[bentbike33]

@GovernorSilver 140328 wrote:

So much for my evening tourist avoidance route.

The surface route along the Maine Ave. south sidewalk is usually OK now that we are past Cherry Blossom Season, but occasionally tour buses park near the marina entrance and have clots of clueless (don’t know that a bike bell ringing means “pay attention, something potentially hazardous may be about to occur”) foreign (non-English speaking, so verbal warnings are ineffective as well) tourists standing nearby. So, some flintstoning may be necessary when tourists are present, but otherwise it is a good route.

[bentbike33]

@Tim Kelley 139939 wrote:

Are you pumping up tubulars?

No, ISO 571 x 23 clinchers.

[bentbike33]

@mstone 139912 wrote:

2014 was a ghastly salmon color, if that helps

I always considered the the 2014 BTWD shirt to be burnt umber.

If I were served salmon of that color however, I would also consider it ghastly.

[bentbike33]

@Amalitza 139900 wrote:

Also, the variables in our equations probably have different values. 😮

yes, yes, I need to go pick up some barbells or milk jugs or something a bunch of times

Shop for your pump at the LBS and ask to try some out on tires with pressure ratings like the ones you expect to fix. Then you can see if you are strong enough to do it with the selected pump, or need to try a different model. Generally, the skinnier the pump, the less strength you need to get to high pressure, but the more strokes you need to achieve volume. Many manufacturers offer MTB (fatter) and Road (skinnier) versions of pumps. The one I have is on the fat side, but is designed to be braced against the ground like a floor pump so I can put my weight into it to hit 120 psi.

[bentbike33]

Deviated from my usual morning commute route to go to Crystal City BTWW. I forgot how lovely the W&OD is between Wilson Blvd and Columbia Pike as last time I was there it was a white knuckle ride/walk in the dark over post-Snowzilla ice fields. Great to meet some legendary forumites over coffee and square bagels.

Thanks, dbb, for reminding me.

[bentbike33]

@Tim Kelley 139684 wrote:

“We are going to ask that they set up a detour for the trail through the grass area when they return to finish their work.”

And the truck can’t park on the grass because…?

It can’t possibly be that the truck would cause more damage than the several hundred cyclists and pedestrians that would be diverted onto the grass while the truck blocks the trail.

[bentbike33]

All was clear today at ~6:55am when I went through.

[bentbike33]

@Steve O 139607 wrote:

I’ve been wondering if you could play tennis with these. They are fuzzy and kind of round like a tennis ball.

They would probably come off the racket cleanly at service, but the bounce would be messy and unpredictable.

[bentbike33]

Since I’ve had this seat, I have not had any saddle soreness, even after being off the bike for 3 months following foot surgery a couple years ago.

Others may have trouble fitting it to their frames, however.

[bentbike33]

@mstone 139426 wrote:

I wish that the manufacturers would have the balls to sell a category that didn’t involve racing, but they’re too invested in aspirational marketing to be that clear. (Some might argue that “bikes for middle aged folks who want to be comfortable and carry a little bit of a load for a reasonable distance and have zero interest in racing” isn’t sexy enough, but I’d love not having to guess where they filed that bike this year.)

Such bikes are filed under “R” as in recumbent:

1. comfortable ==> Like sitting in a recliner;

2. carry a little bit of a load for a reasonable distance ==> rack mounts generally standard and as for distance, see 1. above;

3. zero interest in racing ==> banned from UCI sanctioned racing events;

4. isn’t sexy enough ==> DUH!

[bentbike33]

@scorchedearth 139406 wrote:

I’m not certain they’re even functioning. The ones at Duke and Walker haven’t flashed in months either.

I thought the Commonwealth of Virginia banned localities from using red-light and speed cameras years ago. Something about “violation of privacy.”

[bentbike33]

@DrP 139448 wrote:

I have been wondering about this. I ring my bell and an arm sticks out.

Wouldn’t the appropriate response to such a signal be to slow down (noisily so would be a bonus), tuck in behind at their pace, wait a few beats, then ask: “Will you be turning left or changing lanes soon, or may I pass on your left?”

[bentbike33]

@DrP 139434 wrote:

Wouldn’t scythed wheels or spikes on the wheels be more effective? One could call them old fashioned, but they worked well in ancient times and I think for James Bond or the like. This might also help with clearing the trail of other people who tend to take up too much space and/or move too slowly. Can’t make them too wide, or going through the tunnel under Memorial Bridge won’t work at all.

Like this?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11740[/ATTACH]

[bentbike33]

@dbb 139432 wrote:

Says the man that was allowing Wheels and Wings to clear the path through the geese

I don’t have the bladed-spoke wheel-set any more. Kept cutting my fingers when fixing flats.

[bentbike33]

@jabberwocky 139425 wrote:

Alternate solution:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11737[/ATTACH]

Or bladed spokes.

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