My Morning Commute

[Certifried]

sucked I drove today, despite knowing the weather would be nice. I ate at the “Original Pancake House” in Bethesda yesterday, and by afternoon was feeling pretty nauseous. I’m not sure it was the food, nor do I really have any idea what the issue was really. Still feeling a little “blech” today, and woke up way too late to ride.

Just another manic Monday.

Topic

[americancyclo]

@wheels&wings 110344 wrote:

I think a tiny trike with studded tires would be my perfect vehicle right now!

‘bent ice trike

[wheelswings]

@vern 110352 wrote:

I can’t imagine riding on slicks today, and if doing so, can’t imagine falling only 3 times. I hope there are no lasting effects. I hit the road hard once on the way to Java Shack.

Ouch. Hope you’re not too badly banged up either. Sorry about the leash-less dog – ugh!

I’m okay, mostly just a bruised rear. Remember that New York University study a couple years ago that found that scrawnier pedestrians and cyclists got more injured in crashes?
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/nyregion/study-details-injuries-to-pedestrians-and-cyclists-in-new-york-city.html

Here are the relevant paragraphs from the NYT article:

+ + + + +

Victims with an above-normal body mass index were found to have less severe injuries than their counterparts. “It is not implausible that a greater proportion of torso and extremity fat may protect against injury,” the report said.

Dr. Frangos noted that generally, overweight and obese patients fared worse once admitted to a hospital, but that perhaps “that extra layer offers some protection at the time of the injury.”

+ + + + +

Bottom line….I think we’d better eat more pie.

[dasgeh]

@wheels&wings 110344 wrote:

Any guesses as to what might be the least slippery time to ride home today, sans-studs?

Glad you’re ok. The sun is melting everything off the pavement nicely, where it can. Personally, I’d wait as long as you can so that your ride is still entirely in the sunshine.

[Phatboing]

@wheels&wings 110354 wrote:

Bottom line….I think we’d better eat more pie.

It is as I suspected. Pie is always the answer.

[mstone]

@americancyclo 110353 wrote:

‘bent ice trike

I’m pretty sure I saw that in Ben Hur

[rcannon100]

@Phatboing 110357 wrote:

It is as I suspected. Pie is always the answer.

[vern]

It’s 3 pm and here I am, sitting at my desk at work, still wearing all my clingy cycling gear. I guess I’m not going to make it to the gym to shower and change into professional attire. Win!

[Steve O]

@wheels&wings 110344 wrote:

Any guesses as to what might be the least slippery time to ride home today, sans-studs?

@dasgeh 110355 wrote:

The sun is melting everything off the pavement nicely, where it can. Personally, I’d wait as long as you can so that your ride is still entirely in the sunshine.

The Custis should give you almost no problems while it’s still daylight. I would use it for as much of your ride as you can–better than riding on the streets, IMO. I’ve already ridden most or all of it 3 times today. Just watch ahead for the 1-2 places that have been shaded all day and might be a bit slippery.

[Yggdrasil]

@Steve O 110364 wrote:

The Custis should give you almost no problems while it’s still daylight. I would use it for as much of your ride as you can–better than riding on the streets, IMO. I’ve already ridden most or all of it 3 times today. Just watch ahead for the 1-2 places that have been shaded all day and might be a bit slippery.

Agreed, Custis was in good shape — though the climb near the Courthouse exit going west is going to be rough. There are a few other spots that may be tough, but generally, the Custis was safer than the backroads I had to take to get to it.

[brendan]

@vern 110363 wrote:

It’s 3 pm and here I am, sitting at my desk at work, still wearing all my clingy cycling gear. I guess I’m not going to make it to the gym to shower and change into professional attire. Win!

I’d be shivering, regardless of the thermostat setting in the building.

B

[KWL]

So “Custis” is the answer, not “Pie”?

[Phatboing]

@KWL 110402 wrote:

So “Custis” is the answer, not “Pie”?

PIE! Ride the pie!

[Geoff]

Fearing ice on the Custis roller coaster this morning I took a different route, taking the W&OD to MVT and then north to the 14th St. bridge. Ran into quite a few patches of ice, some smooth and black, some rutted but still very slippery. Judging from last week’s posts on this thread, Custis might have been better.

[Terpfan]

I avoided MVT per having slicks on road bike. Road route was fine and weather was pleasant. Someone warned me in Crystal City about ice in connector tunnel so I didnt try MVT at all. I probably will try on way home figuring 8 hours of 40+ degree weather (up to 60) and sunny ought to do a number on even the shady parts.

[dplasters]

Must do as much work as possible… get out of office early… ride in warm weather… 😎

[Author]

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