[cvcalhoun]

@Steve O 81071 wrote:

If I recall, this side bet was going to be won by the photo that receives the most Likes and Elites. So if you haven’t voted, you can still go back through the photos and Like your favorites. I’m not sure if Mikey has a cutoff date for voting.

Actually, Mikey said it was to be determined by the end of February. Has this changed?

@Mikey 77235 wrote:

Since FSSB #4 was a bust, its time to move on. FSSB #5 will be quick and easy. Post a photo capturing the essence of Freezing saddles and post it here. The impending snow storm should help set the scene, especially since this should be good snowman snow. The winning shot is the one earning the most points by the end of February. Likes are worth 2pts, dislike are -1, and ELITES are worth 3 points. So go out there and get some good freezing saddles pictures. The prize will include use if your photo for the advertisement for FS 2015, and eternal fame and glory.

[cvcalhoun]

Thank you for posting that. I ride that trail every Thursday. And while others have been merrily posting about how all the trails are now just fine, I’ve felt very lonely in my slipping, sliding, and getting thrown one way and the other by deep ruts in the trail. At least now I have company in my misery!

@ebubar 81073 wrote:

Georgetown Branch Trail has moved from “frozen ruts of death” to “muddy fishtails of fun”. What a wonderful commute today!

[cvcalhoun]

I can’t join this team, because I’m already on another one, but I’ve definitely noticed the bugginess. The site regularly moves any miles ridden on a Sunday to the following Monday. It logs me out frequently and unpredictably in the midst of moving from one page to another on the site. It does not show who is on my own team, much less provide any breakdown of miles contributed. It requires numerous clicks to get from the front page to such basic things as the calendar showing how many miles I’ve ridden. On the profile page, the calendar shows that I have ridden only 1 day/1 mile, but if I click on the arrow to go back to the preceding month, it suddenly shows me that this month, I’ve ridden 13 days/258 miles. I’m really hoping they get this all fixed before the competition starts, or the competition isn’t going to be a lot of fun.

@cyclingfool 80999 wrote:

It looks like I joined. The site seems super buggy right now… it took a couple tries to create an account and once or twice for it to successfully acknowledge I’d joined the team. Anyway, I’m in… thanks!

[cvcalhoun]

How do you figure out which ones are giving away bicycles, and/or which ones are likely to have the fewest registrants?

@DismalScientist 80739 wrote:

Since you can stop at any pit stop to get swag, my strategy would be to choose to register at a pit stop that is giving away a bicycle. Once you determine which do that, choose the pit stop that you think will have the least number of registrants to maximize your chance of winning. Then, just go to the stops with the best swag although you have to go to the stop for which you register to get the t-shirt if you want it.

[cvcalhoun]

FWIW, I’ve had just one flat in the three years and 6722 miles since I started using a bike computer. I don’t think that getting a ride when you have a flat is going to impair your training in any noticeable way!

@dkel 80964 wrote:

The W&OD on the way back to Falls Church from Vienna is improving, though there are still long stretches of slush. There’s a lot of water running and pooling everywhere, too. A lot. Still, riding in it isn’t bad, and I had no trouble contacting pavement.

That said, I didn’t get to ride the whole way, though, because I got a flat before I reached Gallows. Seeing as how it was the first flat I’ve ever gotten in the six months and over 2000 miles since I started doing this cycling thing, and having had enough Rule 9 for one day, I bailed out and got a ride home, despite having all the tools I needed to change the thing. Special thanks to Rocford10 for driving over to get me.

[cvcalhoun]

I’m sorry, all this bad weather is my fault. I made the mistake of giving the dog her Spring haircut. Before and after photos:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5054[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]5055[/ATTACH]

[cvcalhoun]

Sorry, but having been #1 in the Tortoise category in Freezing Saddles, I consider my credentials as “official slowest guy on the trail” impeccable! I like to think it’s because I have a 64-lb. bike and do a lot of my riding up either Wisconsin or the Capital Crescent Trail. But I have to admit that I consider it a good day when I’m able to pass a toddler on a tricycle. And alas, this is my fastest pace.

@rcannon100 80913 wrote:

As the official slowest guy on the trail, my commute is also my exercise (and my spiritual time and my therapy). I do the @#$%@ Arlington Hill every single day. I consider that my “max” hill training. I get dropped going up the hill by people going down the hill. But whatever. I’m still breathing, unlike the dough-boys at work who get on the elevator and mash the button to go one floor. It’s just damn good to be alive, and outdoors, and gliding down the trails.

And yeah, the cyclists and other athletes at work, all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all of their children are above average (well… not my kids…. but anyway).

[cvcalhoun]

I rode the Georgetown Branch Trail again today. The good news: The snow and ice is finally gone. The bad news: It is still possible to slip sideways while riding, due to the quantities of mud there.

[cvcalhoun]

@Steve O 80782 wrote:

Question marks:

• Post-contest inter-team photos (couldn’t find the thread this was in. Who is in charge of this one?)

Here is the thread that prize came from:

@Arlingtonrider 77580 wrote:

Because #BAFS officially ends at midnight, March 19 and the Happy Hour isn’t until Apr. 3, I propose an additional competition for March 20 – April 2. The winning team will be the one for which at least two members of the team (any two, and it can’t always be the same two members) posts photos of themselves on a ride or enjoying a beverage with at least one member of *each* of the other teams between March 20 and April 2. To win, the team has to cover all of the other teams. Planning ahead is allowed, but the photos must be taken between March 20 and Apr. 2.

[cvcalhoun]

It’s in a parking garage on Bank Street in Georgetown. Do I need to have the exact address?

@Dirt 80777 wrote:

Will I ever find love? Will you ever find this mural?

[cvcalhoun]

Let’s not give up on this thread yet! This morning’s jaunt on the Georgetown Branch Trail was still daunting–snow, ice, mud, and ruts. On the way home, I decided to ride on Jones Bridge Road instead–lots more hills, but worth it to avoid the bad trail conditions.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5041[/ATTACH]

[cvcalhoun]

For the headlight, I use a CygoLite Trion 600, which I bought for $100 on eBay. It is bright enough so that I never use anything more than the “low” setting, even on unlit trails. At that setting, the rechargeable battery supposedly lasts for 12 hours. I’ve never fully tested that out, but it means that it’s never run out even on my longest after-dark trips. The only problem I’ve had with it is that the handlebar clamp seems to be a bit too big for my handlebar, which caused the light to slip until it was pointing straight down instead of forward. I solved that one by folding up a couple of rubber jar grippers (a package of 3 is $1 at Dollar Tree) and putting them between the clamp and the handlebar.

I’ve got three tail lights. I have a CygoLite Hotshot SL 2-Watt LED Tail Light (rechargeable), which is affixed to the back of the rear rack and kept on high and steady light. The manufacturer says that should last 4.5 hours on high, but I’m pretty sure I’ve gone quite a bit more than that. I have a bicycle seat light (not sure of the brand, but it looks like it’s a Serfas TL-STN Seat Stay Taillight) that I use on the front of the rack (which is somewhat elevated, so the light can point backward and be seen). I put that on a rolling strobe setting. It uses CR 2032 batteries, which supposedly last up to 100 hours on that mode. And I have a NiteRider Cherry Bomb (which uses 2 AAA batteries that last about 40 hours), which I attach to the neck of an ANSI-II rated reflective vest and put on the flashing setting.

For the drunks and cell phone users, I’ve got a set of Rimfire bicycle lights on each of my wheels. (See video below.) I leave them on the constant on setting. Between the colors and the patterns they make as the wheels go around, even the most distracted drivers see and notice them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qYmTASQ6Wc

And of course, all of this is in addition to my reflectors–the ANSI-II rated reflective vest, a reflective “yield” triangle hanging down from the back of the rack, reflective strips on my panniers, and reflective sides on my pedals. I bike a lot after dark (was #1 in all of BAFS in the “after sunset” category), and I’m totally obsessive about making sure I’m visible.

[cvcalhoun]

The Capital Crescent Trail is easy; it’s basically where K Street ends. You can go south on Connecticut two blocks to K Street and turn right. Then you just keep following K Street until you reach the Capital Crescent Trail. Some more specifics:

• Just after you pass 22nd Street, K Street splits, with the left part going under a tunnel and the right going up to a traffic circle. Stay right to go to the traffic circle.
• Take the traffic circle around until you can exit onto K Street.
• At the first traffic light after you exit from the traffic circle onto K Street, you’ll need to jog left and immediately right to stay on K Street.
• At the next traffic light after that, K Street splits, with the left part going under a tunnel and the right going up onto the Whitehurst Freeway. Stay left to go into the tunnel.
• K Street will turn into Water Street. If you even notice this, don’t worry about it; just keep going.
• Water Street will end in a sign that says something like “No motorized vehicles beyond this point.” That’s the start of the Capital Crescent Trail.

[cvcalhoun]

Gee, I wonder why your pace isn’t particularly fast?

@Rod Smith 77853 wrote:

Truck call!

[cvcalhoun]

@Greenbelt 80417 wrote:

What time?

Here is the official response, from earlier in this thread.

@Arlingtonrider 80195 wrote:

The BAFS Happy Hour will officially start April 3 at 5 pm, although, as usual, anyone is welcome to come earlier.

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