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Friend and I rode from Clark’s Crossing to the Herndon caboose tonight. A few spots of single-track, but otherwise totally rideable. We were both on roadies and slicks. SOOOOOOOOOO nice to be back on the trail as opposed to Route 7.

Definitely the black ice concern tomorrow morning, but I’ll be out there anyway.

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My friend and I will be hitting the trail around 5:30 tonight, hoping this beautiful day thawed some of the nasty spots. Will report back this evening.

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@FFX_Hinterlands 2332 wrote:

Ugh, I’m all ready to go West on the W&OD this morning. It’s colder than I expected, perhaps I’ll pass. Too bad it might be the only commute day for me this week.

Sorry, no report from me this morning. The morning traffic report said route 7 was jammed up due to an accident, so I took the street hoping to pass a zillion stopped cars. Alas, it was already cleaned up by the time I got there. Rats.

Today might be near 50 and sunny. If it thaws, I’ll take the trail tonight and report back this evening.

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I’m thinking I might brave it. My neighborhood in Herndon thawed significantly last night. If it’s clear, the W&OD outta be at least passable. Yesterday was a big help.

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@Chris Eatough 2303 wrote:

Morning bike commute conditions: 98% clear pavement. 2% ice patches. Watch out for the 2% where water pooled and froze.

I’m jealous, I wish they cleared the trail out this way. The only “clearing” out here are the tracks from the Dominion trucks.

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Sooooooooo yeah, the trail is still a mess. Clark’s Crossing to Hunter Mill was mostly ridable, Buckthorne involved a LOT of walking. Sunrise Valley to Sunset Hills was hit or miss, mostly crawling. I tried to ride into Reston, but a jogger passed me… that’s when I detoured onto Sunset Hills instead. Eventually arrived home despite the brutal, brutal, brutal headwinds…

Studded tires would have better luck than my road tires, but I won’t declare it “rideable” yet.

It’s beer time. Ride #472 just whupped my tail.

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@CCrew 2276 wrote:

Ack.. Trade ya. Blasted a bambi @ 55mph on the way in this morning with the car on Rt7. Good couple thou $ damage to the car.

Oh man, POW! Glad you’re alright man! Sheet metal can be replaced.

Should’ve been on the bike, easier to swerve.

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Hopefully tomorrow’s near-50 and raining all day will help clear some of the trail up. I’m getting tired of riding on Route 7.

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Same here, thanks man. Guess I’m sticking to the roads.

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My coworker has been practicing with her sled dog ever since Wednesday, so some people LOVE the unplowed trail. I wish I had an alternate route that didn’t involve route 7, but it’s hard to get to central McLean without it, or taking a twisty road with poor sight lines (Old Dominion, Beulah, etc) and risk taking a minivan up the blinker.

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Yeah, I took 7. Mostly just gravel mess. I’ll take my trail back now please.

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Anyone know if the W&OD is rideable tonight? I’m leaving work in half an hour, and it’s a LOT less stressful than route 7.

I’m riding Vienna to Herndon.

Thanks in advance…

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Snow pack on the W&OD out here in Herndon is full. There’s a set of what look to be Jeep tracks, probably from the Dominion Power crews doing an inspection run.

Roads are all clear though, and a HUGE THANK YOU to VDOT for plowing the shouders on Route 7! I actually had some room to ride without too much fear of taking a minivan up the back.

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@Swamptortoise 2186 wrote:

Usually it’s easy to replace the sprockets ( I think they’re referred to as Jockey Wheels). SRAM sells a kit with new bearings and spacers for $12.95. I’ve replaced sprockets on Shimano by going to the bike shop and they find a couple in a drawer somewhere.

Good to know, thanks!

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I keep two bikes ready, my CXB on road tires and my MTB on studs. Swap bikes as needed for weather like this. Naturally, the MTB is with me here at work today. Air the studs down to about 40psi (usually 60) and they trudge through the slushy crud just fine.

My friend down the street rides his CXB full time though, and keeps a set of studded tires on a separate wheelset. He can swap them in about a minute. That might be the way to go, although my body was thankful for the front suspension on my MTB this morning.

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