[cyclingfool]

@Rando Guy 63563 wrote:

For what it’s worth – here’s what they said when asked about the frame size question – “The big tires and higher BB mean that we needed to use smaller wheels on the smaller sizes.”

Makes sense. What I meant s that I wish that they had a 26″ wheeled frame in the 55-57 cm size range, like the way that LHTs are available for 26″ wheels in larger sizes, not just the smaller frames Regardless, it’s a nice looking offering from VO.

[cyclingfool]

@Rando Guy 63558 wrote:

Anybody that knows me knows that I love Velo Orange. See their new frame here…off-road touring frame. You don’t have to deal with the west coast to get one (Rivendell)!

http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2013/09/camargue-frames-built-up.html

It’s a nice looking frame. Though I haven’t embraced it yet apart from a seatpost purchase for my old bike and following their Instagram feed, I too have a little bit of a soft spot in my heart for Velo Orange (though probably not as soft as the spot in my heart for Surly). I do like the burnt orange paint color option. It’s too bad the 26″ wheel version is only available up to a 53 cm frame size, otherwise I’d consider it as an alternative to the LHT when/if I decide to ditch my mid-90s touring/commuter-ized MTB frame in favor of a modern touring frame. with 26×2″ tires as they built that one up, it’s very similar that what I have done with my current build (26×1.85″ tires and intentions to go with 2″ Schwalbes when new tires are needed).

[cyclingfool]

@PotomacCyclist 63518 wrote:

[video=vimeo;73990411]https://vimeo.com/73990411[/video]

Thanks for sharing the video! I plan to check it out when I get home and away from d*&ned corporate firewalls and restrictions on streaming media.

[cyclingfool]

@TwoWheelsDC 63459 wrote:

I watched it from the nearest 66 overpass, looking toward the city. If you didn’t know what you were looking at you would’ve thought it was a plane or helicopter…was not really bright.

Yeah, I pinpointed my vantage point ahead of time and then drew a line on Google Maps straight to Wallops Island. MY guess based on that was spot on. The view from Rte. 1 bridge at Monroe Ave. in Alexandria was good, and while I was first to arrive to watch, another dozen or so people eventually were out to watch it by launch time. It was pretty neat.

[cyclingfool]

I saw this story earlier today. I’m already planning on riding my bike over to the bridge on US 1 in Alexandria between Slaters Lane and Monroe Avenue for a nice, hopefully unobstructed view of the proceedings. Of course, for me, that’s only about 4 or 5 blocks away, so it’s a sleaze ride in terms of NBC.

[cyclingfool]

With evening grad school classes started up again and darker fall evening commutes on the horizon… and with my bike with dynohub and lights having been stolen since last dark riding season, I decided to pick up one of these. Just placed my order today.

http://amzn.com/B005WPFVPC

Basically, a cheap Magicshine knock-off. I figure with Amazon Prime customer service behind it, I’ll give it a shot. Reviews seem good. If it’s crap, I’ll return it w/in the thirty days and not be out anything.

My other alternative setup from a few years ago, is a powerful 250 lumen tactical flashlight that runs on AAs and a Twofish lockblock on the handlebars. It’s OK, but I got used to the brighter light from my dynohub powered lights and don’t want to go back.

My goal is to have saved up enough/gotten enough in Christmas gifts by the end of the year to rebuild my front wheel around a dynohub and buy a new B&M lighting system for my new bike. So, I don’t want to plop down too much coin on lights.

[cyclingfool]

I’m really sorry to hear about what happened to your son. I see lots of boneheaded idiots on bikes and on foot on the trails around here; there’s bad apples in every bunch. I’m sorry that your son fell victim to one of them. I hope his arm heals quickly.

Like bobco, I’d suggest you file a police report if you haven’t already. That was my first thought as well.

I also did not quite understand what you meant about keeping her from hitting him again. I’m imagining repeated attempts at assault and not a collision caused by a lack of caution and attention on the part of the cyclist, yet I have a feeling that you are describing something else. Any information you can provide about the cyclist or any eyewitness/contact info you have will be helpful to police. I’m sure there was a lot going on if your son’s arm was broken and you may not have been able to round up that info. Maybe someone else at the scene did?

Good luck getting things sorted out and thoughts with your son for a speedy recovery.

[cyclingfool]

@Greenbelt 63375 wrote:

Caption contest? (Note this is near the water towers on Beaver Dam Road in the Beltsville Ag Center/NASA Goddard area — elevation 200ft approx)

A three hour tour…

[cyclingfool]

Near Gravelly Point around 9:15 this morning on my morning commute…passed a 50 or 60 something year old man riding a hybrid wearing blue jeans and a bright orange hi-vis vest. He had big mirrors mounted to each end if his riser bars and a sticker on the back of his helmet – something about cycling safely (an advocacy sort of sticker). Funny thing was he had earbuds in which appeared to be connected to a something in a discman-style case attached to his belt. I’m assuming it was a discman. Anyway, he didn’t do anything a$$clownish, but:

1. If you’re going to be all hi-vis and safety advocate type, don’t ride with earbuds in. Doesn’t fit.

2. Discman? Wow… I haven’t seen one of those other than in a thrift store for years!

[cyclingfool]

@AMRunBike 63041 wrote:

I just heard about it a couple of weeks ago, and since I’m too late for the Sept. NYC-DC ride, I’m considering doing the California ride next May. I’m already going to have some time to travel / move around early next year, so I thought it could be fun to drive across the country with my bike and end up in SF in time for the ride. Plus, that one goes through wine country!

Anyway, knowing next to nothing about the Climate Ride aside from what I’ve managed to research in the past few weeks, I’d love some opinions from people who’ve done it or have any direct experience — please share if so!

Thanks!

Something about driving your car across the country to participate in Climate Ride seems wrong. :p

P.S.-Just giving you a hard time…

[cyclingfool]

@lordofthemark 62988 wrote:

I wish that when I drove 30MPH in a 25MPH zone, people wouldn’t tailgate me or flash their headlights because I go too slowly.

The reality is we are very very very far from universal enforcement of traffic laws. The notion of eliminating the 10MPH speed “buffer” over the limit is a dream (at least in Fairfax.) Police simply don’t have the resources. And speed cameras are illegal in Virginia (shows how much poliitcal will there is to enforce traffic laws). Discussions of enforcing everything need to take place in this context or they are unrealistic, and thus poor guides to policy.

I agree with you about lack of political will. Given that, though, it seems funny to me that VA is one of a two “states” (the other being DC) that outlaw radar detectors in private automobiles. I also see more “Speed Patrolled by Aircraft” signs on VA highways than any other state I’ve driven in. From those two things, you’d expect VA to be super harsh on speeding. Alas, that is not the case.

[cyclingfool]

@consularrider 62898 wrote:

But did you bike while there?

Sadly no. Cycling is a more recent obsession. Now that I’m into it, I wish I was cycling at the time. I would have had plenty of time my first couple summers for some touring, and there are some beautiful places I could have ridden. Alas…

[cyclingfool]

@consularrider 62839 wrote:

I thought that was just a welcome for me! My wife starts her Ukrainian training tomorrow and has said she will commute by bike!

Ukraine, oh, how I miss thee. (RPCV here – Ukraine 2000-2003)

[cyclingfool]

@dbb 62680 wrote:

Here is a link to a site with additional information.

http://alexandriava.gov/planning/info/default.aspx?id=14042

The site says:

Four Mile Run Bridge Demolition

Late Summer 2013, the westernmost bridge between Route One and Potomac Avenue will be demolished and the stream banks will be stabilized. Weather permitting, demolition is set to begin in late Summer 2013 and the project is scheduled to be complete in the Spring 2014. Any trail closure information will be posted here, along with detour routes.

The staff from the City of Alexandria says “The improvement of the trail connecting the path on Potomac Avenue to the Four Mile Run Trail is being installed by Pulte and should be complete in late September.”

Thanks for the update. Good to know. I think I’ll stick to my alternate route through Crystal City and on Potomac Ave for the most part then, lest I encounter an unmarked or unexpected closure some morning when I’m already running late for work and keep tabs on the reports posted here and on the Local Motion site.

[cyclingfool]

Interesting (and scary) sight this morning around 9:15 as I rode onto the 14th St Bridge this AM from the VA side. I’m in the separated bike lane, naturally, but there was a guy on a bicycle heading south in traffic!!! I only caught a quick glimpse of him because:

1) I wasn’t really expecting to see a cyclist there; and
2) It was right at the beginning of the bridge for me and I was just rounding the turn onto the bridge.

He appeared to be hugging the jersey wall/fence really tight and looked like he was to be getting onto the exit ramp towards GW Parkway. I can only assume that he got confused/lost trying to find the bike and ped infrastructure on the bridge, but still a bit shocking, scary, and odd all at once. Guy was in jeans, t-shirt or polo, and baseball cap. It looked like he had a Surly head tube badge on his bike. It was just a surreal sight for many reasons. Hope he made it off the road OK and that next time he finds the separated active transportation lane/path.

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