My Morning Commute

[jrenaut]

@DismalScientist 98948 wrote:

Your fixed gear project suggests otherwise.

That’s different, that’s a bike. It’s the same principle as the two stomachs everyone has – one for dinner that gets filled quickly, and one for dessert that is perpetually empty.

[cyclingfool]

@jrenaut 98949 wrote:

That’s different, that’s a bike. It’s the same principle as the two stomachs everyone has – one for dinner that gets filled quickly, and one for dessert that is perpetually empty.

My dinner stomach must be defective. It seems to act more like my dessert stomach.

[hozn]

@dkel 98947 wrote:

Apparently Sheldon Brown wore his year round, and claimed that because circulation in the foot is better with sandals than winter cycling shoes, the feet stayed warm more easily. I’m incredibly cheap, so I will likely be putting that theory to the test, rather than getting winter shoes.

This sounds crazy, but keep us updated! For me, the issue is wind. The sandals don’t seem to offer much there.

Oh, and wanting nonflexible soles is really the only reason I buy cycling-specific footwear — for road bike anyway (for MTB being physically attached to the pedal is very convenient). I don’t understand what cycling sandals offer that you can’t get with regular sandals and flat pedals. But in have never tried them, so likely there is something I am missing.

[culimerc]

@hozn 98968 wrote:

I don’t understand what cycling sandals offer that you can’t get with regular sandals and flat pedals. But in have never tried them, so likely there is something I am missing.

Stiffer soles, basically they are touring shoes that dont fit quite as well.

[dkel]

@hozn 98968 wrote:

This sounds crazy, but keep us updated! For me, the issue is wind. The sandals don’t seem to offer much there.

Oh, and wanting nonflexible soles is really the only reason I buy cycling-specific footwear — for road bike anyway (for MTB being physically attached to the pedal is very convenient). I don’t understand what cycling sandals offer that you can’t get with regular sandals and flat pedals. But in have never tried them, so likely there is something I am missing.

One day I forgot to bring socks, and my feet were cold in the evening for several minutes, but then warmed up. The temperature was around 50, if I recall correctly. I have been surprised that my feet aren’t colder, but I’m also surprised that my legs have not been cold wearing shorts, even down to 42 degrees. I wore tights Sunday afternoon, and was too hot, even in that dreadful wind. Aside from temperature, the soles of the sandals are stiffer than any regular shoe I have, though I’m sure the are not as stiff as other cycling shoes. So I can’t complain! (Except that they squeak horribly on the pedals. That may be the pedals as much as the shoes, though.)

[dkel]

@DismalScientist 98948 wrote:

Your fixed gear project suggests otherwise.

I decided at the outset that I would:
1) not reuse any of the original parts
2) not spend time trolling the internet for used parts.

The first may disqualify me from being truly a cheapskate. The second would also, but more importantly, it makes me lazy.

[Sunyata]

What an amazing morning for a bike ride! The weather was amazing and the moon!!! Did anyone else catch the moon this morning? It was big and silver and beautiful.

Happy Friday!

[lordofthemark]

This is considered good for this time of year right? While sunny and clear, I also found it a tad chilly (need to revisit “dressing in layers”) and windy, but this is my first time commuting this late in the year.

Maine Avenue even more of a mess than usual with lots of trucks parked all over, including on the sidewalk between what is left of Water and the southern Maine sidewalk (which was blocked again) – though the work going on with the Maine Avenue median makes me wonder if the cycle track will be built soon?

My time was good. I need to shave only a few minutes to meet my goal of matching the time metro takes on a bad metro day.

[Crickey7]

@dkel 98947 wrote:

Apparently Sheldon Brown wore his year round, and claimed that because circulation in the foot is better with sandals than winter cycling shoes, the feet stayed warm more easily. I’m incredibly cheap, so I will likely be putting that theory to the test, rather than getting winter shoes.

I’ve been intermittently testing this theory as well. There are socks that offer wind protection: Gore makes some, and I have a pair of neoprene socks that worked fine this a.m. Beyond that, one could zip on shoe covers, as I’ve done.

Being an EEEE shoe width, few cycling shoes ever feel as comfortable as cycling sandals. My Shimanos feel fine with thin socks, but with thicker ones I lose feeling in my feet, which kind of defeats the purpose I use cycling shoes for now.

[cyclingfool]

@Crickey7 98998 wrote:

Being an EEEE shoe width

I feel your pain. I’m always annoyed that bike shoe manufacturers don’t make more of an attempt to offer wide sizes. Alas. I hadn’t considered the width/comfort issue as potential plus for sandals. One more pro in the pro column for sandal purchase, though that will undoubtedly be waiting until spring at this point at the earliest…

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Sunyata 98994 wrote:

What an amazing morning for a bike ride! The weather was amazing and the moon!!! Did anyone else catch the moon this morning? It was big and silver and beautiful.

Happy Friday!

The caravan had the moon setting behind us and the sun rising in front of us. A very nice morning.

[Oblivious Recidivist]

Made good time this morning, especially on the Capital Crescent trail, and loved the crosstown commute on L Street as always … but I’m still getting used to the traffic on Bradley Blvd between Seven Locks and Glenbrook, where I pick up the trail. That’s the one part of my commute I’d like to change … lots of areas with very thin shoulder and folks putting leaves out into the shoulder, which forces me to take the lane. I see other cyclists on this road, so I know it’s done, but there’s definitely a comfort level issue with taking the lane when there are lots of half asleep, phone checking motorists buzzing along.

That said, it’s still the best part of my day, and I arrived at work in a great mood … 17.7 mi in 1:08.

[Geoff]

Very quiet this morning, no surprise. The Rosslyn Monolith only showed 17 riders had gone by before me, just before 7:00.

Usually I take the MVT and Memorial Bridge, then going along either Constitution or the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Riding next to the Potomac and the Reflecting Pool is the best part of my ride, but today, because of the road closings, I used the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge and then took Virginia Ave. to F St. It worked pretty well. F St. is not marked for bikes but it is in good condition and today at least had little traffic. I’ll have to try it again on a regular work day.

[DismalScientist]

F Street is normally fine. The lights tend to be mistimed and the reds are long.

[Crickey7]

The CCT this morning was as crowded as I’ve ever seen it. Which, unfortunately, meant a lot of passes not called out and a few that were a hair agressive, but nothing too egregious. The toes revelled in their sandal freedom one more day.

[Author]

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