My Morning Commute

[consularrider]

@cephas 77980 wrote:

Said squall has now relocated to 12:45 to 2:45, so keep dry and ride on.

Leading edge is at Purcellville on the WunderMap radar.

[OneEighth]

@TwoWheelsDC 77966 wrote:

The hardest part for me is coming to a stop with my feet in the right position to unclip and put the correct foot down. I can manage just fine coming to a stoplight, but creeping along with some traffic this morning was really awkward.

Just unclip and drop a foot as needed. Immediately grab the front brake, pop the back wheel off the ground, and spin the still-clipped foot to a good starting position. Becomes second nature.

[dcv]

@OneEighth 77985 wrote:

Just unclip and drop a foot as needed. Immediately grab the front brake, pop the back wheel off the ground, and spin the still-clipped foot to a good starting position. Becomes second nature.

trackstand

[OneEighth]

@dcv 77987 wrote:

trackstand

Saw that coming!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@OneEighth 77985 wrote:

Immediately grab the front brake, pop the back wheel off the ground, and spin the still-clipped foot to a good starting position. Becomes second nature.

Yep, I did learn that trick. Normally, I unclip my left foot while my right foot is in the down position, but I think I need to learn to also unclip and lean over when my right foot is in the up position as well.

[Subby]

@TwoWheelsDC 77992 wrote:

Yep, I did learn that trick. Normally, I unclip my left foot while my right foot is in the down position, but I think I need to learn to also unclip and lean over when my right foot is in the up position as well.

What bike did you get? Or did you put it together yourself?

[dasgeh]

This was the type of morning that made me really, really, really appreciate being a bike commuter. And that I had a coffee meeting, so got to get on the bike twice.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Subby 77995 wrote:

What bike did you get? Or did you put it together yourself?

I ordered from State Bicycles (the Matte Black 4 model). It was cheap, yet decently customizable and stylish. Time will tell how well it holds up, but based on my ride in, it rides really smooth, felt solid over bumps, and was responsive on the hills. Weighs about 21lbs, so not as light as the more expensive fixies, but that’s part of the cost tradeoff.

[hozn]

@TwoWheelsDC 78001 wrote:

I ordered from State Bicycles (the Matte Black 4 model). It was cheap, yet decently customizable and stylish. Time will tell how well it holds up, but based on my ride in, it rides really smooth, felt solid over bumps, and was responsive on the hills. Weighs about 21lbs, so not as light as the more expensive fixies, but that’s part of the cost tradeoff.

That is a very attractive bike — and a great price! I paid more for my SE Lager, which was IMO not as nice. Weight was about the same. (Those wheels look heavy, though! I bet you could shave 2lbs off that bike by “upgrading” to lower-profile rims and double-butted spokes.)

[Subby]

@TwoWheelsDC 78001 wrote:

I ordered from State Bicycles (the Matte Black 4 model). It was cheap, yet decently customizable and stylish. Time will tell how well it holds up, but based on my ride in, it rides really smooth, felt solid over bumps, and was responsive on the hills. Weighs about 21lbs, so not as light as the more expensive fixies, but that’s part of the cost tradeoff.

Holy crap I just scrolled down the page. Wutang special edition bike: COVET.

[OneEighth]

@TwoWheelsDC 78001 wrote:

I ordered from State Bicycles (the Matte Black 4 model). It was cheap, yet decently customizable and stylish. Time will tell how well it holds up, but based on my ride in, it rides really smooth, felt solid over bumps, and was responsive on the hills. Weighs about 21lbs, so not as light as the more expensive fixies, but that’s part of the cost tradeoff.

That’s about what my steel Surly Steamroller weighs. Unless I put the Chukker wheelset on and then it feels twice as heavy.

[brendan]

My morning commute was great, esp. considering it was my first bike commute this week. But my late afternoon bike commute was just heavenly. Sunshine warmth, 99.9% ice-free trails, bikeyface.

PS – also, possibly: tailwind directly behind me for once.

[83b]

Passed by Dirt and a friend towing the DC Bike Ambassador signs this morning on East Capitol by Jimmy T’s place.

Good seeing you guys!

[TwoWheelsDC]

Apparently the wind is supposed to pick up today, but I found the ride this morning to be quite pleasant. I guess snow really helps redefine “pleasant.”

[jrenaut]

Wind pick up? I know I was a bit late, but I had a gust catch me at just the wrong moment when I was leaning into a turn and I almost went down.

However, I had a lovely commute aside from the wind. A woman rolled down her window to ask me where I got my Moose Mitts, someone was leaving the garage right as I arrived so I didn’t have to dig my badge out until I got inside, and the security guard thought the Moose Mitts were cool, too.

[Author]

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