Missed connection

[Steve O]

@bentbike33 154585 wrote:

ME: Westbound on Custis later and darker than usual because work, cresting a small rise and passing a ninja jogger at the beginning of a straight section.

YOU: Walking eastbound and switching on your head-mounted thermonuclear device, pointing it directly at me.

ME: Raising my left hand to block your glare to ensure I didn’t run into any other ninjas.

YOU: Leaning toward me as we pass yelling: “You like to blind people?!?”

Evidently not as much as you. If you had been at all observant during your little revenge fantasy tirade you would have seen my light was illuminating you no higher than mid-thigh once the trail leveled out and we actually got close together. Just because a light is on and you can see it does not mean it is shining full force in your face. But if all lights bother you, try putting your own hand up to block glare from an oncoming light. It works magnificently for all kinds of lights including cars and the sun.

I had this exact same experience tonight! About 6:30 just after Lyon Village. Just like you I have my engineered beam on my dynamo light, and I had swiveled my headlamp off to the side.

[bobco85]

@OneEighth 154567 wrote:

Yeah, I’ve recently noticed that we’ve got an e-moped-riding Captain Special heading eastbound on the Custis in the mornings. Likes to ride right up on people real fast, pass where he shouldn’t, and doesn’t call passes. Might be your boy.

From all previous discussion on e-bikes, it looks like this guy is fulfilling the prophecy (written long ago on ancient tablets that disappeared into the ether) that there would be an e-bike cyclist riding dangerously enough on local trails to give justification for many to ban e-bikes from trails.

(Please note: my personal opinion is that e-bikes are fine on trails as long as the user rides safely)

(Please note: my other personal opinion is that Captain Special is an asshat)

[dcv]

@OneEighth 154567 wrote:

Yeah, I’ve recently noticed that we’ve got an e-moped-riding Captain Special heading eastbound on the Custis in the mornings. Likes to ride right up on people real fast, pass where he shouldn’t, and doesn’t call passes. Might be your boy.

I think it’s this guy, I’ve seen him ride in the oncoming lane to get around cars waiting / taking turns at a stop sign – and blow through the intersection without stopping. https://www.strava.com/activities/858250611

[sjclaeys]

@Steve O 154592 wrote:

I had this exact same experience tonight! About 6:30 just after Lyon Village. Just like you I have my engineered beam on my dynamo light, and I had swiveled my headlamp off to the side.

I’ve also had this guy put his light in my face and scream at me. So much anger.

[pptyson]

@dcv 154613 wrote:

I think it’s this guy, I’ve seen him ride in the oncoming lane to get around cars waiting / taking turns at a stop sign – and blow through the intersection without stopping. https://www.strava.com/activities/858250611

Also seen him ride into oncoming traffic in Oakton on a few occasions. Saw this guy almost hit a pedestrian with a dog while getting honked at by a passing car at little falls rd and w&od on Tuesday, I would guess he hit the intersection at around 25mph or so. Guy is absolutely insane. Also logs e-bike rides on strava so he’s racking up KOMs, etc.

[bobco85]

@dcv 154613 wrote:

I think it’s this guy, I’ve seen him ride in the oncoming lane to get around cars waiting / taking turns at a stop sign – and blow through the intersection without stopping. https://www.strava.com/activities/858250611

I did some quick analysis of his average and max speed on this ride from Oakton to NW DC (I removed the weird Strava speed spikes due to GPS to ensure accuracy):

• Oakton roads to W&OD Trail
  • Average: 16.0 mph – Max: 33.8 mph
• W&OD Trail (Vienna to W&OD/Custis)
  • Average: 21.4 mph – Max: 29.1 mph
• Custis Trail (W&OD to Rosslyn)
  • Average: 20.2 mph – Max: 32.0 mph
• Remainder (MVT, Roosevelt Bridge, NW DC roads)
  • Average: 17.1 mph – Max: 27.1 mph

I’ll let others reach their own conclusions based on the data presented.

[huskerdont]

@bentbike33 154585 wrote:

ME: Westbound on Custis later and darker than usual because work, cresting a small rise and passing a ninja jogger at the beginning of a straight section.

YOU: Walking eastbound and switching on your head-mounted thermonuclear device, pointing it directly at me.

ME: Raising my left hand to block your glare to ensure I didn’t run into any other ninjas.

YOU: Leaning toward me as we pass yelling: “You like to blind people?!?”

Evidently not as much as you. If you had been at all observant during your little revenge fantasy tirade you would have seen my light was illuminating you no higher than mid-thigh once the trail leveled out and we actually got close together. Just because a light is on and you can see it does not mean it is shining full force in your face. But if all lights bother you, try putting your own hand up to block glare from an oncoming light. It works magnificently for all kinds of lights including cars and the sun.

Sounds exactly like the guy on the Custis who prompted my first experience posting on this forum in late 2015. Ran me off the trail and when I dismounted, the only reason there wasn’t an assault/fight is that I held up my bike between us and thrust it toward him. Insane. Be careful out there. Sooner or later…

ETA that it was on the Custis just after Lyon Village, just as Steve O’s experience. It was morning for me though, but really sounds like the same guy.

[Drewdane]

@sjclaeys 154149 wrote:

Ah yes, the two wrongs make a right approach, always ends well.

Well, setting a good example sure as Hell doesn’t seem to work.

[EasyRider]

Sounds like sooner or later someone is going to be hurt by this bully. I’m not advocating anyone confront him. But if he’s doing this routine every day, a helmet cam video of such bad behavior, a corresponding Strava link showing his speed, and a calm conversation with law enforcement might yield at least a warning.

[sjclaeys]

@Drewdane 154618 wrote:

Well, setting a good example sure as Hell doesn’t seem to work.

Better than making a potentially dangerous situation more dangerous. We all need to worry more about ourselves rather than others, myself included.

[pptyson]

Sorry, realized you can hit “analysis” and check the speeds. He hit Little Falls Rd Intersection at 30.3mph, slowed down to 28 on the other side. You can see similar on other intersections too.

@bobco85 154616 wrote:

I did some quick analysis of his average and max speed on this ride from Oakton to NW DC (I removed the weird Strava speed spikes due to GPS to ensure accuracy):

• Oakton roads to W&OD Trail
  • Average: 16.0 mph – Max: 33.8 mph
• W&OD Trail (Vienna to W&OD/Custis)
  • Average: 21.4 mph – Max: 29.1 mph
• Custis Trail (W&OD to Rosslyn)
  • Average: 20.2 mph – Max: 32.0 mph
• Remainder (MVT, Roosevelt Bridge, NW DC roads)
  • Average: 17.1 mph – Max: 27.1 mph

I’ll let others reach their own conclusions based on the data presented.

[secstate]

A Google Reverse Image Search using his Strava profile pic identifies him and his employer in downtown DC (via LinkedIn). It should be easy for someone to send him a note should they wish.

His LinkedIn profile claims he is “extremely helpful” and has “strong crisis management skills.” So, should be an easy conversation!!

[bobco85]

@pptyson 154622 wrote:

Sorry, realized you can hit “analysis” and check the speeds. He hit Little Falls Rd Intersection at 30.3mph, slowed down to 28 on the other side. You can see similar on other intersections too.

No worries. I was curious to see exactly how “bad” the ride was (was he really going 30 mph or did people just think he was going 30 mph?), so I checked out the data to see what I could decipher. It doesn’t appear to be out of the ordinary compared to fitter cyclists, but to me it falls into the “you might be going too fast for the trail you’re on” category that many pathletes also occupy.

[rcannon100]

Is one of you making a report to the police?????

[runbike]

@dcv 154613 wrote:

I think it’s this guy, I’ve seen him ride in the oncoming lane to get around cars waiting / taking turns at a stop sign – and blow through the intersection without stopping. https://www.strava.com/activities/858250611

Ah the Gearcrusher. I’ve been following his antics since he blew by me on this ride (https://www.strava.com/activities/730189559/overview) back in September. He also likes to wear full kit and uses clipless pedals on his Specialized Turbo, which is just weird. As a former e-bike owner, I can say that anything beyond street clothes and platform pedals means you’re doing it wrong But that’s just my opinion and all and I would obviously defer to someone who self-identifies as “gearcrusher” in their Strava profile name…

[Author]

Posts