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

[dasgeh]

@ginacico 136481 wrote:

More crazy Ivan passes on the MVT than I’ve ever experienced.

? Crazy Ivans are the runners who sudden U-turn in front of you. Is a Crazy Ivan pass when they pass you then u-turn?

[dbb]

About 1730 last night, saw two WMATA bike police on the MVT under the 14th Street WMATA bridge. Huh?

[komorebi]

@consularrider 136480 wrote:

Just curious, what would your reaction have been if this unfortunate individual had apologized profusely and asked to ride with you because s/he hadn’t expected to be out so long? Does BikeArlington still have a small supply of their lights from the fall distribution that forum members can pass out in this type of situation?

Helping other riders navigate the local trail system makes me smile, so I would have been happy to help light his way home if he had only asked (no profuse apologies necessary). And yes, he could easily have asked — there were several times when I slowed down, waiting for oncoming trail traffic to clear so that I could pass safely. I even have a spare “be seen” light and extra BA reflective bands, which I could have lent or given him if he had asked.

Perhaps I should have been nicer and offered him my spare light on my own initiative. But I wasn’t feeling that generous, given his general lack of trail etiquette — i.e., riding way too closely for the conditions and not calling any of his passes. Besides, if I had stopped to offer spare blinkies to every ninja out there last night, it would have taken me hours to get home. The number of ninjas was astounding.

[wheelswings]

For me, some of the more treacherous signs of spring have involved extended dog leashes. Two afternoons ago I was on MVT heading north near Roosevelt Island. There was a dog on the left edge of the trail … it appeared to be loose. Then at the last moment I realized it was leashed to a large knapsack that was sitting on parking lot curb, to the right of the trail. Apparently this was the owner’s way of “walking” his dog. I managed to stop before adorning my bicycle with puppy guts.

[Steve O]

@wheels&wings 136511 wrote:

I managed to stop before adorning my bicycle with puppy guts.

I’m torn between (puppy guts) and (crashing w&w)

[KayakCyndi]

@komorebi 136474 wrote:

I normally love my commute, but tonight’s was one of the most aggravating commutes I’ve had in a long time.

I had no such problems last night. In fact, the commute was lovely, sure there were a few others out but nothing like you all describing …. I had birds, and water, and stars and probably the occasional deer I didn’t see. Perhaps I’ll have to take the canal home every night from now on!

[wheelswings]

I was riding down the CCT this afternoon near the foot bridge. In front of me were two amateur riders teetering up the trail side by side, one in each lane. The guy who was (incorrectly) in my lane proceeded to ride off the trail upon seeing me, while the lady who was correctly in the right lane wove from side to side, clearly not in control of her bike. I rang my bell, starting far away, and announced myself verbally as well. Passing them was not a problem. But just as I was going between them, two young men wearing matching kits and riding racing bikes buzzed me in my same direction. I right away said (loudly), “Call your passes, Sir.” I know they heard me… I hope they take it to heart. There’s a lot more I would have liked to tell them. It took utter stupidity to whip through where they did, when they did, without slowing or announcing themselves in any way. I think they felt superior since they were going fast …though I bet I could make them work hard if we all had equivalent bikes and loads.

[huskerdont]

@KayakCyndi 136527 wrote:

I had no such problems last night. In fact, the commute was lovely, sure there were a few others out but nothing like you all describing …. I had birds, and water, and stars and probably the occasional deer I didn’t see. Perhaps I’ll have to take the canal home every night from now on!

Sometimes I go the towpath way on summer mornings for variety. It’s usually still a bit dark, and this one time I almost ran into a beaver. True story.

[bentbike33]

…was with Shawnofthedread

https://www.strava.com/activities/513656712

I had no idea.

[Tania]

@huskerdont 136546 wrote:

Sometimes I go the towpath way on summer mornings for variety. It’s usually still a bit dark, and this one time I almost ran into a beaver. True story.

I’d love to start doing this but I honestly have NO clue how to get to/from the towpath into Georgetown. I can maybe probably hopefully figure out how to get to the entrance of the CCT and then switch over a little farther north on the CCT. I need to start doing 41st Street more often.

[huskerdont]

@Tania 136552 wrote:

I’d love to start doing this but I honestly have NO clue how to get to/from the towpath into Georgetown. I can maybe probably hopefully figure out how to get to the entrance of the CCT and then switch over a little farther north on the CCT. I need to start doing 41st Street more often.

Yeah, if you follow either one you’ll figure it out easily. The CCT just goes to Water Street, and the towpath has a footbridge you can take up to G-town just below 34th Street. There are steps at the top that require you to dismount. A little further on there is an easy access down to Water Street via 33rd.

[ursus]

@huskerdont 136555 wrote:

Yeah, if you follow either one you’ll figure it out easily. The CCT just goes to Water Street, and the towpath has a footbridge you can take up to G-town just below 34th Street. There are steps at the top that require you to dismount. A little further on there is an easy access down to Water Street via 33rd.

I guess that one person’s easy is another’s difficult. I often take that 33rd Street connection, did it yesterday for example, but it is a rather steep downhill requiring one to dodge potholes and other obstacles, and because the turn onto Water Street is close to blind, one has to go quite slowly downhill.

[huskerdont]

@ursus 136560 wrote:

I guess that one person’s easy is another’s difficult. I often take that 33rd Street connection, did it yesterday for example, but it is a rather steep downhill requiring one to dodge potholes and other obstacles, and because the turn onto Water Street is close to blind, one has to go quite slowly downhill.

That’s true, and the odd bit of glass as well. It’s actually a hill that’s more fun to go up than down. I guess by “easy” I meant rideable and not requiring a dismount.

[americancyclo]

@Tania 136552 wrote:

I’d love to start doing this but I honestly have NO clue how to get to/from the towpath into Georgetown. I can maybe probably hopefully figure out how to get to the entrance of the CCT and then switch over a little farther north on the CCT. I need to start doing 41st Street more often.

@huskerdont 136555 wrote:

Yeah, if you follow either one you’ll figure it out easily. The CCT just goes to Water Street, and the towpath has a footbridge you can take up to G-town just below 34th Street. There are steps at the top that require you to dismount. A little further on there is an easy access down to Water Street via 33rd.

This is how it’s done.
Orange is eastbound and Blue is Westbound. takes you straight to the C&O without dismounting.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]11195[/ATTACH]

[Tania]

Coffee is on me next CC-iteration americancyclo ! Thanks for that.

[Author]

Replies