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The problem with weather like today’s is that the DING-DING of my bell becomes dink-dink. Luckily (I guess) there was almost no one out there to pass.

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Since it is now December, I am replying to the November report on Trollheim bridge (http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?9503-November-2015-Road-and-Trail-Conditons&p=128751#post128751). The bridge was open this morning and I gather it wasn’t closed too long since they replaced only 9-12 boards (some looked nearly new, but so dark that I wasn’t sure if that was darker wood or rain). Many more boards could really use replacing, but oh well.

[P.S. I reported the dead deer along the trail to NPS. Just south of the bridge at the north end of Columbia Island. It looked so peaceful lying there]

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@DismalScientist 128590 wrote:

I predict major whining by people who should meditate on Rule #9 and simply follow Rule #5.:rolleyes:

The problem with these references is that if you go looking for “the rules” they aren’t there any more. At least the link from http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6846-The-Rules
goes to a “page not found” response.

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Beautiful morning ride. Refreshing. I think the sun was reading all the “lights” discussions on the other threads and arranged to clouds to keep itself out of my eyes.

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@Boomer2U 128475 wrote:

I think that Freezing Saddles may have begun this morning…

I definitely had some waffling on the clothing to wear today given the quick drop in temperature rather than a more gradual change. If I had much further to ride, I would have had to start removing clothing, so I did not get it quite right.

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@mstone 128348 wrote:

Hey, speaking of Glebe, how does one goose the semi-annual sweeping of the gravel at the intersection with Fairfax?

It needs to be more frequently than that with the construction site there. I go through that intersection very slowly to keep an eye out for sharp objects that might possibly pop my tires.

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Even though it was so humid (okay, misting) the ride home, it was just so lovely. The fog over the river made DC and the Monuments look really pretty. All the red tail lights from the folks trying to get home on the GWP, Lee Highway, I66 or over any of the bridges were softened by the mist and made a nice red glow. With them all barely moving, it gave me such a seasonal appropriate warm and thankful feeling that I was not in one of those metal boxes. Even the giant pick-up truck that decided the instant the light on Lee Hwy at the IOD turned green for him he had to turn and not go anywhere so was blocking the crosswalk stopping anyone in or about to enter the crosswalk didn’t bother me as much as it might have.

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@ginacico 128309 wrote:

If an oncoming light seems bright, I just look away (to the right edge of the trail, so I can still “see” with peripheral vision). Same reaction I learned in driving school to avoid getting scorched by high beams.

I have been wondering why other folks aren’t doing this. I was raised to not look directly into the sun and other bright lights. Except on the rare occasions that the shape of the trail (e.g., blind curve) makes it so that I have no clue anyone is there until the light is in my and eyes as bright as can be, then I have time to see them when they aren’t so bright, know they are there, and then focus on the ground in front of me or off to the side or something else to worry about. What do these folks do just after sunrise or just before sunset when the sun is in their eyes? Demand that the sun shade itself? As with this morning, I was riding into the sun for a large fraction of my ride (and at times effectively had a Double sun with the reflection of the mostly calm Potomac) so I keep looking not at the sun and continue on my way. At least with other riders, once they are passed, they are no longer bright and in your face, so to speak.

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I was quickly looking through the Arlington County page. Is this just the section from basically the airport to Shirlington? Or even not as far a Shirlington? Couldn’t they restripe Glebe with one lane in each direction, a center turn lane and bikes lanes on either side for the traffic?

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Very pleasant commute. I saw five other cyclists on the Custis and maybe ten on MVT. More peds on Custis than cyclists, but not many over all. No rain, a bit breezy by the airport. Glad I wait until it is time to leave to make my decision to bike or not since it really was nice. Even the car getting ready to turn during the LPI at the IOD stopped as I pointed at him and then the no turn sign. Hopefully tonights weather is as nice (although those leaves will be slick).

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I find that except for the rare egregious cases, just continuing on my ride calms me down (especially if an up-hill is coming since so much more work is needed or a down-hill for the “wheee” factor). In those rare cases, it depends on the circumstances. Shrugs, eye-rolls, etc. as per Amalitza work wonders. Muttering under my breath too. Also, composing what I might put in a “Missed Connection” post helps turn it around too.

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Last night while biking along very dark trails, as people would come into my view, I would see different light patterns and as they got closer, different reflective patterns, or just suddenly see a person. It kind of made me think (base on movies, not actual experience) of being on a mini-sub looking out of the windows at all the different sea creatures deep in the oceans. From the photos and movies, they too have a selection with some being reflective, some seem having their own lights, some hiding the lights as one approaches (“nothing to see here”) and some without any. All were different there and on the trails. On the trails, some were kind of funny with all the lights (blinking and not, and different colors – joggers often had different colors) and reflective strips added and others quite cool to look at. Oh, and the fact that once I got off the trails and into more populated and well lit areas, the temperature went up several degrees helped with the “deep dive” sensation. Trying to decide what kind of “sea creature” was approaching is kind of a fun way to pass the time commuting when I cannot see much else around me.

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Usually I complete the Arlington Loop for my commute (1/2 morning, 1/2 evening). Decided to try reversing the morning commute last night to see if that were less dark. Overall, MVT is less dark than W&OD, but a good light is still needed and MVT is far more crowded. Not sure which is better – at least on MVT should something happen and I needed help, I feel like it is more likely someone may actually pass by (less likely to have deer cross path too).
Case in point, the trolls got someone behind me on planks and I and others did stop to ensure he was okay (bruises, most likely).

When passing by the Marriott garage, I heard bagpipes and saw someone in the garage walking and playing them. I guess the acoustics are good.

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You: Deer at side of W&OD at about 6:30 last night
Me: Cyclist pretty focused on trail in the spot of light in front of my bicycle.
You: Shuffling in the leaves
Me: What is that noise…”Ack!” as you appear in the edges of my light
You: Just staring.
Me: Thank you for not leaping across the trail at that time. Neither of us would have been happy

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Sunday morning was glorious for a bike ride! Okay, the fingers and toes remained unusable for part of the time (too quick a jump to cold), but it was clear, crisp and no one on the trails! No needing to pass big groups or have folks whiz by not calling passes. Just wonderful. Number 7 on the monolith! I haven’t been single digits in ages.

Today was great too – even colder, but commute (relatively short) rather than a long fun ride. Clearly more people out today as I was number 105 and it was within a few minutes of yesterday.

I do need to remember what to wear at these temps. Usually I ease into the weather adding a little bit each week, this time it has been kind of sudden.

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