*JANUARY 9* FS Happy Hour Convoys

[Arlingtonrider]

Dasgeh, are those two parkway crossings safely doable during rush hour? I’ve only done them on weekends.

[Justin Antos]

@dasgeh 104455 wrote:

I believe this route will get you Lincoln Memorial – Shirlington with little to no ice.

No ice is a good thing! I’m thinking I’ll just try to ride with a convoy of folks more familiar with Arlington than I. This route looks good. Reports from my Strava feed this morning suggest Memorial Bridge is clear, and 14th St. Bridge is icy and yucky.

[dasgeh]

@Arlingtonrider 104459 wrote:

Dasgeh, are those two parkway crossings safely doable during rush hour? I’ve only done them on weekends.

There’s only one crossing (not of the Parkway, but of the ramp from 27 to the Bridge), and if you take the DOWNSTREAM side of the bridge, you have great sightlines. You can’t assume all drivers will stop, but it’s not bad. I didn’t have to wait at all this am. Last night I don’t think there were any cars coming that way.

[jopamora]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7390[/ATTACH]

[DismalScientist]

@Arlingtonrider 104459 wrote:

Dasgeh, are those two parkway crossings safely doable during rush hour? I’ve only done them on weekends.

On Dasgeh’s route, there is only one crossing. It’s safe if you wait for both lanes to stop, but it may take some time depending on the amount of traffic.

The shortest route (involves 2 crossings) is this:https://www.google.com/maps/dir/38.8885706,-77.0516748/38.8405889,-77.0867475/@38.864623,-77.0877112,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0775427!2d38.8453751!3s0x89b7b135b81fd37d:0x3fe4d02274a634d0!1m0!3e1

The Eads St route (involves 2 crossings) described earlier is this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/38.8885706,-77.0516748/38.8405889,-77.0867475/@38.8645897,-77.0864237,14z/data=!4m24!4m23!1m20!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0522212!2d38.8749303!3s0x89b7b71cf4e71475:0x6999ad84f6fcc0da!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0536288!2d38.8602248!3s0x89b7b7271d68461b:0xc86c0c908e3a5679!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0600975!2d38.8434226!3s0x89b7b12a37174969:0x7e92747f4649758a!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0738594!2d38.8439494!3s0x89b7b133e534ca49:0x9bb495a914eeb16c!1m0!3e1

Dasgeh just picked her route because she likes hills.:rolleyes:

[dasgeh]

@jopamora 104468 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7390[/ATTACH]

I love hashers.

[sethpo]

So I only know one route from DC to Shirlington — Cross the 14th st bridge, MVT to 4MR.

If someone has a better route they are comfortable leading, holler up. Otherwise, 5:15 at the TR CaBi station and we can hope that the sun and warmer temps today have cleared things up.

[lordofthemark]

wait is there still a convoy from the Jefferson?

I have a hybrid bike with the relatively wide but not studded tires it came with. I am also a slow rider, so any convoy will have to be patient. I was thiniking of riding to the Jefferson and joining any convoy. Alternatively I could ride to the Pentagon and bus to Shirlington (but that means the 14th street bridge, plus those little trails between the MVT and the Pentagon lot) Or I could try to use metrorail and hope on an icy friday no one will mind the bike. The bike has been at work all week, and I want to get it home, and do some riding today (even if it is only home from Shirlington – that still is over a mile)

[jopamora]

@sethpo 104474 wrote:

So I only know one route from DC to Shirlington — Cross the 14th st bridge, MVT to 4MR.

If someone has a better route they are comfortable leading, holler up. Otherwise, 5:15 at the TR CaBi station and we can hope that the sun and warmer temps today have cleared things up.

If you want to avoid the MVT then you can take this route.

[DismalScientist]

Even from the Jefferson Memorial, with the conditions on the 14th Street Bridge and the MVT, the fastest route is likely to be taking Ohio Drive up to Memorial Bridge and use the routes described in posts #30 and #35 above.

[sethpo]

Those alternates look fine as long as someone more familiar with the area is leading the way. I have no intention of leading a convoy on a route I’ve never taken in an area I rarely travel

[scoot]

I too would recommend dasgeh’s route as it is the most ice-free option. Everything controlled by NPS is a mess. This includes MVT as well as the trail along Route 27 (from Mem Bridge to the north edge of the Pentagon Reservation). I can confirm that the Fort Myer roads, 2nd St S, and Walter Reed are all in excellent condition.

The disadvantage is the entry process for the base itself. You will need photo ID. You must enter Wright Gate before 6pm if it is not a DoD ID (or 11pm if you have DoD ID). As for the return trip, I know that Hatfield Gate is manned 24/7, but I don’t know whether visitors are permitted to enter here at all hours. If so, the Wright Gate exit is probably barricaded after 11pm.

Notice that I am not mentioning the hill as a disadvantage.

[Boomer Cycles]

I am familiar with the proposed route across the Memorial bridge (southbound) and happy to Marshall. I will not use the 14th Street Bridge as I ride on a roadie with skinny tires and avoid ice like a plague.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Arlingtonrider 104459 wrote:

Dasgeh, are those two parkway crossings safely doable during rush hour? I’ve only done them on weekends.

I have made those crossings at rush hour, and yes, the cars will stop.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Mikey 104303 wrote:

I second this idea. this is how dasgeh and I convoyed last year and it should be fine. The area between the 14th street bridge – humpback – and LBJ memorial absolutely suck, but the rest isn’t bad. We could also cut over on the Pentagon South parking connector road and get on FERN then turn right on Army Navy. As a group we would be fine.

My only concern is with using the 14th Street Bridge, which I understand is still icy. The Memorial Bridge (downstream side) is reported to be ice free.

[Author]

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