Is there any reason NOT to pull the trigger on buying a Kona Dew

[ronwalf]

Enablers! Enablers, the lot of you!

[lordofthemark]

revisited bikenetics, confirmed 56 is too big, put down deposit for 53, they have a silver one coming in next week and called me back to ask if I wanted silver rather than black (I had forgotten to specify) and I said yes, silver. (visibility?)

[lordofthemark]

@ShawnoftheDread 69279 wrote:

Your way would work, but you’re trying to make your long way shorter, and I can’t abide that. Yeah, Holly to King Arthur has a lot of nice downhill that you’ll enjoy.

I got the bike somewhat later than I expected, so I did my way – Gallows to Aston instead of the Cross County. Did it in 75 minutes which is not terribly fast for 8 miles, even for me, but I hadn’t ridden in about a month, and felt pretty good. The first part on the W&OD was a steeper upgrade than I recalled, and I was just getting warmed up. Dunn Loring metro area is a mess with construction and I had to walk the bike in parts (and darn WMATA for that unavoidable little mud hill marring my brand new tires) but the ride from rte 29 on through Mosaic, around the hospital, and back through Annandale was much more pleasant than I’ve found that ride in the past.

[consularrider]

@lordofthemark 71281 wrote:

I got the bike somewhat later than I expected, so I did my way – Gallows to Aston instead of the Cross County. Did it in 75 minutes which is not terribly fast for 8 miles, even for me, but I hadn’t ridden in about a month, and felt pretty good. The first part on the W&OD was a steeper upgrade than I recalled, and I was just getting warmed up. Dunn Loring metro area is a mess with construction and I had to walk the bike in parts (and darn WMATA for that unavoidable little mud hill marring my brand new tires) but the ride from rte 29 on through Mosaic, around the hospital, and back through Annandale was much more pleasant than I’ve found that ride in the past.

Once again, pictures of a claimed new bike are mandatory.

[lordofthemark]

Definitely pleased with the purchase so far. Haven’t used it to commute yet, but today I decided to ride up to Mosaic, and then see how much further I felt like going. Took 37 minutes, which was my best time there from home – its only 7MPH but there are some hills I find challenging on the way (but I’m doing them better now). I rode from there up to the W&OD, my first time riding to the W&OD from home, without benefit of car or bus and then out the W&OD to the Vienna Community Center. I thought about heading back, since I had not planned on a ride much longer than that, then decided I really wanted to ride further, as I was finding the W&OD much better than ever before (its much more fun when I am passing all the runners, even on the uphills, and when cyclists pass me, they don’t disappear into the distance so fast). I rode all the way to Hunter Mill. I was starting to feel sore and realized if I didn’t head home it would be an unpleasant ride home. Made good time on the way back – though not as good on the W&OD as going out (It feels like the grade is deceptive and is actually a net upgrade east bound there? Also I was more tired, and a moderate wind was starting to develop) When I got home and estimated my speed. I noted that my speeds for segments between Dunn Loring Metro and Hunter Mill ranged from 8.5 to 12.5 MPH, which is probably 1 to 2 mph faster than I had ever done before.

It also turned out that I had ridden just under 24 miles altogether. The only previous times I’d gone that far were when I had planned on a long ride.

I still have to get in better shape, but I do feel the bike is doing what I wanted – incenting me to ride further.

[JimF22003]

Looks like you’ve discovered the joy that is the W&OD trail

The stretch from Hunter Mill back into Vienna is kind of a steady 1-2% upgrade. It’s really a false flat, but it can surprise you if you’re expecting to coast all the way in

[ShawnoftheDread]

Good work. And yes, you discovered the notorious false flat between Hunter Mill and Vienna.

[mstone]

Yeah, it makes you feel elite outbound and then like a schmuck the other way.

[KLizotte]

Congrats lordofthemark! That’s a lot of riding, esp in the wind we had. If at all possible, try to get out on the bike every other day, even if for only half an hour. It will slowly build up your endurance and flexibility. Note: it’s takes more effort to ride in the cold than warmer temps so if you feel tired, don’t fret too much; we all feel that way in the cold months! Something to do with the air being denser and having to wear more clothes.

[Author]

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