My Morning Commute

[creadinger]

My evening commute: Came across 3 salmoning cyclists in SE east of the Anacostia. These people weren’t just riding one block down a one-way street to save a minute. These were people who really felt that riding the wrong way in the road is the right way to do it…. sad. The first one I came across I was going down Suitland road around a blind curve forcing me to veer further into the road. Later I saw two of them ride together down the Mass Ave SE hill, which is extremely dangerous because of the cross streets.

[cyclingfool]

Drove to work for literally the first time in years as I’m driving to Richmond mid-afternoon and need to beat traffic.

Traffic wasn’t bad since I came in to work much earlier than usual, but I really missed the ride, especially since my v-brake conversion the other night has me extra infatuated with my bike right now (I forgot what REALLY good brakes feel like).

I saw a few cyclists along the way and was jealous that they were out on two wheels. Tomorrow… tomorrow…

[TwoWheelsDC]

I passed a tandem trike on the Custis this morning…basically, it was a trike with the front wheel removed and hitched to the back of another trike, but with a connected drivetrain. Very strange. The way it bumped down the trail and how the riders had to lean into the corners, made it look like an olympic bobsled going down the trail, only with mirrors and a bell.

[cyclingfool]

@TwoWheelsDC 60318 wrote:

I passed a tandem trike on the Custis this morning…basically, it was a trike with the front wheel removed and hitched to the back of another trike, but with a connected drivetrain. Very strange. The way it bumped down the trail and how the riders had to lean into the corners, made it look like an olympic bobsled going down the trail, only with mirrors and a bell.

I saw one of those several months ago near the 14th St Bridge. From afar, I thought it was two trikes REALLY close to each other because my mind didn’t even conceive of a tandem recumbent trike. Then I got closer and saw what it was. Strange indeed.

If you rode one, would you change your name to FiveWheelsDC? :p

[mello yello]

@creadinger 60307 wrote:

My evening commute: Came across 3 salmoning cyclists in SE east of the Anacostia. These people weren’t just riding one block down a one-way street to save a minute. These were people who really felt that riding the wrong way in the road is the right way to do it…. sad. The first one I came across I was going down Suitland road around a blind curve forcing me to veer further into the road. Later I saw two of them ride together down the Mass Ave SE hill, which is extremely dangerous because of the cross streets.

You’ve been riding out in my neck of the woods. I don’t have much reason to go down Suitland, I think it’s too fast and with too many curvy corners to share, and the separated path was in pretty poor shape last time I checked. Someone salmoning on Suitland is taking a huge risk with their life. I cross Mass at Alabama on my commute, but never went down it.

Today’s commute was sloooow… avg 12mph. I did tear down Southern – had a bit of trouble keeping my legs under me and was probably on the edge of control… got to dial it back a little earlier. Strava put me at 37 mph, I don’t believe it but it sure felt like over 30, so between 140-160 rpm cadence. I was bouncing all over the place, and trying in vain to keep ahead of the pedals. The downhill takes so much out of me that I slowed down a ton on the remainder of the segment, to around 15mph.

[mello yello]

muuuuuuggggyyyy. Soaked in the sunshine, and it stung my eyes. Luckily there are showers at work so I’m not a salt-slathered crustyation this morning.

Oh, and I got my first “get on the sidewalk” of the season on yesterday’s ride home, a block from my house. Very sort of nonchalant, and completely from the other lane. By the time I realized what the dude had said he was well ahead of me, and then I turned. On the plus side, there were kids watching me from the car next to me at that same stoplight, and I maintained a trackstand for them for the duration of the light. They waved when everyone started up and they passed me. The car behind THEM was the “get on the sidewalk” car.

[CPTJohnC]

@mello yello 60425 wrote:

Oh, and I got my first “get on the sidewalk” of the season on yesterday’s ride home, a block from my house. Very sort of nonchalant, and completely from the other lane. By the time I realized what the dude had said he was well ahead of me, and then I turned. On the plus side, there were kids watching me from the car next to me at that same stoplight, and I maintained a trackstand for them for the duration of the light. They waved when everyone started up and they passed me. The car behind THEM was the “get on the sidewalk” car.

I suspect he was just jealous of your outrageous skills

[CPTJohnC]

I had almost forgotten what riding in hot weather felt like, but no more. I was drenched by the time I made it to work.

On a high note (for weirdos who track such things) I am currently #6 on the Reflecting Pool Sprint on Strava’s segments. I don’t actually think I was going all that fast, but I had few pedestrians to contend with, so I was able to maintain my pace.

I’m sure I’ll be unseated any minute now (if not already).

[Subby]

@CPTJohnC 60470 wrote:

I had almost forgotten what riding in hot weather felt like, but no more. I was drenched by the time I made it to work.

On a high note (for weirdos who track such things) I am currently #6 on the Reflecting Pool Sprint on Strava’s segments. I don’t actually think I was going all that fast, but I had few pedestrians to contend with, so I was able to maintain my pace.

I’m sure I’ll be unseated any minute now (if not already).

Don’t get too attached to it. Someone will mark it as hazardous now that it has been outed.

[CPTJohnC]

@Subby 60476 wrote:

Don’t get too attached to it. Someone will mark it as hazardous now that it has been outed.

In the afternoon, esp. during any nice weather, it is hazardous to go fast — too many tourists. But in the morning it is a lovely, flat piece of pavement.

Of course you’re right, the fun police will certainly squash my joy. (actually, I was far more worried about some actual fast guys deciding that an old, fat guy on a commuter bike should NOT be that close to the top of a leader list.)

[rcannon100]

Cyclist was down on 4MR near Carlin Springs. EMS was trotting up the WOD from Columbia Pike probably 30 min ago. Cyclist was sitting up talking to someone else, holding shin.

[grandallj]

I was all fredded up in my new bib shorts, out a good bit earlier than usual, looking to add some distance to my usual commute, when I opened the shed and found the back tire on my bike completely flat. The valve had given up. So I pulled off the wheel, replaced the tube, re-seated the tire, got it all put back together, and left at my usual time for my usual commute.

At least the bibs were nice.

[CPTJohnC]

This morning I wound up falling in with an informal ‘pace line’ on the Custis. Fortunately, the pedestrian traffic was relatively light, so it felt safe to stay in line.

I felt badly, though, as I never got my chance to pull for the crowd — none of the safe areas for passing fell at a point where I could have made it to the front. Actually, the poor fellow in front pulled for us the whole time, which is why I felt bad. The fellow in front of me on the Cannondale CX bike could have jumped out in front and given us all a pull, which would have moved me into a position to take my turn, too. (actually, I have NO idea what the protocol for sharing pull duties is — I usually move in front when I can, and hope I can keep the speed up).

[americancyclo]

I have enjoyed my fair share of wheel sucking on the custis, but I don’t think standard road pace line etiquette applies. It’s narrow and most people are commuting , so anyone going fast should do so for their own benefit and not expect anything of others. All you owe them is a “thanks!” When you part ways.

[Hancockbs]

Lots of bugs out this morning attempting to become protein snacks.

[Author]

Posts