[JimF22003]

@MattAune 58561 wrote:

This was my original plan, but i could not figure out the best way to navigate 7 corners. Any tips on what to do when you hit Rte. 50 on Annandale Rd? I would love to figure this out for weekend recreational riding routes headed west on the W&OD.

If you’re going through 7 Corners, you’re probably better off cutting over on Kerns Rd to Sleepy Hollow.

But from Annandale Rd you can take South St to the frontage Rd along Rt 50. That puts you at the same place where Sleepy Hollow comes out.

I posted in somebody else’s thread an easy way to get from Hummer/Annandale Rd to the W&OD going west:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2871618

If I’m heading for the W&OD to go east however, I wouldn’t take any of those routes. It’s much more scenic to cut through the Lake Barcroft area. I don’t know if this helps or not, but this is my “long way” to work (except for the beginning which is slightly different since it leaves from my house :

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2919835

[JimF22003]

That would be a good one for me. I usually leave from Tysons about 4:00, so that would give me just enough time to get there. I don’t do most of the shop rides because they’re too “late” for me about 6:30 or later.

[JimF22003]

@Rando Guy 58398 wrote:

How long did you wait?

We waited through two full cycles, and starting on a third before taking the law into our own hands

[JimF22003]

Was still broken this morning at about 7:00am. A couple of brave bike riders ahead of me saw a short gap, held out their arms like school crossing guards, and got about 10 riders and runners through against the red.

I and another guy hopped off the curb into Col. Pike as well in preference to trying to navigate that horrible rough narrow little temporary trail. They need to get that corner fixed ASAP.

[JimF22003]

There’s at least one fairly safe, easy way to get from Annandale over to the W&OD heading west if you’re interested. I use it as part of my commute. Starting at Hummer/Gallows:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2871618

[JimF22003]

I have the Prevail also, and I like how it fits and how light and well-vented it is. It does look kind of bulbous on my head, but then all helmets do.

The retaining mech. in the back is pretty fragile. Mine got kind of brittle after a year or so and broke apart. FreshBikes got me the replacement parts though, so it’s still going strong.

[JimF22003]

I got bit/stung by a huge horsefly on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Saturday. Bit right through my glove onto the top of my hand. My hand itches like a mofo now, and is swollen up compared to my other hand.

I’ve been stung by the usual suspects before, but this is the first time I’ve had any damage from a stupid fly (the thing was about the size of a seagull however, if that counts for anything…)

[JimF22003]

On Saturday I did my longest ride ever, 139 miles from my home inside the beltway out to Harpers Ferry via the W&OD on the VA side, and back on the MD side. This is about halfway, on the footbridge on the railway trestle at Harpers Ferry:

[JimF22003]

Ran into this at about 4:45am. Literally. That’s my front wheel wedged under the tree. Munged up my knee a little bit, but amazingly enough my fork and the carbon wheels seem to have survived ok.

I called it in before 5:00am. If it was still there at 8:00 that’s pretty bad. I could have been seriously injured.

Oh and other people too

[JimF22003]

Best. Timing. Ever.

I left Tysons about 5 minutes after a huge storm went through. Got home to Annandale about 5 minutes before the skies opened up again.

Oh yeah!

[JimF22003]

There’s a “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” sign on Idylwood pretty near the Virginia Lane spot. Maybe they need one here as well.

Because: Bicycles May Use Full Lane, that’s why…

[JimF22003]

I’ve seen people in cars trying to back their way out of the trail there at Gallows a couple of times.

[JimF22003]

That article was actually pretty funny. I’m Mr. Moderate on the Wave Question. Don’t mean to snub anyone but it happens occasionally. MTB and recumbent riders especially seem to have their “Snub-dar” on high, so I’m especially demonstrative with them.

The ones I feel bad about snubbing are car drivers who pass in the other way out on country roads. Most of the time I have no particular reason to look at the drivers one way or another, but I do get the finger-lift wave from them once in awhile. I like to return the sentiments when I notice them (assuming they gave me the correct finger…)

[JimF22003]

Parking wasn’t a problem, that I recall. They did have signs you should follow to come in from the back way.

[JimF22003]

I’ve done it a couple of times. Very nice ride, and if I recall some good grub at the end of the ride. Mmm hot dogs.

I wish they’d add a century option. I’d rather ride a bit longer when it’s a mainly flat ride. Will skip this year.

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