North Holmes Run Trail

[ShawnoftheDread]

@scorchedearth 42350 wrote:

I’ve ridden up and down all of the Holmes Run trail from Alexandria to Columbia Pike a bunch of times. The northern part is surprisingly quiet for such an urban area and is a nice escape. Once they complete the Chambliss crossing, I may have another option for commuting from Fairfax.

I’m interested in hearing how you would use it for commuting to Fairfax. I’ve used the southern crossing a few times to go between Shirlington and Little River Turnpike, but not sure how I’d use Holmes Run to go further west (unless going all the way north to Falls Church).

[scorchedearth]

@ShawnoftheDread 42367 wrote:

I’m interested in hearing how you would use it for commuting to Fairfax. I’ve used the southern crossing a few times to go between Shirlington and Little River Turnpike, but not sure how I’d use Holmes Run to go further west (unless going all the way north to Falls Church).

I figure if I can get to Lake Barcroft easily, through the quieter streets in those neighborhoods and toward the CCT, it may be feasible. I haven’t scoped out a route just yet though so it is speculation on my part.

As it stands now, my commute takes me north from old town Fairfax to the WOD and back south to Landmark. It’s doable but a shorter route would be nice.

[krazygl00]

@scorchedearth 42368 wrote:

I figure if I can get to Lake Barcroft easily, through the quieter streets in those neighborhoods and toward the CCT, it may be feasible. I haven’t scoped out a route just yet though so it is speculation on my part.

I’ve tried many times to figure that one out myself; I think I’ve arrived at the conclusion that the fabled passage from Lake Barcroft to the CCT necessitates riding on at least a few hairy stretches of road. For me going from Seminary/Beauregard it makes more sense to ride up through Bailey’s Crossroads to the W&OD.

As it stands now, my commute takes me north from old town Fairfax to the WOD and back south to Landmark. It’s doable but a shorter route would be nice.

Wow that’s like a 20 mile commute (one way) via W&OD!

[scorchedearth]

@krazygl00 42398 wrote:

Wow that’s like a 20 mile commute (one way) via W&OD!

That is the exact number. I usually go multimodal. I take the 29K bus into the office and ride home. It still beats driving everyday.

[rek]

@krazygl00 42398 wrote:

I’ve tried many times to figure that one out myself; I think I’ve arrived at the conclusion that the fabled passage from Lake Barcroft to the CCT necessitates riding on at least a few hairy stretches of road. For me going from Seminary/Beauregard it makes more sense to ride up through Bailey’s Crossroads to the W&OD.

Coming from Alexandria, I’ve been out that way a number of times. I’ve ridden as far west as Luna Park / Fairview Park almost entirely on residential streets. (No more than a couple hundred feet on Sleepy Hollow or Annandale Rd).

I’m interested to try going further soon. Crossing the Beltway seems like the toughest part. Not many options and all of them are interchanges. Is Gallows to Woodburn to Tobin reasonably safe?

[JimF22003]

@rek 42481 wrote:

Is Gallows to Woodburn to Tobin reasonably safe?

I personally wouldn’t ride Gallows anywhere from about where it crosses Rt 50 eastwards. I see some hardcore folks do it, but it looks deadly.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@rek 42481 wrote:

I’m interested to try going further soon. Crossing the Beltway seems like the toughest part. Not many options and all of them are interchanges. Is Gallows to Woodburn to Tobin reasonably safe?

I only ride it on weekend mornings. Not sure I would during commuting hours.

[krazygl00]

@rek 42481 wrote:

Coming from Alexandria, I’ve been out that way a number of times. I’ve ridden as far west as Luna Park / Fairview Park almost entirely on residential streets. (No more than a couple hundred feet on Sleepy Hollow or Annandale Rd).

I’m interested to try going further soon. Crossing the Beltway seems like the toughest part. Not many options and all of them are interchanges. Is Gallows to Woodburn to Tobin reasonably safe?

@JimF22003 42496 wrote:

I personally wouldn’t ride Gallows anywhere from about where it crosses Rt 50 eastwards. I see some hardcore folks do it, but it looks deadly.

I concur. Seeing as how I’m no longer an indestructible youngster with no one depending on me, the risks of riding on roads like Gallows (which is NUTTY) far outweigh the benefit of finding an alternate route that saves me 2 or 3 miles.

[DismalScientist]

@krazygl00 42615 wrote:

I concur. Seeing as how I’m no longer an indestructible youngster with no one depending on me, the risks of riding on roads like Gallows (which is NUTTY) far outweigh the benefit of finding an alternate route that saves me 2 or 3 miles.

I’d do it, but with insurance I’m worth more dead than alive.:p

[rek]

Ah too bad. Thanks for the heads-up everyone! I was hoping that the HOT lane project might have brought some improvement to the Gallows interchange to facilitate cycling.

Did they at least add pedestrian sidewalks to the bridge? Might that serve as a safer alternative? (just to cross the bridge, essentially to go from Holmes Run Drive to Holly/Woodburn Roads along Gallows)

[ShawnoftheDread]

@rek 43042 wrote:

Ah too bad. Thanks for the heads-up everyone! I was hoping that the HOT lane project might have brought some improvement to the Gallows interchange to facilitate cycling.

Did they at least add pedestrian sidewalks to the bridge? Might that serve as a safer alternative? (just to cross the bridge, essentially to go from Holmes Run Drive to Holly/Woodburn Roads along Gallows)

They did at Braddock. Last time I went through Gallows and LRT, though, construction was still going on so I don’t know how it will be in the end.

Also, I think King Arthur is an easier route to the CCT from Gallows than Woodburn.

[lordofthemark]

@ShawnoftheDread 43048 wrote:

They did at Braddock. Lat time I went through Gallows and LRT, though, construction was still going on so I don’t know how it will be in the end.

The bridge at LRT seems to be done. There are sidewalks on both sides, and I walked across on the north side of LRT (long story) this weekend. That’s four ramps to cross, with crosswalks, each “protected” by yield to pedestrians in crosswalks sign that seems bizarrely tiny. Crossing the four ramps is something of a harrowing adventure.

I sometimes see cyclists riding in the lanes on LRT across the bridge, and I don’t think many of them will find the sidewalk crossing a preferable alternative, given the high speeds at which drivers take and approach the ramps. For me, I will say that the 29k bus is probably the best way to get a bike across the bridge.

[americancyclo]

@Dirt 40699 wrote:

Word of caution: The tunnel photographed earlier is not tall enough to take good Danger Panda photos if you’re tall like me. I still have a bruise on my hand from smacking my hand on a light fixture last week.

Maybe next time you should try the larger tunnel on the left….

[consularrider]

@americancyclo 43080 wrote:

Maybe next time you should try the larger tunnel on the left….

Fitted with pontoons and outriggers?

[btj]

@TwoWheelsDC 40646 wrote:

I love that tunnel!

Also, the stepping stones are good for the deeper crossings:

[Author]

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