March 2015 Trail Condition Reports

[Powerful Pete]

Oh, and by the way, Hains Point is perfectly clear.

[hozn]

W&OD from Arlington to Reston was OK on slicks, although I took the Cottage St. detour to skip what was sure to be a bunch of frozen-y slush around Vienna. And I skipped the W&OD through Reston; likely there’s a bunch of slush around Whiele. The surface water from snow melt was on right at freezing when I rode through Falls Church, which required a little more care than normal, but was fine. Glad I put the slicks on.

[Starduster]

Good morning. A reminder to those just venturing back out on the bike- there are car-eating potholes out there on the roads (wide and deep). Watched a cyclist artfully dodge one that surrounded a manhole cover on Columbia Pike yesterday. If he had hit it…

[vern]

The WOD between the Custis and Columbia Pike was surprisingly good. Mostly clear but for some black ice from run-off and the usual buildups at the underpasses.

[DismalScientist]

The TR bridge is clear, but could use a good sweeping.

[ian74]

MVT from Slaters lane to 14th st bridge. Clear except for 2 small patches of ice where the trail goes under the 14th st bridge. The usual places. Passable if you take it slow. I unclipped just in case.

from 14th St. Bridge to CCT. The volleyball courts just past memorial bridge are a nightmare. Ice, slush, mud on the side if you try to go around. I rode with my feet down, and slowly. I figure by the end of the day they will be much better. Otherwise, I would recommend going from Ohio drive around the Lincoln memorial and back down the other side bypassing them

CCT clear except for 2 spots, just before going into the tunnel (if heading southbound) there is a 15 ft or so section of ice and frozen slush. The other spot is right after the bridge by the reservoir. There is a 30-40 ft section of black ice/frozen slush right at the DC/MD line. I watched several people walk their bike around it, but I rode slow through it.

Edit: Was riding 25mm slicks on my road bike.

[Tania]

@DismalScientist 110563 wrote:

The TR bridge is clear, but could use a good sweeping.

Thanks for the update – we took Key this am thinking TR would still be snowy so it’s nice to know it’s rideable.

[PotomacCyclist]

As noted, MVT is clear from the Crystal City connector to the 14th St. Bridge, except for a small patch of snow at the base of the bridge. CC connector also has a minor amount of snow. Just take it a little slower and it should be fine. (I would expect most of the remaining snow to melt today, with a high of 60F!)

14th St. Bridge is clear. (I don’t remember seeing any snow. If there was any, it’s a very tiny amount.) Jefferson Memorial area is clear.

[The Potomac River and the Tidal Basin (the water, not the trails) are still 90% frozen. Looks like someone tried to plow, out in the river, the way the ice is breaking up. (Photos on the way soon.)]

Sidewalks along 15th St. on the Mall are fine. 15th St. cycletrack (bikeway) is clear up to NY Ave., which is where I turned off.

Evening commute should be very comfortable. Almost forgot we had all that snow last week.

* I rode on a CaBi bike.

[Crickey7]

CCT is clear with just run-off ice patches this morning. Totally rideable with a modicum of care. On the plus side, saw more riders than in the past two weeks combined.

[Terpfan]

Anyone been down Trollheim? That’s the only part of MVT I’m nervous about. I can always skip it though if need be.

Thanks for reports, I’ll probably take MVT home tonight as a result of them. Avoiding the road sinkholes (potholes is dignifying them as shallow) is becoming a serious chore. The other day I hit one on a turn and almost flew off my bike. Neither bike nor I were hurt, but seriously, the roads blow. Another fun spot is Mass Ave right before crossing Rock Creek Park–must be five holes there.

[GB]

The WOD from sunrise valley to Ballston is fine with 25mm slicks and a little walking (maybe 200 ft of rough ice total).

[Crickey7]

@Terpfan 110577 wrote:

Another fun spot is Mass Ave right before crossing Rock Creek Park–must be five holes there.

Those are monster holes. It’s actually easier to avoid them on a bike than a car, since they are all along the right edge. But they’re growing.

[Kolohe]

as of 730 this morning, W&OD at the southside ramp to the Carlin Springs Rd underpass still had a bit of snow on it, and the parallel 4mr trail had more than a bit. There was another slab of packed ice and snow across the stride just north of Rt 50 (Arlington Blvd) – as in, probably there because it stays in the shadow of the bridge. Everything else was completely free and clear down to West Glebe.

[DismalScientist]

@Terpfan 110577 wrote:

Anyone been down Trollheim?

Trollheim from TR island to TR Bridge exit is clear. I would expect the rest is fine as well.

[PotomacCyclist]

There’s a big sinkhole on 18th St. S. at the intersection with S. Bell St., near the Crystal City Metro entrance. No bike trail there but many people ride through there going to/from the Crystal City connector to the MVT. The sinkhole is marked off with several orange traffic cones. The hole is about 5 feet in length (seriously). The entire section of pavement has crumbled and dropped about 3-6 inches.

[Author]

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