My Evening Commute

[Dickie]

Was not my finest. It started OK as I stopped off at Bikenetic to see Dirt and talk new cross/commuter tires as mine are completely shot and flatting all the time. Dirt was not around but Jan was glad to help out. I left informed but without new rubber for now. Back on the WOD and being careful to elude the dreaded FCPD I slowed at the Grove St. crossing only to be passed by a dude with absolutely no regard for the stop sign. He flew through the intersection just as I was getting clipped in without even a look. He then pulled the ultimate DB move, passing (and nearly clipping) two woman with strollers as they crossed paths with a gentleman walking towards them… yep, four abreast with him at speed. The gentleman yelled and put his hands out for protection and the ladies screamed. I slowed, apologized for his behavior and chased the scum down. As I got next to him (and gestured for him to remove his headphones) I became possessed by a sudden calmness (weird). I decided to politely explain what I had just witnessed and suggested better methods for future situations… he tolerated my intrusion and then I flatted. DANG IT! Luckily it was directly in front of the “Free Air” station on the WOD so I rolled my bike to the station, leaned my steed against the air machine (you can see where this is going), started taking off my back pack when I watched my bike slowly roll forward and fall against the pole…. result:

Needless to say, wasn’t a great ride home.

Topic

[Crickey7]

@Mikey 104138 wrote:

SUSTAINED WINDS 20-30 MPH, gusts 40+mph
North West winds will be quite strong this evening.
be careful out there tonight especially around 7pm.

Right about when I’d be venturing onto the Taft Bridge. Maybe the embassies along Mass Ave. will have shovelled the sidewalk.

[Harry Meatmotor]

Is it bad that I’m totally looking forward to Friday’s relatively balmy temps at this point? Or, once I make it home tonight, will that be enough to convince me that tomorrow morning probably won’t be so bad?

(damn you BAFS mentality…)

[ian_co]

At least it won’t be quite as windy?

[Crickey7]

Say what you want about Joe Biden, man makes sure his sidewalk is clear. The embassies were about 80% shovelers, but the stretch of Mass Ave. after the South African Embassy was . . . interesting.

[worktheweb]

Tried the route described here as an alternate to taking the 14th Street Bridge and MVT North of Alexandria and everything went pretty well. The Washington Boulevard path was icy as expected, but not as bad as the MVT by the airport had been and manageable with my studs. The only thing that got me a little concerned was the low bridge railings … don’t want to slip and fall there or it could be a long way down. Motorists were pretty courteous at the crossings, stopping to let me pass. From the Pentagon it was smooth sailing on Boundary Channel, Long Bridge, 12th, Crystal Drive, and Potomac Avenue. The Monroe Avenue Bridge was reasonably clear with some ice, but nothing bad. Alexandria streets were similarly fine, and the MVT South of Alexandria was icy but manageable.

Thanks DismalScientist, your route was much more pleasant last night than dealing with the 14th Street Bridge and MVT in the wind.

[DismalScientist]

Now if the convoyers would only realize that they should be meeting at the Lincoln Memorial rather than the Jefferson.:rolleyes:

BTW, you’re welcome.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@DismalScientist 104300 wrote:

Now if the convoyers would only realize that they should be meeting at the Lincoln Memorial rather than the Jefferson.:rolleyes:

BTW, you’re welcome.

Memorial Bridge to Washington Blvd trail to Joyce to Army-Navy? Or take Boundary Channel?

[DismalScientist]

I don’t know the condition of the Washington Blvd trail from Boundary Channel down to Columbia Pike (and thus Joyce), although hear the Pentagon is good at clearing its sidewalks. So, I was thinking Boundary Channel.

[Phatboing]

Y’ know, I’d forgotten how pants-ruiningly terrifying an icy trail can be in the dark without studded tires. Now I can confirm: very.

[Crickey7]

Wind is really picking up out of the West. Glad I have no bridges to cross tonight.

[dplasters]

@Crickey7 105841 wrote:

Wind is really picking up out of the West. Glad I have no bridges to cross tonight.

Some genuinely dangerous wind gusts out in Fairfax for me. Stay safe out there everyone. Keep that front wheel under control and mind the bar mitts/moose mitts/pogies aka wind catchers right now.

[vern]

It’s 47 degrees and all I brought were my lobster gloves. I’ll be easy to spot tonight…just follow the sweat stream.

[Terpfan]

I cannot win with buses. Last night on Belle View Blvd, I’m going along my merry way when the Fairfax Connector Bus decides he will turn left out right in front of me. Mind you, I have no stop sign and I’m well lit up. Realizing his mistake, he then proceeds to stop in the middle of the road meaning I can go in front of him. Yah, fat chance I’m going to presume he stopped because he finally saw me and risk being hit. So I end up coming to a complete stop in the middle of the damn road because he just didn’t see me or didn’t care. I swear buses were my enemy yesterday.

[dplasters]

Rain or Snow? Which will you bring us this evening…….

[vern]

@dplasters 106341 wrote:

Rain or Snow? Which will you bring us this evening…….

I stupidly didn’t bring my raingear this morning, so I’m hoping for snow, though I don’t know what difference that would really make…if it’s snow it will be wet and gloppy (a real meteorological term!)

[Author]

Replies