January 2015 Trail Conditions

[DismalScientist]

WOD (between Custis and Shirlington) is clear except for the 6 snow covered bridges and icy patches near the 3 underpasses. Also, there’s a big ice patch due to groundwater seepage from the slope between George Mason and Columbia Pike. It’s fine with slicks with potential dismounts around these potential issues.

[KLizotte]

@mikoglaces 106854 wrote:

I just did. Thanks for the link.

I just sent a note of thanks too.

[dkel]

The W&OD between Park St and Gallows still stinks as of 9:30 tonight, if you ask me. You wouldn’t have to press me much to say that it stinks from Virginia Ln into Falls Church, either. Glad I’ll be taking streets into Annandale tomorrow instead of going to my usual haunts: skinny tires, here we come! Here’s to hoping the projected rain will clear things up Thursday afternoon (and the snow Thursday evening won’t ruin everything again!).

[rcannon100]

Trollheim is very icy

[dasgeh]

News you can use (i.e. others haven’t reported):

TR Bridge is 100% clear. If you’re coming from Rosslyn, you only have to navigate a small section of trollheim, with no turns, and there’s definitely ice, but nothing that will take down a careful cyclist.

W&OD from Shirlington to Bluemont Trail turn off (as reported by husband on bakfiets): completely clear except the bridges. Would not have wanted to do it on a racing bike with slicks, but anything more substantial should be fine.

Bluemont Trail: 100% clear.

[vern]

I’m interested in hearing from the P.M. crew whether the WOD is doable on slicks from Reston to Gallows. I really want to ride tomorrow, but have a 7:45 appointment, so I won’t have much room for error re: surprises/delays (walking).

[TimV]

@vern 106937 wrote:

I’m interested in hearing from the P.M. crew whether the WOD is doable on slicks from Reston to Gallows. I really want to ride tomorrow, but have a 7:45 appointment, so I won’t have much room for error re: surprises/delays (walking).

I went from Falls Church to Herndon this a.m. on studs. A lot of the trail is clear, but there are sections where it’s not good. The pic is westbound W&OD at Wiehle. I hopped on the adjacent gravel portion in several spots where it was really icy. It’s pretty crappy most of the way to the town center. Gallows to Park is still a mess too.

I’ll be heading back through tonight and can give a status later.

[TwoWheelsDC]

W&OD bridges from the Pike to the Custis are still snowy with icy bits, but softening a bit. Too cold to melt, but too warm to completely turn to ice.

[ian74]

I just came from Bethesda via CCT to Alexandria via MVT. Be careful on bridges and overpasses. It was getting slick. Lots of slushy melting ice pellets. 14th St. Bridge was similar. Just hold a line and you’ll be fine. It’s all over now, hope everything melts away instead of freezes over.

[rcannon100]

WOD: Sleet glaze, crunchy, actually not too bad – but wooden bridges are now treacherous, rutty, will give you a toss

[slowtriguy]

Nerve-wracking ride home via streets (Arlington & Falls Church) and trails (Custis, 4MR, W&OD) – 1715-1750ish.

I rode Fairfax through Ballston to the Custis, then Custis for a short while before bailing onto side streets due to slick conditions. Streets were better but still not great. I crossed 66 via Ohio St, then picked up the 4MR for a short distance to get back on the W&OD, which I rode until van Buren. I took Columbia to Maple to Park and side streets after that.

The whole way varied between just wet, wet and a little slushy, crunchy ice that tires broke through to pavement, and loose graupel/hail. Either my confidence sucks or it actually was dicey on semi-slicks, but in any case I’d prefer not to do that ride again any time soon. Studded tires or knobbies would probably have made it better, though.

On the other hand, it still beats Metro!

Safe riding, all.

[Vicegrip]

@slowtriguy 106989 wrote:

Nerve-wracking ride home via streets (Arlington & Falls Church) and trails (Custis, 4MR, W&OD) – 1715-1750ish.

I rode Fairfax through Ballston to the Custis, then Custis for a short while before bailing onto side streets due to slick conditions. Streets were better but still not great. I crossed 66 via Ohio St, then picked up the 4MR for a short distance to get back on the W&OD, which I rode until van Buren. I took Columbia to Maple to Park and side streets after that.

The whole way varied between just wet, wet and a little slushy, crunchy ice that tires broke through to pavement, and loose graupel/hail. Either my confidence sucks or it actually was dicey on semi-slicks, but in any case I’d prefer not to do that ride again any time soon. Studded tires or knobbies would probably have made it better, though.

On the other hand, it still beats Metro!

Safe riding, all.

I think we met at the Gallows road intersection on the WOD today. I was on a black CADDX and had a chat with a gent on a fuji tri bike. If so glad to see you made it home OK.

[Boomer Cycles]

WOD clear from Mile 8 (Virginia Lane) east to the Custis Trail, except for wooden bridges and 2 snow pack spots at mile 6 (Mason lodge). Ride home westward was crunchy around 6pm but my Strada-K 25×700 tires broke through to pavement no problem.

[TwoWheelsDC]

As of 10pm Thursday, the Custis was definitely frosty in several spots, as was the Ballston connector. Normal tires should be fine, just be careful cornering. Roads seemed totally fine though.

[vvill]

I only rode part of the Custis (DoomSpiral to Rosslyn) – it was mostly clear but definitely a few spots with slush, thin ice, etc. Rideable on slicks with caution I think (I was on studded tires).

[Author]

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