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I’d love to come out to Shirlington for a happy hour because I have a lot of friends out there. Could you pick another date so I don’t miss it? And yes, moving one out to Shirlington is a great idea.
ann

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@eminva 21712 wrote:

I made it and it was fun! Thanks for the advice, everyone, it was sound. The first lap was kind of crowded (and I got stuck behind the big accident by Roslyn), but it gradually got better and eventually I was able to pick up the pace so I could complete the full six laps (but just barely). I didn’t get a gold medal because they had run out, but I already emailed asking for them to send one — we’ll see (thanks vvill).

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Liz

Best part of my weekend is reading you made six laps! That is AWESOME!

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Many thanks for the pictures and information about cycling in Virginia Beach. You provided great insight into the actual road conditions and reminded me of the fun of riding through new places and terrain. Glad you had a safe and successful trip.
Ann

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Diplomacy has not worked. Talking reasonably and rationally has not worked. It is almost a certainty that cyclists will get hit at these intersections. NPS is on notice and yet nothing happens. Today’s statement was basically, wow it’s confusing out there and people are getting hit. How many more injuries and or deaths will have to occur before anything constructive happens?

I’m particularly annoyed tonight because I was almost hit in an intersection on the W&OD this afternoon when the first car stopped and the second car slowed perceptively enough that I entered the crosswalk. It has been a bad week. On Sunday I almost drowned. Today I almost got hit by a car. The woman stared right into my eyes and kept coming despite me being in the crosswalk. Luckily, I’m no fool. I did not go beyond the first stopped car. At the very last moment she jammed on her brakes. Only at that point did I proceed.

This seems to be a problem with driver education. I should not have to stop in a crosswalk when a car is visibly slowing down as I enter. That contravenes all logic and commonsense.

ann

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@eminva 21146 wrote:

Only if I can ride my 1970’s bike (with shifters on the downtube as God intended) and wear my salute to Stevie Nicks.

Liz

That’s fine, I am more partial to Chrissie Hynde anyway.

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If you don’t want to order something online check out the enormous rack of women’s tri clothes @ Bonzai http://tribonzai.com/. Everything on the rack, shorts, suits, tops is 50% off.

There is a wide variety in material, cut, and coverage so it’s worth trying this stuff on and at 50% you can buy several different styles.

Pro-Tip: The shorts by 2XU and Zoot are nicer than most of the tankini crap out there. Sorry, I really don’t care much for the tankini style. But, I will wear the tri shorts to the pool this summer because they fit and are flattering. And God help me, I’ll wear them on the bike just for fun for rides less than fifty miles.

If you are more modest, and I applaud your good taste and decorum even though I lack both, Pearl Izumi makes a longer tri short and again, I’d be comfortable wearing it to the pool.

Bonzai rents tri wetsuits too if you’re in the market. After a week of practice it only takes 1/2 a jar of slathered Crisco to get me into it. And yes, I realize it’s like renting rubber underwear and no, I have no thoughts of spraying Luminol on it and shining a black light on it. There are some things I simply don’t want to know.

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I remember that Hot Shoppes. Now I shall go mount my dinosaur and ramble home.

About gearing. True Story. I only admit this because I have no shame. Obviously.

For a very long time I was hesitant to move into my small ring, back when I had three rings. Every time I did Spartacus shuddered and squeaked and I was convinced I had broken him. Not true. If I could go back in time and speak to myself during the first year I rode I’d tell myself several things.

First, don’t be afraid of shifting in and out of all your gears. You simply cannot hurt the bike. There is no reason to suffer needlessly. My God, I did a group ride via Potomac Peddlers and rode through some hills in Arlington exclusively in my middle ring. It’s amazing I didn’t have a stroke. Choose your suffer points. Go ahead and shift into whatever gear it takes to get yourself up that hill.

Second, learn to fix a flat. Practice that skill. You’re going to need it. And when you do it will be dark and raining and cold. I promise. I haven’t used such colorful language since the time I had a slow leak on New Year’s Eve in P’ville and had to hand pump Spartacus every five miles back to Reston where I gave up and called for help because I didn’t have any levers.

Third, don’t talk to that Blacknell person, he’s nothing but trouble.

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Huh. I was searching for info about VA Beach myself.
Try this link.
http://www.tbarides.org/bike_tourists
I’m blowing through town this weekend. Will chat up a LBS and bring back information.
I lived down there and I can imagine good riding but fairly busy roads.

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@DSalovesh 20676 wrote:

Makes sense to me in a gender neutral way too. Even an attractive person of the appropriate gender ought to dress for the activities at hand. Tops may be optional in some sense, but then where would folks keep their snacks?

In the vending machine, duh.

If you want to overcome any remaining inhibitions you may have regarding clothing, or lack there of, try an open water swim clinic. You’ll be cured.

But before you give up your tops don’t forget abut the advantage of a wet jersey on a hot summer day.

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Amen to all of the above. Plus, find a bit of time to stretch or do yoga, whatever the cool kids are calling it these days.

Just continue to have fun with it.

And welcome.

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You are absolutely correct. The Potomac School has a fleet of buses or parents provide door-to-door transportation.

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For the record, I’m a chicken. I’ve crossed Arlington Blvd and Lee Highway but I don’t like it. Your route takes you over both. Prosperity, after the intersection with Arlington Blvd, is hilly, narrow, and the cars whiz by fast.

Take a look at connecting the W&OD with Tapawingo. Look at connecting behind the Vienna Metro with a road, I think it’s Vaden. You’ll cross Arlington Blvd, then connect with the trail. You’ll end up on Pickett for a few blocks but the sidewalk is a good option. The park on your left will connect you to the Cross County Trail.
It’s a little further but a lot less harrowing.

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I feel your pain. It’s amazing how much better life is when you don’t look like a flying squirrel stretched out over the handlebars. And I no longer dance the hula reaching for the bottom of my pedal. I was shimmying in the saddle like I needed the money. It is a bit mortifying when Clovis starts bringing out the adaptive equipment for the little clown bike to make it easier to reach the brakes.

A professional fit makes a world of difference. If something hurts and probably shouldn’t it might not be you. It might be the bike.

Sometimes being treated like a lab rat pays off.

ann

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You have discipline. Me? Happiness is having enough room to drag a dismembered body home on my bike. :rolleyes:

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With a backpack or a messenger bag I never, ever play the “What if” game.
But with panniers it’s too much temptation to overcome with rational thought.
What if… it rains. I need rain gear.
What if… it gets dark. Oh, I’ll bring lights. And a backup set.
What if… I want to lock up. Oh, let’s bring a U-lock and a cable.
What if… I want to buy something? Let’s bring my real wallet.
What if… I have a flat? I know, I’ll bring a bigger pump.
What if… I want to take a real picture of something? I’ll bring my good camera.

And suddenly I have enough equipment to camp overnight. As if. Now that would truly be a cold day in hell.

The backpack exerts discipline. The panniers make you stronger. It’s a toss up.

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