[Phatboing]

Mmmm orange.

Since I spent a lot of time (and money) restoring an old Trek 420 last year, I’m going to pretend I’m an expert.

Essentials
1. If the bike hasn’t been ridden in a while, get new brake pads – for me, they were the difference between pure terror and considerably less terror.
2. Brake levers. At the very least, toss the suicide levers. Depending on your budget, you could also get some basic Tektro Aero Levers and continue with the current shifters. Of course, if you can, get brifters.

Dropping the weight
As hozn says, wheels. If what you have are 27-inch wheels, I believe you can convert to 700c (which are slightly smaller), but you’ll need long reach brakes to make up for the difference in wheel size. There is other silliness you can indulge in (drilled crankset, anyone?), but wheels ought to make the most difference.

Appearance
Velo Orange. Look at things, want things, buy things, repeat, lose hours of time gawking at things, wonder when you became so obsessive about the shinies, buy more things, etc. You’ll lose hours and dollars and love it.

@hozn 76538 wrote:

Oh, and probably exchange the horn for a bell.

Madness. But if you do want to get rid of the horn, I may want it.

[Phatboing]

@eminva 76511 wrote:

(Yes, this is a self-serving competition. My love for rail trails is well known and I’m always looking for new ones to check out).

Liz

Then the GAP from Cumberland to the Mason Dixon Line, surely, should count too.

[Phatboing]

@Dirt 76448 wrote:

Parts of Laurel Hill hold up VERY well in the wet. There are a few areas to avoid. Most of Laurel Hill is also a great place for beginners.

And accessible from the CCT, too. I may have to try this some time. Thanks!

[Phatboing]

@jabberwocky 76401 wrote:

There isn’t much around here that can be ridden in the wet without damaging it. You might be ok on some of the rocky trails, like Gambrill State Park (near Frederick), at least in terms of not damaging the trail. Riding that terrain in a thunderstorm might damage you, of course .

.. yeah. Lake Fairfax is close to the top of the difficulty range I want to deal with. (Also, I like biking to my bike rides, and Frederick is way out of range)

Oh well.

[Phatboing]

@kcb203 76416 wrote:

The C&O Canal Towpath is fine in the rain, but it’s not really a mountain bike trail–just 184 miles of flat gravel with pretty but unchanging scenery.

Yeah, I figured that’s the closest to “off-road” I’d get in the rain.

I did those 184 miles in May in a Pittsburgh – DC extrrrrrrrrravaganza. The “pretty” gets old at mile 10.

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@jabberwocky 76286 wrote:

Riding in the mud tears up the trails and causes a lot of damage, especially as the then-depressed tread channels water and creates more erosion in the future.

Speaking of this, is there anywhere in the area where it is possible to ride in the rain without ruining things for everyone? I love me a good summer thunderstorm, and I’d rather be off-road than on, and I’ve wanted to combine the two for a while now.

[Phatboing]

@vvill 76055 wrote:

As an aside, I wish there were an easier way for me to get to Tysons (from the east). I usually go SSW for ~3 miles to hit the W&OD and then come in via Vienna. I’ve tried riding from Falls Church to Tysons on/along Rt 7 exactly once.

YES. I don’t have to go as far to get to the W&OD, but I’m about due for an alternative. Trouble is that the W&OD seems to be the only sensible way to get across 66 and 495.

@hozn 76068 wrote:

Yes! I would strongly recommend Belleview; it is less busy than Towlston and it is a blast to ride.

Somehow I doubt that I’ll come even close to your times, but that’s a pretty elevation profile.

[Phatboing]

@Subby 76031 wrote:

Not to be a buzzkill, but Old Dominion is terrible pretty much any time but early Sunday morning and that stretch of Spring Hill between Old Dominion and Lewinsville is really tight in spots. I mean, it’s certainly doable, just big-time stressful.

You should try it though, because it sounds pretty awesome with the ramped up danger factor plus the multi-surface features.

This is about what I suspected. I certainly don’t want to arrive at work stressed out and possibly angry, though. My commute’s what keeps me in a non-murdery mood during the day.

@americancyclo 76038 wrote:

It adds two miles, but it keeps you on fun rollers and safer streets.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3981742

Thanks! This was the alternative I was just crafting, too.

[Phatboing]

Composed following a harrowing icy slide on the W&OD from Gallows to Falls Church:

This path doesn’t want to be easy
The snow’s done the melty-refreezy
The frozen road home
Will break me a bone
Should’ve taken the bus; oh jeezy.

Conditions are vaguely better than this morning: the snow has cleared where it was naked pavement last night, but has remained where it was icy. So instead of sneaking up on you, the ice will look you in the eye when it tries to kill you.

[Phatboing]

@dasgeh 75914 wrote:

Still, it was an amazing ride in, and I’m glad I did it.

This right here sums up Freezing Saddles rather neatly.

[Phatboing]

On the W&OD from Falls Church to Gallows:

The snow’s cleverly hidden all the ice, creating all the horrible things that statement implies. Look out for spots that look bumpy, for they will try to kill you.

I honestly can’t say why I made it through upright – studly tires? skill? dumb luck?

[Phatboing]

@dasgeh 75802 wrote:

Thank you and thank you. I’m 5’9″, and tend to like me bikes on the small side. So if your frame would work for me, I’d LOVE to try it.

And thanks vvill, too.

Dumb question: which bikes can take butterfly handlebars? In my head, I could use those to get the benefits of flat bars (cheaper shifters, more disk brake options, possible cheaper complete build) and the benefits of drops (more hand positions, more aggressive positioning if I tilt the butterflies down), with the downside of weight and cost of replacing bars.

Also, could one put interrupters on butterfly bars?

You might be a bit too tall. I have a small Fargo, and I’m 5’5″, and occasionally feel like I want the top tube to be longer (though I’ve been told that my torso is on the longer side for my height). But by all means, if you want to check it out, we can set up a meeting over PM.

I’ve had butterfly bars (Nashbar) on my old Trek 4300, and they can be put on any bike. I had to get a longer stem, because they extend backward a fair bit. I don’t know if you get interrupters for the diameter of the handlebars, however. (far as I know, they come for the 23.whatever road bar dimensions, not the 22.5 MTB bar dimensions)

[Phatboing]

@dasgeh 75750 wrote:

I would love to test ride a Salsa (Vaya, Fargo or Warbird), but I don’t see a local dealer. Anyone know how I could test ride one?

I’ve seen a Salsa in stock at Spokes Vienna on a couple of occasions. The most recent I remember is a Vaya, but that was many moons ago.

If it’s a small frame you seek, I could maybe try and convince myself that letting Someone Else try my Fargo won’t kill me.

[Phatboing]

@dkel 75737 wrote:

I rode the tiny stretch of the W&OD between Shreve and Broad St, and found it frustrating and slow on regular 35s (I didn’t even make it all the way out to Shreve). I guess I’ll be taking the streets until we get another warm spell. Nuts! I miss the trail!

Was that you bouncing around on the ice after citizens bridge, then? Around 6, maybe?

[Phatboing]

W&OD from Gallows to Falls Church: a lot is clear, but the stretches that aren’t clear are covered in doom. DOOM!

I couldn’t tell if my studded tires were any help, because I had some real pant-wetting moments there.

Also, achtung for the dog-scheisse.

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