My Morning Commute

[Terpfan]

I haven’t ridden in a little bit and it felt so good to be out there. The only two downfalls were 1) a crazy woman who flew up on my tail on Washington St in OT and laid on her horn then aggressively passed me (I was clocking along at probably 22mph too in a 25mph zone) and 2) I didn’t know about the giant cut in the MVT at National Airport so probably have a broken spoke somewhere now. Still felt so good.

[komorebi]

Lovely morning for a commute. What made it even better was the friendly cyclist behind me on the MVT near the airport. As I was peering around the cyclist in front of me, trying to see whether it was safe to pass, she kindly alerted me about an oncoming pedestrian. And when she passed me herself a little later on, she let me know that there was a guy right behind her not calling his passes. Friendly cyclist, thanks for making the trail a little safer for everyone.

[bentbike33]

While passing her near Brandywine Castle on the W&OD this morning, @Tania introduced herself to me. As I was slowing to chat she waived me along saying something about me “out-classing” her.

Pfft, unlikely.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Tania.

[Tania]

@bentbike33 138656 wrote:

While passing her near Brandywine Castle on the W&OD this morning, @Tania introduced herself to me. As I was slowing to chat she waived me along saying something about me “out-classing” her.

Pfft, unlikely.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Tania.

Likewise, bentbike!

I just didn’t want to slow you down since you usually pass me as if I’m standing still and then quickly become a speck on the horizon (as I curse you and your effortless speed). I was laughing re-watching it all on strava flyby’s this am; you’re like a marvel superhero.

I usually see you around Shreve/Virginia Lane/Gallows heading west (look for my purple hubs and long fenders). I love to chat and am almost never in a hurry to get where I’m going.

[Boo Boo]

First fixed gear commute this morning. I feel like I’ve learned to ride all over again. Super fun.

[huskerdont]

@Boo Boo 138881 wrote:

First fixed gear commute this morning. I feel like I’ve learned to ride all over again. Super fun.

It really is like learning to ride all over again. And if you forget you’re on a fixed and stop pedaling, the bike reminds you!

[Boo Boo]

@huskerdont 138882 wrote:

It really is like learning to ride all over again. And if you forget you’re on a fixed and stop pedaling, the bike reminds you!

That’s for sure! I’ve only forgotten once so far, thankfully right when I crested a hill and wasn’t going particularly fast. But it was sure jolting!

[vvill]

@Boo Boo 138884 wrote:

That’s for sure! I’ve only forgotten once so far, thankfully right when I crested a hill and wasn’t going particularly fast. But it was sure jolting!

It really is fun though, still my favourite for a general purpose ride.

I just learned to skid stop too… (I never realized you were supposed to pull up with one leg at the same time). That reminds me – I need to adjust my chain tension as it’s a bit slack.

[huskerdont]

@vvill 138885 wrote:

It really is fun though, still my favourite for a general purpose ride.

I just learned to skid stop too… (I never realized you were supposed to pull up with one leg at the same time). That reminds me – I need to adjust my chain tension as it’s a bit slack.

I took my ratio down a bit by putting on a slightly larger cog, and now the skid stopping is easier (as are the hills going back up into Arlington in the afternoons). Used to be that about half the time my SPD cleat would pull out of the pedal I was pulling up on. Also, just put 23s back on for the summer, which makes skid stopping easier.

[bobco85]

This morning’s rain gave me an opportunity to try out my new helmet cover (bought it last Friday), and I wish I had bought one years ago.

Normally when riding in rain, I reach a point where my skull cap under my helmet gets so soaked that the water (mixed with my sweat) starts running down my head and getting in my eyes. I then have to stop, take my helmet off, take my skull cap off, wring out my skull cap, take my cycling glasses (clear lenses) off, and rub my now-stinging eyes before putting everything back on to continue my ride.

This time I did not have to do that

The one I got is here (I got a neon yellow one): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVBZH0Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[AFHokie]

@bobco85 138911 wrote:

This morning’s rain gave me an opportunity to try out my new helmet cover (bought it last Friday), and I wish I had bought one years ago.

Normally when riding in rain, I reach a point where my skull cap under my helmet gets so soaked that the water (mixed with my sweat) starts running down my head and getting in my eyes. I then have to stop, take my helmet off, take my skull cap off, wring out my skull cap, take my cycling glasses (clear lenses) off, and rub my now-stinging eyes before putting everything back on to continue my ride.

This time I did not have to do that

The one I got is here (I got a neon yellow one): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVBZH0Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They’re also great for covering the air vents during the winter. Ineed the winter I tend to leave it on

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[Judd]

+1 on a helmet cover in the winter. It kept my head warm enough on several days that I could avoid having a head cover that would cause me to sweat and then freeze when stuck at a stop light.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[komorebi]

@bobco85 138911 wrote:

The one I got is here (I got a neon yellow one): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVBZH0Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got the same neon-yellow one a few months ago, and I’ve been happy with it so far.

One unexpected benefit: cars tend to give me a wider berth when I’m wearing my helmet cover. I don’t know whether that’s because (a) the color and the reflective stripes make the helmet cover highly visible, or (b) drivers realize that anybody who voluntarily wears something that goofy in public isn’t entirely in her right mind. My money’s on (b).

[ursus]

@bobco85 138911 wrote:

This morning’s rain gave me an opportunity to try out my new helmet cover (bought it last Friday), and I wish I had bought one years ago.

Normally when riding in rain, I reach a point where my skull cap under my helmet gets so soaked that the water (mixed with my sweat) starts running down my head and getting in my eyes. I then have to stop, take my helmet off, take my skull cap off, wring out my skull cap, take my cycling glasses (clear lenses) off, and rub my now-stinging eyes before putting everything back on to continue my ride.

This time I did not have to do that

The one I got is here (I got a neon yellow one): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVBZH0Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That sounds like a great idea just for the reason which you mentioned. Any idea if it works when you have a helmet-mounted mirror and a visor?

[AFHokie]

@ursus 138934 wrote:

That sounds like a great idea just for the reason which you mentioned. Any idea if it works when you have a helmet-mounted mirror and a visor?

Can’t speak to the mirror, but the Gore helmet cover fits my visor helmet better than my nonvisor helmet

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

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