New commute for the next 2 weeks, rough first day

Our Community Forums Commuters New commute for the next 2 weeks, rough first day

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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  • #911708
    Mikey
    Participant

    I have a course down in Fort Belvoir over the next two weeks and today was my first commute experiencing the paucity of bike infrastructire in south Fairfax County :( . Plus the rain kind of stunk too, that and the flat tire, and the fact that I forgot my patch kit in the chariot trailer, oh at least I had a spare, with a leak, in the valve stem, I did find a patch though, and a friend who went through her entire trunk to find it and her floor pump, but I think her tire pressure gauge is off from mine as I blew up the spare with the only good tube I did have. I jerryrigged a valve stem patch but only made it about 4 miles up FFX Co Parkway before it blew, or picked up more glass? Flat. It did make me glad to be married though, A quick call and a 40 minute wait and I was driving back home with my tail between my legs. Tomorrow is another day.

    I forgot to mention my poor route selection that involved about 3/4 of a mile along Richmond Highway (I think I said the lords prayer 5 times in that distance). That and Oh, crap, oh, crap, oh, crap.

    Gonna be a long fortnight. Anyone else out there riding south this week and want some company (and have a spare tube for good measure).

    #945245
    brendan
    Participant

    Wow, that’s bad luck and also super scary. :(

    Though, the latter part brings to mind some words of wisdom I’ve read on the forum several times, which is: practice your commute a weekend or two before doing it on a work day…

    Brendan

    PS – I always feel like I should pack or repack my bike kit up before putting my bike away (like a parachute) instead of in a rush to get going in the morning. And yet, I never do…

    #945257
    Dickie
    Participant

    Ughh, and on top of that you had to take a course… I hope it was a wine tasting course, or a meditation course, or a sleep course! Hang in there, maybe you got all the demons out on the first day… hope the next few weeks are better – Cheers!

    #945272
    cephas
    Participant

    You make me feel like a city rider. Same thing happened to me about a month ago: stem puncture, flat kit glue dried out, and no spare tube. Only I was traveling a metro to metro route, so I abandoned bike and picked it up after work. Route modified, but no 40 minute wait!

    #945273
    Amalitza
    Guest

    @essigmw 24663 wrote:

    I forgot to mention my poor route selection that involved about 3/4 of a mile along Richmond Highway (I think I said the lords prayer 5 times in that distance). That and Oh, crap, oh, crap, oh, crap.

    I’m so sorry. Richmond highway is ugly even in a car, and is incredibly bike and pedestrian unfriendly (in spite of having bus stops all along it. You might think that bus stops would come with, like, sidewalks and crosswalks and things that make getting to and from them without going splat possible but you would be wrong). I know, I live there. I don’t even particularly like to *cross* it on a bike.

    I have on a small handful of occasions ridden up to maybe 1/2 mile on it. Not on weekends or anywhere close to rush hour or lunch time, though, and even then i still said ohcrapohcrapohcrap and pleasedon’tletmedie the whole time.

    #945278
    Mikey
    Participant

    @rsewell19 24684 wrote:

    Ughh, and on top of that you had to take a course… I hope it was a wine tasting course, or a meditation course, or a sleep course! Hang in there, maybe you got all the demons out on the first day… hope the next few weeks are better – Cheers!

    Systems Engineering for Federal Acquisition. like I said it was a rough day.

    Good news though I took a modified route and it was much better: no rain, no snakes, no downed trees, about 1 mile longer but I didn’t have to ride on Rt 1. 18.5 miles in about 1:20, but since I was in my big cog most of the way I realize it was mostly down hill. This afternoon should be fun.

    #945287
    KLizotte
    Participant

    @essigmw 24705 wrote:

    Good news though I took a modified route and it was much better: no rain, no snakes, no downed trees, about 1 mile longer but I didn’t have to ride on Rt 1. 18.5 miles in about 1:20, but since I was in my big cog most of the way I realize it was mostly down hill. This afternoon should be fun.

    Now that’s dedication for ya.

    #945334
    americancyclo
    Participant

    So glad I never got that job I applied for at Ft. Belvoir. The commute routes made me sad.

    #945356
    consularrider
    Participant

    @essigmw 24705 wrote:

    Systems Engineering for Federal Acquisition. like I said it was a rough day…

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

    #945370
    Dirt
    Participant

    We did a similar ride for the Sea2Sea thing last week. We rode the section of Richmond Highway between Lorton Road and the Tulley Gate. Riding south it wasn’t really a problem. There was a lot less room heading north. Some folks took to the sidewalk.

    Where are you coming from? I’ve gone into Belvoir from the North end from Mount Vernon Memorial Parkway. It wasn’t near as craptastic. If you’re coming in from the west, though, that doesn’t help you much.

    #945377
    Mikey
    Participant

    I’m comming from near Fairfax City (GMU area). I stuck to the sidewalk until the last 3/4 mile when I had to get out on the road and pray. I’ll post my route once I get a chance.

    #945380
    Dirt
    Participant

    @essigmw 24807 wrote:

    I’m comming from near Fairfax City (GMU area). I stuck to the sidewalk until the last 3/4 mile when I had to get out on the road and pray. I’ll post my route once I get a chance.

    Anything I can think of off the top of my head would basically add 5 miles to your commute.

    #945416
    Mikey
    Participant

    As promissed: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1415563

    Nice charlie brown cloud in Springfield yesterday afternoon! Good 30 minute downpour, but after 5 does it really matter?

    #945421
    Dirt
    Participant

    That route looks about as good as it is gonna get without a pretty major detour. No shame in taking to the sidewalk when it gets really ugly. Not many people walking on the sidewalk down there… least not that I saw when I was rolling through the area last week.

    #945422
    dasgeh
    Participant

    Full disclosure: I know nothing about this area. But I have to ask: would it be better to turn the other way on Telegraph and take that over US1 to Stewart Rd to Poe Rd?

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