[CPTJohnC]

A fine example of how BTWD should go. Left the house on time, hit the first light green (a rarity) and had a trouble free ride past Dunn Loring pit stop to my registered Falls Church. Chatted with Jan from Bikenetic, and headed in, passing the Rosslyn pitstop.

tried to ride politely around the hordes of newbies and irregular cyclists, though that effort was hampered by some other regulars who were in quite the hurry, I guess. Managed a rolling average of 14.8 MPH, which is fine with me.

The ride home promises to be HOT! but there’s an afternoon pitstop in Arlington, near EFC, so that might be fun.

[CPTJohnC]

The route google suggests is pretty solid. If you’re looking to cut some miles, this is one of my alternates to get to fairfax (my commute home is from DC to fairfax close to vienna metro) Hopefully the link works…

Note that there are many variations within that general theme, but most involve being on or near some major roads with high speed limits and no bike facilities. I would recommend Lee Highway over Arlington Blvd, but avoiding both as much as possible is good.

Remember, if you’re used to DC, that folks in the suburbs are less comfortable with and accommodating of cyclists. In fact, they’re often downright hostile.

[CPTJohnC]

@KelOnWheels 51692 wrote:

I have a new Bikenetic jersey! It is awesome! (Full zip is win. Plus a key pocket!)

I think my Bikenetic jersey is my favorite.

This morning’s ride was charmed, I think. I held an average rolling speed of 15MPH over the 19+ miles, which is awesome for me! I think I can take it easy on the way home.

[CPTJohnC]

Guess I will make an extra stop in Rosslyn this year

[CPTJohnC]

I’m signed up for the Falls Church pit stop, if that matters to anyone

[CPTJohnC]

I noticed them the other day, but I agree with others: Until/unless they address all of the potential traffic conflicts, I’ll continue crossing when it makes the most sense for my safety, which is NOT always when the walk sign is illuminated. That said, I’ve watched a host of folks cross at times that were definitely NOT safe, seemingly with no regard for the natural traffic patterns, the signals or any other apparent thought process involved. Perhaps the signs will have some (limited) positive impact on these folks? Nah.

[CPTJohnC]

I am vehemently opposed to other people riding e-bikes for any reason. My ego is way to fragile to watch people who are barely pedaling cruising up hills.

[CPTJohnC]

Despite my usual aversion to riding in rain, I biked this morning. I don’t think I got any wetter than usual, though I expect the ride home won’t do the dirt on my bike any favors.

[CPTJohnC]

@UrbanEngineer 51012 wrote:

When I have to go out to a job site, I’ll ride my bike. Those who cab it, they’ll bill those cab rides to the job. $10 here, $20 there, over the timeline of an entire project, many workers doing it…That’ll add up. I might have some sweat on my brow at the project meetings, I might not be dressed in a suit like most everybody else, but my commute is charging the client $0. That sounds profitable to me.

But does your client and employer agree? If they do, great. But in many environments, the extra $10/20 per meeting is largely irrelevant (esp. when I’m billing that client $300-500/hr for that meeting) versus the ‘appearance’ of ‘unprofessionalism’. It isn’t a question of the reality (is being a little sweaty really unprofessional? Will I really be that much sweatier if I ride my bike than if I walk from the parking lot to the bldg — in august, the answer to that might be “no”) but rather of people’s expectations and perceptions. It’s kind of like when the lawyer shows up driving a beater car — people
start to question his capability — after all, if he can’t afford a nicer car… likewise, people perceive bikes as transportation for the poor or otherwise ‘disadvantaged’ or for freaks.

[CPTJohnC]

@dasgeh 51001 wrote:

Agree with jabberwocky.

Though the kids and errands thing is completely BS. Kids LOVE riding. There are lots of options for bringing them along. You could even do something like a trailer and leave it at daycare, so as not to impact the rest of the ride to work. Driving is a lot more variable than riding. I know when I’ll get home every day when I ride. Driving, depends on traffic, and can range from 10 minutes to 45…

I have to disagree with your view on riding with kids: 1st) Some kids love riding, but not all. Most kids who like riding are likely to enjoy riding in good weather, but not necessarily in all conditions/ all seasons. Obviously there are some exceptions, but travel by bike when shuttling kids is definitely less convenient/practical for MOST people (admittedly, not all). 2d) larger kids don’t fit in trailers, but can’t keep up reasonable speeds over longer distances (in my experience — I admit I’ve never known a kid who rides distances with regularity – but I’ve seen kids biking to school with moms and dads, and they’re SLOW) I know there are alternatives, like tandems and cargo bikes, but those are also not always great solutions. 3d: Not all daycares (not even most, I suspect) would be so cool with you just leaving your trailer in/around their space everyday. Again, it might work for some, but not for most, I suspect.

I completely agree with your point on ride time variability versus other modes of transport. It’s funny how a flat bike tire, which takes 10-15 minutes to fix, is unacceptable delay, while a mechanical failure in a car, which requires a tow truck, and several hours to repair, is completely acceptable and understood.

Americans are very car-centric — almost all other forms of transportation are seen as second rate, even when they are demonstrably superior. I will never forget the amount of flack I took for riding a motorcycle as my commuting vehicle. You’d have thought I was doing something immoral or borderline illegal. Now I bike, drive and use mass transit with relatively equal frequency. Each has its place.

[CPTJohnC]

@Bilsko 47031 wrote:

Ah….I believe you are referring to the “Sniffling Saddles” competition that runs from today through May 30. Or perhaps the “Searing Saddles” competition that takes us from June 1 through August 31.

Yes! Let’s do it! (as long as someone else can organize it, that is…)

[CPTJohnC]

Hmmm… The average of 31.4 minutes for my Zip definitely makes sense to me. In the time I’ve lived there I’ve had commutes of under 10 minutes (2 miles) to up to and over an hour (driving – afternoon). There are plenty of employers within the 10-20 minute zone (at least for morning commute) and DC is under an hour if you can use HOV in the morning. I get my son to school in about 45 minutes, home to NE DC. I’d be at my own office 15 minutes (or more) sooner (NW). The trip home takes about an hour and five to an hour fifteen, with rare exceptions (higher and lower).

Cycling is about an hour and 20 minutes in the morning and an hour 35 on the way home (Darn Arlington Hills!).

[CPTJohnC]

Not sure why, but this morning seemed particularly beautiful (once my hand warmed up, that is). I wish my pictures did it justice, but alas, they’re just framegrabs from a cheap ‘hd’ video camera.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2473[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2474[/ATTACH]

Here’s hoping the ride home is just as good!

[CPTJohnC]

I happened upon an ArlCo maintenance truck on the W&OD this morning during the rush. In my opinion he was behaving very courteously, including making it easy for me to pass him before he got close to a pedestrian. I think I’d rather have maintenance being done than the alternative, though I’m sure they could do better esp. near blind corners. Better than the DC trucks and MPD vehicles I run into on the MBT all the time.

[CPTJohnC]

From home to work and back is between 18 and 20 miles each way, which I do when I can (which is all summer, and school holidays) — it takes about 1:20 in the morning (via W&OD, Custis, Mount Vernon, up the mall to Union Station) and about 1:35 going home.

During the school year, I multi-mode, so I drive my son to school, park there, and ride the 4.5 miles each way, which takes about 22 minutes point to point, and right around 20 minutes of riding time.

And as with so many others, Freezing Saddles is doing a number on me — I rode today despite the forecast for rain all morning because I need to put in more miles!

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