[Boomer Cycles]

@wheels&wings 110148 wrote:

I’m hoping to ride home tonight via the MVT (from Key to 4MR trail) and the WOD (toward EFC), as I’ve got some errands in those parts. Do you think they’ll still be icy, given that it’s 47 degrees out there? I’ve stuck to alternate routes in recent weeks, so I’ve lost track of the trail conditions. I’m not in the mood for too much excitement tonight.

Thanks!!

I rode out of DC from the Kennedy Center across TR to MVT -> Custis -> WOD until mile 8 on 700 x 25 slicks sans problem.

[Boomer Cycles]

I almost bit it in front of that shelter yesterday in the sunny afternoon, on 700 x 25 treated tires, so I imagine that it’ll only get worse as temps hover at or below freezing.

[Boomer Cycles]

@hozn 109933 wrote:

Ha, that’s funny; I did exactly the same thing at the exact same place. That was terrifying.

I tripoded yesterday through that ice sheet @ Popular Heights tennis courts and almost slid into DKel who rode it through coming from the opposite direction.

[Boomer Cycles]

Got some HP laps in today with SarahB before our respective commutes home to burbs in opposite States. Saw the Fox! But not Powerful Pete! :-0

[Boomer Cycles]

Today’s road conditions weren’t too bad as the snow and sleet melted on treated road surfaces. However the wind chill froze the water on my components, so I lost use of my front and rear derailleurs, and had to limp home like a single speed, in a much lower gear than I wanted!

[Boomer Cycles]

I rode the Custis Trail this afternoon from Van Buren Park (near EFC Metro) to Quincy and it had many puddles that were icing over and slushy spots. The weight of me on my 700 x 25 roadie tires was enough to break through the ice cap down to wet pavement, but the slushy spots are slippery, particularly on hills. The photo was taken after the 2 Sisters, just before Quincy Street, looking eastward. The puddles & slush will all become a sheet of ice if the air temps dip below freezing, so be careful out there!

[Boomer Cycles]

It may have warmed up this past afternoon and been a lovely day to ride, but the snowmen are still out and about where the sun doesn’t shine:-)

[Boomer Cycles]

Beerneuring 🍻 took me tonight to Rockbottom Brewery at Ballston Mall in NOVA, thanks to SteveO. We tested the sampler as noted in the second picture. I did not care much for either the Kosch nor India Pale Ale, but the Brewmaster’s Choice was my favorite (with the Specialty Dark coming in a close second).

[Boomer Cycles]

I rode the WOD this sunny afternoon from Virginia Lane(mile to Little Falls Street (Masonic Temple) on skinny 700 x 25 tires and it was mostly clear or single track pavement, including the Rt 7 Leesburg Pike pedestrian bridge, save 3 icy patches, only one of which I had to dismount and walk (Poplar Heights tennis courts @ Shreve Road). However, expect the puddles to freeze over tonight once temps drop. Be careful out there.

[Boomer Cycles]

The WOD at Little Falls Street in Falls Church, headed Westward. The WOD is now open mostly, between here and Virginia Lane (mile , save 3 snow covered ice fields and the Rt 7 pedestrian bridge. I rode through it all on my early 90s GT Talera hybrid bike with Avocet Cross 26 x 1.5 (gum walled) tires.

[Boomer Cycles]

I went to Mad Fox Brewing Company in Falls Church following my eye doctor appointment to try out my new contact lenses by having a test flight of 80 shilling (malt), Saison DuWha? (pilsner malt), Broad Street IPA (American style) and Abbaye des Chutes (Belgian style Abby Ale) . The 80 shilling was my favorite. The contact lenses worked fine, too.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Tania 109396 wrote:

Dickie – how is the mile from Gallows to Virginia Lane (skinny slicks)? If I can get to Virginia Lane, then I can take Boomer2U’s route to the Custis. Otherwise I’d have to take Shreve from Gallows/29 and there’s zero shoulder…

I rode the WOD westbound on Monday night from VA Lane to Gallows, and it had 2 big ice patches where I had to portage my road bike. The VA Lane bridge sidewalk over 66 is a sheet of ice, so stay on the street for all of VA Lane. The second patch of ice was just west of the I495 overpass, where the sun doesn’t shine. Otherwise I found that WOD segment to have enough dry pavement to ride my skinny road tires. Hope that helps. Ride on, but be safe.

[Boomer Cycles]

Last night’s sunset on the up-river side of the Key Bridge during my commute home from DC to Falls Church.

[Boomer Cycles]

I find the WOD between VA Lane (mile east to the Custis Trail at EFC to be too treacherous for my roadie with skinny tires, so I have been taking to the streets through Falls Church (VA Lane -> Shreve Rd -> Fairwood Ln -> Timber Ln -> S. Oak -> Lee -> Park -> Maple -> Columbia -> Van Buren -> the plowed and swept Custis Trail all the way to Key Bridge!

[Boomer Cycles]

Freezing Saddles was well represent at the bar by Bruno Moore and I [ATTACH]7909[/ATTACH]

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