My Evening Commute

[consularrider]

@Powerful Pete 91610 wrote:

Let me know if you need some civil society contacts – worked in Ukraine for the better part of the last four years.

Thanks – how about some cycling contacts? I met with a Ukrainian studying at the University of Maryland as a Fullbright Scholar last year, and he used to be involved with the Kyiv cycling association, but had been out of contact for a couple of years. Most of the info I find online is either in Ukrainian or Russian.

[cyclingfool]

@culimerc 91608 wrote:

My comment was meant more lightheartedly, in a geo-political sense.:rolleyes:

So noted. Sorry. There is just such an overwhelming lack of understanding and knowledge about Ukraine (not meant as a slight against you) that I feel compelled to set the record straight and provide some contextual information when I have the opportunity. Doing my part as an RPCV to carry out Peace Corps’ third goal.

[Powerful Pete]

@consularrider 91614 wrote:

Thanks – how about some cycling contacts? I met with a Ukrainian studying at the University of Maryland as a Fullbright Scholar last year, and he used to be involved with the Kyiv cycling association, but had been out of contact for a couple of years. Most of the info I find online is either in Ukrainian or Russian.

No idea, but some of my Ukrainian friends might know people who know people?

[Greenbelt]

Blockin the box

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6338[/ATTACH]

[cyclingfool]

@Greenbelt 91629 wrote:

Blockin the box

Clearly deserves a broomstick through his wheels… :rolleyes:

[consularrider]

@cyclingfool 91646 wrote:

Clearly deserves a broomstick through his wheels… :rolleyes:

I think a steel signpost might work slightly better.

[cyclingfool]

Bugs… why?!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6378[/ATTACH]

I had the worst bug swallowing incident of my commuting life yesterday, despite having my mouth almost entirely closed. It was like the shot the killed the Death Star…

The bug seemed big and furry, and in my the back of my dry throat made me want to gag. I literally almost threw up at one point. I spent a good mile hacking, clearing my throat, etc., trying to get it out, but to no avail. My apologies to anyone around me at the south end of the airport yesterday on the MVT if I seemed to be a little distracted. I was. Ended up chugging half a bottle of water and just washing the bastard down. Ugh…

[Tim Kelley]

@cyclingfool 92064 wrote:

Bugs… why?!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6378[/ATTACH]

I had the worst bug swallowing incident of my commuting life yesterday, despite having my mouth almost entirely closed. It was like the shot the killed the Death Star…

The bug seemed big and furry, and in my the back of my dry throat made me want to gag. I literally almost threw up at one point. I spent a good mile hacking, clearing my throat, etc., trying to get it out, but to no avail. My apologies to anyone around me at the south end of the airport yesterday on the MVT if I seemed to be a little distracted. I was. Ended up chugging half a bottle of water and just washing the bastard down. Ugh…

Oooh! I have a good story about inadvertent bug swallowing–maybe not while riding a bike, but immediately afterwards…

After riding 112 miles earlier, it was mile 11 of the run course of Ironman NYC and a bee flew into my mouth and stung me in the back of the throat! I spit out the body but could still feel the stinger lodged in the back of my mouth. So, I stuck my fingers down my throat and tried to use my fingernails to dislodge the stinger, which in turn made me double over by the side of the road gagging. I finally got it out, but it was a distressing minute or two.

[dcv]

@cyclingfool 92064 wrote:

Bugs… why?!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6378[/ATTACH]

I had the worst bug swallowing incident of my commuting life yesterday, despite having my mouth almost entirely closed. It was like the shot the killed the Death Star…

The bug seemed big and furry, and in my the back of my dry throat made me want to gag. I literally almost threw up at one point. I spent a good mile hacking, clearing my throat, etc., trying to get it out, but to no avail. My apologies to anyone around me at the south end of the airport yesterday on the MVT if I seemed to be a little distracted. I was. Ended up chugging half a bottle of water and just washing the bastard down. Ugh…

best post ever, had to go back and read it again

[dplasters]

Ran into a pedestrian on my commute home last night on the North side of the Vienna Metro. Kinda like this. Except no one fell. And he was really big. And I probably took the worst of it (me+bike < his weight). So really nothing like that. Other than we both made sure everyone was ok and went about our merry ways. The person in the car waiting to turn right probably thought we were crazy. He was running to make the pedestrian countdown light. I was swinging into the crosswalk after going around the mid curb to avoid other pedestrians. He took up the whole curb cut (was expecting him to run to either side of it since I’m essentially required to use the curb cut. Hit the brakes but skidded out as there is still a ton of gravel/sand still at that location from he winter. Basically speared him in the chest with my helmet. Good times. May I suggest a wider curb cut there/pedestrian crossing? Although Metro seems to actually be policing the no-riding across the bridge thing.. so maybe I’ll just take Vaden…. But mostly I just wanted to post that video.

[KLizotte]

Me: Riding at a leisurely pace heading north on Ohio Drive and approaching the stop sign at Buckeye with the intention of going straight.

You: A large peloton overtaking me at high speed and presuming that I am going to turn right.

Me: Already assuming some cyclists will cut me off so slowing down in anticipation and curious as to whether anyone will 1) follow the law, 2) employ common sense and assume anyone *not* signaling a right hand turn is going straight, and 3) show common courtesy.

You: FAIL, FAIL, FAIL on all three counts to an extent that it beggers belief. No one slowed down at all, people passed within inches by cutting me off, and a few people even swore at me. For once I wish the NPS police had ticketed each and everyone one of you. I was forced to continue along with the crowd to avert a crash then eventually turned off at the next road. Every stereotype of the Lance wannabees was confirmed today.

I’m pissed because I greatly fear for any novice rider or tourist who is unfamiliar with how pelotons use HP and innocently (and lawfully) comes to a stop at the intersection and then continues straight through. I couldn’t even slow down for the stop sign because I would have had someone riding up my back.

This is simply unacceptable behavior by aggressive cyclists. I have no problem with Idaho stops at that intersection but their behavior was *very* dangerous and their attitude was simply appalling. HP is not your personal training ground folks. Whoever runs the Thur night peloton needs to take control of the situation.

Always assume a cyclist is going straight unless they signal otherwise!!!!

[ronwalf]

I got sprinkled by a water devil while riding beside the Potomac. It was almost invisible – I only noticed it because of the thin line of ruffled water it left as it moved.

The cool mist felt nice, but given that I was downstream of DC, I’d have rather skipped it.

[consularrider]

KLizotte,

An all to common occurance at that intersection which has caused me to alter my lane positioning there to the far left side if I see a peloton looming behind me. That way I can proceed through the cut to the left of the gate while the d*%$@&ton blows through the stop. I avoid East Potomac Park on Thursday evenings.

[jpaulwhite]

@ShawnoftheDread 91360 wrote:

I got a shoutout from a young teen as I passed him and his friends up the Custis corkscrew going home yesterday. It’s not often that cyclists are impressed with my climbing speed.

I used to hate that spot! Haven’t ridden over there in years though. Curious to see how I handle it now

[jpaulwhite]

I always just swallow bugs. Too much trouble trying to get em out

[Author]

Posts