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I think I’d probably wear something underneath it. :rolleyes:

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I’ve done several of these commutes on packed trains.

1. Strollers
I used to commute on Metro from Vienna to L’Enfant Plaza with a six month old baby. My childcare was located inside the retail mall at L’Enfant and I worked two blocks away. It was unpleasant. Trying to wrangle a crying baby on a super quiet train at 7:00 am is something I’d prefer to forget. The fully loaded stroller plus my briefcase took up a lot of room but not as much as a bike. But everything is hard with an infant so commuting on Metro was just another hard thing.

2. Suitcases
I’ve used Metro to get to National airport and the experience made me switch from rolling luggage to a duffel bag. Dragging luggage is infinitely easier than wrestling with a stroller because the contents of a suitcase doesn’t cry, poop, or vomit.

3. Bikes
I’ve dragged a few bikes on Metro when it was quiet and when it was packed. A bike takes up much more room than a stroller or a suitcase. The handlebars are right at neck level for seated passengers and even when I was pushed back as far away from the doors as possible I blocked a set of seats. In order for passengers to get to those seats we played a fun little variation of the game Twister. When I boarded the train in Vienna the car was almost empty. By the time we reached Ballston it was packed to capacity. At Metro Center we played another round of Twister to let people in and out of the seats I was blocking. At Smithsonian it seemed as though half the train emptied onto the platform. As careful as I was, and I knew exactly where I was going and was familiar with this station, my bike was still getting bumped and nudged by people just trying to get through the crowd.

I’m all for allowing bikes on Metro. But understand there are real problems to manage during rush hour including probably having to watch several trains pass you by because there is no room for your bike. The platforms can be packed and if you don’t happen to stand right where a door opens, you and your bike probably won’t get on. And then there are the elevators. I’ve encountered so many elevators outages (from dealing with a stroller) I’ve learned to check online before I go to see if the elevator at the station I am trying to use is in service. Some of my bikes I can carry up stairs or balance on an escalator, but at least one of my bikes is too heavy for me to carry.

One solution may be to limit the stations where bikes can enter or exit during rush hour, the notoriously packed ones like Metro Center or Smithsonian.

ann

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I believe this is a real and serious problem. Perhaps it is a result of our success in promoting cycling and developing biking infrastructure. Now that people see it is possible to bike to and from work or for recreation our new challenges become finding ways to educate newcomers about bike safety and bike etiquette.

ann

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But the fun did not end there. You know how bike people are, it isn’t an event unless there’s riding and it isn’t riding unless there are several hundred people involved. This morning, despite revelry that continued late into the evening before (let me stipulate for the record that I do not have firsthand knowledge about that, but I heard *rumors*), riders from all over the country jumped on borrowed, begged, owned, or rented bikes for a memorable ride through the streets of Washington, DC.
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Over the course of about ten miles I met people from Portland, Oregon; Las Cruces, New Mexico; Santa Barbara, California; Miami, Florida; and Providence, Rhode Island. But truly the best part was seeing local riders out in force cheering on their counterparts from other states and extending hospitality.
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It was nice to hear that our bike infrastructure is admired and our Capital Bikeshare program is enjoyed.

It was a terrific ride, the weather was wonderful and WABA did first rate job organizing and making the ride run smoothly. Everyone came back in one piece.
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Happy Bike Summit Trails,
Ann

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Yesterday, a delegation representing Virginia cyclists paid visits to eleven House Representatives and our two Senators. Allen Muchnick led the effort, organized the appointments, and presented our case. Many thanks to Allen for representing Virginia with such a high level of professionalism. I won’t even complain about running up and down multiple flights of stairs in high-heels because he did such a great job. Other familiar faces who joined in the handshaking, and arm-twisting included some of the usual suspects from these boards including; Tim Kelley, Zanna Leigh, and Mark Blacknell. Also present were Jim Strang from Spokes, Angela Parrotta from Revolution Cycles, Burton Griffith and Dean Liao.

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This photo was taken after our meeting with Rep. Bobby Scott

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I may regret sharing this. Part of me is screaming “Shutupshutupshutup.” By nature I am utterly self-centered and self-absorbed, trust me, sharing this information pains me. Terribly.

I know a place where you can do 8 mile laps with almost no traffic. It has turns and rises and one long gradual ascent. It has bathroom facilities and snacks for sale. Oh, by the way, it has so many bluebells in bloom it is like a carpet of wildflowers for acres.

Bull Run Regional Park.

The most cyclists I’ve ever seen are five.

I’ve been out at Hains Point. It’s lovely. But I like the challenge of turns and hills and a little gunfire (Bull Run Shooting Range) to make things interesting.

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KEEP CALM & CARRY ON

It’s amazing the things you notice when you ride to work as opposed to driving. I can time my ride according to where on the path I see a grandfather carrying his grandson to school on the back of his bike. I know I’m running late if the elementary school bus pulls up next to me at the intersection of Vaden and Virginia Center. I know it’s Thursday because the bar is standing room only at Hooters when I ride past.

I actually have a point. At least this time.

I notice what’s going on around me and what buildings are near me. Most of you know I make a big deal of noticing the three fire stations on my route. Part of noticing that is I admire firefighters for what they do (ok, ok, I may possibly find them attractive) but I also realize I can get help there if I need it. I know where the two Urgent Cares are too. And the bike shops.

When I ride during the winter I have some bail out points picked out to warm up. And I know where the 7-11s are to cool off in the summer.

Of course I screw this up all the time and end up out past dusk without my good lights (lucky for me I have a set of Arlington lights for emergencies). Or I’ll end up getting soaked in a February rain and have to sit on the floor in my shower to get warm. Or, the very worst was getting a slow leak on my front tire New Year’s Eve, 35 miles from home on the W&OD by myself and having to hand pump it back home in the dark.

The reason I’m confessing my idiocy is just to say, as long as you don’t panic, you’ll figure something out and live to tell the tale.

ann

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Inspire? Doubtful. My students know I ride into work and recognize my bike. I hope that decreases the likelihood it gets stolen. One morning I wore a leather jacket and they become excited thinking I also rode a motorcycle.

If I stepped back and carefully thought about what I was doing I’d laugh and put the bike in the shed.

But it’s curiosity that keeps me going. I wondered what a century would be like. Now I know. I wondered what blueberry soup tasted like so I rode Vasa. I wondered what it would be like to drag a bike on Metro. (About as bad as dragging a toddler in a stroller.) I wondered if I’d survive a dress-up ride like the Diamond Derby. (It was more fun than I thought.) I wondered what Hains Point would be like. Very fun.

Now I am wondering about Mt. Weather.

ann

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There are two bike experiences on Metro. One, early on Sunday mornings with a light, easy to manage road bike. Simple. [ATTACH=CONFIG]837[/ATTACH]

Then there’s Saturday afternoons. Downtown. At the Smithsonian Station. [ATTACH=CONFIG]838[/ATTACH]
With an enormous bike. Never again.

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Being able to ride into areas I can’t see from the road.

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The sense of accomplishment when I survive another adventure in traffic.
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The chance to come out and ride in events like VASA.
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You mean, like, on a bike?
Bahahahahahaha.

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Update on Hills, I Hate Them

Last December I came up with my best bad idea ever. I took my heaviest bike, slapped a rack, panniers, and fat tires on it, added some lights and made it my commuting bike. I hoped the 16-mile ride would transform me into a tough, hill-climbing rider by spring. I wanted to be the kind of cyclist who instills fear; shock and awe every time he appears on the trail, in other words, someone like Tim Kelley. The reality that I’m a short, middle-aged woman who had not broken 23 mph on a flat road before never entered my mind.

Like many of my ideas, the rhinestone bike for one, it seemed rational at the time, as I sipped my glass of wine and mulled it over. It’s the details that get in the way. Of course I practiced the route before I began riding to work. I practiced it with my lightest bike because I didn’t think an extra ten pounds of gear on a heavy bike would make much difference. My lungs are inclined to disagree.

By the way, January is a fine month to begin bike commuting between Vienna and Fairfax. The wind is delightfully brisk; you can appreciate it through two pairs of tights and gloves. And the rain keeps your face moist and your pedals slick. There’s no need for coffee once you hit that top tube once or twice.

And the hills. What can I say that hasn’t been said before? It’s an almost out-of-body sensation when I reach the top with two fully loaded panniers. The momentary feeling of lightheadedness is truly special.

This week marks almost three months of commuting and I had the opportunity to take Spartacus, my road bike, out for a few joy rides. I discovered my evil diabolical plan worked. The hills through Rosslyn on the Custis trail, not a problem. Four Mile Run, not the disaster it had been the summer before. But the best part, the moment I never dreamed would happen, I saw the number 26 on my speedometer as I cruised around Hains Point by myself. I did not imagine it; the magical Garmin recorded it for all of posterity. Ok, it was only briefly, but that one moment exceeded every goal I had.

I will never be like Mr. Kelley. I know that. But I can dream. And don’t get me wrong; I still hate hills, just not as much.

Happy Commuting Trails,
ann

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I usually arrive much earlier, but I’m curious how you take to get from Vienna metro to get to the W&OD in an efficient manner to head into DC. I’ve gone the 123 Nutley route before, but that seems more distance than necessary, and Rt 29 isn’t exactly a breeze in the park. Options?

From the Northside Entrance of Vienna Metro proceed to the intersection of Virginia Center and Vaden Drive. Cross with the light onto Vaden Drive, continue until you come to a circle, notice the trail at 11 o’clock. Take the trail. Continue along the trail until you see a sharp right turn leading onto a very short path connecting to the street. If you reach Nottoway Park you’ve gone too far. Turn left on Tapawingo Road and continue to the intersection with Tapawingo Road and Nutley Street. I prefer to follow Tapawingo up to a left onto Meadow Lane then a right onto Courthouse Road (wonderful bike lane) and a right onto Locust St. At the end of Locust you will enter Center Street and be within sight of the Vienna Community Center where the W&OD is located.

http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&q=map+of+town+of+vienna+va&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89b649671c566aef:0x2fc10cb0571036ba,Vienna,+VA&gl=us&ei=-khiT7z7K8mr2AXv8IXrCA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA

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My most sincere congratulations!

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Glad he didn’t get run over, I think. He’s misinformed.

http://forthunt.patch.com/articles/bikes-can-run-red-lights-under-new-virginia-law-2

My commute from Vienna to GMU takes me across two stoplight regulated intersections that do not perceive my bike. That leaves me with two choices, neither one is much fun. I can dismount, waddle over to the pedestrian walk button, stick my hands through the branches of pine tree, feel around and hit the button OR I can go through the red after swiveling my head like the kid in the Exorcist movie and saying numerous prayers as I cross four lanes of traffic. Yippee. I consider it a tremendous character building exercise.

But no, you can’t whiz through a red light just because you shave your legs with more precision than I do, have completely matching kit from your gloves to your socks and everything in between, a bike that costs more than a week of debauchery in Vegas but weighs less than two bags of groceries, and manage to sound out the complete headline announcing the new law about red lights and cyclists.

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