[dkel]

You: my bike all this icy week
Me: me

I’m riding tomorrow, dammit!!

[dkel]

I’d love to do this, as it would be a great opportunity for me to meet some people for the first time. I’m stuck at work in Vienna till at least 6:00 or 7:00 on Thursdays, but that’s just me. I’ve had some luck using needtomeet.com for getting the most people possible to a meeting; you could get an email list from rcannon100 or hozn to populate the form, as they seem to have mastered registrations and data.

[dkel]

@Vicegrip 71832 wrote:

Big thanks to all that are making this not just work but work with all the little details that make it all the more fun and “local” but still pro in function.

Hear, hear!

[dkel]

@jrenaut 71816 wrote:

I never did Pascal, but I did C++ and FORTRAN in college (which probably dates me as older than I actually am). Then I did Java for work and thought it was great. Until the first time I tried Python. Python is better than Java in every way imaginable. For every problem that can be solved in five lines of Python, it can also be solved with 5 .jar files, 172 .xml files, a specialized server that takes 6 hours to deploy.

Wait a minute…I was on the bike forum a minute ago…

:p

[dkel]

Thanks, everyone, for so many great reports, and for such good advice. This is the kind of community spirit that will keep everyone riding safer and longer. (Thanks also for not making jokes about me having to listen to my mother!)

[dkel]

When I get my ELITE frame made out of beryllium, it will only way a couple of pounds, and Strava’s MINIMUM weight is 11 pounds…:rolleyes:

[dkel]

@acc 71697 wrote:

After a lot of arm twisting, eminva has agreed in principle to sit on Santa’s lap with me in bike kit. It will be so awesome…. I think I’ll go dig out my sparkle tights.

There will be pictures on the forum…right???

[dkel]

@hozn 71665 wrote:

W&OD west of EFC metro still had quite a bit of frozen slush — maybe 50% of the surface? Further west, out past Vienna was probably more like 2/3 ice cover still. Much faster ride than this AM on the whole, but still not something I would ride without studs.

Thanks for this info: it’s exactly what I needed (it’s my route, after all). I’m just disappointed it wasn’t better news. Till I get those Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires that are now at the top of my wish list, I’m not riding.

Speaking of which, my wife and my mother are both terrified I’ll actually get those tires and ride in extreme conditions like this week (being a performing musician, I probably shouldn’t break a wrist, for example); so, how much better is it with studs? Night and day different? Or should I listen to my wife and my mother? (I know, I should always listen to my wife! It’s too late for me to listen to my mother, though…)

[dkel]

@Jason B 71602 wrote:

^^^^
Are you able to use it with glasses? I am still searching for the elusive non-fogging face mask.

I keep my gaiter pulled up just under my glasses, and I have found that breathing into it only fogs them up when I stop. If I blow through it when I’m stopped (instead of exhaling normally) I don’t fog up. Works great for me.

[dkel]

@Fast Friendly Guy 71583 wrote:

W&OD from E Falls Ch to Shirlington patches of smooth ice and sections of frozen slush deeply grooved with tire tracks and footprints, mostly on bridges and concrete surfaces. Smooth ice not too much a problem if not at a curve or a turn, but frozen slush was bumpy, made for an unstable ride, and caused me and another rider to lose it once or twice.

I did not ride on the WOD on this:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4260[/ATTACH]
from Falls Church (between Broad St and Shreve) to anywhere today. When I drove ( ) through Vienna, the trail where it crosses Park St didn’t look any better. I really hope it’s warm and sunny enough to melt this off today…

[dkel]

@dbb 71496 wrote:

A forum search for “snot rocket” reveals one post each year since 2010. You sir, provided the second post for 2013.

Sit back and watch the “ELITE”s roll in!

[dkel]

@ronwalf 71492 wrote:

Quick! Before it freezes, build yourself a bike plow!

If I had that kind of DIY skills, I would TOTALLY do that! As it is, I’m seriously thinking about a route on surface streets, though I’m not crazy about that, out here in the relatively bike-unfriendly suburbs.

[dkel]

I’m glad it’s not just me with this problem! (I’m also glad someone else had the courage to bring it up.) Personally, I’m terrible at launching snot rockets, so I end up stuffing half a dozen tissues in my pockets. I could probably tell you the temperature pretty accurately by the number I use on my commute.

[dkel]

I just rode my old Trek out to the WOD in Falls Church to see how things are shaping up. Many of you have more experience with these things than I, but I’m afraid that if this doesn’t melt off by sunset, it’s going to freeze into a horrible mess for tomorrow’s commute.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4258[/ATTACH]
Should I plan to ride on the streets to Vienna tomorrow? Should I…drive?!?

[dkel]

My family likes Good Stuff Eatery in Crystal City, right off the MVT. We had brunch there after the Arlington Fun Ride, and I’m still dreaming of the burger I got with bacon and a gooey fried egg on top. My mouth waters just thinking about it! They also have a nice house ale (you can just see some in the upper left corner of the pic).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4252[/ATTACH]

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