I'ts been kind of strange for the last week in the DC area. My normal route has been blocked by a lunar landscape of jagged ice chunks, so I had been following an alternate route that adds about a mile and a half to my total commute. A few days ago, I felt adventurous and returned to my normal route. There is one steep, icy hill that I still have not managed to climb all the way, along with a couple of remaining ice piles, but I only have to walk the bike a total of fifty feet or so -- a good tradeoff for 1 1/2 miles saved.

Paul