Road/Trail Conditions – 7 March 2013 (early)

[cephas]

Man, I checked this thread at 6 am, and there was nothing. .by the time I got to W&OD just East of 7, the trail hadn’t improved much, but the posts here had. I ventured on trail for about 2/3 of a mile, slid off the trail twice and half walked through the ice, till I hit the streets until N. Abingdon to the Custis. After that it was smooth sailing! Really not sure where all the ice bumps came from, but they reminded me of slow down bumps.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dcv 45482 wrote:

Like eminva others have posted, the WOD west of Falls Church is definietly NOT clear. icy ruts of death as far as the eye can see. I’m thinking about finding an alternate route on city streets for the ride home, or at least try to get out of work before it re-freezes tonight.

Wow, what a difference a couple miles makes! I rode the entire length of the Custis this morning and there was no trace of snow, even in the shaded portions.

[consularrider]

Since I get on the W&OD at Ohio St, I had no idea what those of you to the west were facing. I had decided to put away my winter bike and rode my regular hybrid. My worst experience were the two wooden bridges in Bon Air and Bluemont Parks, otherwise clear sailing to the MVT and up to Rosslyn.

[Megabeth]

I had no problems on the streets in Arlington…until I got a flat going down Courthouse hill….at speed. Had to walk the rest of the way to work. And, now lunch time will be spent changing a greasy grody tire. (Meanwhile, here I am looking all cute in a dress and boots today, oh well.)

Wonder how many sandwiches it would take to bribe Tim to come over and change the tire for me so I can continue being clean. Heck, he can even add the assistance to “Look what Bike Arlington did in March 2013!” update….

[Tim Kelley]

@Megabeth 45487 wrote:

Wonder how many sandwiches it would take to bribe Tim to come over and change the tire for me so I can continue being clean. Heck, he can even add the assistance to “Look what Bike Arlington did in March 2013!” update….

Sounds like a job for our Events and Outreach Coordinator. Besides, sandwiches have gluten.

[rolo]

@dcv 45481 wrote:

Did I pass you this morning? Not many cyclist on the trails – I was riding east on the WOD from Vienna on a black & blue Felt CX. I think I just figured out who Lena is – on a MTB, think i saw her riding west on shreve road to avoid the icy WOD this morning?

Unfortunately, that mountain biker on the road was not me. I only wish I had enough sense to ride the mountain bike this morning. To add salt to the wound, I didn’t have enough sense to get on the road until Virginia Ave! If you should see an orange Gunnar moseying down the trail, that’s me. When I see you out on the trails, I’ll be sure to say hi!

[Megabeth]

@Tim Kelley 45490 wrote:

Sounds like a job for our Events and Outreach Coordinator.

Oh no, don’t be silly, she’s nice and clean, too…

Also, by “sandwiches”, I meant, “Cafe Asia”, but, too late….offer is off the table. I’ll just bring lots of wipies and paper towels. I gots this.

[vvill]

Fairfax County schools had a 2 hour delay so I decided to wait it out and leave late. Even then the two W&OD bridges near Little Falls Rd and Bluemont were both barely passable without studs. I walked the first, and then attempted to ride the second, felt the wobbles and quickly switched to walking that one too (and I’m glad I ride in MTB shoes). Otherwise I was fine on 25s.

eminva – sorry to hear about your fall, hope you’re okay!

@Megabeth 45487 wrote:

I had no problems on the streets in Arlington…until I got a flat going down Courthouse hill….at speed. Had to walk the rest of the way to work. And, now lunch time will be spent changing a greasy grody tire. (Meanwhile, here I am looking all cute in a dress and boots today, oh well.)

Hardcore!

[DismalScientist]

@consularrider 45486 wrote:

Since I get on the W&OD at Ohio St, I had no idea what those of you to the west were facing. I had decided to put away my winter bike and rode my regular hybrid. My worst experience were the two wooden bridges in Bon Air and Bluemont Parks, otherwise clear sailing to the MVT and up to Rosslyn.

That bridge in Bluemont was a rude shock at normal speed. I was expecting slushy, but got crunchy instead. Fortunately, the bridge was short enough that it ran out before I planted my face on it.

[consularrider]

@DismalScientist 45495 wrote:

That bridge in Bluemont was a rude shock at normal speed. I was expecting slushy, but got crunchy instead. Fortunately, the bridge was short enough that it ran out before I planted my face on it.

That was surprising since that area hadn’t been below freezing for the entire time since the rain/snow started.

[mstone]

@dcv 45482 wrote:

Like eminva others have posted, the WOD west of Falls Church is definietly NOT clear. icy ruts of death as far as the eye can see. I’m thinking about finding an alternate route on city streets for the ride home, or at least try to get out of work before it re-freezes tonight.

What on earth made the track on the right side of the trail?

[consularrider]

@mstone 45497 wrote:

What on earth made the track on the right side of the trail?

Cross country skis

[mstone]

@consularrider 45498 wrote:

Cross country skis

ah, those crazy people with the goggles and big boots. seems fairly aspirational on that trail.

[Arlingtonrider]

I didn’t have any surface problems, but the crosswinds and gusts not too far from the Virginia end of the George Mason bridge were especially interesting this morning.

[hozn]

@dcv 45481 wrote:

Did I pass you this morning? Not many cyclist on the trails – I was riding east on the WOD from Vienna on a black & blue Felt CX. I think I just figured out who Lena is – on a MTB, think i saw her riding west on shreve road to avoid the icy WOD this morning?

Yes, I think you did see me / I saw you — cool. I was riding my cx/touring bike (silver w/ silver fenders). Lena rides an orange cx/touring bike also w/ full (silver) fenders & black paniers, so maybe that was someone else riding west on shreve. I rode/walked with her on the trail from Shreve and then we got on the road at Virginia intersection and detoured around the hill that leads down to 495 bridge.

[Author]

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