Trail Conditions — January 2014

[TwoWheelsDC]

This morning was half rage, half laughter for me. I took Fairfax/Clarendon to Veitch and then cut down to the Custis…I knew it would be bad, but I thought I would investigate so I could report back. Oh man…from Scott all the way across TR bridge was an absolute s$#tshow…basically unrideable in any meaningful way. On knobby 700x34s, I was basically riding at walking speed. But of course, all the roads were clear and dry!

@consularrider 75400 wrote:

I did take the Custis downhill from Scott to Oak. At Scott it looked clear, but around the bend it was all ice and there was a berm blocking the Quinn St cut. From Quinn to Oak it was all ice and I took it very slow.

Here are some photos of the areas in question:

And TR bridge:

[Phatboing]

Not surprisingly, the W&OD is a slog.

Between Falls Church and Shreve Rd, however, either through the natural stomping patterns of the Northern Virginian, or through the actions of a kind soul, there’s a hard-packed track on the trail, which is reasonably nice. The rest of it until Gallows isn’t as nice (admittedly, I avoided most of it).

After making my way through all that, the Virginia Ln climb nearly took me out. For the first time since I started biking in the area, I actually had to stop and catch my breath at the top.

[Subby]

For the first time I ever I just skipped the trails and took streets all the way in (Kirby > Chesterbrook > Glebe > Military > Lorcom > Spout Run > Lee Hwy > Key Bridge far right lane > M Street > Penn > Work).

It was slushy and black icy at times, but on my studded 32s I felt pretty confident. I took it slow going down the hills on Military. Hats off to all of the superstars that braved the trails.

[NickBull]

I rode from the little park at the top of the hill in Rosslyn, down the Custis to MVT, down the river along the wooden bridge to the crossing for Memorial Bridge (got to press the new signal button for the first time … cars stopped!) across Memorial Bridge to Ohio Drive past Jefferson Memorial and the fish market and thence on surface streets to Ford House Ofc Building.

On Nokian Extreme 294-stud 26″x2-1/4″ tires this was pretty straightforward, though a lot more work than regular tires on clear pavement. And I sure wished that the other people who seem to ride inferior tires and slide all over would quit doing that because it makes for a more sketchy ride in! Usually I cross the river at 14th St, but I figured that it is faster to ride on Ohio Dr than to ride on the MVT, and given the pictures of the humpback bridge I think that was probably the right call. Memorial Bridge itself has had the sidewalks cleared, so from there in to work could have probably been ridden on non-studded tires, though with a few sketchy bits.

[83b]

My usual commute sticks to in-town streets, but today I had a dentist appointment first thing over in Crystal City. I understand now why everyone raves about their studded tires! The 26″x2″ Schwalbes I’ve always run were not quite up to the task of the unplowed trails. Add in a dash of overconfidence and you get me sprawled out in the snow–twice, since I’m a slow learner–having washed out the front wheel on icy patches.

The areas of hardpacked snow weren’t too bad but some of the sunnier wind-swept spots seemed to be starting to form a shiny layer of ice. The 14th street bridge had a decent track along its eastern edge, but passing the lone oncoming cyclist I saw required moving over into a sketchier section.

[Arlingtonrider]

A little report from downtown – L Street bike lanes had been well salted and although still a little slushy around noon, were easy to handle on a CaBi. The 15th Street lanes from L Street down to Pennsylvania Ave. were almost entirely clear, as were the Pennsylvania bike lanes. It’s a nice day for a bike ride!

[Terpfan]

Yep, DC basically cleared the lanes. I did L St, Penn and a little on 9th today. By and large they were fine. Side streets were a little bit different of a story, but it was still passable. Kind of impressed by DDOT doing it.

[consularrider]

From what little I have seen, Arlington did a better job of street clearing than Falls Church. I rode over to Bikenetic from Madison Manor using Columbia, Little Falls, and Park. No clearing at all on Little Falls, and on the way back Lincoln was still messy.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Rode the short Custis stretch between the Fairfax connector and the George Mason exit and it seemed to have been salted. Not sure how much more of the trail was…

[Geoff]

Yer all bonkers. If God had meant for us to ride in this stuff he would have given bikes tracks and skis. Something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86SmftMKtT8

(you’ll have to put up with an ad, sorry)

[americancyclo]

Jan 23rd
W&OD between Citizens’ Bridge and Shreve Rd crossing

[Steve O]

The Custis was salted. I was only on it for a short distance near Ballston (Ballston Connector not salted), so others can weigh in on how far the salting extends east and west. I would suspect at least Rosslyn to the WOD connector or more.

Salting has made the trail slushy rather than icy, which is lots better. Hopefully it will start evaporating. Sunny spots will probably start clearing down to pavement by this eve; shady…hard to know.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Only trails I took today were the 110 trail between Marshall and Memorial Dr, and the trails around the mall. 110 trail was bad, but fairly easily passible with knobbies and some caution. The ice is patchy and rutted enough that any slips aren’t catastrophic. Memorial Bridge sidepath was basically fine (downriver side) and the plaza in front of the Lincoln and the trails around the Vietnam memorial are pretty well iced over. But again, the ice is patchy and rutted, so it’s not particularly slick.

[OneEighth]

Up-river side path on Key was mostly clear yesterday evening for about half the span. The other half still looked lumpy and icy.
Really appreciated how all the cars held still for me as I crossed into Gtown this morning, though!

[Greenbelt]

So first day back on the commute for me (new job!) and I can report that the NE/NW branch trail route to DC from Lake Artemesia to 38th street is decently passable with snow tires (MTB or CX width minimum and lowered pressure or studs). There are dry patches, packed snow (not too spiky yet since it has stayed below freezing), and a bit of powder. I probably averaged 11-12 mph max this morning. (My usual 1 hour 5 minute commute took 1 hour 23.)

The Met Branch trail was plowed and is dry except for a couple snowy spots on the bridge next to the NYAve metro station, and a small but nasty ice patch right at the trailhead under bridge by Choc City brewery.

-Jeff

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