Deadspin Picked up the Crystal City Bike Race Crash

[thucydides]

I understand the constraints involved, but that’s an atrocious course design. It’s probably sheer luck there hasn’t been a head-on collision between two racers. Given the circumstances the cyclists that whipped around and ended up on the left — and therefore right into a mess — did a pretty good job. It looks to me that the bunny-hopper did the right thing under the circumstances, he just didn’t lift quite enough. An emergency bunny hop at 30 mph isn’t easy. What a mess.

[83b]

I used to live at the end of Crystal Dr and have long had the impression that it isn’t a well run event.

Two years ago, during the women’s race, several of the volunteers who were supposed to be watching 15th street were instead sitting on lawn-chairs in the shade on the other side of the road. They were yelling from 50ft away at people trying to cross when the field was nowhere in sight. Not realizing they were “officials,” my wife shouted back that we were perfectly capable of crossing the road. They responded with colorful sexist language. Annoying as that was, what really put me off was taking their picture on my phone and taking the issue up to the race director, only to be brushed off. The only response I got was to have them radioed and told to stand back on the corner in the sun.

Having events like the race come to the neighborhood was generally awesome, but constantly having Crystal Drive shuttered for numerous 5Ks and other events seemed to be wearing on the neighborhoods residents. Crystal Drive gets lots of them because it’s “convenient” and “easy” to close with only a few–but growing number of–high-rise residential buildings impacted.

Organizers of all these events needed to do a better job impressing on their volunteers that they should be considerate towards residents who are giving up access to their homes to facilitate the events. I think that’s going to be increasingly important as the neighborhood continues to become more residential and Long Bridge park competes for weekend resources.

/rant

[dasgeh]

I thought the Challenge Ride was generally well run, but there were some parts of the course that were too narrow, in my opinion, and should have been signed.

I was very disappointed that more of the restaurants in Crystal City weren’t open. I understand why they would normally be closed on a Sunday, but I would expect race organizers to reach out and explain that they could make some money if they opened on this particular Sunday.

[PotomacCyclist]

Good Stuff Eatery has been open on at least one previous Sunday. It was just a couple months ago, during a holiday or some special event, but I don’t remember which one. They posted signs indicating that they would make an exception and open that Sunday specifically because of the event or holiday.

I doubt Chick-fil-A will ever open on a Sunday. They have a national policy of staying closed on Sundays.

[creadinger]

@PotomacCyclist 54851 wrote:

I doubt Chick-fil-A will ever open on a Sunday. They have a national policy of staying closed on Sundays.

It’s called Jesus…

[PotomacCyclist]

Yes, I know that. But Good Stuff Eatery has the same policy (probably for the same reason) and they opened on a Sunday just a couple months ago.

[Vicegrip]

@creadinger 54854 wrote:

It’s called Jesus…

IIRC but I could be wrong, He was called Jesus. It was called Christianity. What about us unwashed heathen? We need to break bread too. Oh, wait. Can’t use that line.
Fish only on Fri and now no chikin’ Sundays?
I can only guess the comments under that video. I have started a policy of not reading comments that from under internet things as they tend to make my brain hurt and I end up breathing from my mouth, wanting to eat cheez curlz and drink bad beer from cans.

[Brent]

The Clarendon Cup has always seemed to me to be really well run, and the Challenge Ride has never been BAD, although they have had a snafu here and there (and a problem with hairpin turns).

The Crystal Cup, from what I’ve heard, is always a mess.

It doesn’t help that the streets down there look like they were in a war zone from all the potholes.

[Brent]

@Vicegrip 54865 wrote:

I have started a policy of not reading comments that from under internet things as they tend to make my brain hurt and I end up breathing from my mouth, wanting to eat cheez curlz and drink bad beer from cans.

I have tried my hardest, but there’s a part of me that continues to venture down into the bowels of articles to read the flaming hate boiling up from the denizens of the inter-webs. I don’t know why.

Usually after reading the comments on CNN, I want to cry.

[dasgeh]

@PotomacCyclist 54851 wrote:

Good Stuff Eatery has been open on at least one previous Sunday. It was just a couple months ago, during a holiday or some special event, but I don’t remember which one. They posted signs indicating that they would make an exception and open that Sunday specifically because of the event or holiday.

I doubt Chick-fil-A will ever open on a Sunday. They have a national policy of staying closed on Sundays.

We walked by at least 5 restaurants that were closed (Good Stuff, Chick-fil-A + 3 more, don’t remember names). Jaleo was open, which was nice. Had a typical run-in with Evelyn from Artemis – made me feel sorry for her (and the people around her).

[rpiretti]

Bike Snob NYC had colorful response as always..http://goo.gl/tTNnn

[Jason B]

I don’t know jack about race design, but couldn’t the Crystal cup or even the Challenge run down the new Potomac Yards road, or is it too TT ish or can’t go into Alexandria? I know that road is my new Haynes point without the tickets or pesky gate, smooth as butter and empty.

[Nubbs]

I live right on Crystal Drive at 18th street. Crystal City Challenge was one of the factors that got me into cycling last year. As soon as we left the start and head down CD and I saw there were no dividers between lanes I new it could cause problems. On lap 5 I set up on the outside of the right turn off of 15 onto CD and called out my line. The guy in the middle decided to run wide pushing me over the yellow into on coming traffic. Fortunately the group coming at me was moving right to set up for their left turn. I think the course would be fine if the just put barriers on the yellow line the length of CD

Yes they close down Crystal Drive a lot during the summer for any number of events. It is normally not an issues as you can get to my building from an access road. (that was not the case this year for the 5ks which I pitched a bitch about) I do not care that you block my entrance on Crystal drive. However it is a major problem when you block both my routes out of my building for hours on end. The closing of the road is just something you get used to and is all part of city living as far as I am concerned.

[Author]

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