Name Dropping Dickie: Improving or Undermining a First Impression?

[PotomacCyclist]

I’m not sure there is any way to recover one’s dignity after a low-speed (or non-speed) cleat fail. Especially when you do it in front of many spectators at an intersection.

The good news is that you should get used to clipless pedals and shoes soon enough. I had a few issues with them in the first two or three weeks, but none since then, a period of four years.

Cycling etiquette is nice to know. (I’m not sure I know all of the unwritten rules yet.) But safety is the most important topic, especially when just starting out. My only potentially serious fall was in my first month with the triathlon bike, when I rode a little too fast on a bike trail. I learned my lesson. Now I am more careful about maintaining a safe speed on bike trails. I save the faster riding for wide-open, low-traffic roads, such as Ohio Drive in East Potomac Park (Hains Point).

I would also refrain from riding too fast on any unfamiliar road or trail. Learn about minor and major obstacles first, such as hidden driveways and alleys, potholes, storm drain grills, unmarked bumps in the asphalt and so on.

***
If you ride in downtown D.C., be aware that you are not supposed to ride on the sidewalks in the central business district. However, there are some blocks where this can be difficult, and it’s not easy to know when you are in the CBD zone or not. I’ve also seen police cyclists disregard the rule, so it’s one of those soft and fuzzy rules that you should know about, but not obsess over.

***
Yeah, the forum is a nice place to learn about the quirks, challenges and benefits of cycling in the D.C./Arlington area and beyond. I hope you enjoy your new bike habit as well as the forum.

[dasgeh]

Welcome.

Friends of Dickie and friends of ours, so I think you’re good.

Where are you coming from/going to?

–Gillian, your resident “get more families on bikes” advocate

[ShawnoftheDread]

Dickie?! But that guy’s a fake Canadian.

[NicDiesel]

If you’re interested in doing some fun rides this summer let me know since I’m trying to get in all of the must-rides before I move to the fantastic, festive, fun filled, frozen tundra of the Twin Cities.

Dickie’s a cool cat.

[Dickie]

@ShawnoftheDread 54556 wrote:

Dickie?! But that guy’s a fake Canadian.

It’s better than a real Canadian!

Glad to have you on board Tide19, I am sure you will learn lots from this group….a wealth of knowledge and the occasional good laugh is now at your fingertips. And for the rest of you, don’t be fooled by Tide19’s humble greeting… after his one low speed clipless fall he proceeded to crush me on the flats, into a headwind with yellow flanders socks mocking me the entire way.

[Rod Smith]

Welcome! Here’s a tip. Don’t listen when Dickie tells you he’s getting crushed on the flats into a headwind as he holds your wheel. Make him take a pull.

[Mikey]

Great to meet you. Welcome to the neighborhood. What is great about this forum is that it doesn’t matter on which side of the river you live, or how many miles you ride you are welcome, and if you are on a bike instead of in a car, than you are the coolest cat around. Take advantage of some of the social outings when you get the chance, it is always more fun to share a ride or a beer than a forum thread. And remember you are already the KOM of your commute, that is unless your spouse works in the same place and drops your ass each morning.

[PotomacCyclist]

Do you know about the Air Force Association Cycling Classic this weekend? You can watch pro races in Clarendon (Saturday) and in Crystal City (Sunday). There is also an amateur, open-to-all Challenge Ride on Sunday morning in Crystal City. It’s open to any and all cyclists, of any ability. The ride is not a race, although you can turn it into a challenge if you want. You can ride as little as you want or as much as you want within the 3.5-hr. window. I’m not sure if there are still spots available, but you could check at the in-person registration and packet pick-up tomorrow.

http://www.cyclingclassic.org/general-registration.html

12 to 6 pm on Saturday, at the Crystal City Marriott (NOT the Crystal Gateway Marriott, which is located just a couple blocks away).

6 to 9 am on Sunday, at the registration tent in Crystal City, near the start of the Challenge Ride

[Tide19]

Let me see if I can respond to everyone without a wall of text. For the record, the cleat fail was at a busy stop light, so there was little chance of maintaining dignity to begin with. I’m not sure that Dickie’s definition of crush jibes with mine, though. I distinctly remember questioning our choice to push out an extra 5 miles on that ride when we were in the hills on the return. The socks are magnificent.

I’m commuting from just inside the beltway on Georgia Ave (near Woodside Deli) over to the big FDA campus on New Hampshire Ave. I can cut through Sligo Park for most of it, so it’s a pretty nice ride with the exception of one hill that makes me wish I didn’t have 20 pounds of work gear in my messenger bag.

I briefly considered entering the Crystal City Classic, but just did the Tour de Cure last weekend and object on general principles to getting out of bed before 5:30 two Sundays in a row. If I’m being honest, I’m still a little too greenhorn for the potential pack riding that race might involve. It sounds like a really interesting event though. Anything else like it in the area later in the summer?

@4st7lbs – Do you know where you’re going to be in the cities yet? I grew up/went to college/misspent my 20s there.

Looking forward to getting to know everyone, thanks for the warm welcome!

[ebubar]

Welcome to the forums! This group helped get me into the whole cycle commuting thing.

I only work 2 days a week in summers, but I try to get at least 1 mile a day in on off days for the National Bike Challenge.
I suspect everyone would agree that you should join the Bike Arlington All Stars if you haven’t already. After all, we’re
going to win, and you clearly are a winner just based on your decision to join this little forum :p

I see your in the Silver Spring area. I’m around Takoma Park so I know a few routes that you might be interested in. My current
route of choice takes me through Silver Spring (via Sligo Trail – great route, the road is closed on Sunday’s so its a clear, wide open
place to ride fast!), then to Georgetown Branch (crushed gravel, I see lots of road bikes on there, but I think of it as my mini-cyclocross
“training”), and finally the Capital Crescent Trail all the way into DC.

I also know a few good routes directly down into the city if that’s what you’d like.

If you know of good riding areas in the area, let me know as well! Or if you just want to go out for a ride sometime! I need some riding buddies!

[KLizotte]

Would you mind posting how you get from Sligo to the Georgetown Branch trail? I’d like to try that loop. Thanks.

[Greenbelt]

@KLizotte 54603 wrote:

Would you mind posting how you get from Sligo to the Georgetown Branch trail? I’d like to try that loop. Thanks.

Here’s a route we’ve taken quite a few times: http://app.strava.com/activities/38044453

[ebubar]

@Greenbelt 54605 wrote:

Here’s a route we’ve taken quite a few times: http://app.strava.com/activities/38044453

Mine is similar to Greenbelt’s. I don’t do a loop, as I usually ride to work at Marymount University and then come back along the same way.
I basically brave Seminary Road and Brookville Road where Greenbelt’s takes a more bike friendly approach of 2nd Avenue (signed bike route) to get the GBT.
Both nice rides!

http://goo.gl/maps/7XDRp

[ebubar]

@Greenbelt 54605 wrote:

Here’s a route we’ve taken quite a few times: http://app.strava.com/activities/38044453

This looks fun. I might fiddle with it and try a new “city route” tomorrow on the way home!

[Author]

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