[brendan]

@vern 110363 wrote:

It’s 3 pm and here I am, sitting at my desk at work, still wearing all my clingy cycling gear. I guess I’m not going to make it to the gym to shower and change into professional attire. Win!

I’d be shivering, regardless of the thermostat setting in the building.

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[brendan]

@cvcalhoun 110297 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]8024[/ATTACH]

Ah, you’ve gotta clear all that snow otherwise it might go flying off and hit someone once you get up to speed!

[brendan]

@mstone 110307 wrote:

Amtrak is being told by Congress to operate like a business and is simultaneously given congressional mandates to provide services that aren’t profitable. This falls into that category. As much as I’d like to see bike service, the reality is that dedicating space to bikes on a train that is already full means cutting something else (like revenue seats). If amtrak were to decide that it was a sensible thing to do, great. If Congress mandates it, then penalizes amtrak for not meeting financial targets, then not great.

I agree, in particular, about the abusive relationship between congress and amtrak.

But there’s also this: I have *no* practical reason to take Amtrak without a way to easily bring my bike with me. Now, if it were easy/easier to bring my bike, that makes *me* much more likely to be a customer and increases revenue…

That said, whether this particular change will get me there isn’t clear (my cargo bike is my “touring” bike, and it might not be allowed). But for others, roll on/roll off definitely makes train travel much more favorable to hybrid bike touring.

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[brendan]

@dkel 109892 wrote:

I’m keeping my studs on, since my commute on the W&OD between Gallows and Park St is likely still an icy death-slog, and will be until mid-July.

*sob*

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[brendan]

@mstone 109767 wrote:

Didn’t get on a bike today, but did walk out of my house tonight in the freezing rain and slid down the driveway with two feet flat on the ground. Would have been better off on the bike with studded tires. Trails and sidewalks will probably be treacherous in the morning.

Yeah. I spent about 3-4 minutes about 5 steps from the courthouse metro elevator doing the same thing. I wanted to get to the elevator, but any time I breathed. Or gestured. I slid. Managed not to fall, and amused myself trying not to fall, but wow, that was kind of intense.

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[brendan]

@hozn 109710 wrote:

You might want to invest in a Crank Bros Speed Lever; makes tire change on tight rims much easier (or doable at all, on really tight setups).

Thanks, I’ll check the Speed and Speedier levers out!

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[brendan]

@APKhaos 109685 wrote:

Not one but TWO pinch flats. Within 10-15 minutes of stopping I began to get seriously cold. The gear that had kept me perfectly comfortable while riding was not doing the job once off the bike. I had a miserable walk to Falls Church rather than spend 30 mins or so fixing the two flats. Don’t underestimate the dangers of sub 30s temps if you are forced to stop riding and have no shelter avaliable.

This is actually my greatest fear about winter commuting, esp. now that I have a new wheelset. The rhyno lites result in a MUCH tighter fit with tires than the original salsa gordos I had on the bike. It take me about 3-4 times as long to swap tubes…at home! My previous experiences with winter flats were somewhat harrowing before the rim change, now I’m fairly certain that I should prioritize finding shelter instead of taking the wheel off if the temperature is near or below freezing. And there are parts of my commute where that’s difficult.

Also, as a general rule, I’ve learned it’s important to layer up once I stop having to shed ride/muscle heat. In the winter, as soon as I get off the bike to perform a repair, the first thing I do is put another layer on.

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[brendan]

@jopamora 109681 wrote:

Icy ruts of death

I saw a guy skating on the canal west of key bridge wednesday morning.

I saw what looked like a hole in the ice east of key bridge wednesday night.

I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.

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[brendan]

@scoot 109670 wrote:

I think it all depends on the shape of the route.

Your argument is circular.

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[brendan]

@rcannon100 109654 wrote:

Yes, there are two Pi Day rides. And they are going to be FABULOUS!

So you’re saying, circumspectly…Two Pi are?

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[brendan]

@Raymo853 109642 wrote:

Suitland Rd does not have a median or any type of division so you would be failing again. (unlike Suitland Parkway that does)

You misunderstood me (fairly: I didn’t communicate that well..and upon further re-reading I communicated poorly).

The “gah – people sometimes” comment was to the drivers, not to you, and I wasn’t saying they were right to proceed.

It just reminded me of my failed question on the test, which was a different situation.

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[brendan]

PS – the Custis, if you’re not familiar with it, is definitely a hill run. Just FYI!

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[brendan]

@Raymo853 109627 wrote:

This school bus stop is horrid as kids come from both sides of Suitland and the bus only picks up from one side. The first car to go around the bus from behind hit a car coming the other way. (Who was also ignoring the lights.)

GAH.

People sometimes.

I remember failing this type of question on my first VA driver’s exam, but for being “too cautious” (and therefore, potentially more dangerous). The question had asked what to do if you encounter a school bus with flashing lights pulled over on the other side of a *divided* highway (or divided road). That is, essentially, with an island in the middle or with raised railing or cement divider. I think I answered the multiple choice answer that said “stop”, but in that particular case, that is wrong.

Regardless, when it’s divided, regardless of type of division, I proceed cautiously and with heightened awareness (in car or on bike).

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[brendan]

Talked to Matt for a while afterward. I’m scheming to maybe get Gold Sprints at our wedding…

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[brendan]

@Tom H 109478 wrote:

Poof

Dislike doesn’t necessarily mean we dislike that you posted it, it might mean we disliked the situation you went through or found yourself in.

Just FYI.

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[Author]

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