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@Joe Chapline 2713 wrote:

Or it might be like the Dos Equis commercial, something like: “He’s often detained by police, because they find him interesting.”

Oh, that was great! I’ve lived in Vienna since ’92 and the Town employs its own police force. They are highly visible, it is definitely different compared to Fairfax County where the police are spread more thinly. On the bright side, the Vienna Police response time in an emergency can be less than five minutes. I’ve never had a negative encounter with them. That being said, part of the W&O runs directly behind buildings that house the type of governmental agencies with lots of heavily armed guards patrolling the perimeters and operating checkpoints. I wonder if they are patrolling the trail in that specific area roughly around mile marker 10.

Mr. Crew you appear to be an endangered species. Too bad you can’t check yourself off an extra exemption on the 1040 form.

ann

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Hmm . . . unusual work hours . . . office somewhere near the White House . . . work ID takes the wind out of the sails of local police . . . I’m beginning to wonder if you are the person who answers the red phone when it rings.

Liz

I’m just hoping he’s not the one who makes the red phone ring. :rolleyes:

Is there anything about your bike or your attire that would draw official attention? I’m sure there is not, but am curious.

Safe riding,
ann

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Glad you were stitched up, at a good hospital even, and hope you can get the blood out of your shirt. I wonder if at a minimum it makes sense to whip out a phone and take a picture of the driver, vehicle, and driver’s license when these accidents happen. I think I could manage that. However, when I was hit the first thing I did was jump up, check my limbs, check my bike and get the hell out of there.

ann

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I agree about extreme caution on sidewalks. The WABA classes are explicit in stating we are safest when we behave like cars and are predictable in our movements. I watched a woman get hit by a car when she approached from the driver’s blindside, on a sidewalk into the crosswalk. The driver did not anticipate her presence. Luckily, the cyclist was not hurt. The motorist was shaken (not stirred) and was absolutely horrified at making contact. Best of luck to you.

ann

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Brilliant! Wish I knew.

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Thank you, that helped me figure out where to workout tomorrow. I am waiting to hear about the arrival of a new cyclist in your family.

Best wishes,
Ann

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My nursing education says do not confront unstable people unless you have plenty of back up. I am sorry this happened to you. I do not understand their mentality. I’m glad you are safe and in the end, it’s about living to ride another day.

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I just started “Cycling,” by Greg Garrett. A novel published in 1993.
I also like thumbing through “Boneshaker: A Bicycling Almanac.”

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Again, welcome! I’d like to suggest two helpful resources. The League of American Bicyclists provides in-depth information about cycling. Through them I found bike safety classes held in Arlington and DC and sometimes VA. The ones in Arlington were free and included hands-on experience with riding on the street. They were very well run, very professional and helpful. That being said, I am still unsure about some aspects of using bike lanes versus taking the lane, etc. But I suggest starting with these classes. A resource for group rides is the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club, they have a web presence and list rides by location and speed. I hope you find this helpful.

ann

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@CCrew 2442 wrote:

Easiest to go to Google Maps, plug in the spot where the Custis crosses at the Key Bridge, plug in the Capitol as the destination. Pretty much runs you across the Memorial Bridge right down the mall. Taking 395 is a big dogleg out of the way

I’d volunteer, but I work closer to the White House than the Capitol, and also go inbound about 4:45- 5am through that area. You can ride like a drunk down the middle of M street that time of the morning

MM 11? Near Cedar Lane?

Oh, I simply can’t resist. Hell, I ride like a drunk under the best of conditions.

My friend, it looks like you have plenty of support. I would be happy to show you as far as the end of the W&O but I think dcv can help you more than I can. Welcome to these boards! Welcome to commuting! You will quickly see that many people here are hardcore commuters and willing to share their stories and insights. Have a good (safe too) ride.

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Great story! Happy birthing!

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Thank you for letting us know. That helped me plan where and how I was going to workout today. Thanks again.

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@consularrider 2416 wrote:

I’m impressed with those ride times and with your dedication. I’m on my 529 bike commuting day since May 2008. Only missed one day in that stretch (that the office was open) when I had a flat develop while I was at work and wasn’t carrying the appropriate repair items (last time that happened). Had to take Metro home that day and into work the next.

Remarkable, thank you for sharing that information.

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@PrintError 2391 wrote:

Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll throw out the disclaimer that I’m purely a commuter. I don’t race or train, just log along on my heavy commuter bike. Today was a much more normal 80 minute cruise home, however it felt so good to be above freezing!!!

Uh, I don’t know much about cycling. Most of the time when I read your posts I have no idea what you all are talking about. Fixie? SRAM? Might as well be a foreign language. But 30-35 mph? Seriously? That is amazing. Congratulations. I don’t care what kind of
biking you do. I admire your speed.

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I’ll take a case of what you’re drinking and eating, please. Nice Report, great rides.

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