Missed connection

[jabberwocky]

I find with cleat bolts that they need to be checked the first few rides after installation, but once they’ve staying on for a couple rides they won’t come off on their own.

I need to learn to loosen them up once a year or so just to keep the damn things from seizing. New cleat installation usually involves a dremel tool for me. Fortunately Time ATAC cleats are pretty long-lived.

[PotomacCyclist]

I always do a quick safety check of the bike before every ride. Turn the handlebars. Test the brakes. Tug gently on the seat. Check tire pressure (esp. with skinny tires). After the ride, I pick up the bike and slowly spin each wheel to check for tire damage and debris. I’ve gotten used to the checklist so it takes very little time.

I guess I should do the same with CaBi, but I usually don’t remember to do so. Those bikes are a lot sturdier and stable. Plus, when I start riding on CaBi, I start off pretty slow. If there are any mechanical issues, I’ll notice them while I’m still riding at a slow speed. (Not that my speed is that great even in mid-ride on CaBi.)

[DismalScientist]

@dbb 77059 wrote:

The U turn on 15th so you could drive north instead of south was not particularly elegant. In a compact with no traffic you shouldn’t have to do a three point turn.

Given the double yellow line prohibits U-turns, perhaps the driver thought he had no choice but to execute a three point turn.:rolleyes:

[slowtriguy]

Two jackholes, no waiting!

Me: coasting to the light at the intersection of westbound Fairfax and Taylor in Arlington at about 1800 tonight.
You: Embrocated long-haired helmet-less fixie-riding jackhole, passing me on the right with about six inches to spare and with zero warning
Me, calling out: Man, was that really ne-
You #2: Jackhole #2, in high-vis from head to toe riding a normal commuter, passing me on the left between cars and me with about six inches to spare and zero warning.
Me, altering the call: -ecessary, either of you?

Seriously, people, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. The light changed green two seconds after you pulled your tag-team jackhole routine. I don’t mind being passed in the bike lane, with warning, and when I’m moving. But (a) you ran a red light, (b) it saved you two seconds, and (c) you passed me really freakin’ close and with zero warning. All told, that makes you both (a) jackholes, (b) really bad examples, and (c) did I mention jackholes.

I award you no points, and may both of you learn to be PALs, not jackholes.

At least I got to pull this out of the meme generator tonight:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4741[/ATTACH]

[oldbikechick]

Thanks everyone for the info on cleats. I guess I DO need to add this to the list of things to worry about. I have moved them around a little since they were installed, but not recently. Time to look at them I guess!

[thucydides]

So I’m bopping along eastbound on the TR bridge. I look to my right across the bridge where I see a guy riding also eastbound. Wait a minute. He’s not in the bike lane over there, he’s riding on the bridge in the right lane with really fast moving, lane-changing traffic. I raise a hot cup of coffee to you fine sir and hope you’re still alive.

Dude, really?😮

[Terpfan]

Kudos to the Swedish Embassy for presumably providing loaner bikes to your staff or visitors. Last night at 15th & I St, I pulled behind a woman on a white bike that had a small license plate and then on the pannier portion had a light-colored sign that said Embassy of Sweden. Anyway, that’s awesome that your embassy does that!

[dasgeh]

@Terpfan 77175 wrote:

Kudos to the Swedish Embassy for presumably providing loaner bikes to your staff or visitors. Last night at 15th & I St, I pulled behind a woman on a white bike that had a small license plate and then on the pannier portion had a ligght sign that said Embassy of Sweden. Anyway, that’s awesome that your embassy does that!

How awesome would it be for the Dutch embassy to have loaner bakfiets or the Danish embassy to have loaner Christianas?

[cyclingfool]

@dasgeh 77177 wrote:

How awesome would it be for the Dutch embassy to have loaner bakfiets or the Danish embassy to have loaner Christianas?

Now if only they could loan us some of their urban cycling infrastructure while they’re at it…

[bobco85]

@cyclingfool 77179 wrote:

Now if only they could loan us some of their urban cycling infrastructure while they’re at it…

I’ll take one of these at the Rosslyn Circle o’ Death:

http://hovenring.com/

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4743[/ATTACH]

It would then become the Rosslyn Circle o’ Awesome!

[Guus]

The Dutch embassy has loaner bikes for employees. No bakfietsen though!

[oldbikechick]

We have them too! I was in Geneva recently and saw these:

https://geneva.usmission.gov/2011/11/09/green-diplomacy-on-two-wheels-the-missions-e-bike-fleet/

[dasgeh]

@oldbikechick 77237 wrote:

We have them too! I was in Geneva recently and saw these:

https://geneva.usmission.gov/2011/11/09/green-diplomacy-on-two-wheels-the-missions-e-bike-fleet/

These are awesome, I love ebikes and I’m really happy we have them, but really? The Americans would have ebikes!

[oldbikechick]

@dasgeh 77253 wrote:

These are awesome, I love ebikes and I’m really happy we have them, but really? The Americans would have ebikes!

I know! But, really, they are for employees to go back and forth to meetings, etc and the mission is at the top of a hill decent sized hill… I think ebikes are probably the right tool for this purpose

[Terpfan]

Dear pickup truck driver (non-NPS vehicle) riding along the MVT underneath the railroad tracks last night, um, what exactly were you doing? On the one hand, at least you were going really slow and only taking up 1/2 of the pathway, but on the other hand, where on earth were you going north on the MVT to? And in the dark? You didn’t really stop for my wave, which is fine because I was trying to beat the snow home. Still, it’s probably not a wise idea to drive on any mups, particularly at night, and in an area where trail users never expect to see vehicles.

[Author]

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