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

[Phatboing]

@americancyclo 88494 wrote:

That area is the worst! I’ve not found a better way to get from the W&OD to pimmit other than pinecastle to Barbour to idlywood to idyl lane to pimmit. If you find an unmapped connection let me know! I’ve even tried to skirt around the residences behind Marshall but no dice so far

If only I knew. Right now if I have to go to Trader Joe after work, the only decent route home to Falls Church is the sidewalk. Your route is still the least worst option coming from the east.

[americancyclo]

You could really off road it through pimmit run to great falls but its an iffy proposition

[vern]

Today was an awesome day to get back to commuting after being away…I certainly didn’t have a problem getting warmed up. Sucks though how quickly my 55 year old body loses strength and fitness.

[jrenaut]

Coming back from happy hour along the MVT near the 14th St bridge, I have never ridden through clouds of bugs like that. It was like a rain storm. An hour after getting home I was still picking them out of my arm hair (there’s your appetizing pre-lunch image of the day).

[KLizotte]

@jrenaut 88842 wrote:

Coming back from happy hour along the MVT near the 14th St bridge, I have never ridden through clouds of bugs like that. It was like a rain storm. An hour after getting home I was still picking them out of my arm hair (there’s your appetizing pre-lunch image of the day).

Yeah, unfortunately those kind of bugs like water and most of the trails around here parallel waterways so you get lots and lots of ’em. In the evenings, I try to avoid being near water if I can; helps somewhat.

[Harry Meatmotor]

to the awesome dude screaming obscenities at the wind on the way southbound on eads: thanks for the chat – you made my day. i only scream obscenities at the wind headed northbound at 0545 in February.

[rcannon100]

Some guy drafted me for about 2 miles on the MVT. DRAFTED ME!!!!

[dkel]

This week I’ve been biking to drop off my kids at camp, then on to work, and reversing the process on the way home. Tonight I let the kids take the short route through our neighborhood, and I took a longer route to get in a good hill climb (5th overall on Poplar Dr, Timber to Tracy!). Well, my older son has always wanted to beat me to the top of the hill on our street, and since I went around the long way, up an even bigger hill, and met him at the top, he finally got there before me. “I beat you,” he says. “But I went the long way around, up an even bigger hill,” I say. Then he gives me this slightly condescending “you’re still an awesome biker” remark, with a thumbs-up (but I know he’s thinking “but I still beat you!”). I see Cat 6 in his future.

[consularrider]

Started with finding a rear flat tire as I unlocked the bike. Then I discovered my patch kit cement was dried out.

[Boo Boo]

Loving the new pavement and bike lanes on Courthouse Rd:

[vern]

The W&OD was crowded this morning, especially through Falls Church and Bluemont, but this evening it was almost a ghost town. That was good for me and my bike, as there were few witnesses to hear my bottom bracket protest so loudly whenever I pushed on the cranks.

[vern]

The rapidly forming line of storms to the west and southwest will make for an interesting commute home in a couple hours. Fireworks begin a day early!

[ejwillis62]

At least it will be warm but I am thinking very very wet. I am just sure the rubber on my tires will keep the lightening away. (I know, but it is easier to just convince myself that is true. Only a couple weeks till RAGBRAI, must keep riding, must keep riding.

[hozn]

@ejwillis62 89502 wrote:

At least it will be warm but I am thinking very very wet. I am just sure the rubber on my tires will keep the lightening away. (I know, but it is easier to just convince myself that is true. Only a couple weeks till RAGBRAI, must keep riding, must keep riding.

I know you know, but just in case there are impressionable minds …. here’s a clip from http://www.snopes.com/science/tires.asp

Belief that the rubber in a vehicle’s tires would afford protection from a lightning strike dates well into the past, as this excerpt from an 1896 news story shows:

The claim has been made that the rubber tires on a bicycle are a protection to the rider against lightning. The wheel ridden by Walter Scott Thursday evening had rubber tires. He was killed and the tires were not damaged in the least.

[ejwillis62]

Now you were not supposed to post anything like that. I am to much of a newbie, but I am heading out now. If lightening strikes me let it be know that it is all your fault.

[Author]

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