Missed connection

[Drewdane]

To the guy headed the opposite direction on the TR bridge yesterday morning: I’m sorry I was a little distracted. Plus, the sun was directly in my eyes, making visibility difficult. But there are more polite ways to get my attention than yelling “MAKE WAY!”. Just saying.

To the guy that blew into the intersection of Virginia and 25th NW on Red yesterday evening, forcing me to flatspot my rear tire: You are the reason drivers hate us.

[Vicegrip]

Todays missed connection, the one between my saddle bag with a blinky, patch kit, levers and good bike tool and my saddle while on the way home.

[jrenaut]

You: Jaywalker on 7th at L’Enfant Plaza just barreling through the intersection
Me: The cyclist who yelled “Watch out!” before you walked right into my path.

You might want to actually look up when jaywalking. Just because I saw you doesn’t mean the next guy will. It’s also telling that I yelled – I didn’t even see you until I was too close to get my hand to my bell. So, for you own sake and mine, maybe a little more awareness of your surroundings, huh?

[GB]

@Vicegrip 68908 wrote:

Todays missed connection, the one between my saddle bag with a blinky, patch kit, levers and good bike tool and my saddle while on the way home.

If you’re looking for a new one check this out – http://www.rei.com/product/825303/novara-expanding-seat-bag

It’s big, (might be a plus or minus for you) but it is securely attached to the bike & comes off easily.

[hozn]

@GregBain 68942 wrote:

If you’re looking for a new one check this out – http://www.rei.com/product/825303/novara-expanding-seat-bag

It’s big, (might be a plus or minus for you) but it is securely attached to the bike & comes off easily.

I will propose an alternative that I have come to really appreciate: http://www.lezyne.com/en/products/organizers/caddys#!micro-caddy-s-m

It does not come off easily, but it won’t fall off either; that velcro is serious. The outside-accessible pocket for the tool means that it doesn’t need to be opened up for adjustments. I am able to wedge a CO2, patch kit, levers and spare road tube in there. I love the fact that it stays tucked up under the seat and that the velcro keeps it clamped down and stops it from rattling/shaking around. This is probably the closest I can get to following rule #29.

[DCAKen]

Me: Heading south on the Rock Creek Park trail between the zoo entrance and the tunnel

You: A deer, bolting across the bike path

This was the closest I’ve come to hitting (or being hit) by a deer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzCNal1lRmY

Unfortunately, it continued running across Beach Drive. The bang at the 0:05 mark is when it got hit by a car.

[Dickie]

To the dude in the Georgia Tech kit that regularly rides the same route home as I do on the WOD. More than once you have passed me at a pretty dangerous place without any warning, last night it was in the dark but thankfully on a safe straight section. I decided to follow you this time to see if your lack of calls was just a coincidence… nope, you never call your passes and you regularly pass folks at less than ideal locations. The fact that you barreled through the Lee HWY/WOD crossing without slowing down and nearly met the side panel of a mini van was predictable. Your assumption that having the walk signal makes it safe to fly through a busy intersection that frequently has cars making difficult right turns, in the dark, with an obstruction blocking their view is plain stupid. You’re lucky to be in one piece and I’m glad I didn’t have to stop and explain to the cops who was actually in the wrong. You did make hand signals from that point on. Please be safe and courteous to all of us out there, you’re probably a nice guy just not thinking enough after a long day.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Dickie 68974 wrote:

To the dude in the Georgia Tech kit …

Go Dawgs!

[mikoglaces]

@jrenaut 68941 wrote:

You might want to actually look up when jaywalking.

I think there’s a jaywalkers’ code that requires jaywalkers to look straight ahead. If they don’t see the approaching vehicle then it cannot hurt them.

[rpiretti]

@Dickie 68974 wrote:

To the dude in the Georgia Tech kit that regularly rides the same route home as I…

Oh, I’ll have to watch out for him. Go (other) dawgs!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[guga31bb]

@Dickie 68974 wrote:

barreled through the Lee HWY/WOD crossing without slowing down

…how is this person still alive?? That intersection is scary enough in the daylight, when going slowly…

[cyclingfool]

You: Ford Transit Connect vehicle belonging to Classic Heating and Cooling of Beltsville, MD who honked and then buzzed me around a blind corner by an active construction site.
Me: WTF?! Don’t worry. I already sent a well written letter of complaint to your company.

You: Guy on a single speed passing me this around 8:45 AM on the MVT near Gravelly Point, “On your left” [muffled by a balaclava]
Me: Didn’t get a chance to compliment you on your cool balaclava with the image of a skull face on it. Nice balaclava.

[jrenaut]

You: Woman herding two small children across 14th St NW nowhere near a crosswalk or light
Me: The cyclist heading down the hill at 20+mph who locked up the tires trying not to run over the kids

I get that it sucks to miss your bus (and especially a busy commuter line at rush hour), but let’s not get anyone killed out there, huh?

[pfunkallstar]

You: GW sweatshirt girl with 1980’s-tastic orange foam headphones fielding a REALLY important call in the middle of the trail on TR…in the dark.

Me: Hi, I’m the guy with the retina-burning light that assumed that your retinas would be burned by said light. I was wrong, my apologies. I understand your desire for privacy while discussing whatever matters you were discussing, but the middle of a very dark trail isn’t actually that private as my appearance last night proved.

[83b]

Something for VA commuters to note:
You: Two cyclists coming from the 15th street/Ellipse sidewalk (I assume having come from the MVT) into the 15th street cycletrack.
Me: Turning–with the light–onto the 15th street cycletrack from the Penn Ave lanes.

There’s a lot going on at that intersection. I’m looking for drivers who try to turn left from Penn on the cyclists’ light. I’m looking for southbound drivers on 15th who overshoot the stop line. It’s a tight turn around the bollards and I’m looking for southbound cyclists in the cycletrack cutting their turn onto Penn short. What I’m not looking for–or at least haven’t been until now–are northbound cyclists running their lights (both pedestrian and road signals are there).

That was really close and I’m not at all sorry for losing my Dirt™ with you.

Earlier in the day:
You: Truck taking an illegal right on red from 3rd, across the Penn Ave lanes and into the weird strip of parking in the middle of Penn by the West Gallery.
Me: A paragon of Dirt™ zen.

[Author]

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