March 2017 Road & Trail Conditions

[Birru]

I went for a run this evening and part of my route included the W&OD from about Route 7 to the Custis Trail junction. The trails looked quite good and are very runnable/ridable. Bridges are still snowy/icy. I marked a couple of possible trouble spots for tomorrow’s commute on the attached image.

1. This curve coming out of Banneker Park is one that’s fun to take at speed, but there was still some slush and a fairly large puddle as the sun was going down. It’ll be below freezing in the AM, so be cautious.

2. There are some sneaky ice patches lurking in the shade below Patrick Henry.

[DrP]

Bridge on S. Washington Blvd. now clear of snow – route between Pentagon and Memorial Bridge now clear.

After last evenings ride I planned this morning to cross over to the MVT at the Memorial Bridge (Take Ft Myer to 110 rather than the expected lumpy Trollheim). This morning I was running a little late and decided the extra time to do that was more than the time to cross the lumpy snow field on that bridge. To my pleasant surprise, it was completely clear! Not sure if it was all due to the sun or the human element was involved too, but that route is now clear.

[Tania]

The bike lanes on Gallows didn’t look clear so I came up Sandburg to the W&OD which is entirely clear to the Custis except for the hill down Virginia Lane (but who takes the path there anyway?), Citizens Bridge and a small section by the tennis courts along Shreve (take the gravel which is clear). Small icy spots here there but absolutely rideable by this snow chicken. Spout Run Ice Rink coast-able with a foot unclipped and ready. Came over Key instead of attempting Trollheim and TR Bridge.

TL : DR – Dunn Loring to DC on W&OD/Custis: only had to walk Citizens Bridge.

[bentbike33]

@Rod Smith 157235 wrote:

Whitehurst is clear and favorable winds got me my 4th and 5th best times on the segment today.

For some reason, I always thought bikes were not allowed on the Whitehurst. Live and learn.

[huskerdont]

@bentbike33 157265 wrote:

For some reason, I always thought bikes were not allowed on the Whitehurst. Live and learn.

They probably aren’t (freeway), and it seems insane, but I tried it once just to be like the cool kids. Going downhill, timed right, and you can be off that pig before car drivers even know you’re there. But I won’t be trying it often.

[Tim Kelley]

@bentbike33 157265 wrote:

For some reason, I always thought bikes were not allowed on the Whitehurst. Live and learn.

Every two years or so, we debate Steve O’s sanity.

It’s really not so bad, if you stick the right, avoid the drainage grates and hustle:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14352[/ATTACH]

(And yes, it’s legal to ride there)

[Tania]

@Tim Kelley 157267 wrote:

It’s really not so bad

The heart rates say otherwise.

[Mark Wigfield]

W&OD from S 7th to S. George Mason fine, with one icy patch at 7:45 a.m.
Bike lane on George Mason to Wakefield High covered in some places
Trail on Walter Reed from Dinwiddie to 4 Mile Run Trail fie
4 Mile Run Trail and detour to Mt. Vernon Trail fine, with a small icy patches
Mt. Vernon Trail to 14th St. bridge fine, with one 10-or-so-foot long icy/crusty patch in shade under bridge and frozen water from 14th St. bridge drain
14th St bridge has minor frozen rivulets that pose no problems.

Maybe by tonight most of it will be gone? Just watch for icy patches if you’re riding after dark!

Mark Wigfield

[bentbike33]

@Tania 157269 wrote:

The heart rates say otherwise.

At my age, I can no longer achieve those heart rates. In theory (220 – age) anyway.

[Tania]

@bentbike33 157272 wrote:

At my age, I can no longer achieve those heart rates. In theory (220 – age) anyway.

I’m part hummingbird. I stopped wearing a HRM because I was tired of people freaking out over my max rather than looking at how quickly I recover.

[cvcalhoun]

@bentbike33 157272 wrote:

At my age, I can no longer achieve those heart rates. In theory (220 – age) anyway.

At my age, I can no longer achieve those speeds, either. (Whom am I kidding–I never could!) And the last thing I want is to be careening down the Whitehurst with drivers behind me pissed off because I’m holding them up.

[drevil]

@Tania 157277 wrote:

I’m part hummingbird. I stopped wearing a HRM because I was tired of people freaking out over my max rather than looking at how quickly I recover.

You get checked out by a cardio? I usually have to wear a HRM because I get a-fib once in a while. If you used max HR formula, I was -7 at this race, and a few times I have been up to -32 years old.

[Tania]

@drevil 157282 wrote:

You get checked out by a cardio? I usually have to wear a HRM because I get a-fib once in a while. If you used max HR formula, I was -7 at this race, and a few times I have been up to -32 years old.

Q.E.D. :p

[DrP]

Mulch path at south end of Roosevelt Island Parking lot getting deeply rutted (my pedal hit the muck at one point and I was completely upright!).

[KWL]

@DrP 157448 wrote:

Mulch path at south end of Roosevelt Island Parking lot getting deeply rutted (my pedal hit the muck at one point and I was completely upright!).

Swamp and bog are two words that come to mind. Time for the 110 detour again.

[Author]

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