My Morning Commute

[TwoWheelsDC]

Malfunctioning sump pump + inflexible work start time due to offsite training = bus commute on BTWD

[Harry Meatmotor]

Happy BTWD, folks!!!

surprisingly, i didn’t melt or float away, and i was glad to see a decent amount of similarly crazy commuters up at the NOMA pitstop.

it’s a good thing i’ve got a new chain/cassette/chainrings for the commuter waiting… this winter/spring has been hell on my drivetrain.

[Terpfan]

Soggy, but I’m thinking my decision to bring a double set of clothes and shoes was suddenly brilliant. And it was inspiring to see so many other folks out on the MVT attempting to test the mighty Potomac. Also, a day where the two people who did pass me both graciously called the passes and were quite polite.

[mstone]

my morning commute was BARONIAL, because breakfast chinese food at the merrifield btwd stop on the W&OD

[Rob22315]

I was only a little soggy until I had to get off the bike and wade through 2.5 feet of water along the Homes Run trail just north of the railroad bridge. Got my B-T-W t-shirt and some snacks at the Mark Center pitstop then went to the office, via the gym and a hot shower, a happy camper.

[Subby]

BTWD commute was epic. Lots of flooding, some portaging, lots of happy faces at the CC pitstop (kel, kathy, davek, jpetty, and more!)
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[Terpfan]

Nothing very interesting except I don’t understand people that keep semi-shoaling up hilly streets in Georgetown. This guy and I kept switching places because it would go around me to the left or right attempting a track stand at every light and then I would have to pass him over and over because he wasn’t very fast going uphill (quite frankly, neither am I, but in this case, I am faster).

[brendan]

@Terpfan 85879 wrote:

Nothing very interesting except I don’t understand people that keep semi-shoaling up hilly streets in Georgetown. This guy and I kept switching places because it would go around me to the left or right attempting a track stand at every light and then I would have to pass him over and over because he wasn’t very fast going uphill (quite frankly, neither am I, but in this case, I am faster).

Which streets are we talking about?

B

[cyclingfool]

A couple of numbskulls made some very ill-advised attempts to cross Maine Avenue against the light down by the Tidal Basin and Engraving and Printing this morning. One in particular was nearly a Darwin Award nominee. All I could do was shake my head. If you’re going to cross against the light, at least look real good that no traffic is coming the other way.

[Subby]

@cyclingfool 85909 wrote:

A couple of numbskulls made some very ill-advised attempts to cross Maine Avenue against the light down by the Tidal Basin and Engraving and Printing this morning. One in particular was nearly a Darwin Award nominee. All I could do was shake my head. If you’re going to cross against the light, at least look real good that no traffic is coming the other way.

I’m not a stickler on stop signs and stoplights, but this is one where I *always* do a foot down stop for a red. Always a huge stream going both ways during the morning rush.

[cyclingfool]

@Subby 85911 wrote:

I’m not a stickler on stop signs and stoplights, but this is one where I *always* do a foot down stop for a red. Always a huge stream going both ways during the morning rush.

For sure.

Going northbound, I’ll roll through to the median sometimes if I can’t see any oncoming traffic heading down towards the seafood market on Maine, but that’s usually just to help make room for any others that might come behind me (at rush hour that intersection can get crowded with bike commuters, joggers, and tourists waiting to cross, especially with the utility poles blocking half the sidewalk), but due to poor sight lines I almost always stop and just wait for the signal to cross the rest of the way.

In this case, the numbskulls in question stopped fully, foot down, but apparently didn’t look as well as they needed to. I’m just glad the drivers coming their way seemed not to be engrossed in their phone screen and were able to slow appropriately and safely.

[DCLiz]

Personal victory! I passed someone struggling up 15th Street in front of the Treasury Building. Two weeks ago I was the one being passed!

[cyclingfool]

Odd sighting this AM. Saw what appeared to have been an abandoned commuterized MTB (rack and fenders IIRC) on the 14th St Bridge around 9:20. It was parked right up against the railing (didn’t notice a lock) about a third of the way across the river from the DC side. The front wheel was pretty badly tacoed, to the point it was definitely not rideable, even with brakes released, which made me wonder how it got out there in the first place. There were no pedestrians/possible abandoners on the bridge at the time. Just odd. I would have gathered more details or snapped a picture, but I was in a rush to get to work this AM as you can tell by the time of the sighting.

[MRH5028]

Was my first time riding to my new job today. Took the W&OD from Merrifield to the Custis then across the key bridge. From there I took M to Pennsylvania to L down to 16th. Was a nice easy ride, but may not be an everyday thing. Probably an every Friday thing.

[consularrider]

@MRH5028 86416 wrote:

Was my first time riding to my new job today. Took the W&OD from Merrifield to the Custis then across the key bridge. From there I took M to Pennsylvania to L down to 16th. Was a nice easy ride, but may not be an everyday thing. Probably an every Friday thing.

If the timing is right, you should hook onto the Friday Morning Coffee Club Commuter Caravan. While we’re on the subject, thanks to Jan from Bikenetic for the B2WDII on Grove St in Falls Church!

[Author]

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