[dplasters]

Me – guy on blue bike heading east bound on 29 between hilltop and gallows

You – guy wearing all black (including your bike) heading east bound on 29… in the west bound lanes.

Stop that. You’re going to kill yourself.

[dplasters]

@dkel 88447 wrote:

I want to see pics of that! Congrats on your commute. Well done!

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Ignore the horrible chair railing and the clearly visible wallpaper glue line… we are doing some renovating….

I’ve seen the path on the east side of Fairview Park. I think in the morning the road will be no issue (I’d probably be hitting that area around 6:30 or 7am but could see the traffic in the afternoon getting a little ugly.

[dplasters]

Given all the amazing feedback and help I received I feel almost obligated to update everyone.

I rode my bike to work today (we will see how getting home in the heat this evening feels). The route from americancyclo is amazing and I owe you big time. It takes about 20-25 minutes depending on how I hit the lights.

I did indeed get a Spot Dualie. For the extremely amazing reason of because its awesome and I love it. It has been no problem at all, although I biked up Pickett to get to the Trader Joe’s at the corner of Pickett and 236 and I thought I might die for a moment. My brother in-law rides a lot in Lynchburg and has been super helpful as well.

I have kept the modifications to only changing out the handlebars to add more hand positions for comfort other than that its all stock.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their great advice and feedback and if you any questions about the bike I’d be happy to answer them… I also got a new job, it is still in falls church though (next to the Fairview Marriott). So I’ll only be doing the current route for a few more weeks then I’ll have to figure out the best way to navigate the Fairview Park Dr/Route 50/495 mess.

Thank you all!

[dplasters]

As many have suggested I am planning to get out to an LBS or two this weekend and try out some bikes and see what will work for me. I have time, closing isn’t until late June. The Dualie is indeed a two speed bike and I’m hoping it will indeed find a nice little spot that makes me happy, we will see.

On tinkering and general accessorizing – In my brief time so far researching and getting into biking I have discovered some similarities to my current hobby of golf. Namely that there is an incredible variance in prices and that there is a solution for every little thing you could possibly imagine (I stumbled upon the NYC Bike Snob blog months and months ago and have had a great time laughing at some of the wild cycling accessories… then I make myself remember golf is full of just as silly things). Also, tinkering costs money, lots of money. I have made a great deal of peace and saved quite a bit of money for myself by having a K.I.S.S. attitude with my golf equipment recently and I’m hoping the same is true here. I want to find a bike I love and that functions. It need not be the fastest, the lightest or have the best brakes.

On the plus side, I have piles of gore-tex and other items to get me through stupid horrible weather conditions already…

[dplasters]

Nice Bike Nic.

No offense was taken on the fixie comment. I think I developed a disorder. I accidently saw Premium Rush a few weeks ago when my wife found out that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was in it and now I’m afraid if I dare use the word fixie I’ll be called a hipster or a poser… or something bad! So I’m being overly defensive about it… god bless.

I also like the word Tapawingo. I had never heard of it until today. I’m drawn to it…

[dplasters]

@NicDiesel 82957 wrote:

Don’t forget the ridiculous calves too.

Just want to point out that I never said anything about a fixie. although I get that I may be splitting hairs on SS vs fixie. I will have brakes etc, I like being alive and well. Just looking to not spend so much and not purchase more bike than I need.

Freshbikes terrifies me. All I ever see there is super expensive Cannondale stuff. Sub 1k is a must.

I will certainly have to check out some of the other local shops and was hoping I would get some reviews/advice on which one might be best (thank you for the info dasgeh).

Thank you for the possible routes! I have planned for and expect to do some early morning weekend exploring to see how I feel about them in the near future.

[dplasters]

Wow! Awesome feedback – From what I’m hearing Lee Highway is a no go? Which is what I was fearing. Living so close to work though I refuse to give up on my biking to work dreams.

For specifics – My office is actually at the corner of Gallows and Gatehouse Rd so not towards the Dunn Loring Metro.

It sounds like safety means I need to buck up and turn my 3 miles as the car goes into 6 miles as the bike goes and head north to Cottage and then down Gallows. I used to live in the Halstead Apartments off of Gallows and know there is a very wide sidewalk there and have also seen a few bikes on Gallows road proper. I’ll check out the hills on Tapawingo and see what I’m in for.

Keep the bike ideas coming! I have been shopping around for a month or so but new companies and bikes are always coming up. I had no idea there were so many.

Rod – The Spot Dualie is my unicorn. I want it bad. The only good thing is that I know if I get it and I can get my skinny butt up the hills I’ll ride it to death because I’m obsessed with it.

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