[acc]

Honestly, it doesn’t matter much. Unless you have a dire medical problem that needs to be communicated to rescue personnel, identifying you isn’t high on the priority list.

It’s much more important to carry self-resuce equipment. Extra calories, plenty of water, extra tubes, some cash. It’s much more likely that you’ll find yourself in a situation where prior planning can help you save yourself.

[acc]

I’d be happy with just lights integrated into helmets. Seems simple enough.

[acc]

I rode on trails exclusively for a very long time.

But finally it became too frustrating.

Ride the trails as a last resort, to get from Point A to Point B (like commuting), or on an off-peak hour, or during the winter.

It feels safer to be on low-traffic, low-congested streets and even some busier ones where the speed is low than to be on the trails.

I’ve explored enough nearby residential neighborhoods to put together a hellish set of hills. I’d rather do that then fight my way up the W&OD. And I say this with a sense of sadness, I loved the W&OD. But I think it caters to leisure riders and commuters and folks running errands. I’m happy to let them have it.

[acc]

Shane, Chris and Veronica did a fantastic job bringing a cyclist’s perspective to the area’s roads.

What a great opportunity and they made the most of it.

[acc]

@Chris Eatough 45831 wrote:

Thanks acc.
We will be trying to avoid conflict with the call ins. Can’t we all be PALs?

Of course!

Every bike out there is one less car on the road.
Every person out there on a bike is making a healthy lifestyle choice.

A bike is a tool, it empowers people to move around efficiently in a very congested area.

And bikes cannot simply exist on MUT, on a busy weekend, the trails are full. And running errands involves patronizing businesses that are not on a trail route.

Good luck, but you won’t need it. There are lots of positives associated with biking. It’s for everyone.

[acc]

A bike is something that fits into your lifestyle in a logical way just like driving a car, walking, or using mass transit. It’s a tool to get from one place to another. It’s a way to solve a problem. Or, it’s a way to enjoy being outside. The bike serves you.

You don’t serve the bike.

When the bike isn’t serving its purpose for you, put it away. Choose another way to solve the problem. The bike will be there when you want it.

[acc]

Recovering? Best word ever.

[acc]

Beginner rides exist. Two years ago I found mine within the D category with the Potomac Pedalers http://www.potomacpedalers.org

I think many of those rides are on the trails or on residential streets.

At the beginning, all the bikes were checked for brakes, seat height, water bottles, and inflated tires.

Trail etiquette was discussed.

You simply cannot get more basic than that. It was a great learning experience for me. My God, I can’t believe it was only two years ago.

All of that being true, my best guess is the majority of people who tried it, did not come back. I rode in the D groups for six months. I rarely saw the same people twice.

I strongly believe in the idea of making opportunities available to everyone who wants to ride.
But individual motivation and desire is what makes a cyclist.

Eminva: For what it’s worth, Rambo, my 11-year-old, is a horrific riding partner. And my college kid, let’s just say it’s best if we don’t ride together.

[acc]

I’ve gotten some miles on the Sparkle Bike, chase hills on my mountain bike, and go on social rides on my road bike with Liz.

In reading through the posts I notice there are many communities of riding styles. Some people like the safety and reassurance of riding with a group. Some prefer to ride alone. Some prefer to ride with a single gender. Some form a social group around riding. In this area there are any number of groups available to get people started on bikes. But what cannot be lost in this discussion is basic safety instruction.

I think it’s unwise to take novices out into the streets without a Confident City Cyling class in their back pocket. It’s not safe for them and it’s not safe for their preceptor.

[acc]

It’s like religion. I do my thing.

If someone asks, I’ll talk about cycling.
I’m happy to be a reference.

But I’m not an evangelist.

[acc]

Am I the only one who thinks this is just like getting trapped on one of those party barges on the Potomac? Actually worse because I’d have to pedal. The beauty of having a bike is being able to ride away when either the company gets old or the beer gets warm.

[acc]

Ten years ago I almost tore down the shed because it was in bad shape and rebuilding it seemed expensive. I decided to rebuild it and live without a deck. It worked out to be a good decision. Inexplicably, I have a bike in my kitchen. But that’s a long story.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2445[/ATTACH]

[acc]

I’m so glad you stopped and shared food.

[acc]

I am an advocate of the looping system for long unsupported rides. Liz and I start and end in the dark. Liz is less high maintenance than I am but we need an assortment of gear during the day.

I like the flexibility of being able to pick up sunglasses, change jackets, swap out water bottles and have access to a cooler with food. I also like having a floor pump, extra tubes, (not that I’m gonna change a flat if there’s an LBS nearby), and something to wipe my hands on. And oh yeah, an extra set of lights.

And maybe champagne.

No doubt Liz and I will be back out there soon with a longer ride in mind. But we’ll work off a set of loops.

[acc]

You should try the ride out to Purcellville on the W&OD. Eat at Magnolias. Have a beer. Ride back.
Lots of bike shops along the way in case you have mechanical problems.
Great places to eat in Leesburg too if you don’t want to go as far.

[Author]

Replies