[wheelswings]

@DismalScientist 110419 wrote:

Your route takes you over Arlington secondary roads that get more plowing than lesser roads. 16th and Lexington are such roads. If 16th and Lexington were in good shape, I would expect your entire route to be fine.

It looks like NVPRA took a lesser machine (than Arlington) over the WOD east of the Custis. It won’t help tomorrow, but may help with eventual clearing.

Thanks – good to know!
In terms of secondary roads, as of this afternoon 16th was in good shape but both 15th (near W&L) and Lexington still had sections of melting ice and thick slush, which I expect will re-freeze overnight.

[wheelswings]

Given my less-than-spectacular ability to stay upright on the ice this morning, I am feeling a bit queasy about which route to take tomorrow morning (Saturday). I will be starting north-west of Westover (out toward EFC) and heading to Wakefield High School (down near Rt. 7 and S. George Mason). As always, I am riding on slicks. I plan to leave home at about 6:45 a.m.
I’m thinking my options are:
1.Try the WOD… hard to imagine… ?
2. Take the major roads… Washington Blvd and George Mason… maybe there’s not much traffic at that hour on a Saturday (?), so perhaps this is actually the safest way…? assuming they’re dry…
3. Stick to the usual backroads and hope they’re in good shape …15th>Quincy>Henderson>Abingdon>3rd>Wakefield>S 4MR
I would be grateful for input on whether any of these routes were actually clear and dry this evening… since tonight’s 15 degree temperatures could make wet roads more exciting than I’d like.
Thanks!

[wheelswings]

@vern 110352 wrote:

I can’t imagine riding on slicks today, and if doing so, can’t imagine falling only 3 times. I hope there are no lasting effects. I hit the road hard once on the way to Java Shack.

Ouch. Hope you’re not too badly banged up either. Sorry about the leash-less dog – ugh!

I’m okay, mostly just a bruised rear. Remember that New York University study a couple years ago that found that scrawnier pedestrians and cyclists got more injured in crashes?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/nyregion/study-details-injuries-to-pedestrians-and-cyclists-in-new-york-city.html

Here are the relevant paragraphs from the NYT article:

+ + + + +

Victims with an above-normal body mass index were found to have less severe injuries than their counterparts. “It is not implausible that a greater proportion of torso and extremity fat may protect against injury,” the report said.

Dr. Frangos noted that generally, overweight and obese patients fared worse once admitted to a hospital, but that perhaps “that extra layer offers some protection at the time of the injury.”

+ + + + +

Bottom line….I think we’d better eat more pie.

[wheelswings]

Any guesses as to what might be the least slippery time to ride home today, sans-studs?

I made intimate connection with the ice 3x this morning, and I’m hoping the return will be easier.

Here in the office I’m daydreaming of the sturdy little trike I rode when I was four….nice and close to the ground, nowhere to fall. I think a tiny trike with studded tires would be my perfect vehicle right now!

[wheelswings]

I’ll be there, assuming the roads aren’t too icy for my stud-less tires and their not-so-studly rider. I’ve heard three others say (at least tentatively) that they plan to be there.
Looking forward as always.

[wheelswings]

WHOA WHOA WHOA, RCannon100. I sense something devious going on. It so happens that you are competing on the Doozy Dozers Team 12 that has just overtaken its chief rival – your son’s own admirable team — the Bipolar Bears Team 6. And you are also painfully aware that The Kid is a heck of a lot stronger than anyone and could leave all of us in the dust if so motivated.
So what does Daddy do? He goes out and buys The Kid an addictive new INDOOR playtoy to keep him occupied with Matt and PeteD drinking imaginary coffee on the #nobafs trainer bike. An innocent “gift” to your dear boy? Or an underhanded attempt to subjugate a great team of Bears that shares your very own flesh and blood?

[wheelswings]

Thanks for the trail reports. I just got home from DC via the MVT and the WOD (on slicks) and I had a lot of the same reactions as KWL.
Between Key and 4MR there were four short stretches on the MVT across which I walked the bike or Flintstoned. There were several other areas where the ice covered all but a thin line of pavement, sometimes as narrow as four inches, so you had to ride carefully. Other parts of the trail were just wet and slushy.
I expect some sections of MVT will fail to melt and others will simply re-freeze overnight, so once they’re hidden under tomorrow’s fresh powder it may be a bit treacherous – again.
As for the WOD, it was easy like Dismal described, aside from the occasional icy bit at the underpasses.

[wheelswings]

@Dickie 110108 wrote:

Yeah, that’s exactly how the MVT was this morning as well …

I’m hoping to ride home tonight via the MVT (from Key to 4MR trail) and the WOD (toward EFC), as I’ve got some errands in those parts. Do you think they’ll still be icy, given that it’s 47 degrees out there? I’ve stuck to alternate routes in recent weeks, so I’ve lost track of the trail conditions. I’m not in the mood for too much excitement tonight.

Thanks!!

[wheelswings]

I just rode the Custis again (3:30 pm Tuesday)…it’s in great shape…. the ice is just about gone. Thanks to whomever (Whomever ? :+) ) helped it melt.

[wheelswings]

@Steve O 109953 wrote:

I rode the whole Custis in, including the Spout Run/B to N/moguls section. 28 slicks. Another road cyclist was gingerly walking his bike at the moguls. I dinged him with my bell, and he could barely keep himself up sliding around while I rode right on by. That said, recommended only for the dauntless.

Show off. Some of the ice was well-beaten and ride-able, but it sounds like the bike-walker scooted aside to the truly slippery part when you dinged him, to let you keep your line.
I appreciate anyone who gets out there, dauntless or daunted.

[wheelswings]

@rcannon100 109644 wrote:

I think there was a CADCX that I was crying over cause it was too small.

Too small for you? That’s, um, shocking.

[wheelswings]

I’ve got a new finger-warming technique – this time not involving tin-foil or plastic bags! Maybe it’s all in my head, but it seems to work.

For years I’ve been doing finger exercises when my thumbs or other digits get cold. It doesn’t really help. But in recent weeks I started doing these same exercises but with my hands no longer positioned at my handlebars. Rather I hold my arms straight down by my sides. I just do this at stoplights, for 20 seconds or whatever I’ve got.

I don’t feel the difference right away, but within a minute or two of starting back up I find my fingers are far warmer. Several times, they’ve gone from beastly cold to comfortable. For some reason, getting my arms down by my sides helps kick-start the blood circulation. I’ve got no science to back this up, but it seems to work.

Feel free to try it if your fingers get cold. :+)

[wheelswings]

@Ellen 109343 wrote:

I rode the TR bridge this morning with studded tires. I would not attempt it with regular tires. Most of the bridge and ramp is covered with frozen ruts. It was a real challenge and I am trying to decide if I am more afraid of the cars in G’town (and taking the Key Bridge back to Custis), or of going back over the TR bridge back home.

Hi Ellen – I don’t know where you work, but if you’re not comfortable with M Street in Georgetown, I’d suggest taking N instead (just a couple blocks north)…. that’s what I do everyday when it’s snowy/icy out. I don’t care for M Street in G’town — and my boss has been hit twice riding along it. N is pretty easy — just take the lane or watch for car doors since it’s more narrow. To me it feels far safer than M. You can cut down 34th St. to get onto Key Bridge and the Custis. Good luck.

[wheelswings]

@dkel 109288 wrote:

So last night I had this dream that we were doing Freezing Saddles in Italy! And it was springtime…

I sooo want to be in that dream with you. Please include me in it tonight.

(and apologies, Rockford10, I don’t mean what it sounds like I mean… :+) ).

[wheelswings]

Hi – As of late yesterday, the WOD between Ballston and Shirlington was still in bad shape, at least for slicks. Instead I took Quincy>Henderson>Abingdon>Left on 3rd>Wakefield>4MR side road (just north of WOD and 4MR DR)>Right on Walter Reed Dr>Left on 4MR Trail (nicely plowed!) along Arlington Mill Drive. It was an easy commute and felt relatively safe, as of late afternoon yesterday… though I realize things are changing by the minute with the re-freeze.

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