So who passed me this morning on the MVT?

[vvill]

@americancyclo 20756 wrote:

I keep a BikeArlington reflective band around my seatpost. sometimes I even wear my BikeArlington socks.

Yeah I noticed those this morning!

I almost always have a BikeArlington reflective band near my left ankle. The velcro is starting to lose it’s stick.

[pfunkallstar]

@Dirt 20758 wrote:

I think we should let Ann design some outfits for us to wear while commuting. It would make us MUCH easier to identify.

Bike Commuter Pirate Hats – let’s make it happen.

[GuyContinental]

@pfunkallstar 20766 wrote:

Bike Commuter Pirate Hats – let’s make it happen.

As you wish- LINK. Might be warm for summer…

[Tim Kelley]

This guy was at the Ballston BtWD pit stop. Complete with parrot.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1118[/ATTACH]

[Mikey]

@GuyContinental 20770 wrote:

As you wish- LINK. Might be warm for summer…

well, at least they are insects-free

[slowtriguy]

@Tim Kelley 20771 wrote:

This guy was at the Ballston BtWD pit stop. Complete with parrot.

I guess I should fess up — that’s me. I can report that “Ahoy to Port!” gets a lot more of a reaction than “On your left!” Pretty much every pedestrian stopped, took one step to his/her right, looked over his/her shoulder, and then did a double take.

[Mikey]

I follow the USCG COLREGS when calling passes:

“(a) When power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half a mile of each other, each vessel underway, when maneuvering as authorized or required by these Rules:

(i) shall indicate that maneuver by the following signals on her whistle:

one short blast to mean “I intend to leave you on my port side”;
two short blasts to mean “I intend to leave you on my starboard side”;
three short blasts to mean “I am operating astern propulsion”.
(ii) upon hearing the one or two blast signal of the other shall, if in agreement, sound the same whistle signal and take the steps necessary to effect a safe passing. If, however, from any cause, the vessel doubts the safety of the proposed maneuver, she shall sound the danger signal specified in paragraph (d) of this Rule and each vessel shall take appropriate precautionary action until a safe passing agreement is made.”

Haven’t used 3 short blasts yet, as I don’t own a fixie. And for those of you playing at home the danger signal is 5 short blasts not “hey watch-it A–hole!”

[KelOnWheels]

Today’s ride in was AWESOME! Perfect weather.

Followed a nice guy named Dave with a mailbox on his rack. We stopped by the 14th St Bridge and picked mulberries for a bit.

[pfunkallstar]

+1 for a beautiful ride. -1,000 for stealing my mulberries. I’m going to secretly plant hops there and see if they take off. Also, the glut of Fairweatherers made for some creative passing of 12 person caravans.

[KelOnWheels]

If hops like poison ivy, they’ll do smashingly. There’s a whole other mulberry tree on the other side of the bridge you can eat

[rcannon100]

And for those of you playing at home the danger signal is 5 short blasts not “hey watch-it A–hole!”

Cannon blasts off the port side have also proven quite effective.

[dasgeh]

We moved, and I’ve officially begun my new commute. Which means I may actually see other people on my way! Yay.

The new house is in Cherrydale, I still work near the State Dept, so my route is down Lee Hwy from Oakland to the (horrible) ramp up to the Custis at Spout Run/Kirkwood. Then Custis to MVT to TR Bridge (and lots of prayers that no one is coming the other direction) and down Virginia Ave. Home is the reverse. I welcome suggestions (especially if they help me avoid the TR bridge). Generally, it’s a lovely commute, though I miss the hill in the cemetery (my old commute was through Fort Myer, ANC then across Memorial Bridge).

I’m currently on my purple ebike, which has a wonderfully ugly beige egg crate on the rack. Say hi if you see me!

PS. I saw one other ebike on the ride this morning. It was much nicer than mine.

[GuyContinental]

@dasgeh 20937 wrote:

The new house is in Cherrydale, I still work near the State Dept, so my route is down Lee Hwy from Oakland to the (horrible) ramp up to the Custis at Spout Run/Kirkwood. Then Custis to MVT to TR Bridge (and lots of prayers that no one is coming the other direction) and down Virginia Ave. Home is the reverse. I welcome suggestions (especially if they help me avoid the TR bridge). Generally, it’s a lovely commute, though I miss the hill in the cemetery (my old commute was through Fort Myer, ANC then across Memorial Bridge).

Congrats! We’re sorta neighbors- I live in Lyon Village

Can’t help on the TR bridge but if you are comfortable elsewhere on Lee you might consider skipping the Custis EB and just staying on Lee until Nash. The hill ending at Quinn is one of the only places that I can routinely break 40 mph (just watch out for the morning Rt hook!). That’s clearly not for everyone but a heck of a lot of fun…

On the top end, you could always join the Custis at the top of the S-turn (Irving off 22nd) but that only makes sense if you are on the N side of Lee. On the S. side of Lee you can get on at 18th and Johnson and avoid Lee entirely.

[vvill]

I take Lee Hwy downhill around there most commuting days but I wouldn’t say it’s super safe even with the bike lanes. There’s often vehicles stopped in it, and gravel around as well. It’s also too easy/fun to pick up a lot of speed there.

I generally take Old Dominion/309 and then take Lee Hwy from after Old Dominion becomes 29 until Spout Run, then hop on the Custis. If I don’t feel like dealing with Lee Hwy I’ll take Lorcom Ln + sometimes Vacation or even N Monroe/Lincoln backstreets onto the Custis.

I don’t usually take the TR bridge in – I take Key and go through M St, which is probably not a great alternative. I do usually take TR on the way home now though.

[rcannon100]

If you see an old geezer waddling up the sidewalk on Lee Hwy, that’s me

I welcome suggestions (especially if they help me avoid the TR bridge).

Sure! Memorial or 14th St Bridge -> MVT SB -> 4 Mile Run West / W&OD West -> Turn East on Custis Trail in Bluemont -> Follow to Cherrydale.

Probably more than twice the distance…. but then you are trying to pound miles for NBC right?

Welcome to Cherrydale! When are we having a happy hour at Subway?? Pasha Cafe has outdoor seating… for the sweaty and stinky.

[Author]

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