[Bilsko]

@Slosurf 79928 wrote:

Hello.
I am planning on commuting into DC via the C&O Canal Towpath entering from Pennyfield Lock Road in Potomac and riding all the way into Georgetown (starting out in Darnestown.
Does anyone here use that route? If so, any feedback or suggestions or other words of wisdom? For example, where are the best places to exit off the towpath onto MacArthur as one heads into DC in situations like heavy rain and muddy conditions? One thing I learned this past Saturday while on a trial run is to avoid the route on sunny weekend afternoons. The trail was jammed packed with foot traffic.
Thank you for any feedback/suggestions.

That’s a very ambitious commute – I’m envious!

As for bail points, you are probably familiar with the ones closest to Pennyfield Lock:
— Swains Lock will put you up on River Road, which you can take to Falls Rd, down to MacArthur and on into DC.
— You can pedal further and exit at the Great Falls visitor’s center, but then its a hefty climb to get to the top of Macarthur and Falls Road
— A little further on puts you at the parking lot across from Old Angler’s Inn on MacArthur – from there on, its pretty flat riding the whole way in.
— Next, you can exit at Carderock, near the naval warfare base – I’m not sure how, though, I’ve never tried.
— There is a little-known trail access at Lock #8 putting you on Riverside Drive and 79th St. in Cabin John. I’ve used it a couple times and its a good option.
— After that you have to go all the way down to Lock 6 – access there is by crossing Clara Barton Parkway, up a short steep access path, and into the Brookmont neighborhood on Valley Road.
— Also into Brookmont, there is a ped bridge over Clara Barton, just near Lock 5
— Chain Bridge is next, and about 1/4 mile after that is the old rail bridge over the Canal. If you hike up onto the bridge, you’ll be on the CCT and can ride straight into Georgetown (parallelling the C&O at that point)
— Fletcher’s Boathouse, another 1/2 mile down will get you up onto Canal Road, with access to Resevoir Road, and up to MacArthur
At that point, if you’ve braved the C&O that far…you’re probably going to make it the whole way into Georgetown.

[Bilsko]

@peterw_diy 79751 wrote:

It’s 8 am. Nobody’s logged a ride yet? C’mon folks!

On it.

[Bilsko]

Its on DDOT’s list (at least as of Feb 2013) of bridges due for repair: http://www.dccouncil.us/files/user_uploads/budget_responses/Appendix_S_StructurallyDeficientBridge-and-Tunnel.pdf

[Bilsko]

See also: Fatbike + Trailer + Sled
https://plus.google.com/100420944078912392494/posts/UgBSsTDBEgi

[Bilsko]

If you want, I’ll lend you the Walgoose so you can go out and ride in the snow RIGHT NOW!!!!

Good to hear you’re doing better. Being forced off the bike is no fun – I know – but rest up and look forward to plenty of miles ahead.

[Bilsko]

Rusty Studs is a good suggestion for Team 5

Not sure I have much better right now.

Also, I done goofed – its Ryder, not Runner – I think. Sorry dasgeh!

[Bilsko]

@dkel 73295 wrote:

Representatives of Team 7 at the happy hour:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4387[/ATTACH]

Whut? I just saw Grant and the little one (Runner?) last night on the Kidical Mass ride and then who do I spy photo-bombing this shot but Grant. Again! The dasgeh clan is on the move!

Sorry, Team 7, you look like a nice bunch of folks (Mark, you traitor) – I just wish I was on dasgeh’s team!

[Bilsko]

oops. show me a red price and a green price and a little cognitive disonance goes a long way.

oh well – still some good prices, just not that good.

[Bilsko]

A fully built Cinelli Vigoreli for $300 – whut?

[Bilsko]

This ride -with Pete, Sean, and Keglsey- had long tough climbs but was well worth it. Gravel only, 23s need not apply.

http://www.strava.com/activities/52564025

Maybe this year I’ll be around and available for Kill Bill. If Vin and Will will ride it SS/FG, I’m in.

I have a slot in the 2014 Frederick Gran Fondo (courtesy of my broken hip and the generosity of the ride organizers in letting me defer a year)

Not that it will be terribly difficult, but I will be aiming to do my straight through GAP + C&O this spring. Not the first, as Bicycle Times featured a couple from PIT who did it in the fall on their tandem in just over 24hrs.

[Bilsko]

I got something for Mr. Kelly for X-mas:

[Bilsko]

@OneEighth 71453 wrote:

Overpasses by National were still slushy this evening.
The concrete sections of 4MRT were slushy as well.
The 14th Street Bridge, however, was clear.

Much clearer than when I made the treacherous crossing this morning – right after waving “Hi” to you on Ohio Drive!

[Bilsko]

I am WAAAAY late to the online-showrooming question that came up around the Giro grear at Freshbikes…but my $0.02…in the case of the Giro gear it makes almost no difference. The prices that stores are getting are the same as what you’re getting from the Giro site online – or very very close. FWIW.

[Bilsko]

I’m not very hopeful about CABI setting up a station in the Palisades anytime soon – despite MacArthur Blvd being among the most bike-traffic’ed streets in DC.

Getting to the neighborhood from Georgetown requires quite a bit of climbing, and getting from the Palisades up to AU/Glover requires the same.

Sibley might make sense – or the little nucleus of shops right around the Safeway.

[Bilsko]

@DaveK 69109 wrote:

Just to make sure, those are just the cleats and not pedals.

Gotcha – remind me, are the black ones the ones with zero float?

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