[Tania]

I’ve ridden over 600 miles so far this year. Last year at this time I didn’t have a garmin but I’d guess I had logged maybe — maybe — 75 miles.

Thanks BAFS!

[Tania]

If you ever hear a crazy lady yelling “HUSKERDONT! HUSKERDONT!” at 6:30 am, it’s me. We pass through there at almost the same time but I never see anyone! (Once DST starts though I’ll be heading in later)

[Tania]

I slept in. Overall International Bike To Work Day fail for me.

[Tania]

Be ready for a fun ride home:

Capital Weather Gang says Evening snow blitz LIKELY with icy road threat, 5-11 p.m. Friday:

“The National Weather Service says “stay informed and be ready to adjust travel plans”. This is sage advice as snow showers Friday evening have the potential to make a mess of area roads.

As a strong Arctic cold front charges into the region this evening, a line of snow showers is likely to move through that may quickly cover road surfaces with an icy, slick film.

We are not expecting a lot of snow and it will pass quickly but, as we’ve seen from past events (see Jan. 20, the Wed. night before the blizzard), it doesn’t take substantial amounts to lead to major problems on the roads when temperatures and road surfaces are subfreezing – as they will be tonight.”

[Tania]

@huskerdont 134831 wrote:

They have a crappy comb rack over next to a parking space. Perfect place to get your bike hit by a car or messed with.

The MOM’s they put in on Lee Highway though has nice inverted U racks right out front. More and more I’m just going there.

I love MOM’s. The one near me in Merrifield lets me bring my bike inside (I only do it when it’s not crowded) and when I don’t bike over, they ask me why I didn’t!

[Tania]

I tried to pledge but the questions annoyed me, the site was slow and then at the end the inspirational message was required so I clicked off the page. Don’t make me work to sign up for stuff.

[Tania]

The sky is definitely brightening up around the edges by 6:20 and this morning was the first time it was almost light when I was rolling past the White House around 6:40.

[Tania]

@scoot 134746 wrote:

You could also push the pedestrian crossing button at WC/Braddock. That will give you more time before the herd of automobiles on Braddock gets a green light behind you. (Although it might also anger some of the drivers!)

This part of Braddock is roughly flat until Inverchapel, then it starts going up. I would consider bailing over to Adair Ln between Inverchapel and Queensberry, because that’s where it starts going uphill: the cars will catch up to you there and be fighting each other for lane position at the 495 interchange. East of Queensberry, there is a sidewalk. Also the shoulder between Inverchapel and Queensberry is very narrow and rocky.

Do Braddock Rd bus riders actually use those unsignalized crosswalks to and from the stops? That’s like painting crosswalks on the Beltway.

Thanks! I was actually thinking about taking Adair because I believe then I can cut over into the shopping center pretty quickly once I’m back on Braddock (sidewalk!).

I’m just being a chicken. I’ve ridden the CCT a few times and the road (at least to WC and Queen Elizabeth) a gazillion times. And, it’s not like I don’t have a mid-fat 27.5+ bike that I could totally take on the CCT not to mention the ONLY snow that’s left are the big piles created by snow plows. The “what if” part of my brain is in overdrive. What if I have an issue on the CCT? How many people are going to be out in the freezing cold that early on a Sat if I fall and break something? Did I turn off the coffee maker this am? Did I forget chapstick, again?

[Tania]

@hozn 134723 wrote:

I’m guessing that it’ll be ok if (when) things are frozen hard next couple mornings (?) — I was thinking of doing some CCT + Lake Fairfax riding Friday morning.

Hopefully someone can provide a better answer. Though I’m also kinda hopeful that no one has been riding the dirt trails in our recent warm & soggy weather. (To be fair, I don’t know the classification of the CCT down there.)

Most of the CCT down by Wakefield is actually paved! There are few gravel sections but the only dirt you’d hit is the odd short bit in Wakefield itself (which I believe is all avoidable).

[Tania]

Anyone been on the Cross County Trail down by Wakefield? I need to get from Dunn Loring to near the Safeway at Braddock and 495 (Port Royal Road).

Normally I’d take the CCT (because it’s more interesting) but I can meander down to Wakefield Chapel road but that puts me on Braddock longer than I’d like (there may be a acceptable shoulder though, I’ve never ridden on Braddock…)

[Tania]

I’m told the new switchback is much easier (according to my friend who hated the old one which is still there). It had been years since I’d ridden through there and I don’t remember the old switchback at all. The new one is pretty unremarkable (in a good way) except for me wanting to cut it short and roll straight down the hill before they get any vegetation/barriers in place…not that, uh, I’ve done that or anything. It’s the Warbird. It makes me want to try stupid things.

I don’t recall any rough patches that consularrider mentioned but then I’m usually on 35-40mm tires.

[Tania]

I don’t know whether to love these freeze points (they put me ahead of KayakCyndi! 😮 ) or hate them (my rides are usually either sleaze rides or between 13-50 miles; I rarely hit the sweet spot).

When I checked rank this am I was 61 to 64 or something like that so not much different there for me.

[Tania]

@wheels&wings 134628 wrote:

And – not insignificantly – my children enjoy the FS site too. They’ve learned all our funny team names and ask me questions like, “What ever happened to 8 Ballin’?”

Tell them to fret not, we are plotting a roaring return to the top.

[Tania]

@Vicegrip 134605 wrote:

Anyone else answer their i-phone with their nose in the winter?

My nose is usually way too cold for that!

[Tania]

…my super cool and reflective Sugoi jacket isn’t waterproof enough for an hour-long ride. And my gloves aren’t waterproof at ALL. But I wasn’t cold, got the under layers just right.

And I really, really can’t see well when it’s dark and raining so it was slow going. But you can thank me for it just being rain: I put the studded tires back on last night.

Saw vicegrip and hozn. And hey – to the guy with multiple red blinkies who passed me on the east side of Two Sisters without calling (I had NO IDEA you were there), may your bottom bracket freeze up solid and be forever stuck in your frame.

[Author]

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