Since we are all fessing up, my commute is from Falls Church City to downtown DC, first on some city streets, then the W&OD, Custis, MVT, and finally across the 14th Street bridge and over the National Mall.

Morning is never much of an issue. The worst aspects of my commute are in the afternoon, in no particular order: 1) throngs of tourists on the National Mall and just navigating through them to the 14th Street bridge in rush hour traffic--cannot believe there is not a single bike lane on any street that runs through the National Mall. 2) the poor condition of the Custis Trail, that is the roots poking through the surface, cracked pavement, etc. It does not bother me that it is a lot of uphill headed west, that makes it more challenging. 3) Lots of residential area walkers with dogs on the Custis and W&OD when the weather is nice. Admittedly, they usually pay more attention to their surroundings than the tourists but I've had some close calls. 4) Other cyclists who don't announce they are passing, run red lights, and otherwise act recklessly. 5) For whatever reason, it seems like there is always a headwind on the MVT, cannot figure it out, but I never have a tailwind there, morning or afternoon.

Last Friday afternoon I tried taking the MVT south from the 14th Street Bridge past National Airport to the 4 Mile Run Trail to the W&OD. The 4 Mile Run connector trail is technically "closed" until May 2 but people were riding it anyway. Trail condition is much better than Custis and there were fewer people, terrain was flat, some more stoplights to deal with crossing busy roads and it took about 5 minutes longer but overall seemed more pleasant albeit not as much of a workout (may be good or bad).

I also found a slightly longer but less congested route to the 14th Street bridge in the afternoon.