The Effects of BAFS on the Brain

[Alcova cyclist]

Loving BAFS so far, though it does bring out the absurdly obsessive/competitive streak in me. Thanks to Hans’ data crack, I have all kinds of things to obsess over (“hmmm, I really need to work on my pre-dawn riding!”)

I’ll echo the weather = “what I wear” not “whether I will ride” sentiment. My original personal goal for BAFS was 500 miles, which I thought would be a stretch. I’m now shooting for 750.

BAFS has also totally changed my idea of what “bad” conditions are. For example, this morning’s low-20’s commute was perfectly wonderful and I am starting to think commuting in January is actually better than commuting in July. (Though with notable exceptions: last night’s cocktail of 30mph crosswinds w/ 40mph gusts on the 14th ST bridge was both miserable and terrifying)

Thanks to those who’ve done so much work behind the scenes to make this happen and Go Team-who-must-not-be-named!!!

[dasgeh]

@dplasters 107359 wrote:

I Agree. I was in the city (us suburban folk who get to work in the suburbs as well avoid it normally) for the car show and while walking around noticed there were many cyclists still out. It was good to see the infrastructure getting use. Seeing people biking makes it socially acceptable and seeing that you don’t die when you ride a bike when its below 45 shows its possible to do it throughout the year here. Out in the wilderness of Fairfax/Vienna I will occasionally see a soul or two near the Vienna metro but the fair-weather Freds have deserted me on Lee Highway/Mosaic District. I hope that my existence encourages others. When better weather hits the pedestrian/cycling traffic around the area can actually be decent. Without the protected lanes and even just some fancy paint the numbers seem to drop out here hard. If it isn’t on the W&O, it can be kinda dicey. I hope to make it to the VDOT forum tonight on the upgrading of 66 though I think I read here that they have no intention of honoring the FX County bike/trail plan.

I think distances and how annoying it is to park a car play a big role in what you see: when people are traveling < 2 miles, it's a no brainer to bike if that's logistically possible. CaBi usually makes that logistically possible. Even if you're a little underdressed, you're on the bike for such a short time, you can deal. Especially if parking is a hassle, biking looks like a much better alternative, especially compared to a long walk. When you start biking more than 2 miles or so, you need to think about what you're wearing a bit more. In DC, a lot of trips are shorter. Even in Arlington, lots are smaller, population is denser, retail is sprinkled throughout, trips are shorter, parking is tough in spots. Once you start getting to hilly North Arlington (where the retail is not really sprinkled throughout), McLean or Fairfax, trips are just longer. It’s more of an uphill climb to get people to bike, especially in “adverse” conditions.

[scorchedearth]

I, like many others here, spend way too much time on Strava and the leaderboards checking progress.

So far this year, I’ve ridden every single day. That is what BAFS has done to my brain.

[Vicegrip]

99.999% of computer games you sit on yer ever so slowly enlarging butt and play game while the rest of the world goes on. On the other hand BAFS is an online game that gets people off their butts and out in the real world riding a bike. The rest is simple human nature.

[BMXer]

@Vicegrip 107402 wrote:

99.999% of computer games you sit on yer ever so slowly enlarging butt and play game while the rest of the world goes on. On the other hand BAFS is an online game that gets people off their butts and out in the real world riding a bike. The rest is simple human nature.

But it always good to play online games when you have free time and having nothing else to do, but should not be exaggerated with that of course..

Bike Games

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