[EasyRider]

Putting aside that crosswalks and sidewalks are ordinarily lit and have the word “walk” in them …

I think I’ve steered the thread off course. Sorry. But I think I’ve stated my position plainly. In the winter months, avoiding ninjas (read: fitness oriented pedestrians without reflectors or lights) are a nightly occurrence for every bike commuter on this forum. The suddenly fallen tree … the out of towner who decided to walk down the MVT in the dark instead of taking a cab to DCA … the squirrel out past bedtime … these are comparatively rare. I appreciate hearing cyclists stick up for a pedestrian’s right to go unseen, but it’s not where I’m at. Over and out.

[EasyRider]

@TwoWheelsDC 148138 wrote:

If you can’t see an unlit/unreflector’d pedestrian in time to avoid hitting them, how are you going to avoid deer, rabbits, squirrels, potholes, downed trees, loose gravel, frost heaves, and whatever other hazard you can think of doesn’t have lights or reflectors? If your light’s cone of illumination is shorter than the length required to a)see obstacle b)react to obstacle, and c)avoid obstacle, you’re riding too fast. Want to ride faster? Get a better light. It’s not pedestrians’ responsibility to wear reflective gear just so you can ride faster (but again, what about all those other hazards?).

As my forum handle might indicate, I’m not fast, and my interest in trail users wearing a modest amount of reflective material is about safety, not so I can ride faster. It’s so I can more easily avoid hitting someone, even at the humble speeds I travel. My own experience is that a reflector allows me to become aware of a pedestrian at a much greater distance than full illumination does, and my light is not a weak one. IMHO, a pedestrian wearing reflective strip or armband at night is the equivalent of a cyclist ringing a bell or calling a pass. It’s a safe, friendly, almost-no-cost way of saying “hi, I’m here, we’re out here together.”

[EasyRider]

I agree that it is our responsibility as cyclists not to hit other trail users, regardless of time of day or their attire. I also think Ninjas should be asked to have a bit of reflective material or to carry a flashlight. These are not mutually exclusive. As long as we’re taking 100% responsibility for other trail users safety, it’d be nice if they were a little easier to see.

[EasyRider]

I agree. Since not everyone is willing to take responsibility for their own visibilty, I use a brighter light and slow down.

But car drivers are required to use running lights and headlights between dusk and dawn. Cyclists have various lights/reflector requirements. Why shouldn’t pedestrians on the trail be asked to wear at least SOME modest amount of reflective material front and rear? I’m talking about a two dollar arm or ankle band.

[EasyRider]

@huskerdont 148000 wrote:

You saved 18 or so minutes by braving the Columbia Pike/Washington Blvd. junction. I couldn’t do that on a regular basis, but that’s a substantial savings. Underscores the need to make some sort of connection from Pentagon/CC to points west.

Going down the Pike from S. Courthouse to Orme is actually not too bad, I ride it every morning around 8:15. The key is to wait at the South Courthouse Rd. intersection until east bound Pike traffic gets the red light. Only then should you go. Stay in the left lane. I can usually get to the bottom of the hill before any cars overtake me, and I’m not very fast. Traffic is almost always stopped at the bottom of the hill at the light just before Washington Blvd. By then, you’re almost to your turn left onto Orme and down Southgate. Coming home, I always use the sidewalk on the north side of Columbia Pike. I can’t keep up with traffic going uphill, and the setting sun is in their eyes.

[EasyRider]

I’d think we’ll see posted (and sometimes enforced) speed limits on trails before we see speed governors. Moped speeds are a major selling point for e-bikes.

For the ACPD, at least, enforcement will be focused on quiet Sunday mornings, just like it is for cars. No e-biker will ever be ticketed, since they’ll still be asleep at that hour.

[EasyRider]

I don’t antagonize these riders, but I generally agree: the paths around here are not suited to them, they are motorized vehicles, it is a safety issue, and it will be a growing problem in the years to come.

I can understand electric hill-assist for slow moving cargo bikes ferrying groceries or children, and it’s a no brainer for me that those with mobility issues should be allowed to use motorized scooters to enjoy safe and often scenic trails. The gray area for me starts with the skateboard and segway like devices. I’m not sure about those yet. But I’m certain that no allowances need to be made for able-bodied people to take a 40lb+ electric moped to work at 20mph down a narrow twisting ribbon of trail, possibly in the dark, simply because they’d rather not deal with road congestion.

[EasyRider]

@dkel 147473 wrote:

120 rear spacing is common on FG bikes. My last FG build used 135 rear spacing, though, and fixed hubs can be had in that spacing (as well as others). My 135 hub was threaded for a fixed cog on one side, and I used a 6-bolt fixed cog to attach to the disc mount on the other side; chain line was the same for both, resulting in a fixed/fixed setup. That took fat tires, too. 😎

Thanks for the info. My rear wheel was built to fit 120mm dropouts but has spacers on the axles which center it in my frame, which is either 126 or 130. Do you recall what your chainline measurement is with a 135mm rear dropout? Am guessing north of 45mm if it takes fat tires, too?

[EasyRider]

I have a 40T chainring, a 15T fixed cog and a 16T freewheel. I can’t get up Superman Hill with it, but most other hills aren’t a problem. 40×15 limits my top speed because I can’t make my legs a blur.

I converted an old Trek road bike, so I can’t put a larger chainring on there without hitting the chainstay. A bigger ring would need to be mounted further out, and I think I’d need to replace my BB with a longer spindle or redish the rear wheel to maintain chainline.

Others will correct me if I’m wrong, but purpose built track/fixed gear bikes have narrower chainstays and 120mm rear dropouts, which makes fitting larger chainrings easy. I think Dirt, americancyclo and Pete all ride such frames, yes?

[EasyRider]

Nice stem. Nitto?

[EasyRider]

My two cents: for beginners, the feeling of “hyper-awareness” is a byproduct of realizing that your reaction time is not as good as it is with a geared bicycle, and so you look farther ahead for threats. For experienced riders who can handle a fixed gear bike as well as a geared one, it’s about looking for daylight so that you don’t have to bring the bike to a stop and start again in a high gear.

[EasyRider]

@americancyclo 147318 wrote:

Riding in heavy traffic is also good practice.

Judd, this is your mother. Please don’t practice learning to ride a fixed gear bicycle in heavy traffic.

[EasyRider]

What is ABT?

[EasyRider]

I like to go down 21st street, past the Fed, to the light at Constitution. It’s a 2 way street but there’s hardly ever any northbound traffic so you can often take the northbound lane and, taking care, bypass the long line of cars waiting to turn right.

[EasyRider]

Build your own, of course! 😎 I bought my bike off CL for cheap, stripped it, bought a new wheelset, and went to the parts bin and Ebay for most of the rest. Over the years I’ve added newer bits as the spirit moved me.

[Author]

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