[CPTJohnC]

@hozn 67881 wrote:

Speaking of BAFS jerseys, is this something people would be interested in? Assuming costs were in the $50-60 range? I am not volunteering (yet), but if there were significant interest this is probably something to be considered. I can help with logistics, but would need help on the design front.

I can’t help with design, but I would buy one and I would be willing to donate the cost of an additional one as a prize (pointless or otherwise). Long sleeve?

On the subject of bonus points: How about bonuses for CaBi rides of greater than 5 miles (but only if the duration is under 30 minutes…)

[CPTJohnC]

These threads always leave me with a vague feeling of disquiet, in large part because of the seemingly polar opposite reactions to bright lights between the ‘They make me instantly blind’ and ‘I look away and it works just fine’ types. Despite my advanced age, I fall mostly into the second camp, and try to be considerate of the first. I suspect that glasses wearers might be more susceptible to dazzle than folks who do not need vision correction?

Blinking strobes on the front of a bike are a much greater problem for me, because it is nearly impossible to successfully look away — they draw your eyes, and if they aren’t a very fast strobe, they make it very challenging to know where not to look. I’ve only occasionally experienced unpleasant levels of discomfort from a steady light, and it is generally the case that I can successfully avert my eyes. I wonder a bit about the blinding factor of bike lights versus the apparent tolerance of car headlights — unless those folks never ride on dark streets? Yes, I understand the lack of shaped beams on most US bike lights, but in terms of actual brightness (which seems to be a large part of the concern), car headlights out shine every bike light I’m aware of…

As for my own riding, and a portion of the cause of my disquiet: I have two fairly bright front lights (theoretically rated at 750 and 1100 lumens on max, but I almost never run them at max, and they’ll only support max brightness for a few minutes – not the 1.5-2 hours claimed – and I doubt the lumen claims are accurate). I run one on the helmet and one on the bars, using the helmet light as my primary “to see” light, and the bar light as my ‘be seen’ when it is truly dark. I don’t generally run the helmet light on trails unless I’m alone, but therein lies the concern: By the time I get out to Falls Church and Vienna, it is frequently quite dark and at these times I am often one of the very few trail users. As such, I turn my helmet light on if there’s no one else in view on the trail, so that I can see potential hazards (including animals, debris, and the oft mentioned trail ninjas, dog walkers, etc…). I have, on occasion, been ‘surprised’ by cyclists entering the trail or otherwise seeming to ‘pop from nowhere’ and it is often a challenge to get my lights dimmed/turned off/ covered in order to be courteous. Further, it is sometimes the case that I begin to cover or re-aim my lights out of consideration for my fellow cyclists, when some obstruction or other concern requires my hands to be on the bars, steering the bike, not messing with lights.

I could go back to much lower powered lights, but I don’t find those adequate to see well on dark trails, or to give me a real warm and fuzzy on the suburban streets. I try to be courteous, but sometimes there’s not really a solid solution. My helmet light is simple – I can always point my head in a direction that doesn’t shine in the oncoming riders eyes. But the bar light goes where the bike is pointed. Again: I try to be courteous, but there are times when I find it not really possible. The worst, in my view, is riding at night on the Towpath; I just can’t bring myself to remove my hands from the bars to shield a light while I’m worried about the large rocks, loose sections and sheer drop to water, but I also don’t feel comfortable running without bright-enough-to-see lights for the same reasons. It is rare that I meet oncoming cyclists, but rare is not never.

What do the “I’m blinded” folks suggest for these situations?

[CPTJohnC]

As one of the ‘hard to contact’ set who wound up on Team 11, I still had a good time, and it definitely motivated me to ride more than I probably would have, esp. near the end. It didn’t matter that my team was essentially ‘out of it’. Obviously others might have a different POV. One of the problems with the ‘contact’ was my relative newness to the forum when FS began, and my failure to know ‘where to look’ for such contact. I was used to ‘push’ communications from other forums for private messages.

I don’t have any great suggestions for handicapping, except to say that whatever system is used has to be simple/straightforward and work equally well for ‘old hands’ and ‘new folks’ — I would probably have been a bit put off if the handicapping had tried to look back to the previous year’s Jan-Mar mileage, or looked only at previous FS miles. Likewise, though, looking at my summer mileage (much, much higher) would give a really poor picture of my expected participation.

I like the 10 Pt per day, but I also like the graduated points/mile idea; that would balance the value of my ‘sleaze’ rides (grabbing a CaBi at lunch time just to slide in 2-3 miles) with my full commutes (19-20 miles each way). And I love the idea for bonus points for pictures — perhaps there could be some bonus destinations? Places that almost no one would ‘need’ to go to, but that might be fun rides? Only one bonus per participant, per destination for the competition, to avoid someone who happens to be close by racking up bonus points for little/no effort?

[CPTJohnC]

@TwoWheelsDC 67512 wrote:

Found out that it’s still a little too warm for the Yellow Jacket of Authority (YJA). Wardrobe requires additional calibration.

I had the same experience. It was my first ride since the end of the shutdown, and my first cool weather ride. I should have left off the jacket, but the chill of the pre-ride parking lot experience convinced me that wearing it would be prudent.

Most of all, though, I was glad to be back in the saddle, and done with running (notwithstanding my best Army 10 miler yet).

[CPTJohnC]

In theory biking should save me money, and it did at the beginning. At first it saved me $4.50/ day parking at metro. Now it ‘saves’ me parking and fare ($5.65/trip) on the days I ride, except I now own 3 bikes, two front light sets, numerous blinkies, a couple helmets, jerseys, shorts, two sets of SPD pedals, two sets of Look pedals, shoes and cleats, winter riding gear, panniers, locks, etc… Conservatively, I’ve spent all my savings, and then some. Oh, and because I get a transit subsidy, that $5.65/ trip is fictitious, and I only really save the parking fee.

However, my fitness is far better than it was when I started, I weight about 40 Lbs less than I did then, and I feel 10X better. I did a century in Sept, I’ll be running the ATM in Oct. and I’m considering a Tri within the next 2 years (before I turn 50). More than anything, at this point, is the benefit that I have fun cycling, and I ride because I want to.

[CPTJohnC]

@americancyclo 65265 wrote:

folding bike for you in the trunk? trail-a-bike for both of you?

At 15, he’s a bit large for a trail-a-bike, but he’s not ready (in my opinion) for a 23 mile one way bike commute every day, either. I could just throw him on metro every day, and do my own thing for commuting, but that isn’t terribly efficient.

The folding bike is getting more and more tempting, for many reasons, though. Last year I dragged my winter/backup bike along on the car, and I may get back to that (Freezing Saddles, anyone?) but for now, I’m running one way to pick up some of the exercise, and riding about once a week, on average.

[CPTJohnC]

I know I’m late to this party, but since I just activated my CaBi membership today (and still have a week to wait for my key) it only became relevant now. Will this ever happen? What are the classes? Age? Weight? I’d do it just for the spectacle (in my best cycling kit of course!)

[CPTJohnC]

@oldbikechick 65004 wrote:

Second day of commuting by car and it’s killing me! I have to do the morning kid drop-off this week and there seems to be no alternative to driving. My car commute takes me right by my bike commute route (MVT and 14th street bridge) and I see all of you there, enjoying the best biking weather of the year. This evening the MVT looked like a superhighway with all the pedestrian and bike traffic on there. Sigh…

If it makes you feel any better (and maybe it won’t) I’m in the same boat. I drive my son to school in the district most days, which either means I have to drag a bike along to ride from his school to my office, or I just park and metro. Either way, I see all the bikes on the W&OD as I drive along 66, and I lament my steel cage. I think my son is tired of hearing me sigh…

[CPTJohnC]

@rcannon100 64911 wrote:

How do you gain access to your parking garage? Is your garage secure? Do you have to show your badge to the attendant? Do you have to swipe in? Is there enough room for both cars and bikes to enter and to leave?

What do you recommend? What are lessons learned? Is there a good way for bicycles to enter and leave garages without cars hitting bicycles right there at the entrance, as bicycles stop and have to deal with the attendant?

Thoughts and input would be appreciated.

Although I’m a federal employee, I work in a non-federal building, with limited security. I enter using the same ramp as cars, and the only issue I have with cars at the entrance is that I want to stop Strava before I head into the bowels of the earth. I’ve learned to pull to one side or the other, rather than trying to do it in the middle of the lane, because the attendant gets frustrated with me. (funny – he doesn’t get frustrated with the cars who stop to chat…)

As indicated, garage is attended, but no need for me to stop as a cyclist – no permits or ID required. Cars must display permit. The security is adequate to dissuade most interlopers, and I am not aware of any security incidents in the garage.

The garage has separate entrance and exit lanes and doors, and they are nominally wide enough for a car in each direction, though it would get really tight if they met on the curve of the ramp. I’ve never had a problem with a vehicle headed in the same direction, but it can get sketchy when I’m leaving and someone is entering, as they want to drive down the middle of the ramp. The bigger challenge is the amount of pedestrian traffic on the street, as I’m topping the ramp. Cars trigger a ‘vehicle exiting’ sign most of the time, but I don’t think I do. Also, most cars want to exit by crossing the street to an alley, which involves them heading the wrong way on the one-way street for a short distance. To be fair, I usually stay on the sidewalk to the corner. Technically this probably violates the no bikes on the sidewalk in the central business district, though I’ve never quite known how that should work for entering and exiting my building (I’m the second bldg in from the corner, and I maintain no more than walking speed until I’m on the street).

When I’m at my agency’s HQ, I can also park in the garage — I have the appropriate permit. There I do have to show a badge and swipe, but the entry has excellent sight lines, and is deep enough to accommodate several cars and bikes. Some of the guards direct me to blow off the swipe, as I can clearly ride around the barriers. Others have me swipe. I have had problems with the swipe to exit, so I tend to roll around it. The key to safety, I think, is good sight lines. These are quite lacking in most underground garages. My one lesson is to do whatever I can to maximize those sight lines, which means lane positioning can be critical.

[CPTJohnC]

Membership application completed

[CPTJohnC]

@Mikey 64201 wrote:

Another nice ride is the North Central Railtrail/York Heritage trail between York PA and just North of Baltimore. It’s flat, with nice scenery and has enough trailside towns with icecream and food along the way. You could easily get 50 miles in an out and back.

thanks! That also sounds like a good option!

[CPTJohnC]

@KayakCyndi 64065 wrote:

Ok. This ride is NOT 1 hour from DC but well worth the drive in my opinion.

Go camp at Chickahominy River Front Park in Williamsburg VA. From there bike the Greensprings trail to Jamestown Island, loop the Island. Then ride along the Colonial Parkway to Colonial Williamsburg. Have Lunch. Keep riding out the Colonial Parkway until you hit the mileage you need (it goes on to Yorktown). Then turn around and ride back to Chickahomiy.

Very few hills on the Colonial Parkway although few small ones near Williamsburg. While it is a road it is a “colonial” and touristy road with very few cars and most travel slowly. Ride hybrids or road bikes with big tires the Parkway is bumpy pavement. Lots of stuff to look at along the way.

PM me if you are interested and need details/routes etc.

Good thought! I’ve ridden colonial parkway a couple of times so I know what you mean about the surface, but other than that it is a perfect ride for this! My other daughter goes to college in Newport News, so that might be a justification for the trip to tidewater.

@mstone 64100 wrote:

For someone not used to distance riding, the W&OD overpasses, those two weird dips toward Reston, and the long false flat into Vienna would probably not be the best way to wind down a 50 mile ride. Let alone Arlington if you’re heading all the way back to the city. The W&OD is generally downhill from purcellville, but it’s not a particularly smooth grade for a railroad (largely because of places where the trail doesn’t follow the original ROW).

Those are actually things he’s done, but they are also the reasons I’m trying to avoid too much in the way of climbing. He does not love the ‘big’ (for him) hills heading out of Vienna into Reston. The false flat doesn’t bother him so much, though. I think it is the look of hilliness that bugs him, not the actual climbing.

Thanks again to all that responded. I will be looking at all the advice and seeing what works. I may use some of the shorter suggestions for some additional prep rides.

[CPTJohnC]

@eminva 64064 wrote:

I just shepherded 15 scouts to completion of the Cycling Merit badge this summer. Here are my recommendations:

-Indian Head Rail Trail — flat and quiet, lovely scenery. It is only 13 miles so you’d have to do a couple of loops.

-The Torrey C. Brown & Heritage Trails — these trails together are about 40 miles, so you could go 25 out and back. We found them much quieter than the W&OD, Mount Vernon and other local trails.

-W&OD from Purcellville to Four Mile Run Trail to Mount Vernon Trail (whatever distance you need to get to 50 miles) — yes, there are some uphill sections, but net downhill (this requires someone to do drop off and pick up).

-I wouldn’t rule out the C&O; we had 14 scouts and eight adults ride 54.2 miles on the C&O from Brunswick to DC in 7 hours, 37 minutes elapsed time (5 hours, 22 minutes moving time per Strava) on the fourth day of our C&O Trip. That was the leg we used for the 50-miler for the badge.

Is this just for you and your son, or a whole group of scouts? If the former, where are those other boys?!

Let me know if you need blue cards signed.

Liz: You are a font of knowledge! I am unclear on what happened with the other boys who were working on the badge – the gentleman who was coordinating for our troop essentially told me that at this point, it would be easiest if Max and I just found a way to complete this (his final requirement) on our own, and he would ‘trust me’ — he knows my penchant for cycling and technology, so I think he figures I won’t cheat. My plan was to offer the ride to any other scouts who might want to participate, contingent on getting at least one other adult.

I’m not ruling out C&O, but I would need to figure out how to start in a place that bypasses all the screwed up crossings, or determine that they’re all fixed. We wound up walking the bikes up and over several bridges — it might not really be a big deal if it was a smaller group of us, but the first trip we had 25+ scouts and adults, with a trailer, and it just took FOREVER! to get through those areas. Thanks for confirming that Cross County and FX County Pkwy are out. I was half thinking about just riding down 123 to Occoquan and back (or from Occoquan up to FX and back to put the hills on the right side of the ride) early some Saturday morning despite the relative hilliness, but I don’t think he’d enjoy it.

[CPTJohnC]

@Tim Kelley 64049 wrote:

Does it have to be on trail? And on just one trail? How is the distance/time measured?

Time is total time, not ‘moving’ time – so within 8 hours, need to pedal 50 miles, including all stops (at least, that’s my understanding.) Not necessarily on one trail, but one continuous ride (so no hopping in the car to get from one place to another. Reasonable road sections connecting two trails would be fine).

@TwoWheelsDC 64054 wrote:

Would laps around Hains Point work?

Only if I want him to hate cycling forever more. 50 miles of tiny laps is, well, dull.

@CaseyKane50 64060 wrote:

I think you might be referring to the Baltimore and Anapolis Trail. My wife and I did the ride earlier this summer. It is nicely shaded, the riders on the trail were very polite, calling out passes and slowing down when passing. It is relatively flat with just a few short climbs. Park headquarters has restrooms and there are places to eat along the way. There is an easy connection to the BWI trail. The trail is 13.3 miles in length.

The B and A trail was recommended to me for other reasons, and if there’s an easy connection to BWI, that might make it ideal. Another plus is that my oldest goes to college in Annapolis, so we could probably make time for a visit with her, too.

[CPTJohnC]

@rcannon100 63479 wrote:

Both. I have a kid a YTown and W&L. The stream of cyclists is constant. The diff is that teachers frequently keep their bikes in their classrooms.

@Tim Kelley 63501 wrote:

http://wlbikeclub.tumblr.com/

@TwoWheelsDC 63500 wrote:

I see a lot of kids riding to Swanson MS, although they’re almost always riding the sidewalk and not in the bike lane, but whatevs, that’s probably safer for younger kids. I also pass a decent number of older kids on the Custis that seem to be headed to W&L or St. Ann’s.

@JorgeGortex 63978 wrote:

A number of the kids on our W-L (you will note the “-” It is not a “&”) Crew ride to school. Some even ride from home to school to practice in DC to home after practice in the spring. As with anyone, it involves a number of factors as to whether it works for a given student and their family or not. I applaud them all. My instinct is that there are a lot more cycling students than you’d expect, and that the majority are boys. Just my observation.

I am very pleased to know I am wrong. It occurred to me after I posted that I don’t exactly pass through that area during the right hours very often, which may well explain why I don’t see the older kids (and why I do see a number of parents cycling to school with younger kids).

Now I’m curious to know if any of the students actually cycle to school at my local high schools. Definitely not as cycling friendly out in FX County.

[Author]

Posts