My Morning Commute

[bentbike33]

…had lighting issues.

To the guy who drafted me for about the whole Custis. Thanks for the push, and I appreciate your consideration in turning off your headlight so that it would not glare back at me from my rear-view mirror. On the whole however, I would have preferred you left it on so I had a better idea of how close behind you were by observing my shadow. I can easily tip the mirror down to reduce glare, but with your headlight off, and the mirror fogging in the humidity, it was hard to know where you were except when we passed under streetlights. Next time I’ll wave you around.

To the guy coming north on the MVT with your airport-runway-grade strobe light flashing into my southbound face: because I could not look directly at you, I failed to see the jogger you were inconsiderately passing and therefore did not leave the trail making for a close call. My bad.

[DrP]

Great Commute! First in almost a week due to work travel and there were very few cyclists or pedestrians out there. It was wonderful being out there. Sure it was a little damp and humid, but much better than yet another 4hour drive in a car (I hope this project finishes up soon). About 10degrees cooler would have been welcomed since the rain jacket can get warm, but it was okay as is.

[DrP]

Another nice commute. Even fewer people on the trails. Although, at Gravelly Point, a Park Police car decided it couldn’t wait the minute or two to make it to the actual entrance from the parkway to the parking lot and just drove up the curb, across the grass, across the trail and into the parking lot at the south end of the lot (i.e., about as early as it could do so). Not sure what it then did once there. How odd.

[dbb]

I walked out of the house at about 0530 and immediately pivoted to come back in for a windbreaker. Yesterday morning was muggy and this morning was quite autumn-like. Might have to start thinking about putting the bike sandals away for the season. Sweet commute.

[Crickey7]

@dbb 125328 wrote:

Might have to start thinking about putting the bike sandals away for the season.

Perfect day for bike sandals with shoe covers. Light, dries quickly and warm enough. Agreed, it was actually a very pleasant ride in.

[americancyclo]

while a bit damp, my commute wasn’t bad until my kryptonite mount decided to slip down the seat tube in the rain and wrap itself around my right foot while I was trying to pedal through traffic on M St. Not fun. That webbing they use now seems to stretch in the rain. If I tighten it, will it compress further when it dries and crimp my aluminum frame?

[GB]

@americancyclo 125349 wrote:

while a bit damp, my commute wasn’t bad until my kryptonite mount decided to slip down the seat tube in the rain and wrap itself around my right foot while I was trying to pedal through traffic on M St. Not fun. That webbing they use now seems to stretch in the rain. If I tighten it, will it compress further when it dries and crimp my aluminum frame?

No

[Steve O]

@Crickey7 125331 wrote:

Perfect day for bike sandals with shoe covers. Light, dries quickly and warm enough. Agreed, it was actually a very pleasant ride in.

Why the covers? I just wore the sandals. And a short-sleeve jersey. Chilly for a minute or two, but then just fine.

[Crickey7]

I put plastic baggies underneath, which worked somewgat to reduce the moisture.

[Sunyata]

@dbb 125328 wrote:

I walked out of the house at about 0530 and immediately pivoted to come back in for a windbreaker. Yesterday morning was muggy and this morning was quite autumn-like. Might have to start thinking about putting the bike sandals away for the season. Sweet commute.

Someone (perhaps a member of the forum, he did happen to have a Bike Arlington reflective tag on his bike) made a comment a couple of weeks ago on the Custis trail about how long my Keen sandals would last this fall before I changed bike shoes. Challenge accepted… I have some really nice DeFeet Woolie Boolies that will probably make riding in the sandals bearable to about 40 degrees… Not sure if I will be able to handle anything lower than that, especially if it is wet, but I am going to try! 😎

[DrP]

Where did all the people go?
Normally I am about 150-170 on the monolith in the morning. Today number 25! Only about a dozen pedestrians and about that many cyclists – mostly by Gravelly Point (few (two? three?) on Custis).
It really wasn’t raining any harder than the past two mornings.

[Crickey7]

I have a pair of neoprene socks that are horrible (sweaty) in bike shoes, but work great with sandals down to the 40’s. I’m not giving up on the Keens yet.

[GovernorSilver]

@DrP 125383 wrote:

Where did all the people go?
Normally I am about 150-170 on the monolith in the morning. Today number 25! Only about a dozen pedestrians and about that many cyclists – mostly by Gravelly Point (few (two? three?) on Custis).
It really wasn’t raining any harder than the past two mornings.

I didn’t know there’s a counter on the MVT that you can read from the MVT. Where’s your monolith?

[ShawnoftheDread]

It’s at the start of the Custis in Rosslyn.

[GovernorSilver]

@ShawnoftheDread 125420 wrote:

It’s at the start of the Custis in Rosslyn.

That’s why I haven’t seen it yet. I usually get off MVT at 14th St. Bridge. I’ve been holding off exploring the north side of MVT until after tourist season.

[Author]

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