding from there to Bikenetic. I was planning on riding my hard tail mountain bike anyway (my commuter is too heavy to put on the roof of my car to drive to Reston – I know I could ride, but I am not sure my dogs would appreciate that), since my road bike is still not exactly in working order. Hopefully I can keep up with my 2.4″ knobbies!

[Boomer Cycles]

I rode the WOD this sunny afternoon from Virginia Lane(mile to Little Falls Street (Masonic Temple) on skinny 700 x 25 tires and it was mostly clear or single track pavement, including the Rt 7 Leesburg Pike pedestrian bridge, save 3 icy patches, only one of which I had to dismount and walk (Poplar Heights tennis courts @ Shreve Road). However, expect the puddles to freeze over tonight once temps drop. Be careful out there.

[KWL]

@Harry Meatmotor 109632 wrote:

Maybe this will help: My commute in today (Eads to Longbridge/Pentagon/LBJ) only took about 10 minutes longer than my normal 4MR – MVT – 14 St. Bridge route. I was so happy to see my speedo break past the (recently elusive) 20mph barrier even with 42mm Conti Winter Contacts aired down to 35 psi. Wheeeee! I think the 32mm slicks are going back on the commuter this weekend… totally could’ve ridden in today on slicks.

I chose wisely. This is much nicer than the Longbridge – Pentagon – Memorial Bridge – 23rd Street (nasty hill) with traffic – P Street – R Street that used to be my snow route. Back to my rain bike next week. I’m going to be so happy riding on rubber instead of tungsten carbide.

[seunpu]

Reston to Leesburg on the W&OD is 60% clear. Still a lot of packed snow and hard (sometimes rutted) ice. It’s ridable with studs. The worst sections are between Wiehle and Old Reston, just east of Smiths Switch and east of Catoctin Circle (after the underpass).

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[sjclaeys]

MVT northbound from the 14th Street bridge to the trollheim still has numerous icy ruts of death, that I found tough with 38mm studded marathons.

[mstone]

VDOT trail maintenance:

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This the Fairfax County Parkway sidepath, one of the major (only) continuous north-south routes in the county. I should have gotten down lower to convey the full effect of the multiple two and half foot snow walls pushed off of the highway. The pedestrian desire path around the snow wall goes 15 feet off the trail past some utility boxes and through some trees where the snow is shallower. Trail is effectively impassible without deep tread studded tires. (Too much loose snow for shallow treads, and too much ice in the bare patches without studs.)

[creadinger]

Which trails exactly is Arlington clearing? I thought they were doing the Custis the W&OD within Arlington. It appears I’ve been giving them way too much credit. The W&OD is terrible/impassible without studs 1/2 mile west of Columbia Pike. This was a disappointing surprise to discover today.

The MVT (I know, not Arlington jurisdiction) was predictably bad too, but actually around the airport it wasn’t as bad as the W&OD.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

Hey @mstone can I use this photo on the FABB Facebook page?

[mstone]

@FFX_Hinterlands 109721 wrote:

Hey @mstone can I use this photo on the FABB Facebook page?

sure. More specifically, it’s at the Stringfellow intersection.

[mstone]

@creadinger 109719 wrote:

Which trails exactly is Arlington clearing? I thought they were doing the Custis the W&OD within Arlington. It appears I’ve been giving them way too much credit. The W&OD is terrible/impassible without studs 1/2 mile west of Columbia Pike. This was a disappointing surprise to discover today.

The MVT (I know, not Arlington jurisdiction) was predictably bad too, but actually around the airport it wasn’t as bad as the W&OD.

I thought that Arlington wasn’t allowed to touch the W&OD.

[GB]

@creadinger 109719 wrote:

Which trails exactly is Arlington clearing? I thought they were doing the Custis the W&OD within Arlington. It appears I’ve been giving them way too much credit. The W&OD is terrible/impassible without studs 1/2 mile west of Columbia Pike. This was a disappointing surprise to discover today.

The MVT (I know, not Arlington jurisdiction) was predictably bad too, but actually around the airport it wasn’t as bad as the W&OD.

Arlington cleared the custis and the WOD west of the custis.

[creadinger]

@GB 109724 wrote:

Arlington cleared the custis and the WOD west of the custis.

Ok, thanks for the info. Does anyone know why the W&OD east of the Custis was ignored? I guess I just wasn’t paying attention when this was discussed.

[Author]

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