[kcb203]

Get off in Reston at Wiehle and go north, then go right on Baron Cameron. These aren’t the best roads, but doable. Then take Baron Cameron across Route 7, where it becomes Springvale. Go across Georgetown Pike until you get to Beech Mill. You can then go right or left. All the roads between Beech Mill and Georgetown Pike are great–Seneca, Utterback Store, Springvale, Walker, and Riverbend. My rides look like a comb–Beech Mill is the spine of the comb, and the other roads I mentioned are the teeth. I wouldn’t ride on Georgetown Pike, though.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/422158640

[kcb203]

You: In a purple shirt and black jeans riding really low without underwear revealing at least 2/3 of you hairy crack, going 2-3 mph across the Roosevelt Bridge from the MVT to DC.

Me: Stuck behind you, with the aforementioned crack staring me in the face for the interminable slow ride across the bridge.

[kcb203]

@dasgeh 85614 wrote:

Hmmmm, that tree wasn’t there at 8:59am…

I went through at about 8:25 and it was there, with an orange cone on each side as warning.

[kcb203]

The perpetually clogged drain on the Custis just east of Spout Run was clear this morning and no puddle, but just a bit further east–right before the sharp left at Lee Highway–there’s a down tree blocking the trail.

[kcb203]

@bobco85 85342 wrote:

Was kinda bored this afternoon and disappointed in the lackluster improvements that are on the way for the Intersection of Doom, so I decided to come up with an alternative that I think could be possible. Throwing caution to the wind, here goes my redesign:

Currently the area looks like this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5598[/ATTACH]

My redesign (trying to look realistic):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5599[/ATTACH]

My redesign with labels:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5600[/ATTACH]

I really wanted to solve the danger in having 2 right turn lanes from the I-66 off-ramp so I eliminated right turns from those lanes. Now, if possible I would have a bridge to cross over the I-66 off-ramp to avoid the new crossing I created, but I figured the at-grade crossing would be more likely. Also, I do not think the boathouse is ever happening so I figure Arl Co or NPS will buy the private property and eliminate the useless driveway.

I was inspired by Steve O’s design when making this (I really like his idea of splitting the I-66 off-ramp), even if it doesn’t quite look the same as his. Hopefully something can be done to make this intersection safer.

Sorry, but crossing a ramp is a bad idea. I bike to work in Reston and ride on the Fairfax County Parkway trail for a mile where it crosses the entrance/exit ramps for the toll road and Sunset Hillls. Crossing those ramps is terrifying–cars are absolutely not thinking about bikes.

[kcb203]

@chris_s 85008 wrote:

So about that private landowner…

an agreement to purchase that land is on the agenda for tomorrow’s Arlington County Board Meeting

That’d be one less stakeholder to coordinate.

Agenda. Staff Report.

It was originally on the consent agenda for Saturday’s meeting, but somebody pulled it for further discussion.

Yikes, $2.4M is a lot of money for .6 acres of land that’s probably undevelopable given its location with poor road access and being in the DCA flight path. Especially given that it was sold by the government to the developer for $445,000 in 1998.

[kcb203]

I don’t think a no right on red would do anything at the Intersection of Doom. I’m worried about people turning right on green when I’m in the crosswalk with a white walk sign, not turning when the walk sign is on red and I’m standing on the curb.

[kcb203]

I love group rides, but don’t appreciate huge groups. The 5 Boro Bike Tour was the biggest cluster**** I’ve ever seen. Tens of thousands of riders of all skill levels, with fast riders starting in back and slow riders at the front. I only did it once but saw two crashes that probably required serious medical attention. And I’m done with the Freshbikes ride after dealing with wahoos who don’t know how to ride in a pack. I occasionally go to Hains Point for the lunchtime ride, and 98% of those people know what they’re doing even though they’re going 30+. But I’ve heard about crashes there as well.

[kcb203]

@dasgeh 84035 wrote:

The Custis puddle was still there. And I’d say 6″ deep. I’ve emailed people, but not the right people — I’m hoping the people I emailed pass it along. Does anyone know the right way to report it? Over / under on when it’s fixed.

It was deep enough this morning to soak my shoes even when I coasted through with pedals at 3 and 9 o’clock.

[kcb203]

@dbb 83724 wrote:

N
Lesson to all – Put a business card in your seat bag. The medics didn’t seem interested (allowed?) in scooping up the bike, the PP never showed and I was damned if I would leave it along side the trail. The business card may be the key to success.

Also put a business card inside the seat post. If the bike is stolen and recovered, it’s an easy way to prove it’s yours. Easier still is to record the serial numbers, which I still have never bothered to do.

[kcb203]

Every morning when I commute on the Custis, I see the same guy out for his morning walk at 8:15 or so from Courthouse to Ballston and back. He’s probably in his 60s with a short beard, wears a Hawaiian or plaid short-sleeve shirt in the summer and a leather jacket in the winter. He walks with his head cocked to one side with his eyes facing down. I don’t think I’ve ever not seen him. I can set my clock based on where I see him. If I’m on time, I see him at the top of the switchbacks behind the Italian Store. I knew I was running very late today because he was almost to Ballston when I saw him.

[kcb203]

@Dirt 83288 wrote:

Over the 5+ years of the routes existence, the elevation has gone up from about 10,800 to my estimate of 12,800.

I have usually talked about it with educated guesses for the elevation gain because Ride With GPS doesn’t accurately calculate it.

Today I looked at the actual elevation data recorded on 4 different types of devices by 12 different people on many occasions over the last 3 years. The lowest measured elevation gain was 10,800. The highest was 13,200. I’ve ridden the loop 20 times in the last 5 years and pretty consistently come up with numbers that tend to validate the mid-upper 12,000 estimate. It takes me a little while to calculate that because I generally ride for an hour before and after the ride so my legs don’t explode. I rarely take the time to subtract out the pre and post ride elevation.

Does that help?

The elevation doesn’t really count if you don’t come to a screeching halt at the bottom of each hill to ensure you don’t use momentum to help you up. I presume that’s part of the protocol.

I’ll try to join in for part of it–the route goes near my house at miles 2, 5, 15, 47, and 64. I’m not sure what activities my kids have going on later that day, and I’m not in shape right now to do a full hundred.

[kcb203]

@culimerc 82125 wrote:

Uh….. Thanks for sharing???

You must not be a triathlete. We discuss bodily functions the way other people discuss the weather.

[kcb203]

The Bridge to Nowhere on the Custis can be useful. I was running on the trail near there a couple years ago, and got the dreaded rumbling in the lower gut that signals an imminent disaster. I darted across the bridge, knowing that there wouldn’t be anybody on the other side. I stepped into the woods and was able to relieve myself and finish the run.

[kcb203]

I lifted weights this morning and twerked my shoulder and neck. I was all excited for my 14 mile commute from Falls Church to Reston, but as soon as I mounted my bike, I realized I could only look down, and not forward. I decided it wasn’t worth the pain, so I turned around and got in the car. Total biking today: .11 miles and 48 seconds.

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