[cyclingfool]

Props to you, sir. It’s colder out there where you are than it is on Mars.

[IMG]https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10429366_1014499351904409_7749681338558182347_n.png?oh=0b26051e2ca4a2cd11ab438a08098739&oe=552B9FD8&__gda__=1429512370_04e63f1cba7cab01fb1ba89a2e2509bb[/IMG]

[cyclingfool]

@Sunyata 104415 wrote:

I was thinking about sponsoring a “sloth of the mountain” award for the individual with the slowest average speed with at least 40 days of riding (at least 50% of contest days).

Now there’s a prize I might just win… LOL

[cyclingfool]

Conveniently 😡 the 14th Street Bridge and a number of surrounding streets I have tried to submit just now for snow and ice removal cannot be entered as service locations through the website. The system responds that “Service is not provided at this location.” So, the website needs to be improved or I need to actually pick up the phone and talk to a human. Ugh… :rolleyes: No time for that now.

Thanks, generally, for the info, though. Good to know.

[cyclingfool]

@ShawnoftheDread 104360 wrote:

And that switches back and forth every few miles. Hate hate hate hate hate love love…..

…except that some of the ruts are so bad that they can grab your wheel and throw you down pretty quick, even with studs. I took a good tumble last winter when just that happened on the MVT by the airport. Even 2″ wide studded tires didn’t help in that case. That said, I love my studs. GD F-ing studs!

😡 😡 😡 😡

[cyclingfool]

@FFX_Hinterlands 104326 wrote:

Dynamo lights!!! Bring on the cold!

I’m one step closer to rejoining you in the dynamo crowd, with the gift of a dynamo hub for Xmas. I still have to build up the wheel around it and purchase lights, but I’m getting there. The lack of need to think about batteries in a whole host of situations is probably the primary reason I miss my dynamo setup and want a new one.

[cyclingfool]

Studs still definitely needed since so much of my commute is on the MVT and 14th St Bridge, though it’s getting better. Solar plowing FTW!

Kept plenty warm this AM, even my feet. Shoe covers were great, combined with double socks w/ a plastic shopping bag in between on each foot. Double gloves. Double fleece. Balaclava. Despite the fifty minutes of exposure to the elements caused largely by the slow going on studs on ice and snow, the only thing that got really cold was my thighs. Guess I could have used one more layer between the waist and the knees.

[cyclingfool]

@KelOnWheels 104267 wrote:

Srsly, beer-preventing injuries must be dealt with! Hope your new bionic arm is operational soon!

ftfy

[cyclingfool]

I’d never heard of that show before, but I just read up on it on Wikipedia. Sounds fun. There are loads of episodes on Youtube, it looks like. I’ve bookmarked them for future viewing.

[cyclingfool]

@Boomer2U 104213 wrote:

Do we know what the trail conditions are on the MTV between Jeff Memorial and 4MR trial? I saw from earlier postings that 4MR is clear, FYI. Thank you.

I assume we’ll have updates after tonight’s commute. I’m about to leave and will probably go that way. I assume it’s still a mixed bag w/ some clear spots (thanks, sun!) and some nasty rutted ice. Keep an eye on the January 2015 Trial Conditions thread for collective updates.

[cyclingfool]

@PotomacCyclist 104195 wrote:

Courtland or Not Courtland?

https://screen.yahoo.com/phillip-hyper-hypo-000000418.html

LOL

[IMG]http://reactiongifs.com/?p=1294[/IMG]

[cyclingfool]

@PotomacCyclist 104193 wrote:

After seeing this, I can’t seem to get engaged about anything he writes anymore:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7371[/ATTACH]

Seriously! Who rides a Bianchi?

[cyclingfool]

@dasgeh 104166 wrote:

PS. There’s some twitter action about DC bridges. Pls retweet my (@dasgeh) message, if you’re a tweeter.

Done.

[cyclingfool]

1 mile < sleaze < 2 miles
5 km > 2 miles
Ergo, by the transitive property, we can say that 5 km is not sleaze.

[cyclingfool]

@dasgeh 104102 wrote:

Tonight I’m headed to the DC BAC meeting to talk about opportunities to work together across the river (and possibly mention the lack of snow clearing on the bridges, which are entirely in DC…)

Any thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Topics I should bring up?

I remember 14th St Bridge being plowed by DDOT in the past couple years, at least by day two of winter weather events. They may get to it today, but I think generally stressing the importance of handling river crossings, which are limited in number and more prone to freezing, hard freezing, refreezing by their nature, is important. Sounds like that’s part of your plan already, so thanks!

[cyclingfool]

On the ride home last night, after battling rutted ice for the few miles of MVT from 14th St to 4MR, I literally sang the praises of Arlington when I saw how clear 4MR was. Like, I was literally singing, “I love you, Arlington!” No one else was around to hear me, which I’m thankful for, but had there been someone, I think they would have understood my motivation and not thought any worse of me.

@DismalScientist 104085 wrote:

This morning I took a new route avoiding the MVT from 4MRT to the city.

Take Eads Street to 12th to get over to Long Bridge Drive. Continue on Boundary Channel to the exit to the parkway north. Take Washington Blvd bike path across the 2 crossings of the parkway and over the south sidewalk of Memorial bridge. Sidewalks down the middle of the mall from the Lincoln memorial to Washington memorial. This way is entirely clear (well, not the bike lanes on Eads or Long Bridge Dr–just take the street) except for the crap along the Washington Blvd sidepath. It certainly beat the 2 miles of crap along the MVT and the 14th Street bridge.

I did something similar except I cut over at the little bridge to the LBJ Memorial and through the marina parking lot to the double humpback.
*Potomac Avenue from Del Ray into Crystal City was all clear except that the bike lane after entering Arlington wasn’t cleared. I just took the lane. (The side path in Potomac Yard, though plowed, was regularly punctuated by smooth sheets of refreeze. Studs handled this well.) Similar story through Crystal City and up Long Bridge Drive.
*Pentagon Reservation roads were all cleared and the bridge to the LBJ even had a path cleared, too. Paths on the island were icy and mildly rutted, but parking lot was clear.
*Trails beginning at the double humpback and around to the 14th St Bridge were pretty bad, and the bridge itself wasn’t fun either. DC has plowed the bridge in the past. I hope they get to it today.
*DC proper was clear except for a couple hundred foot stretch of the trail around the Tidal Basin that still had ice and snow on it, though there was a work crew with salt out at the Jefferson, so maybe they’ll clean it up during the day.

Also hoping for more solar plowing on the MVT today. May try going home that way since it sounds like there’s maybe been some improvement since last night.

[Author]

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