My Evening Commute

[Mikey]

@dasgeh 101055 wrote:

I took a plane, a train, a bus, a walk and a bike in the span of one hour. It was AWESOME! (Especially since the rain stopped by the time I got to the bike part).

Multi-modal belt winner!

[dasgeh]

I appreciated that the protesters blocking 15th Street NW left the cycle track wide open.

I appreciated less that Pennsylvania Ave was blocked off in front of the White House, despite the fact that Secret Service at Pennsylvania/E Street said it wasn’t.

[Kolohe]

During the Ferguson protest on Monday morning (which was sparsely attended the time they got to Verizon center) several police cars blocked the Penn ave cycle track (by simply parking there and milling about) between 11th and 9th.

[jnva]

Did anybody else see the car in the ditch @shreve & WOD?
[ATTACH]7130[/ATTACH]

[reji]

@jnva 101297 wrote:

Did anybody else see the car in the ditch @shreve & WOD?
[ATTACH]7130[/ATTACH]

It looked like it had just happened when I went by. There were 2 ladies standing next to the trail and I stopped to make sure they were ok, didn’t need a phone, etc. They seemed shaken but unhurt and said the police were on their way. I was relieved to not find an injured cyclist which is what I expected when I first saw the accident.

Apologies to my fellow cyclists, but I always use my blinkies at this intersection. And yes, I turn the blinkies off as soon as I get across.

[DanB]

After crossing the interminable light at Gallows on the W&OD at about 5:30 last night, a biker passing in the other direction was considerate enough to say “Jogger ahead!” while at the same time not being considerate enough to cover his 2 mil. candlepower headlight.

Sure enough, there was a ninja in my lane just ahead–and I was prepared! I grabbed the spare reflective band (thanks, Bike Arlington!) from my jacket pocket and slowed down to say “Good evening. Would you like a reflective band for your arm?” I was going to say how I could barely see him from behind and how dangerous that was, but I was sidetracked when I realized I knew him. He happens to be the only guy I personally know who jogs that stretch. Well, we chatted for a minute or so, and I went on–still with the reflective band in my possession.

Well, I thought, since I know him from church, I’ll appeal to a higher power. By that I mean I’ll suggest to his wife she could get him some reflective gear for Christmas.

[chris_s]

On my evening commute (which is really an afternoon commute on Thursdays), I saw a bearded cyclist building fresh new rock sculptures along the Shirlington Connector.

[lordofthemark]

@chris_s 101304 wrote:

On my evening commute (which is really an afternoon commute on Thursdays), I saw a bearded cyclist building fresh new rock sculptures along the Shirlington Connector.

I saw him when he was working on the old ones.

[cyclingfool]

Weather last night was just about perfect. Shorts, long sleeve tee under short sleeve tee and gloves made for near perfect comfort. Nice just to ride again… period. I missed the last couple days prior thanks to evening plans that saw me meeting up with my wife and going home in her car while my bike sat parked securely indoors at work and taking metro to work.

Nice running into arlingtonrider by 15th and Independence and getting to catch up a bit, too.

Saw a rider go down at 17th and Constitution, caught unawares by a rather large section of asphalt at the edge of the crosswalk that had been scraped away creating a lip. He popped right back up, only his ego apparently bruised, as he hopped back on his bike and rode off. The asphalt was already replaced this morning.

[dasgeh]

Beautiful night, but TONS of police and fire trucks and sirens between the Capitol and White House around 7:30pm. Anyone know what was going on? At least 15 police cars were headed towards the Verizon Center (I think) at one point, but there were police ALL OVER.

@cyclingfool 101317 wrote:

Saw a rider go down at 17th and Constitution, caught unawares by a rather large section of asphalt at the edge of the crosswalk that had been scraped away creating a lip. He popped right back up, only his ego apparently bruised, as he hopped back on his bike and rode off. The asphalt was already replaced this morning.

That intersection rivals the Intersection of Doom for worst intersection on my commute – except that I can pretty easily avoid it.

[cyclingfool]

@dasgeh 101321 wrote:

That intersection rivals the Intersection of Doom for worst intersection on my commute – except that I can pretty easily avoid it.

It’s one block from my office. In fact, when the leaves have fallen off the trees, I can more or less see it if I turn around in my desk chair and look out the window. IOW, for my commute from here to Alexandria, there’s no real practical way to avoid it that doesn’t add several blocks of riding. On other hand, I don’t have to go through the real IoD in Rosslyn, so that’s a plus.

[lordofthemark]

I guess it counts as an evening commute – took transit from DC to Falls Church, picked up the bike and rode it to Alexandria, a straight shot down the W&OD. I felt good being able to ride quickly in the (relative) dark and cold. Few others on the trail – only one cyclist passed me. Unfortunately one pedestrian was walking (in the section closer to Shirlington) without lights or reflective clothing, and I slammed on the brakes to keep from hitting him, and fell down. I felt okay (though I now think I have minor soreness above my knee) and I think the Dew was okay as well. Good thing I had brand new brake pads. I would check what speed I was doing (I do not think I was outrunning my lights) but apparently I did not press the right thing on Strava, so did not record the ride.

[wheelswings]

Tonight’s highlight was not the cold and wind (though I said some prayers for the planes taking off at National!) but rather the mud. I’ve been riding on the C&O each day for years (tho often I opt for the roads in snow) ‘cause it’s so pretty and peaceful, and tonight was the closest I’ve ever come to taking a dip. My headlight was low on power, so I was keeping it on the lowest setting in hopes of nursing it for another 80 or so minutes (’til I could recharge at home). As a result, I couldn’t see all that well, and I was riding fast – for the same reason. In one of the mud holes, my tire lurched and then sank into the depths, bringing my ride to a sudden halt and sending me flying. I managed to land on my feet, more or less, but the edge was way too close for comfort. I was so shaken up that I was literally shaking for the next mile.

Now I’m home drinking cocoa and looking forward to a hot shower instead of a cold C&O bath. :+)
Note to other C&O riders: please be careful!! The path is still very waterlogged.

[dbb]

@wheels&wings 101682 wrote:

My headlight was low on power, so I was keeping it on the lowest setting in hopes of nursing it for another 80 or so minutes (’til I could recharge at home).

That is the best reason to have at least one spare light on the bar. My winter commuter arrangement has two lights on the bar and one on the helmet. For all but a few stretches of my commute I use just one. Much less exciting

With the winter sales, good time to pick up a spare!

[Arlingtonrider]

My technical scuba diving training results in my always carrying a primary and two spares. Overkill most likely, but I’m ok with it.

[Author]

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