Missed connection

[bobco85]

Me: getting an dusk foggy bike ride in because I like to nap after work

You: all the joggers and cyclists on the W&OD trail last evening that I came across

Thank you! Every single person I passed had either some sort of reflective clothing (in addition to the reflective parts on shoes) or light(s). It really made it easier to see you in the fog. I was very impressed.

(Addendum) To the staple that lodged itself into my back tire on 27th St about a block before the Harrison St crossing: Because of you (and all the other sharp objects that have caused me many flats this year), I’m getting paranoid that there are magnets in my back tire that are attracting random bits of metal, screws, nails, and staples to it!

[Mark Blacknell]

To the idiot who was rolling up Wilson Boulevard from Courthouse to Virginia Square last night, with a simple little white blinky light attached to your seatpost – you *do* know that that’s looked like you just grabbed a light off of your backpack (nice dark clothes, btw) and attached it in the wrong direction, right? And you *do* know that it’s getting dark earlier and that you should *always* have a set of real lights on your bike at this time of year, right? And that “oops, I forgot it was getting dark so early” would be a really lame excuse if you got hit because someone didn’t see you, right?

Oh, wait. That was me.

Nevermind.

[baiskeli]

To the idiot who was rolling up Wilson Boulevard from Courthouse to Virginia Square last night, with a simple little white blinky….

Oh, wait, someone already called out that idiot.

[baiskeli]

Hey, guy on bike, sure, traffic is light crossing the Mall in front of the Capitol, so you won’t hit a car while running a red light really fast. But you might hit me.

[dasgeh]

Dear ELITE cyclist heading West on FMR just East of Mt Vernon yesterday evening:

Yes, I had slowed trying to figure out which of the unmarked paths was the Four Mile Run Trail, and then to navigate the curves to make sure I wouldn’t crash into anyone coming. And yes, that section is downhill, and I’m sure you were looking forward to cruising along super fast.

However, the 15 seconds that I added to your commute was not cause for you SPIT AT ME as you passed.

[GuyContinental]

@dasgeh 32865However, the 15 seconds that I added to your commute was not cause for you SPIT AT ME as you passed.[/QUOTE wrote:

Whoa… the dude spit at a pregnant fellow cyclist? If karma doesn’t get him first, it sounds like some forum vigilante justice is in order…

[DaveK]

@dasgeh 32865 wrote:

Dear ELITE cyclist heading West on FMR just East of Mt Vernon yesterday evening:

Yes, I had slowed trying to figure out which of the unmarked paths was the Four Mile Run Trail, and then to navigate the curves to make sure I wouldn’t crash into anyone coming. And yes, that section is downhill, and I’m sure you were looking forward to cruising along super fast.

However, the 15 seconds that I added to your commute was not cause for you SPIT AT ME as you passed.

My reaction had I observed this would be very un-Pete.

Was that you I passed on Pennsylvania Ave yesterday afternoon? That’s where everyone is riding, apparently.

[OneEighth]

Dasgeh,
Can you provide a physical description of the rider, the kit, the bike?
Thanks.

[bobco85]

@dasgeh 32865 wrote:

However, the 15 seconds that I added to your commute was not cause for you SPIT AT ME as you passed.

Did the cyclist intentionally aim towards you, or was he just spitting off to the right? I ask because when I’m biking on trails (and roadways, too), I always spit off to the right side so it doesn’t hit oncoming traffic (it feels really awkward to try and spit to the left because of this habit). That said, I try not to spit around other trail-users, especially if I’m passing someone (unless a bug flies in my mouth, which complicates things). I seriously hope that it was more of a matter of habit of the spitter and not intentional, and it seems like the pitchforks are being sharpened and the torches lit for vengeance (this is a biker forum, not a biker gang!).

[ShawnoftheDread]

@bobco85 32878 wrote:

… (this is a biker forum, not a biker gang!).

Those are not mutually exclusive.

[acc]

That is appalling. It was an aggressive act by an imbecile. I’m so glad you are safe and terribly sorry this happened to you.

[dasgeh]

Y’all are so sweet. The ridiculous thing is that, when I heard him behind me, I had said “sorry, I’m slow”. No idea if he heard me. He almost certainly didn’t see I’m pregnant, but still.

I tried giving him the benefit of the doubt — i.e. assuming he thought he had passed me all the way then spit in the way one may do when he thought it was clear. But he didn’t even wait until he had pulled back to the right. His front tire was in front of mine, but his back tire was still even with me. And yes, given the laws of physics, that means the spit landed on me. He was really booking, so I had no hope of doing more than yelling “THANKS” and trying to channel Dirt.

He was wearing all black with lots of awesomely reflective yellow accents — I think there may have been yellow stripes down his sleeves and legs, though he really booked it past me. I’m sure he had a backpack that was black base with yellow oval on the back. I didn’t see his bike.

[dasgeh]

@DaveK 32873 wrote:

My reaction had I observed this would be very un-Pete.

Was that you I passed on Pennsylvania Ave yesterday afternoon? That’s where everyone is riding, apparently.

Thank you. And no. I continue my trend of never riding anywhere I’d see other forum folks.* Though I’ll be at the Arlington Fun Ride this Saturday! Hopefully I’ll see some of you there.

*Yesterday, I rode Ohio Drive – 395 Bridge – MVT – FMR – W&OD – back to Courthouse. Everyone except for spitter jerk seemed to be on their best behavior, but I don’t think I saw any of you good folks (except some crazy ninja last night who looked suspiciously like Mr. Blacknell

[jnva]

@dasgeh 32893 wrote:

Thank you. And no. I continue my trend of never riding anywhere I’d see other forum folks.* Though I’ll be at the Arlington Fun Ride this Saturday! Hopefully I’ll see some of you there.

*Yesterday, I rode Ohio Drive – 395 Bridge – MVT – FMR – W&OD – back to Courthouse. Everyone except for spitter jerk seemed to be on their best behavior, but I don’t think I saw any of you good folks (except some crazy ninja last night who looked suspiciously like Mr. Blacknell

I’ve waved and said hello to several women in the past couple of months riding ebikes on the custis trail. I wonder if one of them was you? Sad to say, but ELITES probably dislike ebikes. Hope that’s not why you got spit on.

[JorgeGortex]

@GuyContinental 32868 wrote:

Whoa… the dude spit at a pregnant fellow cyclist? If karma doesn’t get him first, it sounds like some forum vigilante justice is in order…

Bike Arlington Forum members, assemble!

“I’m here to kick-ass and chew bubble gum… and I’m all out of bubble gum.” – Roddy Rowdy Piper in They Live!

Lame lame lame. It is obvious that many people in this world have no manners or consideration these days. Sorry you had to go through this dagesh. As noted, karma is a bitch.

G.

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