My Morning Commute

[Judd]

@AFHokie 151900 wrote:

You keep breaking drive train parts….we need to hook you up with a power meter and see how much power you could supply to Pepco

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Bobco, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pepco.

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[TwoWheelsDC]

Took the long way this morning, so 18 miles into a headwind that seemed to get stronger every minute. At one point, riding between the Custis and Banneker park on the W&OD, I was doing 230 watts to go 12mph. Once I turned east on 123, that 230 watts (on about the same grade) was good for about 20 mph.

[Judd]

I saw a simultaneous moon set and sunrise this morning. I F’ing love biking to work.

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[lordofthemark]

@Judd 152537 wrote:

I saw a simultaneous moon set and sunrise this morning. I F’ing love biking to work.

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Did you learn how to settle for what you get?

http://www.metrolyrics.com/so-what-lyrics-cabaret.html

[lordofthemark]

So. Last evening the wind was from the south. Naturally this AM it was from the north. So against the wind on the MVT, both ways. But FS, so, as Fraulein Schneider says, so what?
This AM there seemed to be a surprising number of vehicles for a Friday before a three day weekend, and lots of odd behavior. What I get for riding in a bit later than usual. On the Shirlington descent the crossing guard was waving her stop sign oddly, I looked to make sure she was not signalling for traffic on 31st to stop, she shouted something that sounded like “you are on your own” Well, I never expected otherwise Maine Avenue wasn’t bad, but at the turn up 7th there was a truck stopped in the right lane, forcing me around, and then a pickup truck that felt the need to pass me before I entered the bike lane on Eye. At South Cap there was a USPS truck, jutting into the bike lane – almost half the bike lane. When the light turned green, he just went straight, so not sure why he did that. Then of course the car that was in the right turn only lane scoots around to go straight . SMH. But it was still a nice day to ride, and I saw FFG at Gravelly, so there was that.

[Brett L.]

@lordofthemark 152550 wrote:

So. Last evening the wind was from the south. Naturally this AM it was from the north. So against the wind on the MVT, both ways. But FS, so, as Fraulein Schneider says, so what?
This AM there seemed to be a surprising number of vehicles for a Friday before a three day weekend, and lots of odd behavior. What I get for riding in a bit later than usual. On the Shirlington descent the crossing guard was waving her stop sign oddly, I looked to make sure she was not signalling for traffic on 31st to stop, she shouted something that sounded like “you are on your own” Well, I never expected otherwise Maine Avenue wasn’t bad, but at the turn up 7th there was a truck stopped in the right lane, forcing me around, and then a pickup truck that felt the need to pass me before I entered the bike lane on Eye. At South Cap there was a USPS truck, jutting into the bike lane – almost half the bike lane. When the light turned green, he just went straight, so not sure why he did that. Then of course the car that was in the right turn only lane scoots around to go straight . SMH. But it was still a nice day to ride, and I saw FFG at Gravelly, so there was that.

Sounds like a 1 mile ride. What happened during the rest of it?

[Crickey7]

Round and round she goes.

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[Emm]

millions and billions and trillions of suicidal squirrels on the trail today, plus a bird with a death wish (or a bat, couldn’t tell in the dark) as well. I seriously felt like half my ride into work was spent slamming my brakes trying to avoid the furry little kamikazes. I stopped counting at 5 close calls, and I still had ~8 miles left to bike to work at that point.

At first I thought they were just targeting me, but then in DC I saw them go right out in front of another cyclist who came within inches of hitting the squirrel’s furry tail. Maybe it was a trick though, since in an effort to avoid the other cyclist, the squirrel almost took me out.

[dasgeh]

@lordofthemark 152550 wrote:

This AM there seemed to be a surprising number of vehicles for a Friday before a three day weekend, and lots of odd behavior.

Last Friday, as I biked my kid to preschool, I pulled up to a red beside a car that was inexplicably half in the bike lane (I was SB on Quincy, stopping at Glebe, for those familiar). His window was down, so I say in my sunniest voice “beautiful morning, but we’d appreciate it if you didn’t drive in the bike lane”. Driver guy: “there’s no bike lane on Quincy”. #SMH Can we get the PBL already?

[dbb]

Was sort of like biking in a prison exercise yard.

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But it was a really nice prison exercise yard.

[Steve O]

@Emm 152936 wrote:

I seriously felt like half my ride into work was spent slamming my brakes trying to avoid the furry little kamikazes. I stopped counting at 5 close calls, and I still had ~8 miles left to bike to work at that point.

Don’t do this; they will dodge you. I think it’s more dangerous to try to avoid them than to just keep riding along.
Shoot, I’ve been trying for years to actually hit one and have yet to be successful.

[Emm]

@Steve O 153124 wrote:

Shoot, I’ve been trying for years to actually hit one and have yet to be successful.

I’ve hit two when I couldn’t slow down fast enough! One I just side swiped and I stayed upright, the other I hit harder but I was going slow enough to mostly stay upright. Squirrel limped away. I think maybe I only got it’s tail.

I also hit a bird last year. Luckily we both survived since it was small and soft. There was a freaked out moment when it didn’t know what to do after it hit my handlebars, but it sorted itself out and flew away. It was some small songbird.

[mstone]

@Steve O 153124 wrote:

Don’t do this; they will dodge you. I think it’s more dangerous to try to avoid them than to just keep riding along.
Shoot, I’ve been trying for years to actually hit one and have yet to be successful.

obligatory: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/11/22/suicide-bomber-squirrel-hospitalizes-chicago-politician-who-spoke-out-against-squirrels/

[scoot]

Whenever a squirrel gets too close to my path, I emit a sharp exaggerated throaty German back “ch” sound. This terrifies them and they scurry away from my bicycle as fast as possible. Without fail.

Come to think of it, humans might react likewise…

[Tania]

@scoot 153162 wrote:

Whenever a squirrel gets too close to my path, I emit a sharp exaggerated throaty German back “ch” sound. This terrifies them and they scurry away from my bicycle as fast as possible. Without fail.

Come to think of it, humans might react likewise…

Two words: Hope hubs. 😎

[Author]

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