Missed connection

[Bilsko]

Sounds like my encounted with an PSP cruiser on the CCT last week. He was slowly ambling north-bound on the trail well past the Foundry Branch tunnel, but before Fletcher’s. I was a good distance back (maybe 200m) and he pulled off into one of the little access points for people to hop up onto the Canal towpath. Just as I was about 15ft behind and moving to pass, he decides its the best time to initiate his 4 point U-turn on the trail, ending with him peeling out in the gravel along the path. No lights, no siren. On a trail that’s no more than 8-10ft wide. Thanks.

[jrenaut]

It really bothers me when people in charge of protecting our safety have so little situational awareness.

[Terpfan]

@jrenaut 25786 wrote:

It really bothers me when people in charge of protecting our safety have so little situational awareness.

You’re being polite. I think they know full well what they’re doing and just don’t care. Only once have I had a relatively friendly encounter where they stopped to let a few of us go across the road despite having the light on 15th. I tend to find the SS is more mellow than the PP and better about not parking their vehicles in the middle of crossings.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Terpfan 25806 wrote:

You’re being polite. I think they know full well what they’re doing and just don’t care. Only once have I had a relatively friendly encounter where they stopped to let a few of us go across the road despite having the light on 15th. I tend to find the SS is more mellow than the PP and better about not parking their vehicles in the middle of crossings.

No, both the SS and the PP park cruisers in the middle of the bike lane on 15th just before it ends at the Pennsylvania Ave bike lane. Yesterday I got to inch around one in the rain.

[Terpfan]

First, to the woman with the light blue shirt and the olive green backpack who decided to pass me without a call on the 14th Street Bridge yesterday while another guy was coming the opposite direction–and slowly pass at that, to her I say, you’re insane and almost pushed both of us into the railings. I’m glad that guy yelled “what the F” to you. I also proceeded to heckle you from behind saying call your pass next time (and possibly an inappropriate word after it).

Second, to the gentleman on a nice looking road bike coming up the hill northbound right after the onroad crossing of the MVT who proceeded to yell at the pedestrian for not moving out of his way. To him I say, you’re welcome for me paying enough attention to quickly slow down and move to the grass to avoid a head on collision with you per your decision to simply take the other side of the path because you didn’t get your way. I also say, you can’t expect a pedestrian to move over simply because you stated an intent to pass. It’s a yield scenario and me yielding into the grass isn’t really part of that equation.

Finally, to the drivers of the GWP who continually believe running the red light at Slaters is a good idea, I say you in the Honda accord nearly hit a pedestrian crossing and I had literally reached to grab my phone expecting to call 911. No one needs to get home that dangerously or that fast.

Yep, today can only be a better commute relative to the jackaloons of yesterday.

[GuyContinental]

@Terpfan 25928 wrote:

Yep, today can only be a better commute relative to the jackaloons of yesterday.

No joke- what was with people yesterday? I had more car-craziness in one day than I usually get in a week. Was it the heat?

I will attempt to use the term “jackaloon” at least three more times today

[pfunkallstar]

Not sure, but I definitely had a kamikaze tourist almost take me out on Memorial Bridge, they were actually hiding behind the column on the VA side and jumped out at me Halloween style. Many f-bombs were wasted.

[Terpfan]

@pfunkallstar 25951 wrote:

Not sure, but I definitely had a kamikaze tourist almost take me out on Memorial Bridge, they were actually hiding behind the column on the VA side and jumped out at me Halloween style. Many f-bombs were wasted.

I feel bad, but I did laugh at that one. I’m glad most of the tourists avoid 14th St Bridge.

[KelOnWheels]

Just saw a group roll down Columbia toward 18th towing a trailer blasting the Beasties. Looked like a fun ride

[jamilkb]

Hey buddy….you…the one on the mountain bike…wearing a white T-Shirt & Shorts….the one that decided to pass me unannounced on the 14th St bridge this morning around 6:15am…do you remember?….I was the one on the black road bike with two black Ortlieb’s on the back, and a bright blinky red light on the rear….
I just want to say thanks!
Thanks for not bothering to announce your pass on one of the narrowest crossings on the trail…
Thanks for proceeding to get 50 yards in front of me and then slowing down your pace….guess you spent all your energy on that pass…
Thanks for proceeding to slow your pace even more and decide to test the bounciness of your tires as you exited the bridge on the down slope towards the memorial….you know…right at the optimal down-hill swift coasting point…..
Thanks for slowing to the point that I was practically on your heels by the time we proceeded onto the sidewalk to go around the memorial….
Hope you don’t mind that I grew bored & annoyed of your antics and decided to pass you in the same fashion that you passed me……..of course, I was capable of maintaining a sensible pace after passing.

[Jason]

Dear Tourist:

You yelled at me saying “WE CAN SEE YOU ALREADY” noting my hi-viz shirt and blinkey lights. Good thing you and your hordes didnt want to bother giving even two feet of space for me and the biker in front of me. I suppose you were just too busy admiring my hi-vis bike accoutramont to do anything about it. I responded “Awesome, maybe your group can move out of the way next time” as your several kids veered all over the very wide mall sidewalks across from the whitehouse. I am sorry, but you about twenty seconds to decide to yell your profanity at me. I was already a block away. Sorry we didnt have a chance to dance!

[OneEighth]

You: red jersey, black shorts, green backpack, black LeMond.
Me: Slightly annoyed at first that you passed without warning and then didn’t keep up the pace. But then dutifully doing my best to be helpful by calling out all our passes for you once I realized that you needed to save your breath for the brutal uphills heading toward Rosslyn on the Custis…
Thank you for putting a smirk on my face—the only thing better would have been if you had seen me closing on you on the uphills while riding no-hands.

[pfunkallstar]

@OneEighth 26604 wrote:

You: red jersey, black shorts, green backpack, black LeMond.
Me: Slightly annoyed at first that you passed without warning and then didn’t keep up the pace. But then dutifully doing my best to be helpful by calling out all our passes for you once I realized that you needed to save your breath for the brutal uphills heading toward Rosslyn on the Custis…
Thank you for putting a smirk on my face—the only thing better would have been if you had seen me closing on you on the uphills while riding no-hands.

Ah Mr. Green Backpack Lemond, I know him well. Best place to take him is on the hill up near the Arlington Ed Center – choke point!

[vvill]

Not a missed connection, but there was a guy on the MVT a couple afternoons ago on a super BLING shiny Cannondale MTB that looked brand new, with bright yellow (or perhaps light green) shoes, no helmet and no (or almost invisible) socks. Anyone else see him? It was like there were big rotating dollar signs hovering in front of me. Truly an amazing sight but those terrible MVT hills slowed him down a fair bit so I didn’t stay behind him too long. I think I may have dinged my bell/called a pass on his behalf but in my entranced state I don’t remember. (And yes I’m being smug, I’m sure he *could* have just finished a big ride and been totally pooped. But it still fell well outside of the range of usual bikes/riders on the trail.)

[rcannon100]

The shinier the toys, the more likely their poseurs.

I just love on the weekends seeing a happy couple on bright shiny bikes, with matching spandex, and matching water bottles.

Ah Happy Loving Couples

[video=youtube_share;XY45f-9wtXA]http://youtu.be/XY45f-9wtXA[/video]

[Author]

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