[DSalovesh]

Using a derailer to keep chain tension is dicey if the chain is still the original length. With the limit screws locked you can’t recover if the chain hops a gear and doesn’t settle back. Probably won’t be a big problem, but to fix it you’ll need to hop off and fiddle around.

If you shorten the chain (or buy a new one and trim it) you should be fine for playing around while you figure out if it’s worth the <$100 to commit.

[DSalovesh]

CFA has oversight, and makes non-binding recommendations. If those recommendations are not followed, they can make further recommendations to Congress about funding and legislation for those and other projects. DC will bill about $1M to the Joint Congressional Presidential Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies just for the repaving, and a pissed-off CFA could block the payback.

[DSalovesh]

Don’t know if it was my report you’re thinking of, but I did see that on a really hot day in July 2011. He was actually making pretty good time – we passed him at Belle Harbor, he got to Mt. Vernon as we were leaving, and he caught up with us again at Belle Harbor on the way back!

[DSalovesh]

Mineral spirits may be harmless to your bike, but they’re pretty nasty to your lungs, skin, and overall health.

I know nothing is totally safe, but if you want to use mineral spirits to clean your bike you should wear gloves and get plenty of fresh air. (Except that “evaporates quickly” part means the hydrocarbons are being released into the air anyway.)

[DSalovesh]

My personal longest two-bike ride is Key Bridge to Eastern Market.

Both bikes were mine, of course.

[DSalovesh]

I’m working on convincing my family and knee that these need to come home with me:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1713[/ATTACH]

Check at Fort Dupont about ice speed skating options. I know they do some, but it may be targeted at kids. The speed coach is an Olympian who would know if there are other venues – runs an inline kid’s camp all summer and an after-school one the rest of the year.

[DSalovesh]

Actually, DDOT prefers if we just call 311. Anything that comes to them from another route gets plugged into the same system anyway, so if we call 311 ourselves we’ll get the tracking numbers – did you know each one entitles you to cast an extra vote for citywide offices?

[DSalovesh]

@rcannon100 26648 wrote:

Just remember, databases such as this are used for data mining. Only put information here (in FB, Twitter, G+) that you feel comfortable having data miners get. (I dont put any accurate personal information in social media sites)

I can’t agree with this enough.

The last time I was burglarized it coincided with a special ride I did that I had announced on a local email list. I can’t say for sure that someone evil connected that planned absence with other information I had put out, but I can’t rule it out either. Fortunately they were unaware of my dogs and their attempt was unsuccessful, but they did make it into my house.

I like to track my rides with GPS, but I start the recording at a nearby park, which is saved as “Home” in the devices. I take videos of some of my rides, which also start on the streets of my neighborhood but never at my house. I never announce my longer rides or travel plans, and I don’t talk much about other people in my life or things I have.

I don’t pretend this makes me invisible, and that’s not the intention. I’m just hoping to make it a little harder for the lazy crooks to pass me over.

[DSalovesh]

They’re Campagnolo – the cones are stamped “BREV. CAMP.”

Not too much searching found them as NOS for $80.

[DSalovesh]

I still kick myself for being a starving artist when I could have had one of these for $600 – back in the late 80’s or early 90’s:

http://www.pedersen-bike.dk/pedersenbikes.htm

Around Chicago in those days there were TWO shops that had ’em on the floor and ready to roll out the door. One’s still around but they don’t do anything like that anymore (Lickton’s), and I wish I knew what happened to the other. They even had a custom ironwork gate on the front door in the shape of a Pedersen.

[DSalovesh]

Kidding I’m sure, but I’ve done it when I have no other alternative:

Fresh out of college with most of an arts degree (i.e., beyond broke) I got a flat and had no money for a tube, so I kept riding it for a couple of weeks. Then I got another flat and still had no money for two tubes. I think I kept that up for almost two months until I got laid off (after letting OSHA know we were working with asbestos and had been given no instruction or safety equipment) and it started getting snowy.

Come spring I had a far better “day job” so I bought a couple of tubes to get back on the road and see if I needed new tires or wheels – but I didn’t. Everything was fine and the wheels didn’t even need truing! The tires were well worn from the previous couple of years of riding but they weren’t quite used up or damaged. Replaced them a couple of paychecks later, but the wheels themselves (Mavic MA-40s on Campy Triomphe hubs) kept rolling for many thousands of miles and at least 10 years.

[DSalovesh]

Dunno where you’re starting from. My daughter is now 9 and rides (with guidance and some sidewalks) just about anywhere from our home on Capitol Hill to:

Mount Vernon Trail. We ride bike lanes, limited access paths, and sidewalks to pick it up at the TJ Memorial. She considers Old Town an accomplishment, but even just to Gravely Point is a good trip.

The National Arboretum. The trip there involves lots of sidewalks and “interesting” neighborhoods north of H Street NE, but once we get there it’s all slow speed limited access fun.

If driving to the start is possible my favorite is the Capitol Crescent Trail from Georgetown. Even making it from there to the relatively close park at Fletcher’s Landing is a lot of fun – rent a rowboat or kayak or canoe there to make it a combo trip. (You could bike there, depending on your starting point, but from my house there are quite a few challenges before we get to the good stuff.)

[DSalovesh]

With PI, any time I’ve been between sizes I’ve gone with the larger and had no regrets.

[DSalovesh]

Amsterdam too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWmAIhz43S4

[DSalovesh]

On-bike pouches don’t work out for me – several bikes, bad parking, forgetful… Everyday though, my backpack has a 3″x6″x1.5″ case for bike stuff, to wit:

• 1 spare 700c tube (the “right” size for one bike, workable on two others)
• 2 tire levers
• Self-gluing patches
• CO2 adapter and 2 16g cartridges (wrapped in old tubes)
• Multi-tool w/ chain breaker
• spoke wrench
• Rubber gloves
• Small bottle of oil
• Keys for the locking skewers on a couple of my bikes
• “Trixie” 15mm wrench / bottle opener (wrapped in “Gorilla” tape)
• Blackburn “Flea” light set
• Miscellany including web straps, zip ties, bailing wire, cleat screws, chain links & quicklinks

Also in the backpack I often carry at least a tiny U-lock (like, 4″ – just big enough to attach the bike to something when I dash into a store for a minute), a hand pump, and a more robust lighting setup if it isn’t already on the bike. This is far more than I really need, and in fact I often go months without even opening this kit, but I like the peace of mind that comes from knowing whatever I need to finish this ride somehow is probably with me.

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