[Tania]

I was running late so I drove into Leesburg rather than parking by the skate rink on Claiborne.

It’s clear from Dry Mill (the first crossing there after King St) to the high school in Purcellville. We did a road loop out to Lovettesville and back but everything is clear and mostly dry.

Is Tuscarora the one where the trail dips down and then back up – no bridge over the water? If so, that’s the crossing I meant.

[Tania]

@DrP 134400 wrote:

W&OD from Arlington to Herndon and further west (does it ever become an issue)

I’m heading out that way today – Claiborne to Purcellville and then a road loop so I’ll report back. I’m told there is some ice at the Sycolin underpass and hoping goose creek isn’t flooded.

[Tania]

@vvill 134272 wrote:

(I have very few long rides on my MTB so I’m not willing to ride it for 50 miles)

An excellent point!!! Warbird it is.

[Tania]

I’m so glad someone else is possibly overthinking which bike to bring to this event (and then which tires to use!) or just overthinking this event in general.

And huskerdont, if you’re not overthinking it, lie to me and tell me that you are.

[Tania]

I need to borrow someone’s 33mm tires to see if they’ll work. There’s ZERO clearance with 35’s at the top – the tire is rubbing the fender and pretty much won’t even spin (the problem is overall height not width).

The Jack Brown Blues (and the lighter Greens – 295g vs 435g) were on my initial list for sure. Also maybe a Panaracer 32 Gravel King (but again, 32 might not fit).

Serious sad face.

[Tania]

I am forced to resume my search. I went with Clement USH 35’s as my go-to commuter tire and I LOVE it…except my fancy new wheels have 25mm/28mm rims (ailerons) and they make the tires too tall to fit with my front fender. The same exact tires fit with the stock rims. 😡

Blargh. So looking for more file tread type tire recommendations. I’d love it if the Clement LAS type tires would fit, but they’re 33 so maybe a 28 Strada LGG – they’re not file tread but they’re supposed to be good in wet conditions. I don’t seem to be affected by rolling resistance: I pr’ed my time up a hill while riding low pressure Xerxes studs the other day.

[Tania]

This was posted as the course on the FB event page.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/11214221#.Vo0B0X8GC2U.email

[Tania]

@jabberwocky 134184 wrote:

Ban large dogs! Toy poodles for all!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10862[/ATTACH]

[Tania]

@dbb 134123 wrote:

This is an opportunity to show the organizations that we rely on (DC Government, NPS, Arlington County, Montgomery County, etc) that cycling is important and popular. If you can, please sign up. The cycling community in the DC area can build off the success of this ride.

Your words sold me on registering for this…until I looked at my calendar. That’s the same weekend at Dirtfest and I’ve already registered for that.

[Tania]

@huskerdont 134124 wrote:

Did have another encounter with a suicidal bunny though. I guess with so few cyclists out it figured it had to take its chance when it could.

My bad – I couldn’t ride in today because of work obligations.

[Tania]

@huskerdont 134056 wrote:

I don’t want to hit a squirrel or a bunny, but I seriously don’t want to get hit by a deer at Monster Cross:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37WUuOc_zRQ

I laugh every time I watch that. And I’ve watched it several times now.

If hell exists, I’m so going there.

[Tania]

W&OD update – I rode from Oak in Falls Church to just east of Park in Vienna. Just east of the tennis courts by Shreve it’s still bad BUT the snow field has shrunk so I’d say there’s maybe only 25-30 yards you have to walk (I did try to ride it with my studs but I’m too chicken to keep speed). There’s still snow right along the tennis courts but that’s rideable.

Some crud by Adahi heading into Vienna (where all the construction is on the north side of the trail) – I flintstoned it heading west but then when I turned around and came back I was able to ride it.

And if *I* can ride it, so can you.

[Tania]

@kcb203 134022 wrote:

Strange coincidence–I’d never seen any suicidal bunnies there until last night when one scampered in front of me as I was going west about to go under the W&L parking deck.

This is because all kamikaze critters wait for ME. I almost got taken out by a squirrel one day and the guy behind me commented on my skill avoiding a fall. I have lots of practice as they do it EVERY RIDE. 😡

[Tania]

It was pouring in east falls church too about an hour ago.

[Tania]

W&OD Gallows to 29 report

Totally rideable even for a snow chicken like me from Gallows to the tennis courts at Shreve.

Shreve to Little Falls I’d say it’s about 70% clear but the 30% not cleared is rideable only by someone with a lot more courage and skill than me (I was riding studs too). I feel better reading that hozn had to walk part of it! I walked by the tennis courts and rode (out of the saddle, one foot unclipped and ready to flintstone) the rest of it.

It’s easy enough to take quiet side streets from Shreve to Van Buren though so that’s how I came back.

The wooden bridge just east of Little Falls is getting pretty beat up – watch for broken boards.

[Author]

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