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

[Crickey7]

I used to not like riding the CCT at night because of the disorienting floating feeling I’d get following this little patch of light in a sea of darkness. I rode it last night with a better light system on the highest setting, and had none of that feeling. Although I probably blinded a few critters.

[huskerdont]

@Crickey7 141131 wrote:

I used to not like riding the CCT at night because of the disorienting floating feeling I’d get following this little patch of light in a sea of darkness. I rode it last night with a better light system on the highest setting, and had none of that feeling. Although I probably blinded a few critters.

Sometimes ride down it on summer evenings after a Fort Reno concert. Really quite nice with little or no light, especially when the fireflies are out.

[wheelswings]

Crashing computer. Major 5 pm deadlines for chemical reviews. All in all, a strenuous day at the office.

Finally I headed out to the street (I lock up on the crowded Van Ness Metro racks), only to find that my bike was pinned down by another u-locked bicycle that had fallen on top of it. I struggled to extract my bike, with no luck. Ultimately I gave up and just stood there staring at it. As it turned out, a guy on a bench had been watching me – he came over and asked if I needed help (yes, please!). He was bigger and stronger than I (well, duh) and able to maneuver the fallen bike and lift it off. Hooray!! I expressed my sincere thanks and handed him one of the Wet Wipe packets that I always carry (dislodging the bike was greasy business).

So my kudos tonight go to this stranger for his kindness… and actually I suspect it was a high point in his day too.
Happy Friday, everyone! w&w

[Judd]

@wheels&wings 141234 wrote:

I struggled to extract my bike, with no luck. Ultimately I gave up and just stood there staring at it. As it turned out, a guy on a bench had been watching me – he came over and asked if I needed help (yes, please!). He was bigger and stronger than I (well, duh) and able to maneuver the fallen bike and lift it off. Hooray!!

I’m 6’3″ and when I complain about headwinds Ian and Komorebi throw the #TallPeopleProblems hashtag at me. I’m glad to see that there is something that can be labeled #SmallPeopleProblems to make up for it, although I’m sorry that you couldn’t get to your bike without some assistance.

[huskerdont]

Was a nice change. I’ve noticed that I’m comfortable on my regular DC streets, but not so much when I’m on the ones I don’t normally travel. So I went to Peregrine Espresso in Eastern Market after leaving early, then from there to Hains Point for a few laps. I scoped it out on Google Maps with directions for cyclists just for a rough guide. Strangely, Google said to take 1st Street, but that has metal barricades on it. Maybe a cyclist is allowed through there, but I figured why bother so went to 2nd.

To get to Hains Point from there Google suggested a couple of different routes. I decided on I Street to Maine, but of course there was a Nationals game so it was a bit of a cluster. I couldn’t remember or figure out how to get to the path along Maine so asked a helpful cyclist who showed me the way. I never would have guessed it was just a sidewalk and I’d be going against the flow of Nationals fans. I didn’t find it ideal so will probably take Pennsylvania to D next time.

The espresso ran out on the hills back into Arlington, but there was just enough left in the tank.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@huskerdont 141570 wrote:

Strangely, Google said to take 1st Street, but that has metal barricades on it. Maybe a cyclist is allowed through there, but I figured why bother so went to 2nd.

Interesting. North Carolina to 4th to Eye St. would be my preferred route there. You have to cross the Virginia Ave. construction on 4th, but that’s no biggie (right now, at least) and there are bike lanes the entire way to Maine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[huskerdont]

@TwoWheelsDC 141611 wrote:

Interesting. North Carolina to 4th to Eye St. would be my preferred route there. You have to cross the Virginia Ave. construction on 4th, but that’s no biggie (right now, at least) and there are bike lanes the entire way to Maine.

That’s basically what I did, except 4th all the way to I. (The First/Second Street thing was from my work to Peregrine–that was in NE.) The bike lane on I (in SE) was fine but there were a lot of cars zipping around looking for parking for the game, including one dude who was in the right turn lane signalling right at South Capitol who when the light changed suddenly darted in front of me, almost clipping me, which was weird because he smiled when I pulled up next to him in the lane. (Trust, but verify.) It was Maine Avenue I was less sure of. Took the lane until nearing 395.

[Crickey7]

A steady series of flashes from heat lightning illuminated scores of frogs hopping across the CCT last night. Very atmospheric.

[Terpfan]

On Friday night, I decided I would take the Rt 1 route back to my house because I just didn’t feel like dealing with the big hill on Beacon Hill and wanted to change it up a little. Anyway, I’m on the MUP approaching Huntington Ave when I had to stop well short. The great folks from Cardinal Tour Buses nearly took me out… on the MUP. So consider this the friendly warning to everyone for what you already know–you’re never safe, anywhere, from drivers.

[GovernorSilver]

Wunderground said only 50% chance of rain so I thought it was a good time to hit the road. Ooops.

I didn’t feel comfortable doing my usual evening thing on Louisiana Ave, coming off N. Capitol St, which is to use the downhill to build up speed, take the left lane and turn left on First so I can cut through the Capitol parking lot to the Mall. So the Louisiana portion was a plodding, sloppy mess trying to figure out how to get through the traffic and semi-flooded street (on a hill!) without getting hurt. I ended up switching to the sidewalk and trying to use the crosswalk to cross Louisiana to get to First without getting run over by cars trying to turn right from First to Louisiana.

You know it’s a heavy downpour when your own fenders are splashing more water back onto you. MVT was practically empty so that was good.

Later, after peeling off water-saturated clothing, showering, etc. I saw this – makes me glad I don’t take Metro to Cleveland Park:
http://gizmodo.com/dcs-metro-should-probably-just-take-the-whole-summer-of-1782388595?utm_campaign=socialflow_gizmodo_facebook&utm_source=gizmodo_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

[Dewey]

Very glad of the rain gear I bought, last night’s rain storm was drenching. The Camelbak cover for my backpack worked great and kept my office clothes dry. Rain cape and helmet cover from J&G Cyclewear were better than my old poncho because the thumb loops and waist tie kept it from flapping in the wind as I crossed the Roosevelt bridge. Garneau waterproof shoe covers helped when I got off the Art 43 bus at Courthouse and stepped down into 6 inches of fast moving run-off. Really appreciate the more frequent ART 43 bus schedule during safetrack, but they need a bus shelter at the Rosslyn stop on Fort Myer Drive.

[LhasaCM]

Managed to make our ride home right in the middle of the 6PM deluge. I wanted to wait it out under a bridge, but my 4 year old (on the trailer-cycle) didn’t want to be outside with the lightning and thunder, and thought it was better to get wet than wait. Lots of water/near flooding on the MBT, especially under the Franklin St. bridge. Her shoes may be dry by the weekend….

[bentbike33]

@LhasaCM 141922 wrote:

Her shoes may be dry by the weekend….

Stuff them with newspaper. Remove after 2 hours, repeat.

[AFHokie]

@bentbike33 141928 wrote:

Stuff them with newspaper. Remove after 2 hours, repeat.

For shoes with laces I tie the shoes together and hang them inside the dryer door so they don’t bang around as the drum spins. With the knot outside the door they don’t fall in. Run the dryer on low for about an hour and they should be dry.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[TwoWheelsDC]

A hair dryer on low heat stuffed into a shoe will dry it out pretty quick. It will not, however, produce a pleasing aroma.

[Author]

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