That was fun; I want ‘Smore!
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- This topic has 13 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by
ShawnoftheDread.
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January 14, 2014 at 3:48 pm #991184
DismalScientist
ParticipantThe problem appears to be if you want to get to Ballston without hills you almost need to go on Fairfax Dr or Washington Blvd and keep south of the Custis.
January 14, 2014 at 3:52 pm #991186dasgeh
Participant@DismalScientist 74716 wrote:
The problem appears to be if you want to get to Ballston without hills you almost need to go on Fairfax Dr or Washington Blvd and keep south of the Custis.
16th is pretty hilly (by KM-A standards). That’s the route I know best. I’ve also approached from the Custis (via Westover Park) and from the W&OD (via both Ohio St and the bridge). Hills, Hills, Hills.
January 14, 2014 at 4:09 pm #991192ParticipantThe flattest way out of the Four Mile Run valley is probably Ohio, but that is going to make you backtrack on Washington Blvd. Another way might be Kennebec Street from Westover Park and then Washington Blvd, although there is a bit of a hill around Patrick Henry on Washington Blvd.
January 14, 2014 at 4:23 pm #991199Participant@consularrider 74720 wrote:
You are talking about north Arlington. It’s hard to get anywhere without encountering some hills along the way. What are you proposing as the starting point?
I’m happy to start anywhere, though I’d prefer a park with a playground. The problem I see is that Westover is in this little dip, and every approach to the edges of the dip includes some combination of long and steep…
January 14, 2014 at 4:32 pm #991200ParticipantWestover is not in a dip. I can assure you that Westover is uphill from the W&OD and, by extension, the Custis. Perhaps it makes sense to take the Ohio Street bridge over I-66, turn right on 14th Street and CLIMB McKinley to Westover.
(I still think that 16th Street is the flatest way in rather than the Custis.)
January 14, 2014 at 4:47 pm #991201consularrider
Participant@DismalScientist 74733 wrote:
Westover is not in a dip. I can assure you that Westover is uphill from the W&OD and, by extension, the Custis. Perhaps it makes sense to take the Ohio Street bridge over I-66, turn right on 14th Street and CLIMB McKinley to Westover.
(I still think that 16th Street is the flatest way in rather than the Custis.)
If crossing I-66 on Ohio St and turneing right on 14th, you can continue on 14th to Longfellow to the light at Washington Blvd. Longfellow is a more gradual uphill than McKinley and who doesn’t mind adding a little distance.
If you want to start at a playground, you could consider the one in Bluemont Park. On the way back you could use the bike lanes on Washington Blvd (short and easier climb) and Patrick Henry back to the 4MRT. The distance to Westover is 2.8 miles with the return 1.7 miles.
January 14, 2014 at 5:08 pm #991204
Steve OParticipant@DismalScientist 74716 wrote:
The problem appears to be if you want to get to Ballston without hills you almost need to go on Fairfax Dr or Washington Blvd and keep south of the Custis.
I think the flattest way (but not shortest) from Ballston would be (also more distance on MUPs than streets):
Bluemont Junction to W&OD
Right on W&OD
Left at soccer field onto Arlington Mill Rd.
Immediate right onto 4MR trail towards Dominion Hills Park (formerly Mace Park)
Bear left before the park onto the sidewalk and then onto N Liberty
R. on 10th
R. on Patrick Henry – yes, there’s a hill, but it’s more gradual than most of the others
L. on Washington to Westover.January 14, 2014 at 7:10 pm #991214Participant16th is great after Frederick — going up to the hospital and the hill up to Frederick are no joke. I’m looking for a route that would put us on 16th West of Frederick… Maybe from Lee Park or Big Walnut (though that would be really short).
And if Westover is in a dip — yes, you go up McKinley from 66, but then you come down to Wash Blvd.
Patrick Henry does look like a good option too. I worry a little about leading the ride on Washington Blvd, but it’s short and down hill, which makes me feel better. Lots of parks to start at in that direction.
January 14, 2014 at 7:29 pm #991216ParticipantHow about if you try the Custis to the Harrison street ramp, straight on Fairfax Dr. to Jefferson. Take a right and go all the way to 16th and take a left.
(16th doesn’t intersect Frederick. I assume you mean Harrison)@dasgeh 74747 wrote:
And if Westover is in a dip — yes, you go up McKinley from 66, but then you come down to Wash Blvd.
I live a block from there and you are wrong. McKinley is flat between 15th and Wash. Blvd.
January 14, 2014 at 7:38 pm #991217ParticipantOn routing, getting to Custis and Harrison is difficult without hills…
@DismalScientist 74749 wrote:
I live a block from there and you are wrong. McKinley is flat between 15th and Wash. Blvd.
Hate to burst your bubble, but it the intersection of McKinley & 15th really is higher elevation that Westover Beer Garden (and the intersection of McKinley and Washington). I rode it on Sunday on a fully loaded cargo bike, which made me keenly aware of grade changes. Strava agrees with me. The little Google Maps man sees the rise, too. You must just be the kind of super ELITE rider that doesn’t notice these little blips, but they mean a lot to the fully loaded…
You are right about Frederick not hitting 16th — I meant Greenbrier, just had maps zoomed out too much.
January 14, 2014 at 8:04 pm #991223ParticipantMost of the difference in elevation is due to the Beer Garden being a little below McKinley and Washington Blvd. There is an old stream bed that goes behind the houses on McKinley and probably crosses Wash. Blvd. at about Lancaster. This is what causes the dip in Wash Blvd.
20 ft in two blocks doesn’t seem like much to me. The climb up the Patrick Henry bridge is certainly worse.
January 14, 2014 at 11:39 pm #991234hozn
ParticipantYup, the stream flows down (under) Lancaster and dumps into 4MR. Yeah, I think Ohio/McKinnley is a good route, or the earlier suggestion of going down 14th and then left on Longfellow. Those hills are pretty mild. Could start at Dominion Hills Park if you want something closer than Bluemont.
January 15, 2014 at 1:24 am #991239ShawnoftheDreadParticipant -
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