[AFHokie]

Digging up a rather old thread, but I was thinking attempting a similar trip. Probably not a full 100 miles, more like 80-85. Essentially, I’m thinking of taking the W&OD to Leesburg and coming back down the C&O. It’s been awhile since I’ve driven through that area, but from what I remember, riding a bike on Rte 15 isn’t the safest option. Does anyone have any alternatives to get from Leesburg to White’s Ferry?

[AFHokie]

@Dickie 94751 wrote:

Yep, he was there to “help” with the high school cross country running event that occurred about an hour later. Consularrider and myself hit the Wilson underpass just as about 150 student runners filled the trail. And when I say help, he actually just stood there telling cyclists to be careful and slow down while letting the kids do as they pleased, which in our case was running across the trail nearly colliding with us… ahhh how teenage hormones have an amazing ability to block the brain.

I came through the area on Tuesday after the race had started and the runners were spread out so they were not an issue. However, the spectators… Particularly, the teen who locked eyes with me as he started to cross the trail and then stopped in the middle, turned his back to me and (I assume) promptly forgot about me as he stood in the middle of the trail shouldn’t have been so surprised when due oncoming traffic, I passed him on the right.

At that point he was a human bollard.

[AFHokie]

@PotomacCyclist 94026 wrote:

I call out “passing on your left” when approaching little kids. But I also slow down to a near crawl, because I know there’s a good chance that he/she will dart out or veer suddenly to the side. When that happens, I will be riding so slowly that I can easily avoid a collision. Even if I collide, I will be riding so slowly that nothing serious will happen. I figure that I can lose a few seconds here and there. If I ever hit a child because I was being unnecessarily aggressive, that would bother me for a long time. I’m always surprised when I see the occasional person zip through the crowded area of Gravelly Point because they are in such a hurry.

Once people become familiar with the crowded conditions at GP, they should incorporate that into the commute schedule. If the rider is doing a workout, well, GP is not the place to be doing a speed workout. I do wish some of the adults would refrain from standing in the middle of the trail while watching the planes. It’s easy for them to step a few feet forward or backward and stand off the trail. But it’s the occasional cyclist who rides through there too aggressively that bothers me the most at that location. It doesn’t happen often, fortunately. But when it does, I find it disturbing.

Maybe NPS will proceed with the GP improvement project sometime before the end of the decade?

I’ve found adults as well as kids are just as likely to turn to the left whether I say “on your left”, “passing on your left”, “passing”, or any combination. I’ve found its 50/50 they’ll turn left to look even when ringing a bell. In that regard, its situation dependent and even sometimes saying nothing as you pass is the safest course of action.

I don’t mind little kids, they’ll do what little kids are supposed to do. Adults on the other hand…a few of my favorites: the woman who made eye contact with me as she crossed the trail, turned away from me as she stepped off the trail and then immediately back onto the trail in front of me…yea, there’s a reason I suddenly yelled “behind you”. Then there’s the guy who smiled at me as he split the yellow line between me and the folks he couldn’t wait to pass…I’m sure he’ll still be smiling when he catches somebody’s handlebar. Finally there’s the kitted up guy who not only shoaled me on the WOD at the intersection with Walter Reed, but also blocked pedestrian right of way on the sidewalk to do so. He’s making friends wherever he goes. I keep reminding myself…don’t take it personal.

My pet peeve: the people who decide they can’t wait and must pass you as you’re passing someone. Often because you slowed down for a safer moment to pass. I almost knocked a guy into traffic on the 14th St bridge a few months ago when he decided he couldn’t wait for me to pass a family with three kids. Lucky for him, I have cat-like ninja reflexes even while on a bicycle.

[AFHokie]

@rcannon100 93600 wrote:

7 things you should give up to be a happy cyclist, London Cyclists

One of the best pieces of driving advice I was told when I first moved to the DC metro area: don’t take it personally.

Every time someone does something stupid or perceived as ‘taking advantage of’ forcing me to react, I think of that and so far it’s kept me from having an irrational moment on the roads both behind the wheel and behind the handlebars.

[AFHokie]

Funny, I was almost lunched by a red Ford Explorer today while doing exactly what you described.

I was trying to cross 4 Mile Run Rd to head east on the WOD. If I catch that red light I get into the straight ahead lane in order to cross 4 Mile so I’m not run over by cars trying to turn right onto 4 Mile while I’m trying to cross so I can turn onto the trail. It usually works out rather well, but today I heard the engine of the Explorer making a left turn to head east on 4 Mile before I saw him. I looked up and thankfully he was stopping, BUT he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking to his right down George Mason at another car. Thankfully, that car caused him to stop before I became his new hood ornament.

[AFHokie]

@n18 91210 wrote:

Here are some electronic locks options:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-30/to-catch-a-bike-thief-locks-get-smart

The Skylock looks interesting.

[AFHokie]

@KLizotte 92977 wrote:

Powerful Pete,

Yup, she was shocked and pissed that no one in security had bothered to inform employees that this was going on nor have they changed the rack location to something more secure. She has filed a tort claim against EPA and GSA as a result.

In my GSA owned bldg, the guidelines state that personal property is your responsibility and that they are not responsible for loss.

It sucks, but the bike rack could be right in front of the guard post and chances are, bikes would still disappear. The guards are there to secure the building, not personal property outside the building. It’s usually the same for cars in the parking lot outside the building so you can’t expect them to watch the bike racks either.

Really, your best bet is getting the building to move the rack within site of the guard post and hope if a guard saw someone cutting a lock they’d inquiry why, but again they’re under zero obligation to do so. If the rack is near the guards I’d make it a point to get to know all the guards. Even if they’re not required to protect the bikes, I’d like to think if I was friendly with the guards and they knew which was my bike they’d be quicker to say something if someone other than me started fiddling with it.

[AFHokie]

I’d like to stop by. Still fairly new to the forum and I’ve never attended any of the events.

[AFHokie]

@no_falls 92999 wrote:

Hi. Steve here. New to this forum and fairly new to this area (I am from NY/NJ). I live in S. Arlington (Columbia Pike, not far from Bob & Edith’s diner.) I’m a somewhat experienced cyclist, having explored the local trails (MVT, Four Mile Run and WOD) and the local roads.

@chris_s 93014 wrote:

Welcome to the neighborhood, I also live just off Columbia Pike not far from Bob & Ediths!

I’m also on the Pike, near where it intersects with the WOD. I’ve never been to any of the happy hours…room for one more?

[AFHokie]

@TwoWheelsDC 93038 wrote:

Does this mean that all the hilariously hate-named MUP segments are going away?

Rosslyn Uphill Curtis Trail (not dangerous, we can keep going back and forth on this A-Hole) v7

That’s the first thing I check for after each ride on that route…has a v8, v9, etc appeared. I love that guy.

[AFHokie]

Hi all,
I really like the replies. I agree, if it’s something a band-aid would fix, it can wait until you’re home and most commercially available first aid kits are woefully inadequate. An aid kit should have enough to get you home or to a place where you can get proper treatment.

@rcannon100 92234 wrote:

Most likely, if needed, a cyclist has flown off a bike and eaten pavement. Rasberry skin burns and bleeding. Little hello-kitty band aids aint gonna do much for this. Need something that is going to clean the wound and make it stable / safe until advanced care can do more work. I tend heavy on neosporin and gauze.

Exactly, I’m not looking for a full on trauma kit, but I’ve found most commercial kits full of items I’ll never use and lack meaningful supplies of basic items such as gauze. After growing up in scouts as a kid and numerous first aid courses in the military as an adult, I’m more comfortable tailoring a kit to my specific needs.

More than likely if you take a spill off a bike, you’ll need to address cuts and scrapes so that’s the the type of wound care I plan to focus the kit. Anything more serious and you’ve likely exceeded the capacity of any aid kit smaller than a dedicated trunk bag you could carry on a bike. A larger kit like that is situation dependent such as a ride away from civilization, otherwise it’s overkill for a ride around the metro area.

It’s also likely if severely hurt you’re not hopping back on what is now probably a damaged bike. Your next ride will be an ambulance or other vehicle and at that point you’re managing ABC’s until help arrives.

[AFHokie]

@bobco85 91658 wrote:

That sucks that it happened to you, man. Considering the situation, I probably would have been the one dialing 9-1-1 due to my size/weight advantage or because he could have gone over his handlebars (he was wearing a helmet, at least).

I think they need to have a stripe painted on that section to remind users to stay on their side of the path since it’s so easy to just pick up speed without looking for oncoming traffic.

I’ve had so many near misses at that spot anymore I essentially come to a stop before taking the corner. Between the railing and the rocks on the opposite side, people tend to take the corner in the center of the trail. A stripe would certainly help, but I wish they could widen the track. It’s not narrow, but the turn, the incline and the railing combine making it feel narrower than reality.

[AFHokie]

It’s a no ride recall. The shop is keeping the bike until the new fork is installed.

Posted the info about the estimated two week wait so others would have an idea how long they’ll be without their ride.

[AFHokie]

My bike’s one of the recalled bikes. I just got off the phone with the LBS I bought it through and they said it’ll take 2 weeks from the time they inspect the bike for a replacement fork to arrive for install.

[AFHokie]

@lordofthemark 89383 wrote:

5500 Col Pike is looking like a real possibility for us.

I am thinking my route to work would be along Col Pike to W&OD to Shirlington to 4MRT to MVT to 14th Str bridge and then my usual route across SW DC. That might mean 1/3 of a mile or so of sidewalk riding to get to the W&OD (though it looks like maybe Frederick/10th/Columbus/GeorgeMason is an alt to that?) Total commute about ten and a half miles.

For kicks if I ever want to I could go the other way – W&OD to Custis. Maybe even take Greenbriar to Glencarlyn pk to get to the W&OD?.

Also generally good biking to Alexandria, including to my synagogue (about 3 miles away)

Am I being hopelessly optimistic?

Oops – meant for “where to ride” can the thread be moved?

I think you’ll like the access to W&OD. I live next door at 5300. Other than the not so great traffic on the Pike itself it’s great for access to the W&OD. If I get a job I applied for in DC the route you outlined is essentially the same route I plan to take. Straight down Columbia Pike is of course the most direct route to the W&OD trail, but I usually take the Frederick st/Columbus/George Mason option you outlined in order to avoid the traffic on Columbia Pike. There’s significantly less traffic on Columbus (speed humps) a light to help make the left onto George Mason (which also has bike lanes) and then the light at 4MR/GM intersection is helpful crossing 4MR onto the W&OD. You can also cut through Barcroft Park on 4MR trail between GM and S Walter Reed. I’ve done both and depending on how you catch the lights, etc they’re both about the same distance and time.

The sidewalk on the Pike is quite narrow in some places and there is a significant amount of pedestrian traffic on the Pike in that area. There is not a traffic light at the Columbia Pike/Frederick St intersection, however there is a pedestrian cross walk light. Unfortunately it’s 50/50 whether or not motorists will come to a stop when someone activates the lights. I’m not sure what’s more amazing; the number of cars making panic stops when someone starts to cross assuming the cars will stop for the lights or how many pedestrians immediately start to cross assuming cars will stop. I’m genuinely shocked people aren’t hit at that crosswalk daily.

Additionally, a large amount of traffic is usually trying to either turn onto Frederick St or into the apartment complex parking lot on the other side of Col Pike. As much as I don’t want another stop light; that intersection really should have one.

The only true downside to using Frederick St is the significant hill right as you turn off the Pike. Its roughly a 35ft elevation change in less than 300ft. I’m lucky in that I can avoid the hill by using my building’s garage access which exits onto Frederick St. Because of that, even if I’m headed in the opposite direction on the W&OD I’ll usually take that route to get onto the W&OD to avoid traffic on the Pike. I’ve never tried going up over the hill on Greenbriar to Glencarlyn park.

I’m sure there are other more direct ways, but to get to Alexandria I’ve always just gone down the W&OD/4MRT to MVT. Taking that route is 7ish miles each way. Another option that Google Maps suggests takes you over 395 via the pedestrian bridge from Shirlington Gunston Rd/Valley Dr/W Braddock Rd, but it only saves you about a half a mile and you’re on the street dealing with traffic, lights, etc. Whereas on the trail you just have other cyclists and pedestrians to worry about. The trail has less of an elevation change as well.

I bike the Arlington Loop quite often and last week biked up to the Great Falls Visitor Center on the MD side via the C&O Towpath. Before the end of the summer I want to bike out to Leesburg and back, but that’s a 70+ mile round trip. Not sure I’m up to going that far on my hybrid…that might have to wait until I add a road or cyclocross bike to my collection. You’ll have plenty of options for places to go from this location.

If you have any general questions about the area shoot me a PM.

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