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Is it just me or is everyone else’s calendars (paper and electronic) and clocks broken? Those things all told me it was January 12 and I was heading to work at my normal time, but I got outside and it seemed like I was leaving for work an hour early in March. Thinking back, these devices seemed to have started messing up prior to yesterday’s commute home.

The fog at the Roosevelt Island lot was fantastic!

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For some reason I didn’t think about non-ground surfaces being too cold and freezing since it had been over 32 most of yesterday afternoon. I found out the hard way last night on the 4MRT in between the two underpasses south (or east) of Shirlington that they do indeed freeze before other surfaces. Beautiful, quick wipe out. No apparent damage to bike nor myself, although I started to feel a little stiff later in the evening and this morning, but not bad.

I kept this in mind when I later had to cross I-66 on the Ballston connector between Fairfax Dr and the Custis. I managed to not go down, although that was likely because it was a short, flat stretch and I decided to not try turning with the trail. I nearly forgot again on my front steps, but also didn’t go down.

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@CBGanimal 170742 wrote:

If you wrote it in Spanish it would be a Haiku…it is my first language you know…
What is the punishment for rule breaking?

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It is Calvinball, just make a new rule that allows you to do what you did.

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First commute of year was lovely. Cold, but I guessed nearly correctly on layers (about a half layer too much on top), so not uncomfortable. Beautiful sunrise over the nearly frozen river (almost a perfect mirror image of the sun, but the ice wasn’t perfectly smooth. Beautiful anyway).

28 on the counter for today and, shockingly, 67 for the year.
Weren’t all you freezing saddles folks supposed to be riding all over yesterday? Miss the Rosslyn counter in your travels or did everyone sleeze ride?

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Custis to MVT to LBJ Grove, then Pentagon roads:
All pretty clear. Small patches or snow/ice at edges of trail occasionally, which are easy to avoid, bridges/overpass worst. Spout Run and Trollheim definitely worst, but all very passable. Passing other people less pleasant on Spout Run, but a center-of-lane path on both. As the dawn’s early light lit the split on Trollheim, the gray paint looked a lot like snow/ice, but clearly wasn’t when I got there.

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Wonderful ride this morning. First ride in over a week due to a chest cold. I half expected to have to stop along the MVT and cough up a lung (I am not completely over the cold, but had enough driving), but I did not – bonus! And while the full-body coughs are a form of exercise, they do not provide the endorphins that a commute to the office provides. I missed those endorphins and feel great (aside from the occasional cough that I am now ignoring).

I was surprised by how few people were out. It is still quite warm, albeit overcast. I guess lots of people have taken time off.

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@Judd 169394 wrote:

You shouldn’t roller blade in a bike lane Jeanne.

As someone who roller blades and cycles (although not so much here in hilly Arlington), taking the bike lane or bike path when separate from the pedestrian path is preferable, although no idea on legality. I rollerblade steadily over 12mph, not unlike a lot of cyclists (including myself!), and stopping is tougher on roller blades than on a bicycle (except for that appropriately sized pebble that instantly stops your wheels and you become airborne. Was that 12mph to 0 in 2 ft or 8ft? Do I count the airborne portion?). Sidewalks and peds are no place for something traveling on wheels at 12mph or faster. If you are a beginner or non-confident blader, then maybe the sidewalk is appropriate since you would be all over the bike lane, like a drunken person, and thus unsafe to yourself and the other users. If you are otherwise acting like a (slightly wider) bicycle, the bike lane makes far more sense to me safety-wise for all. If on a bicycle planning to pass a blader, just give a heads up as you would anyone else, and we can reduce the width of the stride as you pass.

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@dasgeh 168355 wrote:

Reported?

I reported it this morning since I saw it on my way in. I used the on-line reporting tool.

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@DrP 168142 wrote:

Absolutely gorgeous morning!

Third beautiful fall morning in a row!
I hope more are like these.

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Me: Cyclist riding on the Custis, heading down the Rosslyn hill
You: Pedestrian walking down the Custis, heading down the Rosslyn hill, on the right side of the path
Me: Ding! Ding! as I head to the left to pass.
You: changing lanes, at the same time I am
Me: Ack! As I grab the brakes.
You: “Sorry” as you stop and we avoid a collision.
Me: “I ring the bell to let you know I am coming so that you can stay where you are. You were fine to stay there.”
You: “okay” but looking confused.

I am not sure she understood or if she will change her behavior in future, but she confirmed my suspicion that many pedestrians do not understand that the bell means “I am going to pass you, please do not make any sudden moves and, if possible be single file on the right.” (and sometimes also, “please keep your kids and pets under control, or at least attempt to, while I attempt to pass”) I think they take it like a car horn, “Get out of my way!” May also explain why I see more and more on the left side of the trails.

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Absolutely gorgeous morning!

Even with the sun not blocking its light as I rode towards it.
(I suppose that is because it wasn’t expecting to pass by me until later in the day?)

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I can give advice on Army-Navy drive from Pentagon City to 28th St S to Meade. If some of that fits on the route planned, take the advice, if not, not worries.

I bike this every trip home (unless I need to be somewhere between Rosslyn and Clarendon on the way home) from work. There is a bike lane from Joyce to just after the Army Navy Country Club. That part is great (except when the bus stops and the traffic isn’t great to go around. Well, I am not fond of the hill from Joyce, but that is because I carry too much in my paniers). From the loss of bike lane to 28th street it is a little less fun, but I am used to it. Take the lane. The middle of the lane. There will be the occasion {favorite rude word here} driver that passes too close, but most go into the neighboring lane (although when then don’t I can just feel their bad “I want to drive faster” vibes in many cases. Others are great and give me like 3 car lengths). 28th is pretty easy (only occasion speed demon that MUST pass) as is Meade.

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As my lights played on the water coming off my front tire, I thought ” I am a lighted fountain!” I thought this was cool. “I am a lighted rolling fountain!” and other such descriptions.

This was a good thought. Especially since there were four occasions that I was crossing roads, in the crosswalk, with the walk signal, and drivers somehow didn’t realize that I was there. I was lit. I was wearing a Bike Arlington reflective vest (along with other reflective items). I was headed towards them (except for the first case – they were making a left). In all cases I yelled at them and continued yelling, as I continued on my route, in the crazy person mode of “how can you not see me?! How can you not expect someone in the crosswalk?! Just because it is raining?! I am LIT!! I am Reflective!!” pause “I am a lighted fountain!” The last calmed me a bit as I chuckled. (I might still be a crazy person, but a happier one, at least).

Oh, and with all the rain, no deer popped out at me on the W&OD. But I had to cross Wilson rather than pass under it due to the water.

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@jrenaut 167365 wrote:

4 days, or 3 days AND 25 miles.

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The problem with this is that sometimes people have trips to take during the nearly three months of freezing saddles. The year I did it, about a week in, I suddenly needed to travel for work 1-5 days a week for 7 of the weeks. I could not bike on travel (no time and no bike), but I biked as much as I could during the time I was in town – I was frequently at or near the top of my team, with well over 25 miles per week (usually over 100) – at least until the weather warmed up and everyone rode constantly. I managed to be in town for at least the weekends. If someone is gone for a full week, then they cannot meet the 25 or 3-4 days at all. I did warn my team when I found out and I upped my riding to try to counter the time not riding.

Also, illness. While injury can mean someone is completely out, and then being off the team may be appropriate, a cold or the flu may take you out for a few days, but you can be back to riding the following week.

Perhaps there is a way for someone to send notice that s/he is out of town that week or ill and not be kicked off.

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Do you have versions for deer? I would have been less surprised on this evening’s commute if the deer were wearing something reflective or lit and I don’t think they go to too many stores.

You will likely be seeing me – I do not want the deer (or cars or other people) surprised as I approach.

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