Trail Conditions — January 2014

[consularrider]

There’s snow everywhere!

[dcv]

[dkel]

@consularrider 73279 wrote:

There’s snow everywhere!

Including on my helmet.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4386[/ATTACH]
(Don’t ask me why that’s sideways.)

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dkel 73286 wrote:

Including on my helmet.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4386[/ATTACH]
(Don’t ask me why that’s sideways.)

Obviously it’s to show how sticky the snow is.

[Subby]

Great riding with you dkel! Glad you made it home in one piece. A minivan honked at me going down Westmoreland. I gave the finger, but I don’t think should could tell with my SUPER ELITE lobster gloves (just kidding, I was white knuckling for dear life).

[dbb]

Trail was packed (windblown) snow with occasional patches of ice.

Depth between DCA and 14th Street Bridge was about an inch.

I rode (cautiously) with studded tires and had no problems (other than the cold).

Winds are brutal. Yes to that extra layer you were considering.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

News sent from your reporter at the Java Shack. Friday morning, January 3, and the side roads are covered with about an inch of smooth packed snow. Main roads are mostly clear and wet with a little slush. I stayed off the trails so I can’t say about them. The coffee is hot!

[Mikey]

Side roads were bad in Ffx, paths are covered in a crispy powder. I didn’t wipe down my bike before putting it in the shed last night. Got on the bike and realized that my brakes were frozen! Flintstoned to stop the bike and microwaved some water to try to unseize the brakes. It worked for just long enough to put the hot mug back in the house. Then they really froze up good. I walked down to the corner to catch the bus, saw that I had a little time and attempted to ride on the side path to the gas station to buy a can of de-iced. The 17g bus swung through about 20 min late. I flagged him down and found the bike rack on the front to be frozen too. After a few tries, I unstuck it and got on the bus. 0.1 mi for today so far!

[americancyclo]

Rode in on my 26×1.5″ schwalbe marathons, could have used bit more grip, but no spills and a few fun slides.

W&OD from Falls Church: Crispy and bumpy, look out for icy footprints and previous tire tracks.
Custis: Pretty much the same, take it slow on two sisters
Key Bridge was covered in salt and slush
M St: a few icy patches near 30th st. take the lane
Back side of the white house is a little icy on the smooth stones
Penn ave bike lanes were too icy and frozen to be safe
Dirt path on the mall was REALLY FUN!!! Particularly with the wind at my back and snowdrifts blowing just a few mph than i was traveling, it made for a really nice morning

[Phatboing]

Riding in from East Falls Church, as americancyclo mentions – packed icy footprints. If you ride on the gravelly bits adjoining the trail, however, it’s wonderful soft powdery snow.

Going up Gallows to Tysons, the bike lane’s ok-ish, but the wind. Gorblimey that WIND. And with my luck it’ll be a headwind going back, too.

[pfunkallstar]

Ate it hard last night on the W&OD on Fire Station Bridge – now suffering from lopsided buttocks syndrome – the other LBS.

[DaveK]

Roads are fine, the only time I was off them was on the 110 connector trail by Arlington Cemetery. It’s rideable right now, crunchy with about 1/2″ of powder but good traction. It will not be rideable tomorrow.

[consularrider]

Got up with the best of intentions this morning, but clearing the walk and two cars put me too late for FCCII. I rode the Custis from the W&OD to Rosslyn on Schwalbe Marathon Winter 26 x 1.75. I had a couple issues with frozen ruts wanting to redirect my wheel, but overall a clear ride. The worst section was the Sprout Run overpass which had bad ice issues. In most open places the wind has blown the loose snow off the trail and what is left is a crust over ice. I took it very easy on all downhill slopes. Time to head back out and check out the MVT and the 4MRT/W&OD back to home.

[sjclaeys]

An interesting ride on the WOD to 4MRT to the MVT to 14th St. bridge on non-studded 28’s. The WOD has what seems to be mini ice moguls which require quite a bit of attention. Had a few almost slips and rode with one foot un-cleated, but made it in slowly but surely. Enjoyed the 30 mph wind on the 14th St. bridge. Now wondering the best way home to Madison Manor. Perhaps MVT to Lee & Lynn and then roads.

[dasgeh]

@DaveK 73388 wrote:

Roads are fine, the only time I was off them was on the 110 connector trail by Arlington Cemetery. It’s rideable right now, crunchy with about 1/2″ of powder but good traction. It will not be rideable tomorrow.

Roads in DC were SO MUCH BETTER than roads in Arlington this morning, even with my late commute. The trail by the reflecting pool was even clear. The trail along the Memorial Bridge was the worst part of my whole commute — very icy, and DaveK’s tire ruts made me slip all over the place

I did manage to be very hot for the entire ride, which is a WIN in my book.

[Author]

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