[DaveK]

I’m relatively new at this marriage thing but I would probably ask my wife first… if she doesn’t like it then you’ll have to enjoy the sensations alone for a while.

[DaveK]

@Brendan von Buckingham 7291 wrote:

Pennsylvania eastbound over Anacostia. Minnesota northbound. Massachusetts eastbound. Long steady climb up to 200 feet (pretty much same as Courthouse in Arlington). Enter Fort Dupont Park for some rolling hills. Return. Massachusetts on the return is long and straight so you can really bomb down the hill, which is good for getting back to the office.

The bridge and Pennsylvania/Minnesota intersection are little hairy, but Mass Ave is low traffic with bike lanes and Fort Dupont is quiet, shaded and very low traffic.

If you want more urban, a great climb is Morris Rd from MLK up to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Your rewarded with one of the best view of the city from one of the least known overlooks.

Pretty much what I would have answered… I love the descent down from Fort Dupont on Massachusetts, there’s not another one like it in the city. Good Hope Road up to Alabama Ave is a steady leg-burner. So is MLK heading uphill from Anacostia into Congress Heights, but I’m not sure I’d do that one alone… goes right by Barry Farm.

Best suggestion to find routes EotR is to join the WABA 50 states ride. That’s how I found my quick circuit out there.

My goal is eventually to string together a good ride out there, south maybe on Alabama into MD then back over the bridge. I really haven’t had time to scout out that area though for roads that are safe to ride.

[DaveK]

@Fontinalis 7123 wrote:

The museum tells me there is a ‘public bike rack’ down the road. Is that a safe place to leave a bike for a couple hours, during the day, well locked ?

Yes, it’s safe to leave a bike well locked outside for a few hours. Make sure it’s got at least a u-lock for the frame and a cable for the wheels.

[DaveK]

@StopMeansStop 7087 wrote:

Btw when you take the lane there is no need to give drivers an “screw you” and take the whole lane. Just take enough so you are safe.

You need to take the whole lane because if you try and stick just outside the gutter, drivers will think they can pass you in the same lane. This really isn’t safe and leads to cyclists getting “buzzed” by cars at a very close distance. They can wait. Take the whole lane for everyone’s safety, especially yours.

[DaveK]

There’s a thrift store in Toronto that has racks and racks of hideous jerseys for like $10. I always mean to pick up a few when I’m there but I just can’t stomach it.

[DaveK]

Leisurely ride home (my HR is still high from the hill ride before I logged this) – http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104284202

12 mph average with stops through city traffic. I take it pretty easy when I’m just going from place to place. You get to see more that way and enjoy the ride.

[DaveK]

Everyone who lives in the area (and especially who lives in DC) should do this ride at least once. You get introduced to so many new places that you might never find otherwise. I’m not riding it this year but I may come out to the market during the lunch stop and say hi (I live a couple of blocks away). It’s a great ride, packed with friends that you’ll make along the way.

[DaveK]

@americancyclo 7021 wrote:

I was hoping some of these might be closer to DC so I could get in a quick hill ride during lunch. I managed to find some small hills over in Rosslyn, but would appreciate any more tips leaving from Capitol Hill
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/45600606

There are some rolling hills east of the river that might be good if you strung them together, and it’s a much quicker ride over there than it is to Arlington.

[DaveK]

@theakston 7007 wrote:

Come on…don’t act like the worst of the drivers around here. I see comments like that about cyclists in the road all the time. It doesn’t help when you start acting like them.

The difference is cyclists are supposed to ride on the road. Pedestrians are required by law to be on the sidewalk and out of the road.

[DaveK]

I followed that discussion on the Capitol Hill listserv with seething anger as people described why they were entitled to run the wrong way down the street in the bike lane. My response when I’m riding has always been to play chicken with them. Especially if I am riding with some huge spotlight on my bars in the evening, I want them to think they’re going to get run down by a train.

I run on the Hill all the time and I’ve never run in the bike lane. Yes, the sidewalks are uneven, but that’s why you LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING. I don’t buy asphalt vs. concrete relative to injuries either. If you’re striking that hard when you run then you’re doing something wrong. Runners, strollers, etc – get out of the bike lane. In return, if there’s a bike lane don’t bike on the sidewalk. Easy as pie.

[DaveK]

@theakston 6977 wrote:

Not trying ot be a pedant but isn’t it traffic coming off of i-66 not the GW Parkway – or have I got this location wrong?

Yep, it’s an off-ramp from 66. It’s all traffic that’s come off 110 to 66 to go into DC.

[DaveK]

He’s wrong. No turn on red means no turn on red at the intersection. If it’s the sign I’m thinking of it doesn’t even specify right turns, it just says no turn on red, and even if it specified right turns he’s still wrong.

[DaveK]

@Brendan von Buckingham 6950 wrote:

I signed up with BWC about a year ago. Used them last month when my car got a flat, then the doughnut blew out too (which was because the doughnut was either over inflated or the pavement was 180 degrees, remember that week?) BWC got a tow truck to Petworth in 60 minutes which towed me to Clarendon. Cost me $2.00 because I was over my 5-mile free towing limit.

The call center was in Portland, Oregon, so I bet that’s where they’re headquartered.

BWC was serviceable for a bunch of commie hippies, but I’m rethinking my membership only because I’ve realized my auto insurance offers the same roadside assistance.

My two cents – I would never have roadside assistance with a 5-mile towing limit. Imagine what happens if you’re on the interstate coming home from Shenandoah or something. I’ve always stepped up to the 100-mile plan and I’ve had to use it a couple of times. I’m sure just those two instances paid for the plan.

[DaveK]

I had no idea this project was happening until I saw it riding home last night. Going to be a great improvement for connectivity in Southwest and near Southeast. Now the ballpark connection can be entirely off-street from Virginia. I can’t count how many bikes I’ve seen on that 4 foot sidewalk.

[DaveK]

That’s not too bad, the cog in back looked like it was smaller than that in the picture. That’s probably about the gear I spend most of my time in around town anyway.

[Author]

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