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Well, I was all set to do the whole tutu, sparkle bike, feathered headdress extravaganza.

I could lie and say commonsense and good taste overcame me but that hasn’t happened before so I know you wouldn’t believe me.

I’m trying to be quasi-helpful and move some swag around this afternoon. A giant tutu isn’t practical for that sort of thing.
So I’m going with something smaller. It’s every bit as atrocious as the other costume, just easier to move around in.

A costume can be as simple as a brightly colored scarf or a pair of long elbow length gloves. Oh heck, drape yourself in Mardi Gras beads, that works.

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From WABA:
Tomorrow, SB 736 will be heard in the full transportation committee of Virginia’s House of Representatives. SB 736 would make it illegal in Virginia to “open the door of a motor vehicle on the side adjacent to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so.” A violation would constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine no more than $100.
We’ve written about the dooring bill here previously and have urged you, if you’re a Virginia resident, to take action to support it. Thanks in part to your dedicated and vocal support, SB 736 passed the House’s transportation subcommittee, where it was voted for by delegates Richard Anderson and J. Randall Minchew.
We appreciate any additional support you can give to SB 736 in advance of its hearing tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Constituents of delegates Anderson and Minchew should express thanks for their support of the bill in subcommittee, and constituents of Thomas Rust and Barbara Comstock should reiterate that their support is needed for this bill, which would make dooring illegal.

The list of legislators can be found here. http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView[URL=”http://http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView”]http://http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView[/URL]

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All kidding aside, this is a fun event. It is a very slow parade.

I took my bike out this afternoon to make sure I had a comfortable gear to start and stop every twenty feet or so. Otherwise, my knees will howl the next morning.

You don’t have to wear a costume.
But it is a parade and you are in it. People expect to see something other than the ordinary. It’s in Arlington, folks are used to seeing bikes. (Unlike the suburbs where you’re a novelty act by definition just being on a bike)

Mostly, they expect you to throw beads.

If you aren’t comfortable with people in your face, stick to the middle of the road.

Once the parade starts rolling you won’t feel cold. It sounds like the weather will be in the 40s, that’s very comfortable.

Beads are strung along the handlebars of your bike. They can be pulled off strand-by-strand and flung into the crowd.

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Eminva and I are figuring out which combination of costume items will make this parade memorable.
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It may be the Year of the Snake but I think Tuesday will be the Night of the Peacock.
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Hey! Thanks for volunteering!!

It’s only in the past six months or so that it finally dawned on me how many people are necessary to make these events happen. So, sincerely — thank you.

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The Swedish Embassy flings open their doors, and elevator to the area’s great unwashed cycling community!

It is a fun event. Lot’s of unusual bikes to gawk at and lots of cyclists to gawk at too.

Blueberry goo? Ugh. But if you’re into drinking warm syrup, have at it.

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This makes zero sense at intersections where bikes outnumber cars. There are main commuter throughways where this is a reality.

Why isn’t there an assumption that cars stop when a pedestrian or cyclist is within 10 feet of an intersection? Why couldn’t there be a painted box on the edge of an intersection? If there is a pedestrian or cyclist within the box, the motorist should have a duty to stop.

Or, another possibility, one that seems to work at Mason, are raised pedestrian walkways. They are like speed bumps but used to slow traffic to allow pedestrians to cross.

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I parked the first car I ever owned on a sea wall for several years when I was in the Navy. It ruined my car’s paint. I was heartbroken.

What I discovered looking through several sites is that salt can take a toll on your bike’s finish and chain.

Perhaps a bucket or two of water to rinse it off is a good idea.

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To be honest, I was happy to write the first four emails about bike issues. But I had to think long and hard about the moped. I mean sure, who doesn’t get a 2:00 am craving for a half-smoke and a Slurpee that’s when pulling the moped out for a ride to 7-11 makes perfect sense. On the other hand, you don’t need a license to ride one, a loophole I’m sure my elderly mother will be only too happy to exploit in the near future. But because e-bikes are on the horizon, and alternative transportation is something we are trying to find, I caved.

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Funny thing, I was whiny too. Forget it, I rode from the parking garage and only because the places I work are so far apart I wasn’t going to walk. Sometimes bringing a bike to work in the car still makes sense if I have to run errands during the day. For me riding in this weather means being absolutely sure I have a warm place to bailout. If I get hot in the summer I can find shade and sit down. If it’s cold, getting inside becomes an urgent matter.

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Oh Baby, been working on this for months. Peacock feathers, and sequins.

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I feel so reassured. In the dark bumping over logs and boardwalks, what could go wrong?

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http://aphs.worldnomads.com/jamie_candice/3794/100_4077.jpg

For what it’s worth, I ride an adult sized bike.

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Dirt, I’ve gotten lost back there in broad daylight. I’m just sayin’

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The wind was strong enough to keep me off a hill that is wide open with no trees and nothing to break the gusts. I hate the feeling of the bike being tilted and pushed with me on it.

I was just working myself half to death and when that happens I sweat like a barnyard animal. But I didn’t last long.

And good god, if the forecast says it’s going to warm up, I roll over, pull up the covers, and go back to sleep. I’m only happy when it’s 90 degrees and 90% humidity.

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