Missed connection

[83b]

I admit to once seeing a kid out on the ART riding an ill-fitting and very high-end cervelo in his tennis shoes that I knew couldn’t possibly have been his. My reaction was, “eh, the bike shop will get him when he tries to go get flats put on**.” We used to have that several times a summer at the suburban shop I used to work at. I’ve heard that the Daily Rider and a few other shops see a lot of that same thing.

**Footnote: I was also thinking, “And there’s no way I’m confronting or even following that group of kids.”

[Steve O]

@Tim Kelley 138463 wrote:

Should have been riding the road bike and ghosting the beater! Better to have to let go of the cheaper bike if needs be.

I guess if you think the police are going to stop you.
If not, I find it easier to ghost the lighter bike.

[Tim Kelley]

@Steve O 138482 wrote:

I guess if you think the police are going to stop you.
If not, I find it easier to ghost the lighter bike.

I was thinking in case of evasive maneuvers due to traffic or potholes, not trying to run away from the cops!

[lordofthemark]

So, I am thinking that an odd combo of a helmet, a bike cap, a jersey or BTWD t shirt, plus khaki pants and sketchers probably matches the Kona hybrid well enough to keep me out of trouble

[TwoWheelsDC]

Missed a last-second low five with Dread…I hesitated for fear of slapping the guy at the front of the line of bikes.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I was too slow.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Crickey7]

@lordofthemark 138485 wrote:

So, I am thinking that an odd combo of a helmet, a bike cap, a jersey or BTWD t shirt, plus khaki pants and sketchers probably matches the Kona hybrid well enough to keep me out of trouble

Really, just a helmet with a mirror will do.

[Steve O]

Me: Waiting to cross eastbound Lee Hwy on Nash St. going into Rosslyn (that’s the street at the light by the Marriott)
Youse: Gridlocked cars
You (specific): Only got halfway through on the green. Stuck in the middle when light changes for me.
Me: crossing behind you
You: Noticing big truck on your right that wants to go straight through. Throwing it in reverse to make room.
Me: Screaming and swerving as you back directly into my path.

Thankfully no collision as you hit your brakes, but mighty close.

[bobco85]

Me: commuting to work this morning on the W&OD near Barcroft
You: cyclist with a cool butterfly jersey biking 2 people in front of me at a faster pace
Me: looking ahead at the George Mason Dr intersection whose crosswalk light was counting down, thinking “Well, I’m not going to make this light, so I’ll maintain my pace”
You: after the crosswalk light is at 0 (solid hand) which happens after the stoplight turns red, decide to proceed into the intersection anyways
Driver on GM Drive: seeing a green light, legally starts to pull into intersection to make left turn
You: swerve to the right to avoid crashing into the driver
Me: watching this as I approach the intersection, surprised yet relieved no crash occurred

I fully admit that I have performed this maneuver (skirting across a crosswalk just after the red light has appeared) myself, but I also know it’s important to determine the coast is clear before attempting. It’s one of those, “If you’re going to break the law, at least do so in a safe manner,” types of situations.
/hypocritical statement

[creadinger]

Friday evening (9pmish)

Me: Riding south on MVT by the airport. I was heading home after completing a nice, looooonnng ride.
You: Pedestrian with a flashlight.

I’ve seen this before where peds will see a bike coming and flash them real quick to let you know they’re there. A reasonable strategy that works for me, if it works for them.

As I crested the bridge over the airport ramp, you flashed me from ~70 yards away, and I switched my dynamo light from high beam to low beam. Being a well crafted german engineered light it’s designed to cut the light off at a certain height so as to not blind people, and no one has complained to me yet about it being too bright.

As I got closer to you, you inexplicably lifted up your bright fucking light to shine directly in my face. You raised your arm to do so. I know because that’s the last thing I saw before I was completely blinded. What. The. Fuck?! What in your pea-brained mind made you think this was a good idea? Jesus Christ asshole. I got passed by hundreds of cars and trucks on Friday and you were the biggest asshole I saw all day. Congratulations.

[Terpfan]

My wife wanted to go walking this weekend along the MVT. I usually try to avoid the trails like the plague on nice weekends unless it’s real early in the morning, but I went along with it. And, afterward, I remembered why I avoid the trails. I had a cyclist actually attempt a pass of two other cyclists coming right at me. That bleeping forced us both to literally jump off the trail to avoid a head-on collision and I didn’t add my wife is noticeably pregnant. The best part was the guy yelled at all of us (two cyclists he was passing and my wife and I) for not clearing the way, whatever that means. He was the worst offender, but I watched another cyclist basically almost fall after another crazy pass. So, this is a PSA to use the trails on the weekend at your own peril.

Of course, there were some good riders/walkers/etc too. One guy even had a dog running alongside him (leashed) and he called his passes, gave distance, and so did his dog–that was just impressive. Also, giant rat snake in a tree, which I watched almost fall onto a guy. I can just imagine a 4′ snake falling onto someone now. That would have been a site to see.

[Tim Kelley]

@Terpfan 138773 wrote:

I didn’t add my wife is noticeably pregnant

Congratulations!

[bentbike33]

@creadinger:

Not to try and excuse the inexcusable, but having used one of these marvels of German engineering since I bought myself one for Christmas last year (Busch & Müller Luxos U), I think I might know what set him off (not that there would have been anything reasonable for you to do to prevent it).

@creadinger 138766 wrote:

Friday evening (9pmish)

As I crested the bridge over the airport ramp, you flashed me from ~70 yards away, and I switched my dynamo light from high beam to low beam. Being a well crafted german engineered light it’s designed to cut the light off at a certain height so as to not blind people, and no one has complained to me yet about it being too bright.

I have observed from non-ninja-pedestrians’ reflective clothing that when you are above oncoming traffic because you are cresting a hill, the brightest part of the beam (the top) can hit much higher than when you are on level ground. I don’t know how your light works, but my light has a kind of high-beam setting that basically maxes out all the LEDs using the standlight battery reserve, and switching to “low-beam” at night does not actually cut the brightness of the top of the main beam.

Anyway, he was still a jerk, as he didn’t bother to notice that your light was no longer in his face as you got closer to passing him.

Oddly, the only complaints I get about my light are during daylight hours.

[creadinger]

@bentbike33 138782 wrote:

@creadinger:

Not to try and excuse the inexcusable, but having used one of these marvels of German engineering since I bought myself one for Christmas last year (Busch & Müller Luxos U), I think I might know what set him off (not that there would have been anything reasonable for you to do to prevent it).

I have observed from non-ninja-pedestrians’ reflective clothing that when you are above oncoming traffic because you are cresting a hill, the brightest part of the beam (the top) can hit much higher than when you are on level ground. I don’t know how your light works, but my light has a kind of high-beam setting that basically maxes out all the LEDs using the standlight battery reserve, and switching to “low-beam” at night does not actually cut the brightness of the top of the main beam.

Anyway, he was still a jerk, as he didn’t bother to notice that your light was no longer in his face as you got closer to passing him.

Oddly, the only complaints I get about my light are during daylight hours.

I had considered this possibility as well, since like I said I crested the little hill on the bridge. I also have a Luxos-U light and while it’s pretty bright, it may have shone in his face from 60+ yards away. Just as he did with his light. So what the hell was the point of blinding the oncoming traffic? I could have swerved and plowed right through him. Idiotic! Also, this is a problem with all cars on all hills and society is surviving somehow! I think he was just an angry old man. Well, I’m not reaching down to cover my responsibly aimed and designed light so F him.

[consularrider]

Hopefully it’s not this same not so gentleman. http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?10188-Assaulted-on-MVT-looking-for-witnesses

[Author]

Posts