Trail Conditions — January 2014

[Dirt]

@hozn 75992 wrote:

Yeah, the W&OD was still pretty icy and rutted out west of Falls Church, and nicely hidden by snow as others have noted. Another day for the studs. Le sigh. Maybe road tires Friday?

It’s going to take a couple of days in the 50s to get rid of the ice in the shaded areas of the W&OD between Gallows and Hunter Mill. Some of those icy spots are 2″ deep. I’m afraid that we’ve got some sloppy days ahead before we really thaw enough to go roadie.

[DismalScientist]

Inbound on the WOD, one experiences some slick patches particularly just south of 50 and around the I-395 bridge over the 4MRT. It was passable using 28 mm road tires and due caution.

[hozn]

@Dirt 76006 wrote:

It’s going to take a couple of days in the 50s to get rid of the ice in the shaded areas of the W&OD between Gallows and Hunter Mill. Some of those icy spots are 2″ deep. I’m afraid that we’ve got some sloppy days ahead before we really thaw enough to go roadie.

Yeah, I came to terms with this on my ride in. Well, I will enjoy the additional engagement that current conditions entail — I always say that is why I prefer mountain biking! And hopefully next week’s commutes are back to “winter normal”.

[JimF22003]

I assume Hains Point is OK? Probably going to go down and do loopy-loops tonight.

[jrenaut]

@JimF22003 76016 wrote:

I assume Hains Point is OK? Probably going to go down and do loopy-loops tonight.

Hains Point was totally clear earlier in the week, and I think the dusting we got Tuesday night all melted off.

[americancyclo]

W&OD between Shreve and Washington is still not so fun. I took Lincoln to Tri360 and then to Van Buren

Banneker Park has a light dusting of snow and minimal ice

Banneker to Custis had some patches on Brandymore Castle, but I never lost traction.

Custis was relatively clear the whole way in. A few ice/snow patches, but nothing a little caution and reduced speed couldn’t handle. no icy ruts, mostly flat, slightly textured, not very slippery ice/snow

Rosslyn hill was fine to Key Bridge.

[dasgeh]

@americancyclo 76022 wrote:

W&OD between Shreve and Washington is still not so fun. I took Lincoln to Tri360 and then to Van Buren

Banneker Park has a light dusting of snow and minimal ice

Banneker to Custis had some patches on Brandymore Castle, but I never lost traction.

Custis was relatively clear the whole way in. A few ice/snow patches, but nothing a little caution and reduced speed couldn’t handle. no icy ruts, mostly flat, slightly textured, not very slippery ice/snow

Rosslyn hill was fine to Key Bridge.

Adding on to this…

Getting down to the TR parking lot was fine EXCEPT the hill before the bridge and the bridge itself had some pretty horrible hidden icy ruts (I just walked down the hill because I couldn’t see a good line). The S-curve down to the parking lot, the parking lot, the troll bridge to the TR bridge, the TR bridge and basically everything in the District were perfectly fine and could have handled slicks.

[DCAKen]

@ShawnoftheDread 75924 wrote:

This morning I saw the Park Service clearing the Lincoln Memorial plaza with one of these. Looks like it would drive up a trail pretty nicely, and wouldn’t damage the trail like a plow might.

http://www.bobcat.com/publicadmin/getImage.do?id=22063&width=300

Think if we all bought one we’d get in trouble for driving it on the trails?

I’ve seen the Park Service using this on the Rock Creek Trail. Just not often enough…

[cyclingfool]

@DCAKen 76040 wrote:

I’ve seen the Park Service using this on the Rock Creek Trail. Just not often enough…

What? How dare they use that there at all?! What about all the people who want to ski through Rock Creek Park?!

[dlaxman31]

I’m planning a ride from Mt Vernon Trail in Alexandria to Ashburn and back on Saturday.

How has everyone faired past say WFC area?

Thanks

[guga31bb]

@dasgeh 76029 wrote:

Adding on to this…

Getting down to the TR parking lot was fine EXCEPT the hill before the bridge and the bridge itself had some pretty horrible hidden icy ruts (I just walked down the hill because I couldn’t see a good line).

I posted this in another thread but here’s me attempting to ride over that bridge last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsJWhzNS1Go

I think you had the right idea by walking

[DismalScientist]

It took me down at approximately 0 mph at noon today. It was terribly embarrassing.

[Steve]

@guga31bb 76091 wrote:

I posted this in another thread but here’s me attempting to ride over that bridge last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsJWhzNS1Go

I think you had the right idea by walking

Be honest, you wrecked on purpose just to post a video close-up of that new bike.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@DismalScientist 76007 wrote:

Inbound on the WOD, one experiences some slick patches particularly just south of 50 and around the I-395 bridge over the 4MRT. It was passable using 28 mm road tires and due caution.

@DismalScientist 76094 wrote:

It took me down at approximately 0 mph at noon today. It was terribly embarrassing.

So you aren’t one for due caution….

[DismalScientist]

Different ice conditions. There were big ruts at the top of the overpass, not on the WOD or 4MRT. Part of the problem may have been an excess of caution as I was practically not moving. Perhaps it would have been better to not be in my toe clips.:rolleyes:

[Author]

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