[bobco85]

@dcv 35392 wrote:

didn’t know where else to post this – this is great, i wish i could be so civilized:

http://www.break.com/index/road-rage-british-style-2386038?st=email&ai=0&zi=0&ds=1

I’d definitely have stronger words in that situation. I’m surprised the cyclist didn’t say something like, “You know, you nearly ran into me with your thousand kilogram (we’re in Britain, remember) car. Understanding physics, I don’t think my 70 kilogram pound self tapping on your car could do any damage compared to what you almost did to me. Also, I have your illegal maneuver on camera, if you’d like the police to do something about it.”

I’ve never tapped a car, and am curious about actually doing so in a given situation. I’ll start a separate thread for my inquiry.

[bobco85]

My ride to the polls at 6:30 this morning is best described as: brisk. My clothing kept me at the right temperature, a balance between freezing and sweating. Also, using the paper ballot saved me about 15+ minutes in line. I don’t get why so many people prefer the electronic route since the paper ballots get scanned immediately.

[bobco85]

Although we will have to make our final judgements after all painting and construction of the bike lane/cycletrack/sharrow hybrid is finished, I think that they should at least put up some signs reading “New Traffic Pattern” so that drivers will be more aware of the changes. Right now, it’s more of a surprise being forced on road-users.

I think once it is finished we’ll quickly know how well the mirror M Street bike lane/cycletrack/sharrow hybrid will turn out in 2013.

[bobco85]

Wow, I never knew there was something actually in that cage other than the bush! I always wondered why they didn’t just cut the bush down, take down the fence, and make the trail straight at that part.

[bobco85]

I have a Contour ROAM and have similar sentiments to it as rcannon100 said. To preface my thoughts, I was on a budget of $200. If you really want the higher end cameras, I might not be very helpful.

The way I came to the decision of Contour vs. GoPro (they are the two main ones, and I wouldn’t really bother with any other brand) was by asking myself these 2 questions: 1) Do I want to use this camera mainly for commuting purposes (Contour), or do I want to use it for hiking/rock-climbing/water skiing/scuba-diving along with my bike (GoPro)? and 2) Do I want to fiddle around with the videos on my computer (Contour) or have the camera do most of the dirty work (GoPro)?

My Contour ROAM is mounted to my helmet (I bought the vented helmet mount for it), and I personally prefer it there over my handlebars. You do have to make sure your helmet is properly adjusted because you will feel the added weight of the camera (it’s not terribly much). There is a laser to help with rotating the lens to the correct position.

For a helmet mounted camera, you’re most likely going to be taking 960p (1280 x 960, also called Tall HD) because it offers a wider POV (you do get a fisheye effect, though). For examples of videos I’ve taken with the Contour ROAM, I’ve previously posted these on the forum:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MX4d6JS7rw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8CkkZanXbw

Also, don’t get the newest versions (ContourROAM 2 or GoPro Hero3) because they don’t really do much more than their previous versions. For example, the ContourROAM 2 only improves on the ContourROAM with the framerate of the 1080p movies going from 30 to 60 fps (and camera color selection, oh boy!). Of course, you probably won’t use this because you’ll be on the 960p video setting and both versions still take 30 fps.

The ContourROAM has one annoyance that you should know about: the only way to adjust camera settings is through connecting it to your computer and using the Contour Storyteller camera app. Once you set it, that’s the only type of movie/images you will get for your ride.

I got my camera about 2-3 weeks ago (Amazon Prime, so free 2-day shipping), and I ended up paying $140 for the camera + $20 for the microSDHC memory card + $20 for the vented helmet mount = $180 total.

All in all, I am happy with my decision because I get a lower priced waterproof HD camera that fits nicely on my helmet and doesn’t give me any problems other than having to connect it to a computer in order to change any settings.

P.S. – If you’re like me, you’ll spend way too much time zooming through everything in your first couple of videos by using the fast-forward on your video player because it looks so cool

[bobco85]

@DismalScientist 34852 wrote:

I was responding to what I thought was Steve’s desire for a one-way cycle track westbound on L Street, not a two-way cycletrack. I think there are example of contra-flow bike path in DC. Maybe on 4th Street or so, NE, or something like that.

I think I misunderstood you. I thought that Steve was referring to having a two-way cycletrack on L Street by adding the contra-flow to the existing con-flow (?) cycletrack and its consequences on salmoning.

That said, I have rarely used contra-flow cycletracks but found them to be very weird, especially from a route-planning standpoint.

[bobco85]

@DismalScientist 34840 wrote:

Cycletracks in the opposite direction would be a disaster. It encourages salmoning on non-cycletrack roads. Mixing with left turning traffic is a problem. Pedestrians crossing the street aren’t expecting opposite direction bicycle traffic. There’s a street going the opposite direction only one block away. I would suggest making the 15th Street cycletrack one way southbound and figure out a different location for a northbound cycletrack.

I disagree with your assertion about the separated two-way cycletrack encouraging cyclists to salmon on non-cycletrack roads. The cycletrack becomes like a trail, like the Custis Trail along Lee Highway in Rosslyn (one-way road, two-way trail, salmoning rare). I think the reason the 15th Street cycletrack is two-way is that it provides a link to the Pennsylvania cycletrack. Together they help to create a major thoroughfare that cyclists can branch off of on their individual routes.

I think in the case of L Street (and M Street if it is similarly designed), it would not be able to support a two-way cycletrack unless they could make it fully separated. Currently, it features a mixture of cycletrack, bike lane, and sharrows that it is constantly switching between. Truthfully, it is a bit confusing, and I think a couple of extra left turn arrows painted on the ground in places would really help to distinguish between parking/drop-off lane which people seem to perceive and actual lane of traffic. Also, it was weird riding on the left side of the road as it is a place usually reserved for faster traffic.

All in all, I like the ideas they’re trying for the L Street cycletrack, but a lot of adjustments will also be necessary.

[bobco85]

I decided to check out the L Street cycletrack and film it so everyone who has not gotten a chance to ride it can at least see some of its advantages and pitfalls from a first-person perspective. I also went south on the 15th Street cycletrack to show the contrast between the two cycletracks.

I couldn’t supply my own music this time since Youtube got mad at me in my last video (but I do like the band Stereolab, so I chose a song I haven’t heard from them). Here’s the video: L and 15th Street Cycletracks

I think it will be really nice next spring/summer when the parallel M Street cycletrack gets completed. Both cycletracks on L (eastward) and M (westward) will make commuting a lot better for a lot of people if done right.

[bobco85]

I hate to repost a link 3 times, but I have pictures from the MVT, 4MR/WOD, and Custis trails. Here’s the link: Post-Sandy Ride October 2012

Also to note: between National Airport and Bluemont Park on Four Mile Run/W&OD, the only stoplight that is out is the one at Columbia Pike.

[bobco85]

I hate to repost a link 3 times, but I have pictures from the MVT, 4MR/WOD, and Custis trails. Here’s the link: Post-Sandy Ride October 2012

I did not notice any flooding between Key Bridge and Four Mile Run, but expect to see some in the next day or so.

[bobco85]

I took some pictures on a ride today that involved the entire Custis trail. I put locations for each of the downed trees to give a better idea of what to expect for those traveling tomorrow. Here is the album: Post-Sandy Ride October 2012

The entire Custis trail seems to be covered in wet leaves and small branches. Definitely take care on those hills and blind curves!

[bobco85]

@Dirt 34666 wrote:

I didn’t even need my hands on the bars to kick his butt.

Totally joking, of course. Great video! Made me laugh. Nicely done too!

A lime green Lamborghini?! Someone’s been watching too much of those Fast and Furious movies!

[bobco85]

@Greenbelt 34662 wrote:

I’ve got the GoPro with me — thinking about taking a hurricane ride, we’ll see.

Please don’t. Remember what happened in July of 2011: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/DC-Storm-Kills-One-On-CO-Canal-124964284.html

[bobco85]

Where’s my BikeArlington vuvuzella?

I guess in order to appease the commenters, I should just sell my bike, get a car, and join the rest of the masses of people who will not have bike or public transportation infrastructure in gridlock traffic on the already overcrowded roads.

At least they didn’t make any lycra comments (this time)!

[bobco85]

@thucydides 34457 wrote:

…you can always try the Chrissie Wellington tactic.

I’m okay with drafting/being drafted, but I will not be adopting that particular tactic anytime soon. I do, however, worry about something similar. I won’t go into detail (this is a family site), but I’ll just share what I tell people about biking and pollution:

When I bike, I do not pollute the air, save for the occasional bit of methane :p

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