My Morning Commute

[Tim Kelley]

@Brendan von Buckingham 118202 wrote:

If a driver ever wants to argue with you, showing him the baby picture usually stops them in their tracks. Works for me.

Sometimes when a I get passed too closely, I introduce them to my 4 year old and tell them that we’re on our way to or from daycare and that I need their help in driving safely to keep us safe.

[mstone]

@KLizotte 118192 wrote:

Ouchie! Every time I read about one of these boardwalk instances I think, “there has got to be a better way.” Perhaps NPS should be looking to boat builders on how they keep their decks anti-slip.

The traditional answer was to use teak wood. That costs a fortune nowadays, to the point where people might even steal the boardwalk.

[jabberwocky]

@KLizotte 118192 wrote:

Ouchie! Every time I read about one of these boardwalk instances I think, “there has got to be a better way.” Perhaps NPS should be looking to boat builders on how they keep their decks anti-slip.

The problem isn’t the wood per se, its the layer of scum and algae that builds up on the surface. I know the north shore MTB guys (who build lots of wood structures out of logs and local woods) generally hatch the surface with a chainsaw to increase traction. The technique is to chainsaw lines 3-4″ deep a few inches apart. Sometimes they then chip them with an ax to vary the height a bit between segments.

In extreme cases they will also staple down metal lath (like you’d use for stucco) or finer welded wire mesh (like you’d use for concrete pours).

[kwarkentien]

@ShawnoftheDread 118195 wrote:

Crossing TR Bridge this morning, there was an inbound Metro bus stopped in the center lane and a car stopped in front of it. A bike was hanging off the bus’ front rack. My biggest fear every time I do a mixed commute.

Ugh! That’s been one of my fears too as well as the one where someone else removes your bike from the rack.

[KLizotte]

@jabberwocky 118208 wrote:

The problem isn’t the wood per se, its the layer of scum and algae that builds up on the surface. I know the north shore MTB guys (who build lots of wood structures out of logs and local woods) generally hatch the surface with a chainsaw to increase traction. The technique is to chainsaw lines 3-4″ deep a few inches apart. Sometimes they then chip them with an ax to vary the height a bit between segments.

In extreme cases they will also staple down metal lath (like you’d use for stucco) or finer welded wire mesh (like you’d use for concrete pours).

My biggest fear with the latter idea is 1) the mesh curling up and coming unstuck and 2) falling on it for some reason. That would make some serious road rash!

It’s a shame NPS doesn’t have the resources to simply powerwash the boards every week with hot water (thus little environmental damage).

[kwarkentien]

If it wasn’t painted, it wouldn’t get as slick but it also would be more subjected to the elements. However a good treated lumber product should hold up for a fair bit.

[Boomer Cycles]

@Dickie 118188 wrote:

Got on the bike, felt great for about 3 minutes. As I cruised onto Trollheim I noticed a gentleman adjusting his handlebars right before the dogleg… it just didn’t click. I went down just where he had a few minutes before. Amazing, years of commuting through that section well aware of the many forum members that have given blood and bone as an annual sacrifice and my number finally comes up. So it’s raspberry season on my body.. hip is pretty ugly…. wrist is really really sore! Still made it to Cafe Kindred though for some sympathy and awesome coffee. I hate wood!

Heal quickly, Dickie

[Brendan von Buckingham]

@kwarkentien 118220 wrote:

If it wasn’t painted, it wouldn’t get as slick but it also would be more subjected to the elements. However a good treated lumber product should hold up for a fair bit.

Treated lumber is rot resistant because of the chemicals it is impregnated with. However this does not prevent the wood from cupping, twisting and curling as it swings from low (winter) to high (summer) humidity seasons. Treated lumber tends to be from young, quickly grown trees. Wood from such sources is recognizable because it has very few growth rings per inches and is especially vulnerable to warp. If you have a pressure treated deck or fence and you see a board so twisted and curled that it pulls the nails out, you’ve seen what I’m describing.

Scoring the wood to help traction (as also suggested here) would actually help stabilize the wood too. Floorboards, when scored along the length of their underside, help relieve the internal stresses that otherwise build up and warp wood as its moisture content fluctuates.

[bentbike33]

Maybe NPS could investigate the engineered boards used to replace wood on the WOD trail bridges between VA28 and Ashburn Road when it comes time to redo the Trollheim and other boardwalks along the MVT. Those red boards have been there for many years and have not changed shape at all. I don’t know their coefficient of lateral friction with wet rubber as these bridges are straight shots with no intersections or curves, but maybe they manufacture such boards with different surface characteristics for different applications.

[jabberwocky]

@Brendan von Buckingham 118274 wrote:

Scoring the wood to help traction (as also suggested here) would actually help stabilize the wood too. Floorboards, when scored along the length of their underside, help relieve the internal stresses that otherwise build up and warp wood as its moisture content fluctuates.

Floorboards are actually scored because flooring often only has one good side (meaning clear and free of defects and knots), and manufacturers learned long ago that installers suck at picking it. So they route grooves into the bad side to make it obvious that side goes to the floor.

[jabberwocky]

@bentbike33 118275 wrote:

Maybe NPS could investigate the engineered boards used to replace wood on the WOD trail bridges between VA28 and Ashburn Road when it comes time to redo the Trollheim and other boardwalks along the MVT. Those red boards have been there for many years and have not changed shape at all. I don’t know their coefficient of lateral friction with wet rubber as these bridges are straight shots with no intersections or curves, but maybe they manufacture such boards with different surface characteristics for different applications.

I’ve never examined those bridges closely, but they are almost certainly some sort of composite decking. The quality varies wildly on that stuff, but the good stuff is almost all plastic and has a texture on its surface that makes it grippier than wood (though still considerably slippier than concrete or asphalt). The key is to get the higher quality products, because cheaper ones often have organic fillers (like wood flour) that mold really likes.

[vern]

@bentbike33 118275 wrote:

Maybe NPS could investigate the engineered boards used to replace wood on the WOD trail bridges between VA28 and Ashburn Road when it comes time to redo the Trollheim and other boardwalks along the MVT. Those red boards have been there for many years and have not changed shape at all. I don’t know their coefficient of lateral friction with wet rubber as these bridges are straight shots with no intersections or curves, but maybe they manufacture such boards with different surface characteristics for different applications.

I’ve crossed these bridges when wet and find them to be much less slippery than the Trollheim or the other wooden bridges on the WOD. I slow down for the wooden bridges when wet, but I don’t do so for the composite bridges in Loudon County.

[Phatboing]

… was obnoxious.

I too had a wooden-bridge-wipeout, when I tapped the front brake and lost the front wheel. And even though I fell on my left side, my right hand seems to have taken the worst of it, at the very spot that I rest it on when typing or mousing.

AND THEN, my front tire went flat. My mini-pump managed to freak out a dog, though. That was neat.

[Dickie]

@Phatboing 118330 wrote:

… was obnoxious.

I too had a wooden-bridge-wipeout, when I tapped the front brake and lost the front wheel. And even though I fell on my left side, my right hand seems to have taken the worst of it, at the very spot that I rest it on when typing or mousing.

AND THEN, my front tire went flat. My mini-pump managed to freak out a dog, though. That was neat.

Heal up buddy.. perhaps we can help each other drink beers tonight at HH. We might be one whole person combined.

[jabberwocky]

Finally back on the bike after a week and a half off to battle respiratory demons. Uneventful commute where nobody tried to run me over. It was glorious.

[Author]

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