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Bike commuting, a gateway drug… Sounds like it is working out great!

ann

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Much to my eternal mortification, most of my pedal mishaps happen as I’m crossing busy intersections guaranteeing an appreciative audience. I slip and stumble around as if I were drunk, and I’m not (honest), wobble and just when I think it’s over, right myself and make it across. It is especially entertaining at the intersection of Braddock Road and the Audrey Moore Rec Center which involves a number of traffic lanes higher than I can accurately count.

I also learned the hard way that wet grass makes the bottom of my shoes slippery enough to slide right off the pedals and onto, well, you know the choices are simply not good.

Happy Trails,
ann

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Thank you so much. I’ve lived here most of my life and had no idea this was available. Will definitely put that on my schedule.

ann

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@CCrew 4110 wrote:

Groundhog maybe?

The W&OD Deer and I are not on good terms. I see usually at least 10-15 every morning. I’ve collided with them twice. They seem to deal with avoidance by cutting back in front of you, invariably at the last moment.

In October of 2009 I was cooking down the trail at about 3am, just east of Hunter Mill right by the little bridge over Difficult Run. Ran smack into a herd at about 20mph. I remember one in front of me, but the next thing I remember was coming to being flat on my back and looking up at the moon. Bike was destroyed – frame buckled right behind the head tube. And I was in agony. I actually don’t even remember doing it, but gathered myself and my bike and walked back to Reston, loaded the bike and went home. Don’t remember the drive either. Got home and passed out on the couch. Wife saw all the battle damage on me and couldn’t wake me a couple hours later and panicked and called 911. To this day don’t remember any of it. Turns out I had a bad concussion, and I had badly torn the rotator cuff in my right shoulder and the collarbone was cracked.

Yup, the pool is starting to look good again. ..Gee whiz, I’m so sorry. I completely understand why you wanted to get home, I’m amazed you were able to negotiate your way back to the car and drive.

I’ve noticed several fire departments are located along or close to the trail between Reston and Falls Church (I’m safety conscious, it has nothing to do with the appeal of firefighters, she lies.) I’ve thought to myself I could limp into one and get help if I really wrecked myself again. There is Fire Station #25 at Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road, the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department is located at 400 Center Street South – within sight of the Vienna Community Center, Fire Station #13, Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire and Rescue is at 2148 Gallows Road just up the hill from the W&O, and the Falls Church Fire Department is located adjacent to the W&O at 6950 Little Falls Road.

There is also an Urgent Care located several blocks from the W&O and Maple Avenue intersection at 100 Maple Avenue East. However, the hours are limited, certainly not useful for early morning commuters.

I was thinking about these options yesterday when I was stupidly riding in the heat.

ann

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When I was learning to deal with clipping in and clipping out I fell frequently. Then I saw my first snake somewhere around Reston and was immediately cured. “Snake” doesn’t quite capture the python-like qualities of some of those beasts, they’re like something you’d see on Animal Planet.

Happy trails,
acc

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Beats me, there’s an “S” squiggle marking on it and the words “bodygeometry.” My approach was to go into the shop, talk to one of the women who worked there, and ask a lot of questions. I think I got down to three choices in my size and then looked at the pricing. The brand names are unfamiliar to me, probably a good thing. It’s worked out fine, I rode more than 80 miles over the holiday weekend and have no complaints.

Happy trails,
acc

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Not just the winter commute. An hour ago I came close enough to one to start a conversation near Hunter Mill. Also saw some sort of animal that looked like a beaver but I find that hard to believe.

Not to change to subject, but it is very hot out there and I watched two cyclists being carted off in the back of the trail pick-up truck.

acc

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Thank you, I will try to stop weeping now.

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So now I have a brand new Giant Defy 3 hanging from the ceiling the hallway (When I have it securely up there, I’ll post some pictures of how I got it totally out of the way in a 1200 sq ft condo), and I’m ready to go to work NOW.

It’s super awesome that the high tomorrow is supposed to be 95 F.

Yea! What a great adventure, a terrific bike, and fantastic weather. I hope we hear about your experiences as you go along. That reminds me to put my water bottles back in the freezer. Congratulations!

[Note to self, it’s the bike that belongs on the ceiling. Makes so much more sense now.]

Roll on,
ann

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What? My role model for commuting toughness and smarts about all things “bike” risks his neck with tunes. I tell ya, I’m shocked. I just can’t bring myself to do it. I would like to, it would be fun, but for me the risk isn’t worth it. So I sing to myself, seems to scare most of the deer anyway.

Happy Trails,
ann

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Yes, Spokes in Vienna had a Surly in the outside rack last week.

ann

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Clearly, a violation of helmet safety.

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I’ve heard of black lung and brown lung but before tonight never bug lung.

Happy trails,
ann

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Speaking as a former nurse, it would take WAY more than a man’s shaved leg to make me flinch. I might have to put my shoulder into getting enough leverage to get your stilettos and fishnet hose off, but even that wouldn’t make me blink.

I came from the swimming community and the big differences I notice are:
1. There is less shaving in cycling
2. It’s still Lycra, but more material
3. Swimmers talk about technique the way cyclists talk about the specs on their bikes
4. Cyclist hair is less green (no chlorine damage)
5. There seems to be less devotion to weightlifting
6. There are no ugly shoes in swimming

Happy Trails,
ann

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Oh yes. Bib shorts. I’m definitely behind those.

ann

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