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@bobo 14640 wrote:

I’m driving to the Bike Summit and would like to find a place to park my car. I have housing near the Summitt hotel but there is limited parking that’s not free. If you have space on your street or in your drive to leave a car Monday and pick it up on Friday, I’d be interested. I’ll provide a jar of my home made salsa as compensation and reciprical arrangements if you do RAGBRAI (the ride across Iowa).

Posting for the general public, in case anyone else is in the same boat —

There’s free unlimited street parking in our neighborhood in Arlington, and the bike ride to DC is a beautiful downhill through Arlington National Cemetery, putting you on the Memorial Bridge. There are restrictions on times, but generally you can bike through Fort Myer (have to show picture ID, like a driver’s license, and they write down your info, unless you work for the govt) from 5am – 9pm and you can bike down through the cemetery while it’s open (8am – 6pm). All other times you can still get there by bike, you’ll just be going around — googlemaps can help you with exact directions.

Here’s a map, hope it makes sense. The start and end are in the neighborhood with the free parking — just look for parking signs.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=209482839065420738092.0004b8a1faba0375d1d66&msa=0

You can also park in the neighborhood N of US 50 — most of the parking south of 10th Street is free. From there it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the Metro at Clarendon or Courthouse.

Send me a message if you need more info.

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@KLizotte 14635 wrote:

I’m disappointed they are having the Crystal City event during the middle of a weekday. All of the others are at night. Hopefully some bikers will be able to make it to the CC meeting.

I agree.

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@QuantFail 14597 wrote:

Well I just came back from visiting two LBSs.

Hope it was fun! I have a Felt (ZW25, I think) and I LOVE it. Mainly because of fit, but I commute on it everyday and have done a few tris on it. I’ve had it for 3 years. Love it.

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Thanks! FWIW, this is what I posted in the open box at the end of the survey. The more I think about it, the more I’m disappointed that they don’t explicitly mention cycling…

Please consider redesigning this survey to allow users to input information about multiple modes of commuting. For example, I bike for most of my trips, but occasionally I ride the bus or drive. I know a lot of people who combine biking and metro or driving and biking.

Also, it is disappointing that the Vision Plan does not explicitly plan to identify enhancement for bicycling infrastructure. Cycling is clearly a realistic strategy for enhancing people’s mobility through non-single occupant auto means, especially when combined with other modes of transportation. Many times, cycling infrastructure can be improved with little capital investment. Cycling can also extend the range of accessibility to other transit services – e.g. bike routes and safe bike parking at a train or bus rapid transit station can allow a lot more people to reach the station without adding traffic to the roads, demanding resources for car parking, etc.

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@JimF22003 14587 wrote:

I don’t think you want a Tri-specific bike unless you intend to do triathlons (or maybe time trials.) They are purpose built for riding alone and being as aero as possible, while saving certain muscle groups for the subsequent run phase of a tri.

I believe most people also find the fit to be less comfortable than a road bike (at least until you get used to it). Again, depends a lot on what you intend to do with the bike. If you’re thinking of doing tris, great. If you’re thinking of doing tris and commuting / touring around for long rides on the weekends, you may be happier with a road bike. You can get a pretty good aero position on most road bikes.

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@KLizotte 14582 wrote:

Oddly enough, I know of a bike that’s been locked up for a week now to a street pole where the owner simply let the cable lock drape around the saddle. This means that one can steal it without having to do anything to the lock except flip it off the saddle (out of curiosity I tried just that). I’m amazed every time I see the bike still sitting there (and it looks like a new bike). If I could think of a way to lock it up safely for the owner I would. Must be a newbie.

And no, I’m not going to say where this bike is located but it is in a highly trafficked area.

Maybe it’s a social experiment to see how long the bike will be there? Very interesting though…

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There were random spots of ice in the cemetary this morning. Easy to go around, just surprising, given that I didn’t see any elsewhere.

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And good luck. Those are nice bikes.

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For me, fit is king. Bike shops are good at helping you find the best fit. Many even include a fit in the purchase of the bike. I’d recommend finding the LBS’s (local bike shops) that are most convenient to your life. Most also include a year of service with a new bike, and you’ll definitely need to take it in after a month or two to have cables tightened. Any good LBS can explain to you what you’re paying for in the various levels of frames and components. You may be able to get exactly the same thing cheaper online, but you won’t get the advice, fit and service. For me, it was totally worth buying local, and I’m super cheap.

From experience, I can recommend CycleLife and Bicycle Pro Shop, both in Georgetown. All else equal, Cyclelife is a little more newby friendly, BPS more old school bike shop (crowded with bikes, racers consistently coming through). Both are great, and I think carry different brands.

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@americancyclo 14506 wrote:

Sorry no call in number

Thanks for checking. I’m at the Fed, and would love the update. Hopefully I can be there for future meetings

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@americancyclo 14498 wrote:

Bumping this up in case anyone forgot or can make it. Don’t confuse me for dirt although o just happen to be wearing pink today.

Any chance there will be a call in number. I now have a 4pm at my office, so getting over there may be difficult…

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@DismalScientist 14437 wrote:

Exactly what incentive do the kids have to pedal? Especially on their way TO school?

Have you seen a kid on a bike? They’re in heaven!

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@Arlingtonrider 14423 wrote:

I attended the County Board Open Door session at Thomas Jefferson Community Center last night to bring up the Long Bridge Park connector, as well as to voice support for all County efforts with regard to cycling improvements and trail maintenance. Chris Zimmerman was the board member at the meeting and said he was fully on board with the Long Bridge connector, but that they needed NPS to work with them to make it happen. Went in full cycling gear, since it was right after my commute. I was the only person there advocating for cycling. I think we should try to attend all of these open door meetings.

Where do we find the schedule?

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@Tim Kelley 14425 wrote:

It took a little longer to get the details on this since the guys I work with don’t normal deal with lights and timing, but here’s the response:

“Initially it was set up with a protected left turn for Pershing Drive because it was required by VDOT when the signal was turned on. It became clear that the protected left was not required so that phase should not come up any longer. The green phase for Pershing Drive and the exit from Ft Myer will be given at the same time and both are detected by video. The final settings and detector configurations are still being worked out as the construction winds down on the site on the northwest corner of the intersection so there may be disruptions and changes, but ultimately the signal will run a single green phase for Pershing Drive and the Ft Myer gate east-west.”

Thanks for getting to the bottom of this. I noticed this morning that there was no protected left. How odd that they changed the fixture…

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@jrenaut 14383 wrote:

This “bike bus” is also awesome.

If we can get Arlington County Schools to get one of those, we’ve won!

Won LAB gold status, that is.

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