Sandy – Trail Report – Custis

[Dirt]

I didn’t ride Custis this morning. I took the long way to work since after the Nacho Cheese Doritos storm we had in June turned Custis into a firewood sale. I’ll ride it on the way home this afternoon and report.

[Dirt]

Oh man, custis is an adventure! Substantial portions of trail are covered in leaves and small sticks…. especially in challenging areas. Most of the downhills start out nice… the wind blew off these sections. Problem is that the leaves and sticks accumulated at the bottom. There are two low-hanging branches between Quincy and the S of Eternal Peril. Most humans won’t have a problem with that, but those of us in Jolly Green Giant proportions are a little closer. Just keep an eye up.

The S of Eternal Peril is really perilous. (Let me go back and face the peril. No, It’s too perilous.)

Be really careful if Custis is your choice for commuting tomorrow.

Pete

[bobco85]

I took some pictures on a ride today that involved the entire Custis trail. I put locations for each of the downed trees to give a better idea of what to expect for those traveling tomorrow. Here is the album: Post-Sandy Ride October 2012

The entire Custis trail seems to be covered in wet leaves and small branches. Definitely take care on those hills and blind curves!

[Dirt]

NVRPA cut out some of the downed trees last night as well as put up some stuff to warn people of the dangers that were there. It wasn’t too bad this morning. Lots of slick leaves and small branches.

[rcannon100]

MVT after the storm

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1955[/ATTACH]

Broken glass from a car accident on the east end of the 14th St Bridge bike trail. Otherwise, just lots and lots of wet leaves.

[consularrider]

I took the 4MRT from Glencarlyn to Shirlington today. The tree that was down across the stream crossing at the southeast end of Glencarly has been cut and you can ride through. There was still yellow caution tape strung across just past Columbia Pike, at the east side of George Mason, and at the west side of Walter Reed. The trees blocking 4MRT between George Mason and Walter Reed have been cut through, but there is still a lot of wet leaves, sticks, and small branches covering a good park of the trail. Under the GW Parkway bridge by the airport, water has receded leaving a lot of crud covering about the last 20 feet of the trail before the turn up to the MVT.

The W&OD/Wilson Blvd underpass was still blocked off with a metal barrier and yellow caution tape at 7:15 this morning.

On the MVT between 4MRT and Rosslyn there aren’t any big issues. The branches of a tree partially block the south lane between the railroad bridge and the 14th St bridge complex. The boardwalk by Roosevelt Island was covered in wet leaves and very slick.

[viennabiker]

Rode in on the Custis this morning, starting at the W and OD and ending in Rosslyn. Lots of slippery, wet, leafy patches throughout the route. There are plenty of clear patches as well–just enough to lull you into increasing your speed. Take it easy; there may be a slippery spot right around the next bend. Looks like the major obstacles have been removed (thanks, Arlington!) so that no detours are necessary.

[vvill]

Thanks for all these trail reports. I took it easy on the Custis – although I still overtook someone going downhill around the S-curve of death…

And then when crossing Lynn St I had a nice lady obliviously blocking the intersection (and car traffic as well) while chatting on a cell phone. The cyclist behind me vocalized my thoughts for me.

[pfunkallstar]

@vvill 34749 wrote:

Thanks for all these trail reports. I took it easy on the Custis – although I still overtook someone going downhill around the S-curve of death…

And then when crossing Lynn St I had a nice lady obliviously blocking the intersection (and car traffic as well) while chatting on a cell phone. The cyclist behind me vocalized my thoughts for me.

There is a crapton of Autumnal Ice on ye’old S-Curve of Doom, almost ate it twice this morning going maybe 3mph, Fluffy KITTENS!

[vvill]

@pfunkallstar 34756 wrote:

There is a crapton of Autumnal Ice on ye’old S-Curve of Doom, almost ate it twice this morning going maybe 3mph, Fluffy KITTENS!

My trip history tells me I was doing between 5-8 mph, mostly at the lower end of that. The cyclist I was overtaking looked terrified and had one leg sticking out. I felt safer once I was around him actually. Also, I was on comfy 700x32s with tread.

[dasgeh]

When the S curve is really bad, you can by pass it by crossing Lee. There’s a downhill just before the bridge, which takes you down to Lee Hwy. Then you can use the crosswalk to cross Lee and get back on the Custis through the parking lot. Of course, that downhill may be just as bad as the S-curve…

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dasgeh 34766 wrote:

When the S curve is really bad, you can by pass it by crossing Lee. There’s a downhill just before the bridge, which takes you down to Lee Hwy. Then you can use the crosswalk to cross Lee and get back on the Custis through the parking lot. Of course, that downhill may be just as bad as the S-curve…

So can we safely assume that you didn’t go into labor while stranded in a flooded basement with the power out?

[dasgeh]

Nothing dramatic. Just lots of sleep and cooking/baking. In fact, I really miss the double-nap days of the hurricane.

But thanks for thinking of me.

[Dirt]

The S of Eternal Peril looks a little more mellow from this angle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/8143202598

The fat fixie also doesn’t really worry too much about wet leaves and small branches on the non curvy stuff.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrogringo/8143214510

[americancyclo]

All the Donkey Kong barrels were gone this morning, as was the Custis Decapitator near Harrison, however there were still the two downed trees just west of the perilouS.

[Author]

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