[acc]

I’m going in that direction tomorrow afternoon. Will stop in and splash around in the trough.

[acc]

Now that we’ve decided Chasin’ Tail is in a remote undisclosed location that seems impossible to locate with any degree of accuracy, let’s show up anyway.
Next Friday, the 13th, 5:30ish.
Trough provided but locks are not.

ann

[acc]

If it weren’t for the W&OD I would not be on a bike.

Developing the skills to riding moderately safely in traffic has taken me a year to acquire. I say moderately because I still make mistakes, fortunately none have been fatal for me or the bike.

I can pick and choose when and where I want to ride the trails now, I’m not dependent on them but I certainly prefer them in many cases.

Arlington does have dedicated bike lanes and frankly riding along them sometimes makes my palms sweat for fear of being doored and dodging delivery trucks parked in them.

ann

[acc]

One of the things I like to hear is “Have a nice ride.”
Many times it comes from someone flying by me at 25+ mph but I don’t care, it’s a friendly greeting.

I was thrilled the first time it was said to me because I was so slow and wobbly, in fact it was a 50/50 shot I’d tip over at any given intersection because I couldn’t clip out fast enough. I definitely did not consider myself any sort of cyclist. Hearing it was enough of a compliment (unearned) that it kept me in the saddle another day.

ann

[acc]

I think CCrew is on the right track. My first instinct is to place the sign in a prominent location where drivers will see it, an intersection where there is a lot of bike traffic. In that position it is a friendly reminder that bikes belong.

ann

[acc]

Where you place the sign depends on the message you want to send.

If you want to congratulate cyclists then put it on a trail where they can see it.

If you want to encourage motorists to get out of their cars, place it where they can see the MUT and the sign.

If you want to mock surrounding jurisdictions place in on the border. (Of course you’d never do that, I’m joking.)

ann

[acc]

What? Like one in Manassas or something?

[acc]

This morning at Spring Hill Recreation Center:

You: Adonis on a bike. Beautiful legs, beautiful face, ratty messenger bag slung casually across your fine chest. There you were hammering down Lewinsville Road flying by at least 24 mph. I could not take my eyes off the rearview mirror. I can even forgive your ridiculous shorts/culottes combination because I get it–you’re way too cool for bike shorts.

Me: Stopped at the stoplight at Lewinsville Road and Spring Hill Road licking my lips as you approached.

You Idiot: You cut along my left, flew past eight cars waiting at the stoplight, hesitated 1/10 of a second before blowing through the red light, swung across multiple lanes of traffic from a position no car would ever expect you to be coming from and then adjusted your messenger bag and continued up Spring Hill Road. I lost interest immediately.

[acc]

Forgive me, but when I think of Arlington I think of a magical place where everyone is beautiful, wears flip-flops and organic cotton. A place where micro-brews rule, there’s a Capital Bikeshare station on every corner and people use the Arlington Loop.

Chasin’ Tail is a bit removed from all *that*. It’s Arlington by street address only.

Terribly sorry.

ann

[acc]

OMG!!! You mean I might finally be able to get a date!!! Totally kidding.

I am madder than hell that anyone would say something like that to you. There is no excuse for that kind of comment or observation about either your gender or your age.

FWIW, the cycling community itself has been consistently kind and courteous and friendly to me despite my advanced age and gender. I’ve never felt uncomfortable and as a result I consider myself a cyclist, not a woman cyclist, because my gender has not been an issue. My slowness and inexperience have been more of an obstacle.

I congratulate you for keeping an upbeat attitude towards this officer.

Again, so sorry it happened.

ann

[acc]

Then it is up to Mr. Kelley to map a route for an optional ride in conjunction with Happy Hour.

I shudder to think what he’ll come up with in terms of eeewww…hills.

ann

[acc]

Why not April 13th, for Happy Hour at Chasin’ Tails?

5:30 ish? Until the trough runs dry and the pails are empty.

As always, Blacknell buys the first round.

Please bring locks. For your bikes.

ann

[acc]

Seriously, merriment at a place where there’s “no forks and no rules AND a trough for cleaning yourself?”

[acc]

Funny you should mention the Rhinestone Bike. It’s being reworked with yards and yards of ribbon. But first I had to make a new helmet.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]882[/ATTACH]

Spreading joy, spreading joy…

ann

[acc]

I don’t wanna die.:rolleyes:

[Author]

Replies