Are we just a bunch of whiners?

[thecyclingeconomist]

@txgoonie 30727 wrote:

Unfortunately it’s not posted nearly enough, but, the speed limit on the MVT is actually 15mph. I know it’s like most speed limits and everyone feels that it’s too low and you can safely operate your vehicle at a higher speed and everyone pretty much does. Not like there’s any enforcement of it anyway. But it is there for a reason. Just something to keep in mind. When I have a tailwind and can easily cruise at 20mph, sometimes I don’t even realize it, but there’s a time and a place. I think we can all sympathize with not having enough time and wanting to multitask commuting and training, but on the route you’ve chosen, you just can’t have it both ways. An MUT is not a place to train.

The alternate route I take from Alexandria paralleling the MVT goes down Potomac Ave., which, being relatively low on traffic, is an awesome place to do intervals and links back up with the MVT on Crystal Drive. I see people riding back ‘n forth doing workouts out there all the time.

I said: when it’s safe.

LOL… at least my comment is stimulating conversation.

[jabberwocky]

@txgoonie 30727 wrote:

An MUT is not a place to train.

Quoted For Truth And Great Justice.

I mean, I’ll cruise at a good clip on the W&OD on the long stretches when nobody is around, but it just isn’t possible to do structured interval training on a popular path IME. Especially the MVT, which is narrow, heavily trafficked and has lots of places with extremely poor sightlines.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@rcannon100 30729 wrote:

Good question. It has everything to do with the strobe. The pulsing strobe lights basically operate faster than the average eye can adjust. With strobe on, all that can be seen is white. With strobe off, all that can be seen is darkness. And then it repeats faster than the eye can adjust. (this also includes the strobe to normal beam – as you have still blinded with the strobe pulse).

For the oncoming traffic, you have blinded them.

Car headlights are designed not to blind oncoming traffic. They are pointed down – and they are at an intensity that should not blind oncoming traffic. And they dont strobe. Car high beams can make it very hard for oncoming traffic to see – and generally people do not high beam each other for this reasons. You can also be ticketed for high beaming people.

As far as you putting your own personal safety above mine (as the oncoming traffic), um, look, I just dont know how to say it polite. You are being a schmuck. As the oncoming cyclists to a high beam strobe on a trail, I am blind. That is insanely dangerous.

Your question is a good question. Contrasting cars to bikes. Cars by regulation take care not to blind oncoming traffic. I would ask that you also take that care.

I don’t run strobes at night, it doesn’t even make sense. Never did I say I ran strobes at night. I specifically cited why I run strobes: I was hit by a car during the DAY. And, assuming that this is still a discussion (which means both sides are listening and taking feedback critically): How is putting my safety at risk (by having me limit my visibility) for your benefit any different for the sake of the discussion. Now I guess I’m getting irked. You obviously haven’t read my posts. And, you are ignoring the spirit and candor of my posts. I’ve said OBVIOUSLY that I do take care. If I didn’t give a rip, I’d never have said anything at all! Yowza.

[rcannon100]

what is your secret?

We do the Billy Goat Trail B and C, parking at the North Parking lot. The North Parking lot, where the rock climbers are, is almost never more than 50% full. The Trails are never crowded, and the people on the trails tend to be very polite. The C&O Tow Path is always “well used” meriting extra care with the dogs. Those damn cyclists think they own the towpath and just go flying b….. Oops, wrong forum. Thought for a moment this was the dog-owner-tribe forum bitching about the cyclist-tribe Seriously, its a good crowd and one does have to be careful of the multi use trail. It’s there for all of us. Results in keeping your head on a swivel so you know about the oncoming cyclists before they reach us.

My wife does say that we should go Sunday during Church time. I think she is probably right.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 30731 wrote:

Quoted For Truth And Great Justice.

I mean, I’ll cruise at a good clip on the W&OD on the long stretches when nobody is around, but it just isn’t possible to do structured interval training on a popular path IME. Especially the MVT, which is narrow, heavily trafficked and has lots of places with extremely poor sightlines.

For the love of Pete… how many times did I say that I ride within the parameters of what is safe. Of course I’m not pounding along in tight areas where you can’t see around corners. I’m not pounding along near the parks or trail intersections. In spite of that, when it is 6am (yes, I said that too… as that is when I ride in), there are plenty of open stretches.

[Terpfan]

@rcannon100 30734 wrote:

We do the Billy Goat Trail B and C, parking at the North Parking lot. The North Parking lot, where the rock climbers are, is almost never more than 50% full. The Trails are never crowded, and the people on the trails tend to be very polite. The C&O Tow Path is always “well used” meriting extra care with the dogs. Those damn cyclists think they own the towpath and just go flying b….. Oops, wrong forum. Thought for a moment this was the dog-owner-tribe forum bitching about the cyclist-tribe Seriously, its a good crowd and one does have to be careful of the multi use trail. It’s there for all of us. Results in keeping your head on a swivel so you know about the oncoming cyclists before they reach us.

My wife does say that we should go Sunday during Church time. I think she is probably right.

Ahh, I always parked down by the Inn and curse myself for it.

[jabberwocky]

@thecyclingeconomist 30736 wrote:

For the love of Pete… how many times did I say that I ride within the parameters of what is safe. Of course I’m not pounding along in tight areas where you can’t see around corners. I’m not pounding along near the parks or trail intersections. In spite of that, when it is 6am (yes, I said that too… as that is when I ride in), there are plenty of open stretches.

I’ll take your word for it. Honestly, having ridden the MVT from the north end to Alexandria several times, I simply have trouble seeing how someone could safely average 18-22mph even on a totally clear trail. Thats pretty fast.

[JorgeGortex]

@essigmw 30710 wrote:

Or better yet, how about better lighting on the trails. The W&OD is dark in the morning, so is MVT, Custis and most streets have some overhead lighting. Improving this lighting would improve visibility and safety. Night time riders should still illuminate themselves, but perhaps infrastructure can solve some of this in particuarly dicey sections of the trail.

Please no. We have enough light pollution as it is without more lights. I actually enjoy riding at night. I think smart use of bike lights, and as Dirt mentioned: just slow down some. We don’t always have to be jamming to get in a good ride.

As an aside another way to help alert people in blind corners is just to make some noise. If you know the spot on the WO&D where it goes under Carlin Springs Rd. in Arlington, there is a very sharp corner on a small hill… whenever I approach this corner from either direction I give a loud “HyUP!” I’ve had some funny looks, but I’ve never collided with anyone either.

JG

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 30738 wrote:

I’ll take your word for it. Honestly, having ridden the MVT from the north end to Alexandria several times, I simply have trouble seeing how someone could safely average 18-22mph even on a totally clear trail. Thats pretty fast.

Probably not smart considering the hostility since you can now track me home…:confused: but I don’t think that the following commute video shows any close-calls. It also shows the actual amount of riding traffic I see in the AM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNPl2-1-fTQ

As an FYI: if you can’t see my hand, then I’m upright with hands on the brakes.

[GuyContinental]

@thecyclingeconomist 30728 wrote:

Back to whining: I hate earbuds… they cause so much grief on multi-use paths.

Ooo you had me at earbud. For that your are forgiven one strobe blinding.

In our defense I think that you said that you forget to turn off the strobes sometimes…

[thecyclingeconomist]

In my defense… at least I’m “forgetting”… as in… my intention is to turn them off, which is why I am not so sure I understand the ripping apart of my comments. It doesn’t seem very copacetic to me. I’ve attempted to be fact-based, and open to critique. There is a difference between “reprimand” and critique. Critique is intent on convincing and discussion. The other isn’t. My daughter doesn’t like being reprimanded, and neither do I. As I stated above, it doesn’t help anything, and leads to a defensive posturing where no one gets anything done. It is why politicians are notoriously unable to change/promote action: they get emotions involved, and immediately defensive postures arise. I am doing my best to not react this way, but I must say, it’s pretty harsh to be called names on here. I’m a WABA member, I believe in cycling, and have devoted most of my free time to helping others gain a love for the freedom this sport invokes, as well as time with my church.

My original comment was tied to the first in this thread, where a “roadie” f-bombed someone for having lights on. It’s not cool. I was empathizing with this person.

God bless… I hope my commute home enables me to forget this entire thread.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@GuyContinental 30741 wrote:

Ooo you had me at earbud. For that your are forgiven one strobe blinding.

Thanks guy for lightening this back up… too serious for online forums for me. This is a bit different than the forum I am used to at home… I guess I should have sat around longer without getting involved. And…I knew I was getting into murky water, I just didn’t realize how murky. 😮

Time to run to REI and wash out the murkiness with the penguin wash that Dirt recommended…

[JorgeGortex]

Its all good. You just hit on one of the hot button topics here on the forum. People are passionate about their lights! Or lack thereof. Welcome to the forum. Stick around, you’ll have a good time. Now, say, while you’re at REI…

[JorgeGortex]

@thecyclingeconomist 30740 wrote:

Probably not smart considering the hostility since you can now track me home…:confused: but I don’t think that the following commute video shows any close-calls. It also shows the actual amount of riding traffic I see in the AM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNPl2-1-fTQ

As an FYI: if you can’t see my hand, then I’m upright with hands on the brakes.

However anyone want to interpret your video… that was cool. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.

[rcannon100]

Ahh, I always parked down by the Inn and curse myself for it.

Anglers Inn is where the ‘Yakers put in to kayak up to the Falls. It is also an excellent access are to the Falls, with access to Billy Goat Trail A, and to the Burma Road. It’s also a way for cheap skates to avoid paying the National Park Service gate fee at the Falls. In sum, Anglers Inn is an insane location (I do love going here off peak – there is a reason that is such a wonderful point in the park).

[Author]

Posts