Ducati Monster Forum

This is something we did back on TOB, and I'm thinking it's a good idea to do again.

So, please keep this thread informational  - if you need/want more info on a previous post go a head and ask. But save the social chatter for the myriad other threads we have going for such business.

And don't limit this to crappy road or hazards. If you know of a raod that's recently been changed improved please share that as well.

So to kick things off:

Road conditions:
Henderson Road in Clifton has been repaved and it's in great shape.

Hampton Road in Clifton is in terrible shape. Crmbling pavement all over the edges, rough (1-2" drop) pock marks all over the road, that like to lurk in heavy shade. It's not just an isolated strecht, seems to whole road down to 123 is in this condition. Use caution

Crest Hill Road - Rt 647 by Marshall - generally good shape, but use extra caution when coming to a heavily shaded/wooded section. The stuff with heavy shade has lots of shallow pot holes and rough pavement. Sunny sections are picture perfect so you can easy pick up pace and get caught out.

Hazard - Care of Gaux
7/8/10 Milling and paving on 2 out of 3 lanes of 29W from Rosslyn this morning.  No warning signs as you're turning right from the Key Bridge, so watch for sudden stops and loose rocks.

I experienced a hazard in Marshall on Sunday 7/11... it turns out the hazard was me and I'm only alive due to the quick reactions of the other guy.

Free State Road in Marshall, south of Ada Road.  A nice road, though often some light gravel (on the turns of course).

I saw some gravel on a curve to the right (heading south)... and I opted to take a gentler line outside of it... and a couple of feet onto the "wrong side of the road"... not going particularly fast... but unprepared.  As I came around, I was staring into the front of a dark pickup truck headed towards me... and I simultaneously fixated on it and anticipated my imminent demise.  I only lived because he quickly swerved to the edge of the road (I heard his right tires on the gravel shoulder).  he continued on and I continued on until I had the sense to stop.  then I turned around retraced my path back and forth a couple of times (situation shouldn't have been as bad as I made it) and slowly rode home in a daze.

Scared the blank out of me.  didn't sleep last night.

date, specifics of place, and type of hazard.  (plus extras as Ian suggested)

If you're taking 50 across the Memorial Bridge from Arlington into DC, theres a nasty pothole where the tarmac changes from asphalt to concrete.  Stay left.

7/17 -- Great Falls -- Riverbend and Beach Mill have some low-hanging branches. Although most roads are surprisingly dry today overall, if you take the Towlston-Bellview loop off G'town Pike, there are some very wet and gravelly bits. Hazard: Kirby and Military roads are new and smooth, making it hard to go near the speed limit.

Crest Hill Road - Rt 647 by Marshall - The worst section with the deepest pot holes in the dark shade has been repaved. At the moment there's a small amount of gravel on the new pavement, but it should be gone shortly

Montgomery Co - lots of dark intersections still. Really watch out at night.

Good point - driving down Georgia Ave last night there was a huge branch in a front yard that crossed the sidewalk and lay partially in the right lane.  What made it extra dangerous was a person slowed to an almost stop and the car behind, not seeing the issue, laid on the horn and then quickly switched lanes, basically being a dick and preventing the first driver from maneuvering around the tree.
My point is that had a bike been in the center lane maybe Mr Road Rage would've hit him. I know Mr. Scardey Cat was also not handling the situation well (i.e. should have seen the obstacle, put on the blinker, checked the lane and then moved over as opposed to coasting all the way to the branch coming to an almost dead stop).

Is expected traffic allowed here?
I-66 East near Beltway. It is expected that the local traffic will be worse than normal this weekend. I-66 East is expected to have major delays between the Nutley St. and I-495 exits, as traffic will be reduced from three lanes down to one. The one lane will be in effect on I-66 from 7 p.m. on Friday, August 27th, until 5 a.m. on Monday, August 30th.  Overnight stoppages and ramp closures, too. For more information, see http://www.vamegaprojects.com/news/featured-headlines/i-66-full-weekend-closure/. (http://www.vamegaprojects.com/news/featured-headlines/i-66-full-weekend-closure/.)

I meant to post up about that - I was going to start a thread for it...

Knowing traffic and jerky drivers around here - I say yes, yes it is a hazard

Checked out some roads in northern MoCo today, results:

• River Road is bumpy after the intersection with Seneca, needs repaving, not terrible but annoying;
• Mt Nebo Rd, W Offutt Rd and Edwards Ferry Rd are bumpy as well, they were fun at a (relatively) low pace;
• the section of Martinsburg Rd between Wasche and MD28 was, is, and continues to be shite and must be avoided;
• Comus Rd is mostly okayish, a little rough around the edges, but mostly enjoyable;
• MD109 (Old Houndred Rd) was also a blast to ride, good surface  [moto];
• Thurston (between MD109 - and MD80) required a change of underwear after riding back and forth - and that's a good thing [thumbsup]
• the section of Peach Tree Rd between MD109 and Comus is bumpy, but pretty enjoyable at LOW speed;
• Shiloh Church is the same as Peach Tree (see above) but less fun;
• W Old Baltimore is to be avoided, period;
• Slidell Rd. has a few fun spots, ok to ride at a relatively low pace;
• Bucklodge Rd was pretty fun to ride;
• Old Bucklodge Ln, White Ground Rd, and Shaeffer Rd are sketchy, I liked all the shade from the trees, disliked everything else;

That's all folks!

you forgot to ride Ijamsville Rd while you were up in that neighborhood!

I thought you were joking, but the road really exists. I'll have to check it out sometime.

HAHHAAHAHAHAHAA....nooooo...I never joke about roads unless the roads themselves are a joke.

Dood, is this where you were wanting to take us tomorrow?

Let me add W. Willard Rd to the list of un-cool roads up there. Really, really, really bumpy!

River Road up and until Seneca is pretty fun if there isn't a mobile manure carrier from Va in front of you ;)

Germantown Rd (MD 118) going up from MD28 is pretty - traffic allowing. Also make a right on Riffle Ford Rd. some nice turns and it'll take you back to MD28.

Up in Great Falls area, Leigh Mill Rd is a mess with patching, and the bridge is under construction so you have to turn around and go back from where you came from. [bang]

Sept. 18 --

Kirby Road in McLean -- about halfway down the twisty part there's a very rough patching job that'll knock you out of the saddle -- it's across the whole road, in the shade so hard to see, and in a turn. [Edit: road fixed.]

Fort Valley Road out near Strasburg -- Between Rt. 55 and the post office/gas station at Fort Valley/Seven Fountains (a third of the way to Rt. 211, going south), they have put down a small amount of fine gravel. (Don't know why, unless it's to keep motorcycles away.) You can keep off it because most is in the center of each lane, but it slows you way down and makes it almost not worth the trip.

NY Ave outbound from North Capital to WV...looks like someone opened up a trash truck and pitched stuff out during a parade. Particularly bad around the Brentwood overpass to Okie area...mud, rocks, 4x4 post a couple feet long. Gonna take a while to get it all back in the gutters.

Not a real hazard, more of a pain in the @$$: Shoreham Dr, NW has been reduced to one lane only due to some road work between it and Cathedral Ave. There's also some gravel on the road, making for 'fun' uphill starts.  >:(

Couldn't pass up the temperature yesterday to get out on the street, just remember, alot of idiots still refuse to clean snow sheets off the roofs of their SUVs.  A good friend and I almost had our memories jogged the hard way.

Skyline Drive is covered in pea sized gravel from the 211 junction North.  Good thing there were tons of Park Rangers out there to keep the temptation low.

211 is pretty slick in a few of the apexes leading up to Skyline.  Almost lost the front in the middle of one of them.

Thurston Rd has some of the cement cracked and debris exposed in the middle of the lane on a small bridge. It is only in one lane (when going from RT80 to RT109) but the debris is pretty big so watch out.

route 7, I66, entire 495 in tysons corner area all under construction, comeback in year 2020 maybe it will be better then. [laugh]

Not like that's anything new though...

DC around Union Station this morning - there's a marathon!

just means there are a bunch of mobile speed bumbs!...LOL

In Arlington On Columbia Pike maybe a couple of miles from the Pentagon where all the construction is underway  there are large steel plates covering the road (or what used to be the road) in the left lane as you are traveling toward the Pentagon.  The steel plates do not entirely cover the hole in the roadway and there is an opening about the size of a football on the right edge of the steel plates.  Its not hard to see and hopefully no one is riding on the edge of the steel plate, but it'd really suck to hit. The plates can be ridden over just fine, but of course don't provide a lot of grip. I suggest sticking to the right side of the right lane in that section.

^ has been fixed. 

3-inch grey rocks spilled from the shoulder into the left lane of 66E where the construction ends after the 267 merge.

Resurfacing going on along Great Seneca highway from Sam Eig north to about  QO Road.  Lots of flying debris.

I395 south just past the Seminary road exit there is a rectangular section of asphalt missing in the center of the far right lane.  I'd guess about 7" wide and 2-3' long.  Looks pretty deep, I think it could damage a wheel and possibly cause a crash if you were to hit it on a bike.  No real worry in a cage as its probably not wide enough for most cage tires to fit into and since its in the middle of the lane a cage would only hit it when changing lanes at just the wrong time.

Similar type hazards on Columbia Pike (Arlington) near the Air Force Memorial, in the direction of Bailey's Crossroads. Nasty thin, long, and deep potholes. Stay left as you approach Dama Diner.

White's Ferry Road is a grated up, grooved mess from before Poolesville to 28.

White's Ferry Road closer to the ferry has a couple of curves full of loose dirt/pea gravel. Keep your eyes open. :o :o

River Road from W Willard to W Offut has lots of storm wash across it.

Don't you work?

One of the benefits of academia is the flexible schedule. Especially when classes aren't in session. I had an hour meeting with colleagues, an hour meeting with students and a half-hour meeting with the cheater police.

And then... [moto] [moto] [moto]

Of course while you people are enjoying this weekend, I'll be grading the final for my class that is scheduled (not by me) for 8am on Saturday....suckalicious!

Sands Road, just north of 408..little S curve by whittington drive...is full of gravel as in all the way across the both lanes. Kind of scary if you're going slow; downright dangerous if you're going at speed.

Northbound lanes of harwood in the curve at Wayson...dead tree parts all across the lane. I kicked a bunch of it off the road, but there's still a ton of shit there.

watch the 3rd. St. Tunnel in Dc off southEast freeway. middle lane as your entering the tunnel several oval shaped deep potholes. if you can stay far left or get far right before tunnel entrance. hit one and it broke the fork seals. not fun.

Fairfax Co parkway (7100) North bound past Reston. Pretty much the entire stretch up to Rt7 has tons of cracks in the road that have been covered up with tar and it makes for some really sketchy handling through the corners especially with the warmer temps.  [bang]

There's a huge pothole on Columbia Pike in Arlington between Four Mile run and S. George Mason roads in the left track of the right lane as you are headed toward the pentagon. Probably 2' in diameter and 10" deep. Stick to the left lane or stay on the right side of the right lane.

^ has been fixed  [Dolph]

Not sure if anyone mentioned this one , but route 50 going east or west , under 7 corners bridge , becareful at the joints ... will definately jolt, almost went flying last night . did report to vdot dunno when they will fix it. But be very careful and there are bout 4 of them right one after another.

^ this is back and looks quite deep.  I think it would cause wheel damage, if not a crash were a person to hit it on a monster.

WJLA has a map up of all the known road closures at this point:
http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/09/d-c-storm-road-closures-map-66248.html (http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/09/d-c-storm-road-closures-map-66248.html)

(http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z53/b_upton/Moto/image.jpg)

Herald Harbor Rd, along the normal Sunday route.   [thumbsdown]

HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess we won't be going there for a while. I guess supermoto is needed for this. [laugh]

Ok, we need some crates and some planks and we're set! [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

Jeebus!

Rock Creek Parkway (the four lane section of it) is being repaved. This is in addition to the current work going on it, a lot of grooves there and some gravel too.

Nice little 'kicker' across all lanes of beach drive at the north end on the soccer fields near 410.  Also quite a few  [leo] at different spots from the start of beach drive to rock creek in DC the past few days after the rushhours taper off.

There's a rather large depression/pothole on the left side of the left lane of I395 south just before the Pentagon.  Its big enough that I swerved around it while riding the Buell  [laugh]

We have a sink hole like that up on Hillside rd here in springfield. they closed through traffic.  [thumbsdown] it was another short cut to my house.

They have patched lots of potholes in Great Falls by filling them with fine gravel that doesn't stay in the hole. Very bad at the 90-degree turn where River Bend Rd. turns into Beach Drive, large amounts at River Bend and Arnon Chapel Rd. stop sign, near the turn to Riverbend Park, and large mounds at Swinks Mill and Georgetown Pike. Use back brake but don't expect to stop.

1. Patching on Crest Hill again; lots of loose stuff in some of the more fun turns. Bring a broom.
2. Rumor has it homeowners on Blueridge Mountain Road (Mount Weather) have petitioned local and state LEO to monitor the road for shenanigans, particularly on the weekends.

For my fellow Arlington Ridge brothers.

The overpass from 27/Columbia Pike/395 has a big pothole right near the start of the bridge about where the dotted white line is.  Right where you are leaned over and staring at a short wall to stop you from freefalling onto 395.

In case anyone rides through Clifton area tomorrow, there's still a fair amount of grit powder on the road surface.  A lot of it is too fine to easily see, but you can feel the bike slide around under you a bit in a few of the turns.

+1 to the above. Sunday in Loudon and PW county there was still a lot of salt glaze on the roads and piles of it and sand in a lot of spots. Todays rain will probably deal with a lot of the salt - but still might take a while to clear off everything.

For folks who ride up in Great Falls, VDOT will be replacing the bridge on Beach Mill Road this summer.

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/beach_mill_road_bridge_replacement.asp (http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/beach_mill_road_bridge_replacement.asp)

Blue Ridge Mountain Rd (601) is getting new asphalt. Prepare to have your trip interrupted briefly. The northern half, near Bluemont, is done and is real smooth.

Rt. 647 just after getting on it at Flint Hill has a complete washout gravel/sand across the road. For that matter there seems to be more gravel being washed onto a lot of the backroads this year with the storms we have been having. - Gene

Parts of MacArthud Blvd that begins right after the single lane bridge are grooved. Gravel in other places as well.  Just be careful, that shits slippery when wet.

going which way?...towards DC or away from it?

away from DC. 

road work planned on Wisconsin Ave. between DC & the beltway http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=1593 (http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=1593)