My Evening Commute

[Steve O]

@DrP 127871 wrote:

Usually I complete the Arlington Loop for my commute (1/2 morning, 1/2 evening). Decided to try reversing the morning commute last night to see if that were less dark. Overall, MVT is less dark than W&OD, but a good light is still needed and MVT is far more crowded. Not sure which is better – at least on MVT should something happen and I needed help, I feel like it is more likely someone may actually pass by (less likely to have deer cross path too).
Case in point, the trolls got someone behind me on planks and I and others did stop to ensure he was okay (bruises, most likely).

When passing by the Marriott garage, I heard bagpipes and saw someone in the garage walking and playing them. I guess the acoustics are good.

So why do bagpipers always walk while they play?

Wait for it…

.. . .. .. .. . .

To get away from the sound!

[Emm]

just walked outside between meetings. Tonight’s bike commute is going to be FUNNNNN. Very windy, and dark. 14th street bridge is going to be ball.

Side note on biking in the dark–I used to have serious glare problems on the MVT by the airport/GW parkway. Last night–NONE. The glare from car headlights gave me no issues and I could see clearly. Not sure if my eyes changed in the few months since I did my last ride in the dark, or my overpriced Oakleys are finally paying off. I’m curious if tonight will go as well. If so, ridiculously priced Oakley lenses may have been worth it.

[Crickey7]

From my summer vacation. Proof they are always walking.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]10080[/ATTACH]

[kwarkentien]

@Powerful Pete 127724 wrote:

As wheels&wings is a good friend who I commute with occasionally, I decide to join her in crashing this evening.

Oy! Hope you heal up quickly. And same to SteveO, Crickey, slowtriguy, and ginacico’s friend.

Let’s break this cycle of cycle crashes.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Powerful Pete 127724 wrote:

As wheels&wings is a good friend who I commute with occasionally, I decide to join her in crashing this evening.

Right in the middle of the 15th Street & Constitution intersection (heading towards the Washington Monument) I wiped out. Fortunately I was not run over and two good samaritans helped me hobble out of the intersection. I have no explanation beyond slick conditions and what looked like a bit of oil on the road surface. One moment I was out of the saddle trying to get up some speed to climb the little hill (15th Street towards Wallenberg) and the next moment I was kissing the tarmac.

I came down hard on my rear end and although I barely scraped my butt, elbow and knee on the left side, it will be a fitful night as I am rather sore (my lower back is not happy). Ouchie.

Happy news – I made it home under my own power (pitifully slowly, with walkers passing me on the Custis, LOL). Bike damage only seems to be a scuffed saddle and a ground down rear quick release.

So the point of the story is to be extra careful out there, especially in the slick conditions and in the dark.

Good thing you eat pasta, giving you cushion where you need it. Heal quickly and completely, my friend

[Boomer Cycles]

@wheels&wings 127642 wrote:

Tonight was my turn to crash. First I rode through a hole that I’ve long sworn I must never ride into at N George Mason and 15th. It was dark and raining, and I was focused on finding a gap between the cars going north and south. When I got my window, I raced out without looking down…STUPID…and my bike literally jumped like a drunken bunny through the darn hole. Miraculously I stayed upright, but not without huge effort. I was literally shaking and gasping for breath.
Unfortunately, the fun didn’t end there. I was over on 13th St just past Nelson, still shaken from incident #1. I was focused on the Fed Ex truck in my lane and the oncoming car headlights. Well, there’s a trench in the road there… I think they’re working on the pipes…and at that point I went flying over the handle bars. Got a gash in my knee, and my hands and ribs are aching from the impact (I’m now walking around with an icepack in my shirt! ). A guardian angel came out from the shadows and helped me put my twisted up bicycle back in a straight line. He was able to apply the brute force to my multi-tool that I was just not able to muster. And I put my brakes back in order. So all is well, but I’m glad to be home!

May the healing force be with you, now and always![emoji4]

[brookeewhite]

@consularrider 127855 wrote:

How’s their bike parking?

I was over at the new MOMs grocery tonight and saw people coming up the Custis stopping to go in. There was a bike rack on the sidewalk right outside the door. It was not covered but looked sturdy and it wasn’t overly full. We got lots of free samples… Popcorn, vegan food, and several items they put in the bottom of my shopping bag that I haven’t even gone through yet. I’m pretty sure getting my groceries delivered will still be cheaper than shopping there, but I did see a few items worth stopping in for. The quinoa tabouleh I picked up tonight was good! And I want to go back to try some of the naked lunch food downstairs when my non-adventurous husband and kids aren’t with me!

[slowtriguy]

Though I could do without the scratches, I am grateful to be part of a welcoming and empathetic group!

And I’d like to thank Fast Friendly Guy for a fast ride with a very friendly chat on the way home tonight – great to talk with you, and I love the turkey.

Happy riding!

[kwarkentien]

@slowtriguy 127927 wrote:

And I’d like to thank Fast Friendly Guy for a fast ride with a very friendly chat on the way home tonight – great to talk with you, and I love the turkey.

It isn’t really nice to call FFG a “turkey.” [emoji41]

Hope you’re feeling better.

[DrP]

Last night while biking along very dark trails, as people would come into my view, I would see different light patterns and as they got closer, different reflective patterns, or just suddenly see a person. It kind of made me think (base on movies, not actual experience) of being on a mini-sub looking out of the windows at all the different sea creatures deep in the oceans. From the photos and movies, they too have a selection with some being reflective, some seem having their own lights, some hiding the lights as one approaches (“nothing to see here”) and some without any. All were different there and on the trails. On the trails, some were kind of funny with all the lights (blinking and not, and different colors – joggers often had different colors) and reflective strips added and others quite cool to look at. Oh, and the fact that once I got off the trails and into more populated and well lit areas, the temperature went up several degrees helped with the “deep dive” sensation. Trying to decide what kind of “sea creature” was approaching is kind of a fun way to pass the time commuting when I cannot see much else around me.

[GovernorSilver]

Rode to my favorite bar on U St. (The Saloon), taking MBT to R St. I was initially confused by the Do Not Enter (one way) sign on R, then saw the westbound bike lane. R is pretty rough as it turned out, especially when trying to ride closer to 20 mph. Turned right on 11th, then thought I could get to 12th by turning left on T St, which also turned out to be one-way in the wrong direction. Salmoned for half a block to avoid a group of pedestrians, then switched to sidewalk to get to 12th.

Enjoyed the Tues night steak special (about $10, comes w/ salad and baked potato), and then the show at Black Cat. Metro ride home was uneventful. I did climb the hill home though without sweating or breathing really hard as I normally do – shifted to the lowest gear and just pedaled at a leisurely pace.

[Terpfan]

Ugh, I’ve had to drive a few times for a variety of reasons and seeing some of you on the paths makes me ridiculously envious. I may try for a long ride on one of my days off next week, weather-permitting. Although not sure how new rear wheel will hold up. Either way, know that as you ride down the MVT or over Key or Memorial Bridges, that some drivers are just drooling in total envy.

[KWL]

@Terpfan 128206 wrote:

Ugh, I’ve had to drive a few times for a variety of reasons and seeing some of you on the paths makes me ridiculously envious. I may try for a long ride on one of my days off next week, weather-permitting. Although not sure how new rear wheel will hold up. Either way, know that as you ride down the MVT or over Key or Memorial Bridges, that some drivers are just drooling in total envy.

This is me, every … single … time I drive to work. I don’t know why I do it. My worst day on a bike is still much better than my best day in a car.

[dasgeh]

@KWL 128230 wrote:

This is me, every … single … time I drive to work. I don’t know why I do it. My worst day on a bike is still much better than my best day in a car.

Yep. Which is why having an ebike option is so worth it to me — on days where I’ve got lots of stops or need to look presentable or just don’t feel like it, the ebike saves me from other-mode-commuting.

[Drewdane]

Is it me, or are people being more clueless about headlight etiquette this year than in the past? No one seems to be covering or swiveling their lights when approaching oncoming traffic on area MUTs; I don’t recall it ever being quite this bad.

[Author]

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