[Dirt]

HERE is the link from PPTC’s web site.

[Dirt]

Day 52 of Bike 180: I’m a totally aerodynamic brick.

[Dirt]

Here’s a partial loop of it. We ran out of time and didn’t complete it.

Not sure if my tags nested correctly. If not I’ll fix it in a moment.

I did that ride at least 2 other times last year. I just didn’t upload them to Garmin Connect and I’m not on the computer with all the rides on it.

Partial loop with a bit of an intro ride came out to around 5700 feet of climbing according to my Garmin 705.

Mark and Sean love the hills.

CVS chick wants to squish my head in her hand.

Yes. I’m a bit of a camera dork.

[Dirt]

@Tim Kelley 448 wrote:

I’m intrigued by this “Kill Bill” loop. I found a cue sheet for it, but does anyone have it mapped out somewhere? Any idea of total elevation gain?

I’ll see what I can find.

[Dirt]

@Mark Blacknell 445 wrote:

And thus Dirt highlights the fact that he’s experienced a lot of “tough love” in his life.

(And yes, that’s on the Kill Bill Loop. Hit a hill near George Mason Dr. with Pat the other day that he thinks is tougher than 41st, but I didn’t experience my usual ohthankgodthatisover 41st St. feeling at the top, so I’m not sure I agree . . .)

Yeah… I guess that was kind of a cheesy post. I need to get back to where I can handle doing something like Kill Bill again. I’ll give it a trial run in early June. Wanna play?

[Dirt]

Late coming to this thread.

I use a bucket of hot water with dish washing soap and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush. Get the whole bike wet, then I brush down the frame. Clean the wheels. If I’m cleaning the drivetrain, I’ll get a second brush with stiffer bristles and use it on the drive train.

Just make sure you don’t use the same brush on the drivetrain that you use on the rims. You’ll grease up your brakes quite nicely.

Rinse it lightly, wipe off the excess water with an old towel and you’re good to go. As always, don’t spray a jet of water against any bearings (Headset, bottom bracket, hubs).

LOve,

PEte

[Dirt]

Awesome news. Thank you. I saw the paving equipment out, but thought they might be working on roads. I’ll take the long way home today and enjoy new pavement and a thunderstorm.

[Dirt]

@Mark Blacknell 342 wrote:

The top of Upton St. is ~405 feet. If you’re climbing Upton from the north (say, Vacation Lane), that’s about a 15% grade, I think. I’m certain that there are at least three other people on this thread with the data to correct me, if I’m wrong

That’s the one that is part of the Kill Bill loop, right? I think you may be correct on that one. Honestly I think I like 41st street coming up from Chain Bridge even more though. I think that is because of the frequency that I ride it and where it is located in my rides. I always seem to end super long rides by crossing Chain Bridge. Nothing makes me feel loved like stomping up 41st street after the ride distance has tipped over into the triple digits.

[Dirt]

We went up the other side, which is steady 8% grade with pitches between 11 and 12%. The climb is much longer though. I don’t have a granny gear on that thing at the moment, so 15% gradient would kill me. 12% was bad enough.

The only bummer about that hill is that there is a stop light directly at the bottom. I needed all the braking power that the 203mm rotors could dish out. 48mph to zero ASAP. Definitely fun times.

[Dirt]

Womblehead and I riding part of The Hills of North Arlington loop on 60 pound cargo bikes. Rah!

Not Arlington… actually it is Frederick, MD, but the Dummy accelerates like a Prius with an unfixed accelerator pedal on a 15% grade. Using a low gear didn’t help.

Dancing with Buses in front of the Kennedy Center during this morning’s commute

[Dirt]

Womble and I are gonna have a Big Dummy Convoy home on the C&O tonight. Should be fun.

[Dirt]

You need to think with a bigger perspective, Mark. He resisted the French occupation, overthrew the Empire, restored the Republic, and used liberal efforts to modernize the country… all so that he could provide a perch for a single bird.

Thank you. Riding it in Fredneck with Grumpy, Tuba, Jabberwocky and Lydia the Tattooed lady at 0800 tomorrow. Also riding to CycleFest in Reston Towneee Centreee tomorrow afternoon. The second ride might get swapped for a Waterford Loop if you’re interested. Though I want to talk to Gary Fisher about all the great things he invented (Mountain bikes, 29ers, The Internet).

Dummy has a big ring now. The positioning isn’t perfect yet. The Brooks Saddle is more forward than my SpecialEd. Gonna have to swap that out. I’d also add that Brooks Saddle + tri-bars = OWWWIEEEE

[Dirt]

Makes sense. I put a ton of miles on mine last year and loved every one of them. Nice bikes.

I’ll be back out on mine pretty soon. For right now, I need something that is a little more relaxed and lethargic to ride until my shoulder gets a bit more strength in it.

Happy trails.

[Dirt]

Very nice looking ride. Makes me miss riding my Cervelo. It is definitely getting to be great weather to be out riding that thing. Enjoy!

[Dirt]

@Tim Kelley 422 wrote:

That’s what Mr. T would do…

Not a good look for me… especially after just finishing 4 months of physical therapy for my neck. Don’t think I didn’t try it though. Conte’s sales staff pretended to think I was funny because I am a regular customer there.

@Joe Chapline 423 wrote:

@Dirt: I have one of those Kryptonite Fahgettaboudit chains. That requires a pannier — or a trailer.

Thought about just dragging it behind the bike. It would be another tool in my arsenal that lets people know that I’m passing on the left. Might be a slight safety hazard though. Might have to rethink that.

It will end up in the bottom of my cat litter bucket panniers. (Photo-documentation of those will be coming soon to a Bike Arlington Forum post near you.)

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