[dkel]

Representatives of Team 7 at the happy hour:
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Don’t be fooled by the friendly demeanor of this bunch: we are destroyers!

[dkel]

@consularrider 73279 wrote:

There’s snow everywhere!

Including on my helmet.
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(Don’t ask me why that’s sideways.)

[dkel]

After I started all this cycling back in September, my goal was to get from 200 down to 185; about six weeks ago I plateaued at a few pounds off my goal, and haven’t been able to get the last few off yet. So, this is the perfect challenge for me! I weighed in this morning at 188, and will see how far I can get.

[dkel]

I couldn’t bear to do a sleaze ride on the first day, but had to help prepare for a big open house today. I got in eight miles despite having nowhere to go, so I think I’m safe from sleazing up my team on day one. I also used the ride to put in some purposeful work on hills…maybe that will benefit the team later…besides, any ride is better than no ride!

So looking forward to happy hour tomorrow!

[dkel]

@jrenaut 73004 wrote:

Tape recorder strapped to your helmet + voice-to-text software = write your dissertation while riding. You’re welcome.

Wait a minute–what’s a tape recorder?

[dkel]

@Dirt 73002 wrote:

I’d like more of my miles to be cute and fluffy too. Not sure how to do that, but goals are important to me.

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Yeah…maybe this isn’t quite what you’re looking for.

[dkel]

Since 2014 will be my first opportunity to be a cyclist for an entire calendar year, my minimum goal will be to keep my current level of activity through the new year, so that would put me at 3500 mi for a nice round figure (3600 based on Nov and Dec alone). If I can push that to 4000, I’ll be really pleased, but I will also need to write my dissertation sometime in there, and I will only be able to justify extra riding after the doctorate is done.

[dkel]

The only segments I pay attention to are the uphill ones, because they are the most challenging to improve on, they are hard to go fast on in any case (and thus seem safer to me–or maybe I’m just slow), and improving on them seems a good indicator of fitness level. But that’s just me…and I think the “just me” part is the takeaway for this thread: safety depends on each cyclist (or pedestrian, or whomever) far more than on segments or anything else. If someone is going to be unsafe, or even inconsiderate of others, a Strava segment won’t make much difference. Like as not, there were crazy cyclists before Strava, and I can’t imagine that Strava has made things any worse. As with so many things in this life, personal responsibility from everyone would cause this to be a non-issue.

[dkel]

@PotomacCyclist 72749 wrote:

Er, there are a lot of post-holiday sales, online and in stores, this week. Probably in January too. Time to get gifts for yourself.

Today’s trip to Performance was a success: bike shorts (10% off), chain wear indicator, and a new water bottle. Only a couple of bucks left on the gift card…should’ve grabbed an energy bar.

Next trip: Freshbikes for those SPD pedals I’ve had my eye on; the gift card will totally cover it, too.

[dkel]

@PotomacCyclist 72768 wrote:

I did get to ride near the historic Jamestown and Williamsburg areas, which was kinda neat. (I had the opportunity because I DNF’d the race, which had a more mundane bike course. Since I was out of the race, I decided to go for a scenic casual bike ride on my own.)

I admire that.

[dkel]

@dcv 72765 wrote:

OK, mean girl. What about brining back fresh or mint?

In my house, the thing to say now is “totes cray-cray.” That may be worth adding.

[dkel]

Best: definitely the fact that I started riding to work–and everywhere else that I can–this year, and that I’m loving every minute of it. I’ve lost weight, I have more energy, and all those other benefits.

Worst: I was certainly miserable the second week of December with all that ice, but I think that could be easily remedied by getting some studded tires. For me, worst would still have to be the incomprehension I get from people when they find out that I ride in all kinds of conditions, or even at all. Sometimes it leads to a good conversation about cycling, but most of the time people think I’m crazy–and tell me so–or make snide comments, or even laugh at me. People I see a lot generally leave me alone now, but I’m still not used to adverse reactions, because I think cycling is so good for me, in so many ways. The number of “you rode your bike in this weather? That’s awesome!” comments I get don’t come close to offsetting the others. That’s why I love this forum so much. Come to think of it, add finding and joining the forum to my Best of 2013!

[dkel]

I left for work on Christmas Day at 9:15 am, after getting home the previous night after midnight (wait–that makes it the same day!). It was 20 degrees, and my water bottle froze up on the way in. Knowing about air density and vascular resistance is heartening, but during the freezing ride I found myself focusing on Rule #5 (and the hilarious video associated with it). That helped! Regardless, I felt pretty awesome for having gone for it, and one of my cycling friends there (who drove that day) gave me props.

Keep after it, folks! (Seriously, if I can do it, anyone can.)

[dkel]

@PotomacCyclist 72735 wrote:

Increase taxes on heavy trucks and tour buses. They cause the most damage to transportation infrastructure by far. You break it, you pay for it.

Add to this the benefits of cycling: reduction in carbon production, reduction in dependence on oil, health benefits to riders (to name a few). How about a tax credit for these things instead?

[dkel]

I got no bike gear! I think most people in my life don’t really want to spring for items they think are nutty to begin with; my wife, on the other hand, says she knows I’m just going to buy all the gear for myself anyway, so she got me other things (makes sense, really). I did get some bikey stuff, though, like this bow tie with tiny bikes on it:
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and this fair-trade art item from Kenya:
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My wife got me three shipments from bikeloot, which she labeled “from ‘The Forum’.” (Thanks, Forum!)
My brother got me a gift card to Road ID. (Anyone have one of these things? Suggestions what I should get?)
I did end up with more than $100 worth of LBS gift cards, so I will buy some gear for myself (just as my wife predicted).

[Author]

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