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@KLizotte 50644 wrote:

Thanks for the link. I may have to get one of these since my regular towel does not dry out overnight in the rinky-dink, non-ventilated locker I have at work. Things get icky when the humidity hits. I wish these towels were cheaper though!

Mine dries in about an hour in my office, so even in humidity it should dry out eventually. It’s pretty big, but folds into a really tiny square, which is the best part of it, plus it’s extremely lightweight (I tote mine everyday). One thing I will note is that some of these types of towels are marketed as “soft”. I find that those have a velvet-y texture, and while soft, tend to repel water more than absorb first. This one isn’t marketed as soft, but I rub my skin with it and find is “sleek”-soft. It doesn’t irritate my skin whatesoever, is somewhat thin but very absorbent, and is a welcomed feel post-shower that gets me dry in no time. I couldn’t recommend it more.
I have a smaller one of a different brand (http://www.amazon.com/Sea-to-Summit-274-DryLite/dp/B001Q3KLE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367349083&sr=8-1&keywords=camping+towel) that I don’t like nearly as much, despite the higher cost. It doesn’t dry as fast and doesn’t intake/release water as easily. I wish this towel came in a smaller size, I’d use it as kitchen towels or for running/biking-sweat mops
Just remember, never wash these types of towels (or any moisture wicking stuff) with fabric softener

[ARL_wahoo]

@DaveK 50637 wrote:

Running in the bike lane is never okay if there’s a sidewalk available. It just isn’t. You’re forcing the cyclist to merge into and out of traffic, endangering them for your own convenience.

This. And me going 10mph on a metal frame is much harder to control than a runner going 5mph. I know runners hate running on cement, but my knees will look a whole lot worse than yours when I get hit by a car trying to dodge you. This is the #1 reason I have an issue with this. There are plenty of side streets with beautiful tree cover that is just as nice on the knees (I try to bike through neighborhoods in the street when I can, though I’ve found on nice weekends/afternoons, kids playing in yards often don’t see the bikers when they run after their ball…much more attention needed back there :p). Then, there are the types that want to run through populated areas with clogged sidewalks and see the wide open bike lane and hop into those

I guess I should have said in my first post that the reason I brought this up is that I nearly got hit (and by nearly I mean I came within inches) by a car while trying to dodge a runner that jumped out into the bike lane from the sidewalk.

Bikers in the lane going the wrong direction……:mad: I find that those are usually just in-frequent riders who just don’t know any better so it’s not worth the hassle. They usually are going slow enough that I can easily dodge them too and I don’t see them a whole lot anyways.

[ARL_wahoo]

My building/office is pretty awesome with the commute (one reason I’m avoiding leaving :p)

Haves:
1. Showers in the basement that are clean, nice, stocked with shampoo/soap in case I forget, mouthwash, and even a hair dryer in the women’s side
2a. Covered parking in the garage
2b. My office manager lets me park my bike in a utility closet The office isn’t busy and everyone is supportive of my biking, so it works out great
3. Day lockers in the shower facilities, though I just drag everything upstairs and hang on my bike to dry

With just the above I can bike in, park my bike temporarily while I shower, come out of the shower clean and refreshed, and take my bike upstairs. I highly recommend camping towels. I have this one: http://www.amazon.com/Discovery-Trekking-Outfitters-Fast-Dry-34×58-Inch/dp/B003D3F4TI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1367334587&sr=8-3&keywords=camping+towel It’s big enough to wrap around my body and long enough to cover things. Dries super quick and works extremely well.

Wants (in order):
1. Bike pump. I don’t even want tools, I carry almost everything I need, but a floor pump would be awesome
2. The biking subsidy/refund program. People don’t realize the cost of upkeeping bikes and the various equipement pieces you need. Less than commuting, but still something..
3. Overnight lockers. I’d even pay a monthly fee for it (and try to get my office to cover the cost). I could leave all my toiletries in there and it would make my commute weight way lower. I get by with travel bottles I refill regularly from my home supply, so I get by

[ARL_wahoo]

@DaveK 50284 wrote:

I saw that too, we must have been crossing paths at the time.

Omni guy wasn’t paying attention at all. I was giving some tourist folks some directions right above the stop signs and heard this *cccrruunnnnccchhhh* and turned around in time just to see him tear off the front corner of that Metro bus. I was reminded why I hate driving to work when I watched the buses just stop and sit there in the intersection :rolleyes:

Do you take the Mt V trail from there or go up and wrap around the cemetery into Rosslyn?

[ARL_wahoo]

I went through in the AM around 730 and didn’t see anything.

Last week I watched a Omni bus clip a Metrobus on the front corner though! Traffic was already pretty bad in the circle, I assume it only went downhill from there :p

[ARL_wahoo]

@dasgeh 49658 wrote:

Going down the hill of the Cemetery in the morning is the best commute in the area.

Where do you get into the Cemetery to do this? I’ve always thought about trying to extend/mix up my morning commute a bit since it’s pretty much solid downhill until DC. The afternoon I pick the least of the evil hills of Arlington…

[ARL_wahoo]

@baiskeli 49619 wrote:

Is the construction on 50 a problem with that route? I’ve done it, but not since the construction started.

I never get near any of that mess. The only issue that it may be presenting is on Meade St, there’s a temporary light at the 50 intersection. That must’ve been done sometime over the winter, and while it helps control traffic, it makes someone on the bike a bit nervous because now people are trying to run the light constantly. I get on 15th up by the courthouse, it turns into 14th, and bypasses all of the construction on Fairfax

[ARL_wahoo]

Starting in Clarendon, take Clarendon Blvd down to 15th St (the veer off to the right right before Veitch) until it turns into Fairfax Dr. Right on Meade St, left into Iwo Jima. Take that path all the way down past ArlCem, turn left onto Mem Dr leading to Mem Bridge. From there, you could right straight down the mall, or take Indep Ave around to Jefferson to increase your mileage a bit. From the Capitol, head north.

I do this ride in the AM and PM and it’s a lovely ride in the morning with barely any foot traffic on all of the paths (yay no tourists OR cars!). The return trip in the afternoon can be fun playing Frogger on the park/monument paths and it’s hilly once you get past the Lincoln Memorial. Stunning views of DC from Iwo Jima too

[ARL_wahoo]

@ebubar 49549 wrote:

I’m slow too. But I blame my bike for my slowness. Always passed by people on those curvy handlebar things. I’m piddling along on my flat bar hybrid. It has to be the bike…right? If only I had one with curly bars I could pass all of them! To make myself feel better, when I get passed I just sit up straight on my upright hybrid and start humming to myself like I’m just out enjoying nature. Nobody needs to know that inside I’m angrily seething that I was just passed by someone twice my age going twice my speed with what looks to be half the effort.

This is by far the best thing I’ve seen on here! I commute from Arlington to DC during the nicer months and last fall I was slowly passing a few people, but I just started up again and I forgot how much it pains me to see people glide effortlessly by me, twice my speed, and twice the grey hair amount! Meanwhile, I’m peddling my butt off on my straight-bar “mnt” bike

[ARL_wahoo]

@Steve 49313 wrote:

There are a number of ways, depending on exactly where you are coming from. The maximum tourist avoidance is to take the Francis Case Bridge over into Hains Point. The path begins at the end of L’Enfant Plaza: http://goo.gl/maps/IsPJX

From there, you can get to Ohio Drive and either take that all the way up to Memorial Bridge or just hop on 14 St. Bridge, which would probably be easier. Other options are to go south from the Smithsonian and hop on I St heading west all the way down to Water Street. From there you can ride the sidewalk up to the Tidal Basin area. The only problem with this route is you are still dealing with a lot of tourists.

Those are my thoughts.

Hmm, that’s a pretty good idea. I was on Ohio once before and it wasn’t too bad, mostly commuters or runners. The current way I go is pretty much along the Tidal Basin, though on the sidewalks next to Indep Ave. The TB area is full of tourists stopping and starting, at least the IndepAve route people are generally walking/puttering along. MemBridge is never an issue for me, the sidewalks are wide enough and it’s mostly other bikers. I’ve had a couple of close calls, but nothing major. The path along ArlCem is nice and shaded and quiet for the most part, and I love riding through Iwo Jima, other than that stupid hill.
The AMs are usually easy, not a lot of people walking around at 7am down that way and I cut up over the WashMon park to the one-way Jefferson and take that to 12th (I work right off of 12th). Overall a nice ride. It’s the PMs that are generally crowded, Mondays and Fridays being the worst and the time right around July 4th when they have metal fencing up all along IndepAve (no where to swerve off the path). I’d like a different route on these days to avoid the masses.

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I know this thread is a bit old, but I wanted to chime in and also ask an additional question with a similar route

For Ballston into DC, I too recommend either Custis trail or Wilson/Rhodes/15th/Fairfax(?) to Iwo Jima. That bridge over 50 can be sketchy sometimes due to the sidewalk being narrow and the cars whizzing past. You can fly through Iwo Jima AM, then it loops you down by the Cemetery. I personally come across Memorial Bridge and then down Independence on the sidewalks (park land so it’s allowed).

These sidewalks are treacherous in the afternoon due to tourists though. Is there a better way from SW DC (Smithsonian area) back into Rosslyn?

[ARL_wahoo]

@baiskeli 49208 wrote:

True. I think it’s more like you slow down more on a hybrid as your ride gets longer because of declining comfort. For many people, an upright position feels better on a short ride, but can get worse than a road bike as you put on miles (and that may apply if you’re riding day after day, like a commuter).

Thanks for the book citation – looks really valuable.

What kind of mileage would this be? I bike round-trip to work (6-7mi each way), for pleasure/exercise occasionally on weekends, and all over town during nice weather. I noticed that I got numbness in my pinky/ring finger on one hand and I wonder if it was due to my straight-across handlebars. I’ve been debating getting a new bike since my current one is a size too small, but I’ve been able to do okay with adjustments, other than my hands/arms hurting pretty bad at the end of some rides.

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