Missed connection

[dasgeh]

@jnva 32899 wrote:

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.

I don’t think you’ve waived at me, but thanks, from the female ebiking community. From the front, I’m easy to spot, with the belly and all. From the back, I have a horrible ugly beige colored milk crate strapped to the rack, and my bike is purple.

It’s possible he was anti ebike. I would imagine he was just frustrated that he had to slow down — we were headed downhill and around some blind-ish curves, so he had to slow behind me (I’m really glad he did, since there was a ped coming towards us around each of the curves). He couldn’t really go until the straight away – and he really booked it when he could.

[bobco85]

@dasgeh 32891 wrote:

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.

I’m slightly relieved that it didn’t seem to be intentional. Inconsiderate? Definitely. Some people act like the trail is meant for them, and all other people are just obstacles in their way.

I’m sorry you had to deal with an aggressive and inconsiderate jerk. I bet he didn’t even hear you say anything, as he was too focused on himself. I hope you have a better ride in the future.

[txgoonie]

I’m aghast at this. I would be more, however, if I hadn’t, too, been spit on before. It’s the negative equivalent to the wolf whistle. Really, people resort to this to make a point? That’s the best you can think of?

Sorry, dasgeh, that is totally sucky.

To the swarms of bugs (moths?) along the MVT last night near Gravely: you’ll extend your life and ensure the survival of your species if you DON’T kamikaze dive-bomb my headlamp. And when I put my head down to avoid you all hitting my face or god forbid flying into my mouth, please don’t fly into one of the holes of my helmet or lodge in my ponytail. I will freak and take you all down with me, I promise.

[Certifried]

@bobco85 32909 wrote:

I’m slightly relieved that it didn’t seem to be intentional.

uh, not sure what made you think that, but spitting with someone even remotely behind you (her front and his back wheel were equal) is a bullshit coward move. What a dick. Sorry, dasgeh, that this pig spit on you. I hope karma does catch up to him.

[bobco85]

@Certifried 32924 wrote:

uh, not sure what made you think that, but spitting with someone even remotely behind you (her front and his back wheel were equal) is a bullshit coward move. What a dick. Sorry, dasgeh, that this pig spit on you. I hope karma does catch up to him.

I don’t want to focus too much on the spitting part (this is the last I will ever speak of it), but I’m not convinced that it was deliberate. We don’t know what he was thinking at the time. If he had turned toward her and spit at her, I’d go with deliberate. Seeing as he spit when the coast was not clear next to him, I feel it was very inconsiderate. The lesser of two evils, but still a dick move. Even then, I don’t think it really matters to the victim because the end result was that they still got spit on.

[dasgeh]

Thanks all. Honestly, I’m not the most zen person in the world (file under one of the many reasons I don’t race). It must be the AMAZING weather, coupled with the fact that I glide past a bunch of cars stuff in traffic on the TR Bridge and GW Parkway on my afternoon commutes most days, but I’m over it and just a happy cyclist these days.

I can’t wait for the Fun Ride tomorrow!

I’m looking forward to the cold snap after tomorrow a bit less.

[Terpfan]

Southbound on the MVT last night was wrenching to watch some passes. Sure there are plenty of the typical stupid splitting the middle passes, but this time I saw three guys in a row doing it going up a hill/bridge at Reagan. Beyond both sets of cyclists were joggers making it all the more convoluted. I was that “slow” person waiting for the safe passes, one and half minutes slower to get home, but avoiding anyone getting hurt.

I do feel bad this morning because I kind of dropped a ‘wtf’ aloud to a cyclist heading eastbound on L Street. He was looking to run the red and carrying something big. I rang my bell and then audibly started saying it and as soon as he realized the faux pas he immediately delivered a sincere apology. Anyway, to him, it’s alright, we all do make mistakes and acknowledging it is what matters.

Also, I love this weather.

[baiskeli]

Hi, guy on a Cabi crossing at N. Lynn. Good on ya for wearing a helmet. You may need it.

Crossing right in front of oncoming traffic at the last second (on the opposite side from the Custis Trail crossing) – and not being all the way across before the traffic gets the green – is a bad idea, but it’s really dumb on a one-way street, because the cars in the far lane are RIGHT ON YOU and they probably don’t see you about to cross in front of them. RIGHT in front of them.

[vtben]

It looked like someone connected with a mouse this morning, northbound on the MVT just before Gravelly Point.

[Megabeth]

Dear Woman at Intersection of Wilson and Rhodes yesterday evening,

I apologize for foiling your plan to stop at the red light and proceed through it as if it were rolling through a stop sign (or a green light for that matter). I’ll admit, I did make a loud “HEY!” sound which I’m sure interrupted the, I’m sure very engrossing, cell phone conversation you were having.

I’m sorry for that.

But, you see, I was only thinking of you. I didn’t want my bike, and my person, which was already in the intersection on a very solid green light, to scratch the hood of your car. What a bother that would have been!

I also truly hope that your child in the car seat didn’t get scared by my scream of impending doom.

Carry on,
Megabeth

[dbb]

@benbhsu 32992 wrote:

It looked like someone connected with a mouse this morning, northbound on the MVT just before Gravelly Point.

Not wanting to put too fine an edge on this, I think it was a rat and we need to start a thread on unmissed connections

[Terpfan]

@dbb 33008 wrote:

Not wanting to put too fine an edge on this, I think it was a rat and we need to start a thread on unmissed connections

Definitely saw that this morning lying upside down.

On another unrelated note, who are the rats…ok, protestors, that are sitting on the 15th st cycletrack? They were blocking it yesterday night and they were still there this morning. Since when could they camp on streets?

[TwoWheelsDC]

To the somewhat older, definitely non-ELITE couple on cruiser bikes merging onto the GW Parkway from Spout Run, I seriously hope you were able to stay safe and hope that, before your next ride, you consult a good bike map so you don’t make a similar mistake. I also hope that this mistake does not discourage you from riding again.* I have to say that particular section of the GWMP (from the Beltway to Old Town) is one where I think the bike ban is reasonable, given the heavy traffic, high speed, and complete lack of shoulder. Given that Lorcom lane and Kirkwood, which both have bike lanes and/or sharrows, dump out onto Spout Run, I think it might be worth putting a sign near the Lorcom/Spout Run signal that says “bikes prohibited” or some such.

*I realize I’m making assumptions here and I don’t mean to disparage, but given the general appearance of the couple and their demeanor on the bikes, it appeared as if they maybe had just today dusted off their bikes and decided to take a ride.

[jopamora]

Wow, two missed connections!

1.
Me: Crossing the 14th St bridge towards DC pulling the trailer in MC #2 below. Waited for no oncoming traffic before I passed which a warning.

You: Two joggers running side by side. If yall had been running single file, the trailer wouldn’t have hit the fence startling yall.

2.
Me: Pissed off that I was pulling a trailer back home because this weekend the building engineers are closing the parking garage, where I was going to pick up my bike and trailer for the Arlington Fun Ride. I was going slow because I waited until it was clear on the CCT to pass

You: Silent older ELITE who shouted “whoa!” when the trailer almost bumped you off the wrong side of the trail. You did apologize.

[rcannon100]

Oops! Sorry. Didnt mean to say “Whoa!”

Actually, wasnt me. I believe I did pass you about midspan on the bridge before you passed the doubled up joggers. I wasnt thinking any particularly clear thoughts other than something like “yikes, that’s gotta be tight.” Trailer was empty wasnt it?

[Author]

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