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Tomorrow will be my last (for the year).

It looks like I will close the year out with a bit over 2,500 miles on the bike and a bike commute on 92% of the days I came into the office. My office benefited by not having to pay my metro subsidy (and I only had to take metro 14 times!).

My truck will finish with under 1,000 miles in 2011 (and although it gets mediocre mileage, I only had to fuel it up about four times this year).

While my bike mileage has me in a whole different (lesser) league than Dirt and others, I am pretty happy. As a bonus, I got to know a bunch of first rate riders through the forum.

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Just rode through the tunnel. All lights are operational! Covers are on all lights.

Thanks to all who contributed to this achievement.

Dana

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Liz,

I hopped the curb this morning and when I came out at the Ohio Drive and Buckeye stop sign, there was a Park Police car parked in the entrance. That he said/did nothing as I came out of a closed road (twice) speaks to their acceptance of cyclists when the front gate is closed. I’d like to see a couple of curb cuts and a sidewalk around the barrier near the minature golf course (or maybe a gap in the gate that will allow cyclists through).

There was some kind of police bike ride today with about 25 police officers near Hains Point at about 7 am. They were last seen heading over the 14th Street Bridge towards the MVT.

Dana

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The bike shop in Crystal City would be City Hub

http://revolutioncycles.com/about/city-hub-central-pg602.htm

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You left too early! Departed DC about 5 and the rain had stopped.

Did a lap around Hains Point and observed a red fox looking for dinner.

All in all, a great day!

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Mark will probably arrange for a pickup location someplace along the trail where it may be dark, cold and rainy. It is possible he will arrange for lights as well!

Just so you don’t focus your ire solely on Trek, my Specialized hybrid also had a plastic chain guard that had a lifespan similar to the brake pads.

I’d look at Phoenix or VeloCity for a replacement.

Dana

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@KLizotte 12122 wrote:

Speaking of the parking garage, now that winter is here I am dreading standing around in the cold doing bike maintenance. Do any of the local co-ops let stragglers in to do work on their own bikes (presuming they have heat on the premises)? Otherwise, anyone have any hints on doing bike work in the middle of their living rooms and not splattering everything with muck? Unfortunately I have cream wall-to-wall carpeting.

Both VeloCity Bike Coop in Old Town Alexandria and Phoenix Bikes in Shirlington have shop hours. ..

http://velocitycoop.org/?page_id=48

http://phoenixbikes.org/community/shopnights

Have fun

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I seem to miss the crews doing work that ArlingtonRider finds. Must have something to do with the pre-sunup commutes.

While the conditions for laying asphalt were a little off (most asphalt has begun its winter hibernation), we got a path much better than the one we had. Not sure it is creamy but pretty good. It is certainly frustrating that what could have been done all at once took three discrete paving sessions.

Kudos to the Fed Highway Admin for their follow through (with encouragement from the riders on this site).

Dana

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@acc 11929 wrote:

We’ve got moves: As soon as a cyclist stops we surround them like a pack of hyenas moving in on a fresh kill. Some take the front, some take the rear — it’s just like a NASCAR pit crew — in less than ten seconds we’ve mounted (the bike) with several sets of lights.
ann

The process works far afield as well! Just scored a ninja rider in Canton, Mississippi (about 200 miles north of Biloxi) as I was driving looking for my motel. Old guy riding lightless. I got a couple of blocks ahead of him, parked, grabbed a couple of lights and then ambushed him. He left illuminated and happy.

Score for BikeArlington!

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The commitment of the staff of BikeArlington and the support from Arlington County is superb! Thanks to both! Reinforces my idea that Arlington “gets it”.

Supporting cycling for all who use the trails is a great idea. Thanks to Tim, Zanna and all the volunteers for making this a great, fun evening that improves trail safety.

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@KLizotte 11818 wrote:

I think you should all set up a race and see who gets to the destination first via his preferred route! :rolleyes:

Can I have Dirt or Tim Kelley be my designated rider on their road bikes?

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I’m there

Dana

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I’ll defer to those that know that part of Arlington for how to get to the Mount Vernon Trail best but from the trail, it has the potential to be a cakewalk.

Take the trail south to the 14th Street Bridge. Across the bridge and then (multiple choices below)

Hook around the tidal basin in front of the Jefferson, up 15th Street to Jefferson (southern inner mall street). Right on Seventh Street south across the SW Freeway to G or I Street. Left to 4th Street and then south on 4th.

Turn right or left at the Jefferson to Ohio Drive (less traffic if you go left) and then Buckeye (on Hains Point). About midway between the Washington Channel and the Potomac, take the unnamed (on Google Maps) road between the large buildings and get on the bike path on the Case Bridge (I395). Across the bridge at Banneker Circle, turn right and you will end up at 9th and F, SW. From there you can ride neighborhood streets east to 4th.

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The rider “towing” a spare bike at 0:32 was pretty good. Does he get to use the HOV bike lane?

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@Dirt 11230 wrote:

I’m very grateful for the advocacy and work that people do here in the area that makes it a much better place to ride. I’m grateful for that every single day.

That is something to be thankful for. The BikeArlington staff and riders are willing to help folks of any level, without drama. That newbies like me have open access to the real experts is tremendous.

The commitment of Arlington County in supporting this effort is evidence we are lucky to live in a really progressive community. That there is no distinction between those that live here and those that ride through is impressive. Everybody is part of the BikeArlington community.

Thanks to everybody that have contributed to the effort.

Thanks

Dana

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