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

[Powerful Pete]

Pleasant evening commute with a friendly encounter with Kathy (nice riding with you!). Just miffed that I lost count on my HP laps and ended up only doing four and not the five I had originally planned. Silly Pete.

[worktheweb]

After a very long time with no flats I got hit twice today. This morning I got a flat on the way into work which made me a few minutes late for a meeting. It appears that the studs in my studded tires wore through the inside of the tire just enough to make a hole in the tube. When I patched it I used the dollar bill trick and got into work and within 3 miles of my destination on the way home. Then I had another flat. My wife was kind enough to pick me up so that I would not have to patch the tire and then just remove the tire when I got home. Tonight I make the switch back to slicks.

The Schwalbe Snow Studs only had around 1,000 or so miles on them — has anyone else had studs go through the rubber of their tires? Anyone have better luck with other models? Maybe I can find some good deals now that were approaching the “off season” …

[ShawnoftheDread]

I got called sir on my way home. Damn polite Arlington kids. #gramps

[rcannon100]

I got drafted. Up the Arlington Hill. By a guy on a folder!!!

Poseurs. So many Poseurs!

[dkel]

@rcannon100 111119 wrote:

I got drafted. Up the Arlington Hill. By a guy on a folder!!! Poseurs. So many Poseurs!

This could just as easily go in the March 2015 Trail Conditions thread. :p

[consularrider]

@rcannon100 111119 wrote:

I got drafted. Up the Arlington Hill. By a guy on a folder!!!

Poseurs. So many Poseurs!

What was he doing, walking the bike?

[Boomer Cycles]

I got treated to this beautiful sunset at Hains Point last night at Hammerfest, after which I commuted home, bumped into SteveO, got diverted to World of Beers, got home late, slept in this morning, and missed FCC. Damn SteveO!

[dplasters]

Wind gusts as strong as some of the darker days of BAFS. Stay upright out there.

[Alcova cyclist]

sucked.

(ok, I was on a bike, so it could have been worse, but wow that was some kind of windy)

[KWL]

Was fantastic. What a glorious tailwind!

[ShawnoftheDread]

Brutal headwind, but it was warm and the sun was shining. And I made the signal at Gallows.

[Boomer Cycles]

Constant headwinds while doing laps after dark at HP, as well as the commute home, headed South on MVT, and then West on 4MR and the WOD until VA Lane. Steady as she goes while she blows out there.

[vern]

This evening was the first time this Spring where I rode through a pack of flying insects, who assaulted me on the WOD just west of Columbia Pike.

[bobco85]

@vern 112432 wrote:

This evening was the first time this Spring where I rode through a pack of flying insects, who assaulted me on the WOD just west of Columbia Pike.

Yesterday evening was the first time this year that I almost swallowed a bug during a ride. Took me a second to realize that yes, it actually IS warm enough for the extra bits of protein to be flying through the air!

[Crickey7]

Carbon fiber bicycles will activate the induction loops at traffic lights in Montgomery County.

That is all.

[Author]

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