My Morning Commute

[consularrider]

I was watching the radar from about 5:15, got out of the shower to a thunderstorm, and just waited until the rain stopped near Westover before heading to HDCC. The trees were dripping and Subby and I hit some sprinkles as we headed towards Crystal City, but over all not a bad day to ride (as I sit here trying to cool down and stop sweating before changing into work clothes.

[jrenaut]

Bike cages were empty this morning at work. I think all the fair weather guys who’ve been taking my spot got wet last night. Poor little woogums.

[83b]

Soupy again, but riding still will be the highlight of the day!

At least three separate people riding in their work clothes without fenders were sporting hilarious splatter tracks up their backs. Serves them right, as I only noticed their wardrobes because they shoaled me.

[Dickie]

Much like TwoWheels I Stepped out with the intention of hitting HDCC just as the thunderstorm hit. I had on rain gear which was a little sticky so I decided to take the shorter route to work and skip coffee…. as it turns out, the rain stopped mid way so I quickly got out of my rain gear and enjoyed a lovely cooler ride the rest of the way.

[bobco85]

@83(b) 88082 wrote:

Soupy again, but riding still will be the highlight of the day!

At least three separate people riding in their work clothes without fenders were sporting hilarious splatter tracks up their backs. Serves them right, as I only noticed their wardrobes because they shoaled me.

I get this situation a lot when people ask me about bikes.

Other person: Do I really need fenders?
Me: Yes. Otherwise you will end up with a line up your back due to the spray off your tires when riding in wet conditions. You can tell who doesn’t have fenders by the line of dirt/grime up their back and on the bottom of their backpacks!

[mstone]

@bobco85 88104 wrote:

I get this situation a lot when people ask me about bikes.

Other person: Do I really need fenders?
Me: Yes. Otherwise you will end up with a line up your back due to the spray off your tires when riding in wet conditions. You can tell who doesn’t have fenders by the line of dirt/grime up their back and on the bottom of their backpacks!

also once you have fenders you can have even more fun going “whee!!!” through the puddles and not worry about what you’re wearing

[Emm]

@bobco85 88104 wrote:

I get this situation a lot when people ask me about bikes.

Other person: Do I really need fenders?
Me: Yes. Otherwise you will end up with a line up your back due to the spray off your tires when riding in wet conditions. You can tell who doesn’t have fenders by the line of dirt/grime up their back and on the bottom of their backpacks!

My back rack catches about 3/4 of the spray, so I haven’t installed fenders yet. I need to though since I ride in the rain and the part that does get muddy ends up being my hair.

I’m also almost at the point where my bike accessories cost more than the bike itself…$550 vs $300, and it’s going to break even if I end up installing the clipless pedals I’ve been looking at, along with fenders and possibly purchasing a spare set of tires that’ll do better on MTB trails. *sigh*. This is probably why on the road bike my fiancee gave me I have been instructed that I am not allowed to install ANYTHING outside of a rear light. I apparently have accessory issues

[83b]

@mstone 88111 wrote:

also once you have fenders you can have even more fun going “whee!!!” through the puddles and not worry about what you’re wearing

I love doing a double-foot lift and letting out a Whooo-Hooo when splashing through that big puddle that accumulates in the 15th St cycletrack just before the Penn Ave turn! It amuses the tourists almost as much as it amuses me!

[TwoWheelsDC]

@dgm 88075 wrote:

Same here, so I drove and traffic was surprisingly light. But, it was dry outside the Westover area and I wish I’d ridden! What bus do you take from Westover to Reston?

Fairfax Connector 952 from WFC. I take the 2A from Westover to EFC, metro to WFC, then onto the Fairfax Connector bus. 30 minutes door to door this morning.

[lordofthemark]

First time I’ve bike commuted on day that’s not a Friday, so another goal met.

Other than that, not particularly eventful. Crossing LRT at Hummer vehicular style on the way to the bus stop is a bit more stressful than on a friday. The weather was great, though I was getting warm by the time I got to work. Inspired by a runner, I decided to go on to Maine Avenue to get around the construction by the wharf – but of course she could hop back to the sidewalk (also the way back to Water Street) more easily than I could. Total time 35 minutes despite the headwind on the Mason Bridge. I know I can do better though.

[rcannon100]

I saw nobody, nobody, out on the trail this morn. Where was everyone? (oh, the forecast).

Love this. Got to work. Needed to take pictures of our program for something. And I see this. The agency award cabinet. Look at which award is prominently above the other item in the awards case, the Federal Broadband Plan!

And then there is this. On the left is our “Best Place to Work” award —- and right next to it is our bronze BFB award. I think the two have one hell of a lot to do with each other!

[TwoWheelsDC]

Well, I’d say bike-to-work-in-casual-friday-clothes season is officially over…

[rcannon100]

Passed a squadron of officers apparently on bicycle training down on the MVT cork screw at TR. They were dutifully calling out their bicycle signals; although I am pretty sure they were getting them wrong. I think they yelled out “On the left” (which means “passing on your left”) when they meant to yell out “Bike Up”

[dasgeh]

@rcannon100 88279 wrote:

Passed a squadron of officers apparently on bicycle training down on the MVT cork screw at TR. They were dutifully calling out their bicycle signals; although I am pretty sure they were getting them wrong. I think they yelled out “On the left” (which means “passing on your left”) when they meant to yell out “Bike Up”

What brand of officer?

[rcannon100]

I could not identify them. So I am sure they were not ArlCo. I am pretty sure they were not NPS. They all had white polo shirts on with badges on their shirts. It definitely looked like a training run. They didnt look like cyclists.

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