[Dirt]

Senor Womblehead…. Wise words indeed. Did you notice that I didn’t suggest going Ben Hur on the Drafters? I guess the new medication is working. (totally joking. I love and respect all mankind and would never condone any kind of action like that against someone.)

I got rear-ended by people while riding the dummy twice last year. How did it happen? I stopped at a stop sign. The people drafting off of me didn’t. Who the heck drafts off of a cargo bike anyways??? Bummed me out. They totally scuffed up the pink paint on the bucket panniers.

[Dirt]

Hi Liz.

Not sure there really is a specific trail etiquette to drafting on the local Multi Use Trails (MUTs). I try to be extremely polite about it. I actually ask if it’s okay if I “take a wheel” for a while. I also make sure to take my turn at the front. In general, I’ve found that those who draft on MUTs in this area have little or no intent to share in the work. My opinion is that they’re often people who habitually tailgate in their cars and do the same on bikes.

Honestly, if I were in that position and it bothered me, I’d talk to them. I’d ease up a little and ask them to pull through. If they’re serious cyclists and know what they’re doing drafting, the actual signal to pull through is to sit up a little and wiggle your left elbow. I’ve never encountered a cyclist on a MUT in the DC area that wasn’t in my riding group that had any idea what that signal meant. Ease up, ask them to pull through and then resume your ride.

Does that make sense? I’m interested in what others have to say too.

Happy riding.

Pete

[Dirt]

I’ll add one observation to this thread…

There’s a reason why McKinley Street got its name.

Hugs and Kisses,

Pete

[Dirt]

@Just161 1459 wrote:

Great picture, thanks Dirt. So there’s a phase when the only car movement is for Penn. Ave. westbounders turning right to northbound 15th? I.e., no left arrow like in your picture? Don’t southbound 15th cars turning left onto eastbound PA cut across the sharrows during that phase?

This is hard to describe. I think I need to just go and look at it!!

Yes. Exactly. There is a light where, assuming everyone obeys the lights, a cyclist can get from Pennsylvania Avenue Cycleway onto the 15th Street Cycleway without getting smooshed. I’m guessing there may be a similar light from 15th to Penn. Ave, but I don’t know how that would sync. It would have to be a Bike Only signal because if the cars on southbound 15th get a turn arrow for Pennsylvania Avenue, their path will cross with the bicycles.

That, however, will have to be explored tomorrow.

Tune in next time for “The Never-ending saga of the 15th Street Cycleway.”

Love,

Pete

[Dirt]

Neoprene shoe covers work nicely. That’s what I’m using right now too. When the temps drop more, I’ll switch over to MTB pedals and use the Lake Boots. For now I’m good though.

I love the idea of using normal winter boots and platform pedals. I often times get wrapped around the axle about using bikey gear, but forget about normal winter gear. Boots are one of the only places that I can do that ’cause they don’t interfere with my weird cycling posture.

Thanks for the contributions. It is super cool to hear what works for people and what gets you out of the house and on your bike these cold, but lovely mornings.

[Dirt]

As an individual you can click on Settings and go down to one for how threads are displayed. Select “Linear, Newest first”. That’s what I use all the time anyways.

Custis and W&OD were clear on the way home, as were the streets around DC. The wind threatened to push me backwards from Falls Church back into Arlington. I needed one more tooth on my rear cog to be able to combat it more aggressively. Oh well. It was a fun ride and I stayed warm.

[Dirt]

Okay, so there *is* an easy way to get from Penn. Ave to 15th St. Cycleways. Wait for the right arrow and ride across. Works both ways.

Obviously cars are willing to share that lane when they have the arrow. I don’t actually expect them too.

[Dirt]

Zip ties would work wonderfully to hold your basket on. I’ve used them for tons of things and they do very well. That said, I always just leave my basket on. The pretty flowers on it make me happy.

As for the brakes, the bike they pictured has disc brakes, thus no rim issues.

I imagine that zip ties would be very slippery on wet pavement. Or dry pavement even. That’s great in a skidding contest. Not so good for a mixed surface ride home.

[Dirt]

@Just161 1441 wrote:

One question: if you approach 15th from the Pennsylvania Ave cycletrack, is there a way to turn right to head north on 15th? A bike-only turn signal maybe?

I tried this yesterday and did not find a good solution. I was in a hurry and just cut to the right turn lane and headed across 15th to the 15th Street Cycleway. I’ll be a bit more attentive today and see what makes sense. I’ll also take a few photos.

Leaving the 15th St. Cycleway didn’t seem to have a good way to get onto PA Ave. Cycleway either. Not that I was able to use the 15th St. Cycleway due to buses. I just jumped over to the left turn lane and went onto PA ave from there.

And you’re right! We should give DDOT a break. This stuff is new. Unfortunately due to people parking in the cycleway, it presents an EXTREMELY dangerous situation.

[Dirt]

Probably would work decently for snow. I can’t imagine it doing anything to help with ice though. Bet it looks cool when you get up to speed. It would look better with pink zip ties though.

[Dirt]

@girlonabikedc 1437 wrote:

Northbound cyclists from the White House are in for a heck of a surprise if they decide to use the cycletrack going north.

Ugh is right. That’s part of my daily commute. I can easily avoid it, but I choose to ride it out of sheer stubbornness. They put the dang lanes there, I’m gonna use them. Luckily my smoosh-avoidance system is fully active.

As a side note, I think the forum software is looking for an uncompacted URL for the photo… something that ends in “.jpg” for instance.

Ride safe! That’s my plan.

[Dirt]

Back on topic: There was a line of 6 buses parked in the 15th Street bikeway this morning. They looked at me like I was from outer space when I suggested that they should move because they’re completely blocking the bike lane.

(My “outer space” comment is not intended to imply that I am NOT from outer space. I will neither confirm, nor deny that.)

Happy day.

Pete

[Dirt]

I e-mailed a friend at Conte’s to see if they’re planning anything.

[Dirt]

You can see that two of us rode past this incident. This must have been the first time this individual rode the boardwalks in the snow.

I wouldn’t call this a strike, but it is certainly a spare that would be easy to pick up.

All joking aside, these boardwalks are seriously slippery.

[Dirt]

I also don’t know how much further north it goes at this point. Right now it appears to just connect Pennsylvania Avenue east of 15th Street with Pennsylvania Ave. West of 15th Street.

[Author]

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