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Studs are cheating! That’s why I love them so much!

That said, Herndon to Vienna today (then further on-road) on a set of Innova Tundra Wolf studded 26s. Trail was 100% snow, still soft enough to be enjoyable. Average speed was “snail” though and my legs got a whupping. Thankfully work gives me a 9 hour break between rides! This completes my 460th consecutive bike-to-work day, including all three of last year’s blizzards. Woo! (I’m proud of it).

Last night (Tuesday) was all ice rain until Buckthorn, which was 100% impassable on the pavement. Solid slick of ice, so we were all hoofing it in the dirt. Fine east of that until my turn off in Herndon.

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Another option is to join the W&OD Trail Patrol. Not only are you doing a good public service, but they give you a nice little vest with huge reflective strips on it. I wear mine when I commute a) because it promotes the Trail Patrol even when I’m not on it and b) because it’s VERY visible.

HD does indeed sell reflective vests though.

BTW: While we’re on the topic, I was rolling along this morning at about 20mph and never saw the ninja jogger until the moment of impact. By sheer luck, I was about 3″ too far to the left for there to actually BE an impact, so in this case the ninja really, REALLY lucked out. I had my dual-halogen headlight on full blast and never even remotely saw the person. When will they learn?

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Are you cycling in your thick winter coat? I would actually recommend multiple thin layers to any one thick layer.

With the teen- and twenty-degree mornings we’ve had lately, my torso armor has been:
Jersey, arm warmers, light cycling windbreaker, hi-vis waterproof cycling jacket w/reflective strips, and my W&OD Trail Patrol vest over that because it has HUGE reflective strips on it.

If you insist on the big jacket though, go to Home Depot and grab a simple safety vest for a few bucks. Same kind construction and DOT workers wear. Yeah, it looks goofy, but I’d rather look goofy and be very, very visible than be another all-black Trail Ninja waiting to get plowed over (encountered another three this morning!)

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W&OD from Herndon to Vienna is 95% clear, 100% rideable. Icy remains are abundant around Buckthorne, but nothing you can’t make it through. There are clear paths through all of the spots. Pretty much clear once you past Reston TC heading east. Nice to be off Route 7 at last. It was shorter and faster, but way more stressful. I ride to relax.

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I second that. Studded tires are incredible tools. During last year’s triple-blizzard winter, I worked at one of those unfortunate jobs where I was REQUIRED to be at work. Since I commute full time by bike, this was no problem. Studded tires were already mounted and ready to go, and I was regularly the only one in my office who was able to get to and from work with ease.

The Friday of the first February blizzard, I didn’t get to leave work until 5pm. I rode home in about 6″ of snow/ice, and the studded tires were like having a cheat code turned on. I passed stuck SUVs – literally – and made it home in only a few minutes longer than it normally took. The roads I rode were not plowed, and it was one of the greatest adventure rides I’ve ever been on.

The next week, after blizzard #2, I made it to work on time as usual. Three hours went by until anyone else showed up, and everyone had horror stories about traffic, getting stuck, bad drivers, etc… Everyone except the guy on the bike.

Studded tires. The Konami Code of winter cycling.

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I’ve been detouring down Route 7 since the first snowfall, but I’m going to take the W&OD home from Vienna to Herndon today to avoid the stress of watching my mirror the entire ride. I’ll report in when I get home on the WOD condition.

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I thought they left the trails snowy for the x-country skiiers. At least, that’s what I’ve been told about the W&OD.

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W&OD between Herndon and Vienna is still mostly an icy mess. I’ve been diverting my commute to Route 7, and surprisingly it hasn’t been that bad at all. With one small exception, it has a decent shoulder – even though it’s covered in gravel/salt/dirt. Armadillos rock.

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Thanks Dirt. It’s nothing you can’t handle with a good set of studded tires and a MTB.

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I like to at least let them known I’m back there, even if it’s a simple, “Mind if I draft?” Most often they don’t mind.

Whenever someone phantom-drafts me, I either drop em or slow down and let em pass. Let me know or go away, please. I’ve been rear ended too, same as Dirt.

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