[bobco85]

I’m excited for everyone who are going to do the multi-stop route! I did that the last few years, and I would advise that anyone looking to do a tour-de-pit stops make sure to compensate 10-15 minutes for each pit stop (more if you see someone you know) when figuring out the timing. Also, it’s easier for those heading towards/into DC because some of the pit stops farther out open/close earlier in the morning.

For inspiration, here’s my BTWD ride from last year where I started in Alexandria and did Del Ray, Shirlington, Crystal City, Georgetown Waterfront Park, Rosslyn, Ballston, went to work, and New District Brewing Co (afternoon):
[video=youtube_share;B4ZRB4CyITY]https://youtu.be/B4ZRB4CyITY[/video]

I’ll let y’all know how Bike Everywhere Day 2018 goes here in Seattle. Happy biking!

[bobco85]

Good news on the getting-flats-constantly-in-Seattle front: since February, I have not gotten a flat on either tire! I have biked almost exactly 1,000 miles since my last flat.

Seriously, the key seems to have been the switch to Schwalbe Marathon Plus tire (rear), Gatorskin tire (front), and Forte puncture-resistant tubes.

I still have moments where I get paranoid about feeling like my rear tire is getting a little squirrelly or when riding on stupidly textured surfaces (like brick which causes your tire to want to go in parallel ruts) because the tire and tube are both thicker than average tires/tubes. However, I have been vigilant about maintaining tire pressure by refilling the tubes every few days out of pragmatism. I could seriously only need to do it once every week or so because the thicker tubes lose air less quickly, but I make sure to check.

I imagine it’s good karma because I have cleared trails of broken glass, thorny raspberry vines, and other debris more than a couple of times now using the pruning shears and hand broom that I keep in my pannier.

[bobco85]

@Emm 178238 wrote:

They already actively ignore cars and buses parked in bike lanes, so I can’t see this changing much of what is already going on traffic-enforcement wise in Arlington.

This question just came to mind: is the reason (IME having lived/worked in Arlington) police don’t tend to enforce parking violations at least partially due to the fact that a parking enforcement unit exists? I imagine that it allows the police to focus on more important situations.

Also, is the parking enforcement unit a part of the police, or is it its own separate entity? IME I have only seen them on weekdays during normal business hours, so I wonder if increasing their force and/or time range of operation could help solve this problem.

[bobco85]

Anybody make the argument that most of the parking being lost is actually the illegal parking of drivers in the current unprotected bike lane? Just an idea.

[bobco85]

(left) Had to check out the Deepthroat Garage again (check the forum for location details); (right) back on the beautiful C&O Canal Towpath
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17869[/ATTACH]

(left) cool display of reflections of many kites at City Center; (right) beautiful mural in Brookland named “A Survivor’s Journey” by Joel Bergner
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17870[/ATTACH]

(left) wetlands near Kenilworth Park off the Anacostia River Trail; (right) I love this installation on the boardwalk at Yards Park, plus saw the new building under construction
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(top) back at the US Capitol; (bottom) while taking this picture at the Einstein statue, I heard a “Hey Bob!” as Felipe approached, I love how that still happens even when I was only here for a week!
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(left) crew at Crystal City Fridays at the Fountain which sadly ran out of beer partway through (they had wine, but it’s not the same); (right) after riding with Robyne and Nadine through the rain along 4MR/W&OD, as we were chatting at Bluemont Junction in Bluemont Park, a light through the dark showed up, and it was Bill! Yet another happy chance occurrence!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]17873[/ATTACH]

[bobco85]

First off, it was awesome to be able to see so many of you, and it was an added bonus to ride/drink/chat/joke/etc. with y’all while I was back in town!

Here are some of the biking highlights from my trip:

(top-left) Happy to see a dogwood again (not found in WA) and in bloom; (top-right) back at the ole western DC boundary stone; (bottom) W&OD caboose goodness at Bluemont Junction
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(left) Returning for my first HDCC in 8 months (of course I had my bacon cheddar scone and hot white chocolate!); (right) riding with Chris Cross (consularrider & CBGanimal) who kept going all the way to the end of the W&OD
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(left) WTFCC on a really nice day; (right) checking out the Maine Ave/Wharf PBL for the first time
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(top) Couldn’t ride this curve all the way, mostly because I was stopped by a security guard who pointed at the easy-to-read-but-I-was-distracted sign stating no bike riding on the docks; (bottom) pano of the Wharf looking from a dock
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(left) Loving my first Hains Point lap of 2018; (right) the mini-bridges between Bailey’s Crossroads and Holmes Run are still there!
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[bobco85]

Thanks, everyone, for coming Wednesday to Clare & Don’s a.k.a. the “Sunyata knows everyone” place! Luckily, we were able to force everyone on the other side of the table to squish together to make room for everyone (my side eventually did have to squish), and save for a somewhat annoyingly friendly bumblebee, it was awesome company.

The Alexandria Bike Month Happy Hour tonight was also fun, but somehow I completely forgot to eat something (one can only last so long on beer) for dinner.

A quick reminder: last place you can catch me before I leave (or you attend my niece’s soccer game Saturday morning) will be at the Fridays at the Fountain happy hour at the Crystal City Water Park. I’ll be there sometime between 5:30-6.

[bobco85]

While riding on the Burke-Gilman Trail yesterday (not part of my normal commute, but I was headed to the Cascade Bicycle Club HQ for a class), I saw a rider ahead of me who was cruising around 15-20 mph suddenly turn sharply to the right and almost into a ditch (more like halfway into).

Seeing this ahead of me, I pulled over to see if he was hurt. He seemed to be fussing with the right pant leg of his shorts, almost like a loose thread had gotten wrapped around the right pedal.

When I asked him what was wrong, he said that a bee had flown up his shorts and that he had panicked in trying to get it out.

Happy Spring, everyone!

[bobco85]

Alright, it’s been decided (I’ve never been to Clare & Don’s)! Here’s the schedule of happy hours I will be attending (I am likely to show up around 5:30-6ish):

• Wednesday, May 2: Clare and Don’s Beach Shack (Falls Church, VA) – http://www.clareanddons.com/
• Thursday, May 3: Bike Month Happy Hour at (brand new) Tequila and Taco (540 John Carlyle St Alexandria, VA) – https://www.facebook.com/events/935848453259095
  • Article describing the new restaurant (opens to the public on the 3rd): https://alexandrialivingmagazine.com/restaurants/new-mexican-restaurant-slated-for-carlyle-neighborhood/
• Friday, May 4: Crystal City Water Park Happy Hour (Arlington, VA) – https://www.crystalcity.org/do/fridays-at-the-fountain

See y’all at those places if not sometime before!

…hmm, maybe I should start packing my bags for my flight late Friday night…

…would probably be a good idea 😎

[bobco85]

@Starduster 177830 wrote:

At the risk of playing hell with your sleep after a red-eye flight (that’s naughty of me, I know)… I have a Papillon shop ride Saturday morning…. but good to see you back!

I would like to be able to do that, but I already know I will be completely out of it. That, plus I will need to assess the state of my Red Velvet (road bike) beforehand.

[bobco85]

To clear up any confusion, here’s the current situation:

Wednesday, May 2 – still TBD
Thursday, May 3 – Bike Month Happy Hour (they changed the date again, here’s the FB event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/935848453259095)
Friday, May 4 – Crystal City Water Park Happy Hour

[bobco85]

@CBGanimal 177825 wrote:

I will be there May 4th. It will be awesome to see you!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What happy hour is happening on May 4th (Friday)? I hope I’m there, but I don’t know where “there” is!

[bobco85]

Question for the forum: what sort of happy hours are happening on Wednesday, May 2, or Friday, May 4?

I’m planning on going to the Bike Month Happy Hour being hosted by the Alexandria Spokeswomen, Alexandria BPAC, and Carlyle Council on Thursday, May 3.

[bobco85]

I’ve got a new video out for the latest big group ride in the Seattle area that I did a week and a half ago: the Emerald City Ride 2018. It’s basically Seattle’s equivalent to the DC Bike Ride with a route on roads normally closed to cyclists.

This year, the route went on the Alaskan Way Viaduct, an elevated and ugly (think Whitehurst Freeway) highway running over parts of the waterfront and generally being a barrier between downtown and the bay which is set to be torn down (finally) this year along with some big renovations to the waterfront area. The route also took cyclists across the high up (kinda scary to look out over the edge) Aurora Ave bridge, and went back south on the Interstate 5 express lanes which were really cool to ride on. Also, there are so. many. lanes. dedicated. to. cars. it’s. ridiculous. (warning: your punctuation limit for periods has almost been reached).

It being the Pacific Northwest, the weather was cold and rainy, so I had to wipe my camera lens off from time to time (still got some raindrops in the way), but it also being the Pacific Northwest, all different kinds of cyclists were there anyways including parents with their kids.

Enjoy the video, and hopefully you are drier and warmer watching this than we were!

[video=youtube_share;BSaK6GOissQ]https://youtu.be/BSaK6GOissQ[/video]

P.S. I included the audio from when we rode on Alaskan Way through a tunnel as people reverted to more primal forms as they hooted and hollered with echoes. It was fun 😎

[bobco85]

@scoot 177485 wrote:

What was the recommended route between 236 and the Wakefield Park ped bridge?

Here’s the route I got into the habit of taking: https://goo.gl/maps/mgKoTzuwkrB2

It’s confusing, and you’ll likely need to pull out your phone to check your position the first few times, but you’ll avoid any sketchy areas. You’ll be able to grab a good lane position on Heritage Dr when approaching Little River Turnpike, and you’ll avoid the narrow and steep hills next to parked cars on Americana Drive (I didn’t like riding on it).

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