Arlington Loop Ride - Sat, 28 Dec

[Tony DeFilippo]

Anyone interested in a casual ride this coming Saturday morning? Similar to our ride from the summer...

For a reminder;

http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2013/09/riv-ride-arlington-loop.html

Meeting at the Navy and Merchant Mariner Memorial worked last time but if be game to meet anywhere on the loop. So here is the proposal;

Sat, 28 Dec
0800 meet up
3ish hour ramble around Arlington maybe with an excursion into the city

In very open to suggestion if there is a desire for a different route!

Merry Christmas!!

Tony

[Michael]

Sounds fun. Still pondering. The weather looks good so far - high of 47 and sunny!

 

Anywhere to park by the monument? Not familiar with Arlington.

I would be coming from Ellicott City, MD. 

[Tony DeFilippo]

The parking lot at gravely point, just off the GW Parkway is very close by.  On the other side of the parkway but also close is the Columbia Island Marina parking... Access to the trail from the marina is slightly less straightforward.

Weather does look good!

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[Michael]

OK. I am in! Thanks for offering. Sounds like a fun ride! Lord willing, I will be there.

Bringing my Sam.

Merry Christmas to you, too, Tony.

[Howard]

Count me in. I'll be riding a 2-tt sage green Sam.

Howard

[Tony DeFilippo]

Excellent! I'll probably be riding my newly alba-equipped Atlantis.

Any more takers?

[Minh]

Not sure i can make it, but in case i do which direction are you guys gonna go?  Are you going to head out north towards Roslyn or South towards Alexandria at the start?

[Tony DeFilippo]

South towards Alexandria... Hope to see you!

[Minh]

Tony,

What's the route plan? South through S. Arlington then loop back on the Custis?

[Tony DeFilippo]

Exactly, check out the link in the first post and that is the route....

Mount Vernon trail to
Four Mile Run trail to
W&OD trail (trail head in Shirlington) to
Custis Trail (near bluemont junction) to
Mount Vernon Trail (at Roosevelt Island)

And back to the Gravely Point area.  Possible excursion into DC at Memorial Bridge...

Tony

[Steve Palincsar]

On 12/26/2013 03:52 PM, Tony DeFilippo wrote:
>
> Exactly, check out the link in the first post and that is the route....
>
> Mount Vernon trail to
> Four Mile Run trail to
>

Do remember, on Saturday the detour with the zigzag up-ramp is supposed
to be in effect on the Four Mile Run trail near the Mt. Vernon Trail
where they're removing that one bridge.

[Tony DeFilippo]

Steve,

Thanks for the heads up, so is the four mile run trail interrupted or just one of the exits off of it?

Are you going to join us?

Tony

[Tom M]

I'd like to join in if you don't mind. I 'll be on my Bob Jackson.
--Tom

[Tony DeFilippo]

Anyone/any bike is welcome and encouraged!

[Steve Palincsar]

On 12/26/2013 06:57 PM, Tony DeFilippo wrote:

Steve,

Thanks for the heads up, so is the four mile run trail interrupted or just one of the exits off of it?

According to the information they've provided, the trail itself is interrupted, as shown below:



http://www.arlnow.com/2013/11/26/temporary-closure-on-portion-of-four-mile-run-trail/
http://www.novaregion.org/DocumentCenter/View/10456
http://www.novaregion.org/index.aspx?NID=1304

"Starting December 2nd and running for approximately 6 months, a short section of the Four Mile Run trail in Potomac Yard near the junction with the Mt. Vernon Trail will be closed during most commuting hours due to demolition of a bridge overhead.

"A detour will be provided, but many riders may find it better to pick an alternate route to avoid the construction area altogether.

"The detour - designed for ADA compliance, not necessarily bicycles - diverts traffic off of the trail onto the Jeff Davis Hwy west side sidewalk and also at the new switchback ramps to cross US1 at the S. Glebe Road signal. For those who are game, the switchback does incorporate a flight of stairs with bike rails built in.

"The trail will be closed from 5am to 7pm Monday thru. Friday; and 8:30am to 6:30pm Saturdays."

So that really makes a lot of sense, eh?  Put a detour on an extremely heavily used bicycle route that services a vast number of bicycle commuters in the area only don't design it for bicycles.  Instead, design it to accommodate the handicapped in wheelchairs.  I've been using that trail for over 30 years and I can't recall EVER seeing someone in a wheelchair down there.  And why would I?  There's only one wheelchair user I've ever seen on the Mount Vernon Trail, and he usually hangs out in North Old Town.

An alternative might be to go past the Sailing Marina and go straight where the River Route turns left; turn right onto Slaters Lane, then take the Rt 1 North exit.  When you get up to the bridge, go on the sidewalk.  At the end of the bridge go right and then right again to get over to Monroe Ave.  Take Monroe Ave to Mount Vernon Ave, go north to Commonwealth; take Commonwealth north to the end and pick up either Four Mile Run trail or Wayne Anderson trail.  But then, you knew that...

Are you going to join us?

I expect to be riding with Joan and some of the Oxon Hill riders out in Marshall VA tomorrow.

[Tony DeFilippo]

Steve thanks for doing the legwork on this closure.. Big pain for me as that impacts my regular commute.

But for Saturday purposes we will either use the detour or go off trail through crystal city. 

[Steve Palincsar]

An added benefit of going through Crystal City is the chance to see that
big red vending machine that sells tubes, patch kits and tire levers.
Time was, you simply couldn't find a less bike-friendly place than
Crystal City; and now, they have a vending machine that sells bicycle
repair parts right on the street. It's mind boggling.

[Tony DeFilippo]

That's great Howard, I've been looking forward to seeing that bike!

[WETH]

I am hoping to join as well.
Thanks,
Erl

[Howard]

I was just on the Four Mile Run trail this morning (around 9:15 or so) and passed by the detour. The trail was open and I didn't see anyone working on the bridge, so maybe it will be open tomorrow as well.

[Elisabeth Sherwood]

Possibly a bit early for me for December, but I'll try to make it! (Can't remember what prevented my joining the last ride, but in the meantime I've put together my Saluki.) Looking forward to it!

-- Liz S.

[Minh]

Tony,

If i make it tomorrow, i'm going to try and catch you at the turn for the Custis or along the Custis back towards DC.  Just look for someone on a rivish bike.

Minh

[Tony DeFilippo]

Erl, Elisabeth it would be great to see you guys!

It's going to be a chilly start but I'm really looking forward to it!

Minh we'll keep our eyes peeled for you at the Custis turn.

Tony

[Tom M]

Thanks, Tony, for organizing and to everyone who came. Awesome time. Great company, beautiful bikes.

--Tom

On Tuesday, December 24, 2013 9:38:25 PM UTC-5, Tony DeFilippo wrote:

[Michael]

Thanks, Tony, for inviting us!

What a great time meeting everyone and seeing your great bikes!

I never knew DC had such great places to ride.

[Michael]

PS - here's some pics of the bikes.

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/70237737@N00/sets/72157639124322684/

Tony's got some pics of everyone he will post later.

[Howard]

Thanks for organizing this Tony!

Had a great time and enjoyed meeting everyone. Looking forward to next time.

[Elisabeth Sherwood]

Yes -- Thanks, Tony, for organizing! Very nice to meet a few of the (local) people on the list and their bicycles.  And, not as cold as it could have been for December 28!

-- Liz S.

[Tony DeFilippo]

Great seeing everyone, it is very gratifying to see so much interest in getting a ride together on such short notice!  Pictures and a blog post coming tomorrow.  Great people and gorgeous bikes today!!!

Tony

[Tony DeFilippo]

Ride report and pictures, great ride all around!

http://dr2dc.blogspot.com/2013/12/dc-riv-ride-2-arlington-loop.html

[Deacon Patrick]

Great flash ride! Looks like a great time.

With abandon,

Patrick

[Michael]

We even crossed over into DC to see the Lincoln, King, and WWI monuments. I think we rode past Jefferson monument, too.

I had never seen the WWI monument before. It sits off to the side of the reflecting pool. A beautiful and lonely monument.

Tony and Liz were great tourguides. 

[Eric Platt]

Looked like a great ride.  The WW1 memorial is nice.  Remember discovering it when I first visited there. Glad to see the scaffolding coming down on the Washington Monument.  But was pleasantly surprised to see they lit it up when we were there in October.

Totally jealous as it is now back below zero in the Twin Cities. At noon.

Eric Platt
St. Paul, MN

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[Steve Palincsar]

If you're local to Washington DC and want another chance at a ride to downtown DC, you might consider this Oxon Hill bike club New Years Day ride


WED Jan 1 NEW YEAR'S DAY TOUR OF MONUMENTS PLUS Class ALL 24 mi. 10:30 AM from Oxon Hill Park and Ride Lot.

Celebrate 2014 with a bike ride! Join the friendliest bike people around as we visit National Harbor Christmas Tree, then take the Mt Vernon Trail to downtown DC. We’ll do a short tour of some DC highlights. We'll ride a loop around Hains Point – the traditional New Year’s gathering place for bikers in the DC metro area. The 24 miles is the round trip distance from the park & ride to the Lincoln Memorial and back. Tour of monuments and circle of Hains Point adds about 6 miles to that total. Bring a snack or two. We can stop for hot drinks in DC and/or a late lunch in Old Town.

Joan will ride to the ride start from her home in Arlington (through Shirlington and Del Ray into Old Town and then across the WWB) so if anyone wants to join her along the way for this extra mileage, send an e mail. Casual picture-taking ride. Oh, and leaders will attempt to avoid being arrested (again) at the MLK site. You can also park at Jones Point Park in Old Town and meet us there - please let us know ahead of time.

Dir: West on Oxon Hill Road from Md 210 (Indian Head Highway) at the Beltway. Go under 295/210 overpass and take second left into Park and Ride Lot across from National Avenue.   Alternate ride start at Jones Point Park in Alexandria.  Or, the route follows the Mount Vernon Trail through Alexandria and north to DC, so you could hang out on the trail just about anywhere and join the group as it goes by; you could also catch the group at the Bikeshare station at the Jefferson memorial.