January 2015 Trail Conditions

[ShawnoftheDread]

@KayakCyndi 104035 wrote:

I LOVE ArlCo parks and rec! Custis was beautifully clear from Rosslyn all the way to EFC. Not only clear but almost totally dry too. A few very minor icey spots but nothing too scary. Such a treat!

Now if I could only get to it in a reasonable amount if time in the morning.

[KayakCyndi]

@ShawnoftheDread 104040 wrote:

Now if I could only get to it in a reasonable amount if time in the morning.

Yep, worst part of the ride tonight was Cherry street and Annandale.

[TwoWheelsDC]

I had to pick my wife up at the airport, so figured while I was out I’d recon my commute….yeah, gonna be a bus day tomorrow. Westmoreland is basically terrible except a few spots, and the shoulder on 123 is where all the plowed snow went. Even with studs it would be risky, since all the secondary roads are sneckdowns, so taking the lane would be dangerous for me and the drivers that inevitably would try to pass me. Really just hoping that my route will be bikeable by Friday…

[Powerful Pete]

@KayakCyndi 104035 wrote:

I LOVE ArlCo parks and rec! Custis was beautifully clear from Rosslyn all the way to EFC. Not only clear but almost totally dry too. A few very minor icey spots but nothing too scary. Such a treat!

Excellent, what time did you ride the trail this evening?

[Arlingtonrider]

In addition to trail conditions, I hope everyone is closely watching the hourly “feels like” forecasts for tomorrow.

According to the Weather Channel, it’s going to be extremely cold in the morning and getting progressively colder and windier throughout the day, even down to “feel like” temps of 1 or 2 degrees Fahrenheit in the evening. At those temperatures, icy trails and roads might not be the only important safety concern.

[KayakCyndi]

@Powerful Pete 104043 wrote:

Excellent, what time did you ride the trail this evening?

Left work in dupont at 6:15ish. Custis was totally rideable but I’d still go slow and take it easy anywhere you see something that looks even remotely shiny tomorrow morning!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Arlingtonrider 104044 wrote:

In addition to trail conditions, I hope everyone is closely watching the hourly “feels like” forecasts for tomorrow..

I don’t let them tell me how to feel.

[Arlingtonrider]

Not suggesting that. Mainly just wanted to note that it will get progressively colder and windier through the day, so people can be prepared. Maybe I should have left the “feels like” part out. It doesn’t matter.

[sjclaeys]

@Arlingtonrider 104049 wrote:

Not suggesting that. Mainly just wanted to note that it will get progressively colder and windier through the day, so people can be prepared. Maybe I should have left the “feels like” part out. It doesn’t matter.

Sounds like bacon cheddar scones will be needed to warm up tomorrow morning.

[dasgeh]

@americancyclo 104038 wrote:

I meant the TR. it’s been so long since I’ve used that bridge I had forgotten the name.

Yeah, I mentioned that after riding the tr bridge just before noon today I am writing it off until it warms up. I am pretty sure that is ddot ‘ s responsibility, though, not NPS (though NPS is responsible for vegetation from tr island like the dead tree.branch that hit me Monday).

[dasgeh]

I rode past the Lincoln, memorial bridge, 110 trail, iwo jima, then roads home.

The worst trail was the sidewalk along constitution/Henry bacon to get to the Lincoln – icy footprinted mess. Once i got to the Lincoln NPS upped their game and I had clear sidewalk to the ANC Metro. The 110 trail was pristine (thanks, ArlCo). Miraculously, the roads and trails by iwo jima were also cleared – the only bad spot was the 100 feet of sidewalk you have to navigate before getting a curbcut onto Meade (seriously, Arlington, just put a curbcut at the path!). Roads (Arlington Blvd, Rhodes, 14th/15th, Wilson, Quincy) were mostly clear, though bike lanes were mostly slush. Best part was catching up to Tim Kelley and Erin (my new neighbor!) On Wilson and having company for the ride home.

Worst part was my street, which was a sheet of ice. Plus, during dinner we saw a plow/salt truck come through with it’s plow up! I think it was salting, but we definitely could have used a ploe. Plus,the truck turned and didn’t treat/clear the last block before quincy, which is a steep enough hill that we’ll be pushing cars up it again tomorrow. Ugh. The non-trails DES team gets really low marks for this storm.

[ebubar]

I don’t play well with ice so I’m on metro (blah). The MBT looks nice and clear (some tiny icy spots) for the portions that are along the redline! Last few meters of the trail are still super slick looking though…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tom H]

N Arlington to mall today
Road shoulder bike lanes deadly
Arl home sidewalks C
Arl business walks D+
(Among both some sterling exceptions)
Custis A – fabulous Arlington!!!
Spiral to GW Pkwy / MVT OK, go real slow
GW Pkwy / MVT ick, NPS check out Arlington’s policy
Roosevelt Bridge a walk to slow treacherous ride – nearly frozen slush that a quick scrape would work wonders on.
Mall sidewalk Rock Cr to Bacon better to just ride on the virgin snow on grass, since the ground’s frozen.
Nam Mem & Mem Gdns fair, half speed fine
Washingtn Monument / Const. sidewalk great.
Smithsonian walks immaculate (yes and not all are legal)
bundle up!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dcv]

Roads from City of Fairfax to Vienna were pretty clear, some icy slush on shoulders.

WOD from Vienna to East Falls Church were groomed yesterday so hardly any ruts. Mostly packed snow and crunchy ice, some slick spots where yesterday’s thaw re-froze. I think it’s rideable on low pressure cross tires with (much) caution, I rode it with studs this morning and it was fine. Citizen’s Bridge in Falls Church was the worst part, deep rutted snow / ice. Van Buren St was still mostly covered with ice.

WOD-Custis from EFC to Rosslyn was 99% clear and dry, only a few spots of ice. Key bridge was clear on one half the sidewalk, some packed ice / snow on the other. Have to use caution passing pedestrians, runners and other cyclists – everyone wants the clear line through.

[Harry Meatmotor]

As of 0630:

4MR from S. Glebe to S. Eads was clear and dry – THANKS ARLCO!!! on the way home yesterday I caught up to a sweeper brushing the trail, gave the driver a huge double thumbs up and a “You F’ing Rock!”

S. Eads to 18th St. – roadway is clear and dry, but the north bound bike lanes are a mix of icy, rutty, and slushy.

CC Connector to MVT was clear until the tunnel, then mostly hardpack up to the MVT.

MVT nb to 14th St. Bridge – not too, too bad. not very rutty, and mostly two cow paths of hardpack up to the bridge.

14th St. Bridge = careful with the high winds. Today I learned how much a 10-15mph crosswind and make your chosen line through ruts, well, not your chosen line anymore.

Once inside DC proper – smooth sailing on surface streets from 15th to NOMA.

[Author]

Posts