My Evening Commute

[Dickie]

Was not my finest. It started OK as I stopped off at Bikenetic to see Dirt and talk new cross/commuter tires as mine are completely shot and flatting all the time. Dirt was not around but Jan was glad to help out. I left informed but without new rubber for now. Back on the WOD and being careful to elude the dreaded FCPD I slowed at the Grove St. crossing only to be passed by a dude with absolutely no regard for the stop sign. He flew through the intersection just as I was getting clipped in without even a look. He then pulled the ultimate DB move, passing (and nearly clipping) two woman with strollers as they crossed paths with a gentleman walking towards them… yep, four abreast with him at speed. The gentleman yelled and put his hands out for protection and the ladies screamed. I slowed, apologized for his behavior and chased the scum down. As I got next to him (and gestured for him to remove his headphones) I became possessed by a sudden calmness (weird). I decided to politely explain what I had just witnessed and suggested better methods for future situations… he tolerated my intrusion and then I flatted. DANG IT! Luckily it was directly in front of the “Free Air” station on the WOD so I rolled my bike to the station, leaned my steed against the air machine (you can see where this is going), started taking off my back pack when I watched my bike slowly roll forward and fall against the pole…. result:

Needless to say, wasn’t a great ride home.

Topic

[baiskeli]

@EasyRider 163232 wrote:

As I was coming over Memorial Bridge last night, I could see sheets of rain over Rosslyn and headed my way, so I hurried across, and then took a breather under the big oak tree next to the park bench just south of the bridge. A pleasant place to watch the showers pass, and stay somewhat dry. Thanks, tree.

After a few minutes, I looked down and noticed a used syringe on the ground next to my foot. I know this bench is a popular spot for cyclists and runners take a break, stretch, and fix a mechanical issues, so for safety’s sake, I thought I should mention it here.

I saw that too!

[Steve O]

@EasyRider 163232 wrote:

After a few minutes, I looked down and noticed a used syringe on the ground next to my foot. I know this bench is a popular spot for cyclists and runners take a break, stretch, and shoot up some EPO

ftfy

[anomad]

EPO Is for wimps. I go straight to a mix of speed and local anesthetics.

@Steve O 163246 wrote:

ftfy

[lordofthemark]

@anomad 163248 wrote:

EPO Is for wimps. I go straight to a mix of speed and local anesthetics.

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?12074-What-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-speed

[AFHokie]

I think I’ll work late today…

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[Boo Boo]

Well that was fun!!!

[dbb]

There were a few of us out there. The rain was at least warm.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15265[/ATTACH]

Certainly more enjoyable than these folks on the GWMP
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15264[/ATTACH]

[reji]

It was a blast! I love riding in a summer rain and so I took the long way home. I decided to check out the water levels of 4MR since it will be part of my new commute, starting in a month. I expected some flooding, but was surprised by the level of flooding. My preferred commute will include WOD to Shirlington->4MR->Commonwealth Blvd and the trail was flooded in 4 places:

1. WOD under Wilson Blvd. I expected this to be flooded and that was easy to avoid by crossing Wilson Blvd.
2. WOD under Carlin Springs. Water was up above my hubs and was moving. I was able to get through it by walking my bike but wouldn’t try it if the water was higher.
3. 4MR under Glebe Rd. Water was above my knees but not moving. Just walked my bike through that.
4. 4MR under Mt. Vernon. Same as Glebe with water above my knees.

Is this flooding to be expected during a typical rainstorm? And is there a way to cross Carlin Springs Rd? Thanks for any advice!

[Starduster]

@reji 163404 wrote:

It was a blast! I love riding in a summer rain and so I took the long way home. I decided to check out the water levels of 4MR since it will be part of my new commute, starting in a month. I expected some flooding, but was surprised by the level of flooding. My preferred commute will include WOD to Shirlington->4MR->Commonwealth Blvd and the trail was flooded in 4 places:

1. WOD under Wilson Blvd. I expected this to be flooded and that was easy to avoid by crossing Wilson Blvd.
2. WOD under Carlin Springs. Water was up above my hubs and was moving. I was able to get through it by walking my bike but wouldn’t try it if the water was higher.
3. 4MR under Glebe Rd. Water was above my knees but not moving. Just walked my bike through that.
4. 4MR under Mt. Vernon. Same as Glebe with water above my knees.

Is this flooding to be expected during a typical rainstorm? And is there a way to cross Carlin Springs Rd? Thanks for any advice!

Yep. Welcome to Four Mile Run.

You found the way to cross Wilson Blvd. Good. Carlin Springs Rd is more complicated. Both the W&OD and Four Mile Run Trails cross under the bridge at water level, and while detours to get you through using Carlin Springs Rd. exist, they are not obvious or easy. Here is a map: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8694319,-77.1302939,17z/data=!5m1!1e3?hl=en

The section of Four Mile Run Trail under I-395 and West Glebe Rd is relatively new, and I am surprised they didn’t close the access gates if it was this flooded. Before this was built, we had to use a route through Shirlington, the ped bridge over I-395, and the Martha Custis Drive neighborhood to get to West Glebe Rd and the 4MR Trail. https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8418849,-77.0807602,17z/data=!5m1!1e3?hl=en

Mt. Vernon Ave? South Glebe Rd is just a half a block away, and going eastbound, there is access at S Lang St, between two apt complexes. (It might still be marked with the detour signs.) The sidewalk, until Mt Vernon? Yeah, but better than nothing.

Hope this helps. Ride well!

[Starduster]

@notinthe18 161941 wrote:

Agreed, just glad I survived the shock of the first ride onto it at speed not knowing it was gravel

Oh yeah! Most of the paths around the Constitution Gardens lake are now gravel with asphalt base. Once you adjust, it is far better than the severely degraded asphalt of before. But I haven’t ridden the route in a while. And as long as it is not loose and rutting…

[AFHokie]

@reji 163404 wrote:

It was a blast! I love riding in a summer rain and so I took the long way home. I decided to check out the water levels of 4MR since it will be part of my new commute, starting in a month. I expected some flooding, but was surprised by the level of flooding. My preferred commute will include WOD to Shirlington->4MR->Commonwealth Blvd and the trail was flooded in 4 places:

1. WOD under Wilson Blvd. I expected this to be flooded and that was easy to avoid by crossing Wilson Blvd.
2. WOD under Carlin Springs. Water was up above my hubs and was moving. I was able to get through it by walking my bike but wouldn’t try it if the water was higher.
3. 4MR under Glebe Rd. Water was above my knees but not moving. Just walked my bike through that.
4. 4MR under Mt. Vernon. Same as Glebe with water above my knees.

Is this flooding to be expected during a typical rainstorm? And is there a way to cross Carlin Springs Rd? Thanks for any advice!

Feom a safety standpoint I highly discourage attempting to proceed through water (whether its moving or not) above your hubs.

From a mechanical standpoint (and forum mechanics please weigh in) submerging your hubs is probably not good for the bearings

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[Starduster]

@AFHokie 163410 wrote:

Feom a safety standpoint I highly discourage attempting to proceed through water (whether its moving or not) above your hubs.

From a mechanical standpoint (and forum mechanics please weigh on) submerging your hubs is probably not good for the bearings

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

I would definitely *not* willingly put my Shimano (or even the vaunted SON) dynohub underwater…

But your bottom bracket will go under first.

[consularrider]

@reji 163404 wrote:

It was a blast! I love riding in a summer rain and so I took the long way home. I decided to check out the water levels of 4MR since it will be part of my new commute, starting in a month. I expected some flooding, but was surprised by the level of flooding. My preferred commute will include WOD to Shirlington->4MR->Commonwealth Blvd and the trail was flooded in 4 places:

1. WOD under Wilson Blvd. I expected this to be flooded and that was easy to avoid by crossing Wilson Blvd.
2. WOD under Carlin Springs. Water was up above my hubs and was moving. I was able to get through it by walking my bike but wouldn’t try it if the water was higher.
3. 4MR under Glebe Rd. Water was above my knees but not moving. Just walked my bike through that.
4. 4MR under Mt. Vernon. Same as Glebe with water above my knees.

Is this flooding to be expected during a typical rainstorm? And is there a way to cross Carlin Springs Rd? Thanks for any advice!

I commuted the full length of Four Mile Run daily for seven years (2008 to 2015) and my observations are:

1. The W&OD under Wilson regularly floods even in a little sustained rain. Avoid crossing under Wilson if it is more than two or three inches deep, the Run brings lots of debris downstream and it is easy to fall (experience talking);

2. It takes a lot more to flood the Carlin Springs underpass, but you frequently see the accumulated debris in the railing on the south bank;

3. It takes even more to flood under W Glebe, I’ve only seen it a few times (like Boating to Work Day a couple years ago and during tropical storms and hurricanes), but it brings a lot of silt.

4. The Mt Vernon underpass is similar in flooding frequency to W Glebe.

5. Exra bonus points since you didn’t ask. The only time I dealt with flooding of the 4MRT under I-395 was on Boat to Work Day when everything throughout the DC area was flooded.

[reji]

@Starduster 163407 wrote:

Hope this helps. Ride well!

This is helpful, thanks!

[reji]

@AFHokie 163410 wrote:

From a mechanical standpoint (and forum mechanics please weigh in) submerging your hubs is probably not good for the bearings

Definitely not good for the hubs or the BB. I carried my bike (it’s a CX bike, so I carried it CX style on my shoulder :cool:) to avoid submerging them but after yesterday’s rain, I’m fully expecting to hear the dreaded random click sometime this week!

[Author]

Replies