My Morning Commute

[cyclingfool]

One word: tailwind.

[CPTJohnC]

@consularrider 61193 wrote:

I’ve been commuting on my road bike the last three days just to take advantage of the great weather. I’ve got the big items already at work and used just a small backpack for a few extras.

If I wanted to make it a regular thing that’s what I would do, too. But I think saving the road bike for fun rides and for rare occasions might keep it all feeling more ‘special’. And I do love my cargo carrying capacity on the commuter. My one real surprise was how relatively few PRs I broke on Strava, despite my higher avg. speed. I obviously wasn’t pushing.

[DaveK]

@mstone 61368 wrote:

The Germans seem to love them; you’ll find them in BMW/Merc/Audi/VW

You’ll find the occasional bike component held on with Torx fasteners as well, although I swear you could take apart an entire BMW with one Torx driver.

[mello yello]

@DaveK 61403 wrote:

You’ll find the occasional bike component held on with Torx fasteners as well, although I swear you could take apart an entire BMW with one Torx driver.

Aha. Well, as I make it a point to stay as far away from BMW/MB/Audi/VW products as possible, lest my addictive personality become obsessed with them, I should be in the clear, and better off for the beer.

And note, an external torx is different than an internal torx. I have a set of internal Torx screwdrivers, just in case, although you can generally get away with the next size down allen. My NiteRider battery case was put together with internal Torx fasteners with posts in the middle, which hinders access. You also find those holding together bathroom stalls.

[DaveK]

@mello yello 61408 wrote:

And note, an external torx is different than an internal torx. I have a set of internal Torx screwdrivers, just in case, although you can generally get away with the next size down allen. My NiteRider battery case was put together with internal Torx fasteners with posts in the middle, which hinders access. You also find those holding together bathroom stalls.

A lot of public transportation infrastructure, bus stop trinkets and such, is also held together with those. It’s sold as “tamper-resistant”, aka you need the right tool.

[mello yello]

@DaveK 61410 wrote:

“tamper-resistant”, aka you need the right tool.

Or a dremel and determination.

Oh! My socket extension (less road rash) costs $6. It’s a Duralast 73-803… got the part number right on it. Duralast is an auto-zone branded autoparts mfr, apparently they make (or brand) hand tools as well. This one goes in my drawer, or at least holds out for better beer.

[Terpfan]

@kcb203 61188 wrote:

I was passed by a bike on the uphill going east on the WOD just after the belway and before Virginia Lane. The rider certainly didn’t look elite, and he passed me pretty quickly. I tend to go hard up that hill, so I was quite surprised. When he turned right, I noticed the massive rear hub and noticed he had an electric bike! I made a point of catching up to him and passing him on the stretch from Shreve Rd. to the Route 7 bridge.

I had the same experience last week albeit in an entirely different part of the county. I was near the top of climbing Westgrove Blvd’s hill (at the 10% gradient portion) and doing my usual heavy breathing/almost there when all a sudden this guy passes me at a significant clip and he didn’t appear elite at all. So I semi-sprinted the crest of the hill to try to catch up thinking maybe this is someone famous because I can’t imagine anyone else able to tackle that hill at that speed and then I noticed it was an electric bike. Part of me thought I would have been happy to have that 5 minutes ago and then the other part chimed in saying I can use the exercise. I, however, did not pass the guy as he went up Quander while I went down to Paul Spring.

[ronwalf]

Did you know? The Paint Branch Trail behind the elementary school now provides free on-trail parking!

[Hancockbs]

I didn’t stop to take a picture, but there was a motorscooter parked on the 4MRT this morning at the Mount Vernon underpass, with a tent set up slightly off the trail. Cheap camping at its best!

[consularrider]

@Hancockbs 61562 wrote:

I didn’t stop to take a picture, but there was a motorscooter parked on the 4MRT this morning at the Mount Vernon underpass, with a tent set up slightly off the trail. Cheap camping at its best!

I was thinking that was a small motor cycle. A lot of nerve to ride it down there and park partially on the trail in a blind spot for people heading west on the trail. I just hope the swarms of midges that live under the bridge found the scofflaw.

[dbb]

@Hancockbs 61562 wrote:

I didn’t stop to take a picture, but there was a motorscooter parked on the 4MRT this morning at the Mount Vernon underpass, with a tent set up slightly off the trail. Cheap camping at its best!

Yet another endorsement of Arlington’s trails! Clearly expanding the multi aspect of our trails.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Hancockbs 61562 wrote:

I didn’t stop to take a picture, but there was a motorscooter parked on the 4MRT this morning at the Mount Vernon underpass, with a tent set up slightly off the trail. Cheap camping at its best!

Saw that too…if I see it again, I’ll probably call the police. Judge me if you want, but I was cursing ACPD for not having a twitter account when I saw it…I’d have just tweeted them a photo and let them deal with it accordingly. Calling is so much work!

[lordofthemark]

third time, its starting to get easier. The ride over the Connector Road bridge (over rte 110) seemed easier than previous occasions. As did the Humpback bridge. Total time still not great – Pentagon to USDOT in 49 minutes (last time was 50 or 51 minutes). Thats including the 3 minutes to get from one end of the Pentagon Bus station to the other, and excluding crossing M Street SE. I also wimped out and walked my bike across the crosswalk from the Jefferson side of East Basin to the Water Street side – which probably cost me a little time.

I probably need to up this to weekly (from once every two weeks) to really get better.

Several construction issues on the route. Construction on Boundary Channel by the Pentagon River entrance not only eliminates the sidewalk as an option but cuts into the road, making that part even more uncomfortable. Construction by the old Tennis stadium on the Waterfront is NO problem as it creates a de facto cycle track. The construction in SW Eye street by 7th is now completed. There is construction on the sharrows part of the route, near 2nd st SW. I might look into an alternative.

[Terpfan]

@lordofthemark 61910 wrote:

third time, its starting to get easier. The ride over the Connector Road bridge (over rte 110) seemed easier than previous occasions. As did the Humpback bridge. Total time still not great – Pentagon to USDOT in 49 minutes (last time was 50 or 51 minutes). Thats including the 3 minutes to get from one end of the Pentagon Bus station to the other, and excluding crossing M Street SE.

I probably need to up this to weekly (from once every two weeks) to really get better.

Sounds like you’re making progress though. I felt the opposite this morning and was really dragging, but it was my first full week riding in like three weeks because I had been out for 2 1/2 weeks. It’s amazing how quickly your body gets used to not riding.

[rpiretti]

My commute was lovely as always but the wife and I bought a Burley yesterday. I outfitted her with a neat Velo Orange bag and got her bike ready and she’s already commuting to work today with the kid in tow! She’s a nanny so she brings our one year old to work. So proud of her!

[Author]

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