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

[Tim Kelley]

The fan you use while you’re on the trainer works pretty too!

[bentbike33]

@Tim Kelley 141932 wrote:

The fan you use while you’re on the trainer works pretty too!

Why would anyone ride on a trainer the day after a rain storm when the weather is usually beautiful?

[Tim Kelley]

@bentbike33 141933 wrote:

Why would anyone ride on a trainer the day after a rain storm when the weather is usually beautiful?

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Just use the fan to do the drying. Trainer not needed!

[GovernorSilver]

@bentbike33 141928 wrote:

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

Works like a charm.

In yesterday’s storm though I wore my summer riding shoes – Adidas Climacool Boat Lace water shoes. They feel great for pedaling, have good grip on my Uptown 8’s MKS Lambda pedals and great grip on my Renegade’s Shimano Saints pedals. Water passes right through them.

[americancyclo]

[h=1]MaxxDry Boot, Shoe and Glove Dryer XL[/h]
that is all.

[Steve O]

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[dkel]

@Steve O 141960 wrote:

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What kind is that? I have some Keens that are great, but not quite stiff enough for my feet to love them as much as my brain does.

[Steve O]

@dkel 141963 wrote:

What kind is that? I have some Keens that are great, but not quite stiff enough for my feet to love them as much as my brain does.

Not sure. I pulled that pic off the interwebs. wait a sec….

Okay, they are Keens – here’s the page: http://www.bikerumor.com/2013/08/18/review-keen-commuter-iii-spd-cycling-sandals/

[Crickey7]

When you wear black socks with your Keens, you look just like a Ninja.

[sjclaeys]

@Steve O 141960 wrote:

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I have the same sandals. Dry in a few hours.

[vern]

@Dewey 141894 wrote:

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.

When it’s warm like it is now I don’t even get the rain gear out except for the cover for my backpack. Otherwise, i just get wet. The rain cools me off and it feels good.

[GovernorSilver]

@vern 141977 wrote:

When it’s warm like it is now I don’t even get the rain gear out except for the cover for my backpack. Otherwise, i just get wet. The rain cools me off and it feels good.

I’m the same way. Rain or shine, I wear the same clothes in the summer time when I bike commute – all quick-drying attire, even the aforementioned water shoes, which I picked up for $40 btw.

I do like having a cycling cap under my helmet as the visor greatly reduces the amount of water falling on the wrong side of my glasses, but I also wear it when it’s sunny as this cap wicks a lot of sweat away.

[bobco85]

I managed to get some filming done yesterday for the upcoming Surge 3 of Metro SafeTrack, but at some point in filming, my bike seat broke.
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It made things a bit awkward whenever I would dismount as I tend to put one hand on my seat and the other on my handlebars when walking the bike. I was also too late for my bike shop, so today I will replace it. I had around 11k miles ridden on it in every condition as it’s on my commuter bike.

[gibby]

@GovernorSilver 141979 wrote:

I’m the same way. Rain or shine, I wear the same clothes in the summer time when I bike commute – all quick-drying attire, even the aforementioned water shoes, which I picked up for $40 btw.

I do like having a cycling cap under my helmet as the visor greatly reduces the amount of water falling on the wrong side of my glasses, but I also wear it when it’s sunny as this cap wicks a lot of sweat away.

Great idea about the cycling cap. The rain poring into my eyes in the only annoying part and I figure no matter how rain proof my gear, I’ll still get soaked, so I just enjoy the shower..until I get home and have to take another shower and thoroughly wipe down the steel bike..
Newspapers in the shoes overnight works wonders on drying them out.

[Henry]

Anyone have a photo from the MVT last night? Just looking to counter what the platform at L’Enfant Plaze looked like around the same time.

Henry

[Author]

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