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

[Greenbelt]

Wicked looking line of thunderstorms approaching from the west.

http://www.wunderground.com/radar/radblast.asp?ID=LWX

[americancyclo]

Watching the rain right now makes me think about bailout spots. If I’ve ridden with you or shared a laugh or beer at a happy hour, you’re always welcome to take shelter on my porch, and I may even be able to offer a beer or scotch if the weather is really unpleasant.

[dkel]

I had a great day of commuting! I get to ride to Vienna from Wakefield Park on the CCT all week, and although it’s a confusing and poorly marked trail, and my 37 touring tires are not quite cut out for the gravel portions, it is a beautiful and fun ride. I put my CX tires on this evening, and expect it will be even better for the rest of the week (though I’ve learned I need to be careful on the road with those tires, especially in the turns). Next week I get to go from Lake Accotink Park–even better! I’ve been cutting out near Fairfax Hospital and making the end of the ride on the road and W&OD, but if my schedule permits later in the week, I may try to ride out farther on the CCT and cut back across to Vienna. Anyone have tire pressure recommendations for this type of mixed-surface ride, on 41 CX tires?

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Dickie 89536 wrote:

I know I’m a horrible person for thinking this, but before I read the post I immediately thought “oh – cool, an Integra with a JDM front clip conversion!”

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dkel 89726 wrote:

I had a great day of commuting! I get to ride to Vienna from Wakefield Park on the CCT all week, and although it’s a confusing and poorly marked trail, and my 37 touring tires are not quite cut out for the gravel portions, it is a beautiful and fun ride. I put my CX tires on this evening, and expect it will be even better for the rest of the week (though I’ve learned I need to be careful on the road with those tires, especially in the turns). Next week I get to go from Lake Accotink Park–even better! I’ve been cutting out near Fairfax Hospital and making the end of the ride on the road and W&OD, but if my schedule permits later in the week, I may try to ride out farther on the CCT and cut back across to Vienna. Anyone have tire pressure recommendations for this type of mixed-surface ride, on 41 CX tires?

The gravel’s not too deep on the CCT. I think I do about 60 or 65 on CX tires.

[rcannon100]

Actual picture from my ride home this evening:

[dkel]

@ShawnoftheDread 89735 wrote:

The gravel’s not too deep on the CCT. I think I do about 60 or 65 on CX tires.

Awesome. That’s about where I put it when I mounted the CX tires (by guessing). Thanks for the tip!

[cyclingfool]

@rcannon100 89738 wrote:

Actual picture from my ride home this evening:

Even before the storms rolled in it was pretty nasty. NWS reports 20+ mph winds with gusts near 35 for the time when I was riding home. And, of course, it had to be blowing right in my face…

[consularrider]

@cyclingfool 89775 wrote:

Even before the storms rolled in it was pretty nasty. NWS reports 20+ mph winds with gusts near 35 for the time when I was riding home. And, of course, it had to be blowing right in my face…

It was frustrating to fight the wind heading south on the MVT, but with the sure knowledge that at least it would be sort of a tailwind when I turned onto the 4MRT after the airport. No such luck, the wind shifted to the southwest about the time I turned the corner.

[Dickie]

I left the shop heading east at 6:30 with a line of nasty storms approaching quickly. The tail wind kept me just ahead of the rain and I was home by 7:05…. 35 minutes to cover 12 miles, with stops and lights… best tail wind ever. At one point I was part of all the debris being pushed at 30mph… awesome! Best part, it started raining as I got in my building.

[dasgeh]

My family raced the storms home from the pool. We won by about 60 seconds, but toddler was a little worried the entire ride. Ok, extremely worried, and kept pleading with me to go faster. Coming off a summer cold that made ALL OF MY MUSCLES SORE, this was not particularly welcome.

[americancyclo]

@dasgeh 89801 wrote:

My family raced the storms home from the pool. We won by about 60 seconds, but toddler was a little worried the entire ride. Ok, extremely worried, and kept pleading with me to go faster. Coming off a summer cold that made ALL OF MY MUSCLES SORE, this was not particularly welcome.

you should get him a cowbell, then

[KLizotte]

I understand why metro doesn’t allow bikes on board during rush hour but it would be really, really nice if they allowed them during storms. The director could issue a pronouncement that bikes would be allowed between xx hours for the day. Would encourage more, and safer, bike commuting.

[vern]

My commute home was awesome. It was one of those days that when I got on the bike I felt like crap, but after I peddled for a mile and began to loosen up, my body and mind came into sync. I felt strong and fast, and kept saying to myself that I should gear down, save some energy for the morning commute. But I felt so good I just kept going, not really pushing, but it felt faster than usual. I actually just cruised during the fastest part of the commute – from the top of Virginia Lane to Hunter Mill, but still ended up with my fastest commute home by 5 minutes, without really trying. It is really an amazing feeling when body and bike come together as one.

[consularrider]

Why was yesterday afternoon’s rain in Arlington limited to the period of 5:00 to 5:30?

[Author]

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