[ebubar]

Dear Arlington resident who “drives” a monstrous SUV and is apparently a member of the country club next to Marymount University. First, you should slow down when driving on Glebe Road. The speed limit isn’t 45+ mph there. In fact, its the crazy high speeds people drive at along that road, that encourage me to use the sidewalk in front of your country club to finish the final hundred few feet to work. Second, there’s no reason to SCREAM out your window while turning into your club parking lot that “you have to ride in the road, its illegal to be on the sidewalks!”. I guess I should appreciate that you recognize my right to the road, but you should also inform yourself on Arlington laws before making yourself sound like a fool. In my efforts to exercise my right to not be harassed by @$$hats in multi-ton vehicles, who regularly buzz me closer than the MANDATORY 3 feet passing law, I sometimes choose to ride the sidewalks at a leisurely pace in that particular region of North Arlington. In fact, the two miles from Chain Bridge to Marymount are the ONLY ones on my 15 mile commute where drivers regularly drive like morons. You should know that I am legally WELL within my rights to ride on the sidewalks. In fact, your police department has even suggested I do this when cars are driving too fast for me to feel safe on the roads. Frankly, after 140 commuting miles this week, I was a bit tired and felt like taking a leisurely pleasure spin up these hills to get to work. Luckily, i’m PAL and won’t let your nasty attitude spoil my commute! Hopefully breaking in my Brooks saddle is the only other pain in the butt i’ll have to deal with today!

[ebubar]

I hear these Brooks folks know a bit about saddles…

[ebubar]

@oldbikechick 112346 wrote:

I commuted to work for the first time in a year today and it was great to be back in the saddle and see how things have changed on the route. At the Lee/Lynn intersection, I got to the crossing just as it turned to the countdown and went across with 18 seconds left or so, of course keeping an eye on potential right-turning cars, as always. As I went across, I got beeped at by a driver in the second right-turning lane, which made me wonder if something has changed there. Do they now get some sort of signal when the crossing light changes from walk to the countdown? Or is that when the “don’t turn right” signal goes away for them? Does this now make drivers think that they don’t need to yield to crosswalk users or that we are now jaywalking? Or, maybe the guy was just being a jerk? Or are we really not supposed to cross after the counter starts counting down? I always assumed that was not the case since in some places, there is no walk signal at all, just the countdown.

I assume they were just a jerk. You absolutely have every right to cross. As far as I know, as long as the crosswalk is counting down, you are good to go. It’s when the numbers go away and the hand starts blinking that you are technically
not supposed to begin crossing.

If you’re feeling cheeky, you can just stop right in front of the car next time, smile and give them a friendly wave for honking to acknowledge how awesome you are for biking!

[ebubar]

@Supermau 112262 wrote:

Ha! I know the feeling. Seems I’m the only one at my house who appreciates the new bike. I sold a sizable chunk of my Matchbox car collection as well as my Trek FX 7.3 to fund this bike. Paid for it completely outside of my regular income stream. Still no love.

Is that the Giant Anyroad? Snazzy looking bike!

I’m working on selling old bikes to get some kind of “do everything” bike too. Sell two bikes and get one new one. An overall decrease in bikes (heresy!) so my other half has to be approve…right?

[ebubar]

My brother bought a Diverge to start commuting (he’s in California). He seems to like it. I get confused by his rides though. They’re all so flat, which seems odd to me… :p

[ebubar]

I know where you’re coming from! It sounds like you’re looking for something similar to what I want as a replacement to my hybrid.

My inane suggestions (that others might not have mentioned yet):

I’d say to maybe also try out a Bianchi Volpe (or its cheaper cousin the Lupo – right around your price range at 1049). Its basically a “do everything” bike. From reviews it appears to do everything fairly well and can take a rack and panniers. Not a full-on-tank of a touring bike, but also not a light as a feather roadie.

A Jamis Quest (what I ride) might work for such applications in a pinch. Can take 28 tires and possibly could squeeze a rack and fenders on there too. Definitely fenders with 25’s. Right at $1K.

You mention the Surly Disc Trucker or Long Haul Trucker (I forget which), but you may also try the Surly Cross Check. I understand that lots of people use these for touring, and I really liked my test ride of one a few days ago. SharrowsDC, local twitter cycling superstar rides one, so it has to be good! In fact, my plan at the moment is to sell some old bikes to get a Surly CC frameset to build up. Silver Cycles in Silver Spring has a BUNCH in stock and Surly is running a special of $150 off a complete bike. That brings it close to your price range!

Finally, I will second the suggestion to look at the Jamis Aurora. The base model is right around $1K, and I think Jamis tends to price their stuff appropriately (most others overcharge for what they sell in my opinion). The current top rider in miles for freezing saddles (I’m sure he’ll see this and comment, as he’s a distance cycling BEAST!) rides a Jamis Aurora Elite I believe. Its not a light bike, but its served his insane mileage quite well! I trust it would do the job for you too.

Good luck on your hunt!

[ebubar]

I ride 9 speed sora. Got 3000+ miles last year before a car took out my frame. Replacement bike has Sora as well and they work fine for me!

[ebubar]

@americancyclo 111041 wrote:

You’re welcome to ride up 41st st 20 times to beat me at my own game if you like!

I’ve pondered doing this. But getting there is 10 miles. Home is another 10 miles (which I probably couldn’t manage after riding up 41st 20 times :p). Just beware lest Eric Williams decide to do this. He LOVES a good hill challenge!

[ebubar]

I ride my trek 7.2 FX hybrid as a winter/rain bike. I have put on a rack and fender and it works good enough. I can’t say I noticed a big difference between the 7.2 and 7.3 when I test rode. I might go for the cheapest possible bike that’s still serviceable if it’s a bad weather/lockup at metro bike like mine.

I notice that the bike isn’t nearly as comfortable as my road bike though. For short rides its fine, but I’m pretty exhausted after a couple days of my 25-30 mile roundtrip commute. That never happens on my road bike.

[ebubar]

I’m only slow because my whole route is always hillier and longer than everyone else’s. I have to conserve energy to make it and can’t hammer on segments like everyone else. Plus I stop at all stop signs and stop lights which slows down my speeds. Also, your bikes are all lighter than mine by at least 10-15 pounds. Oh yeah, I also didn’t eat as many calories today as I should have. There’s also the fact that I stop on my segments to help old ladies cross the street…and to rescue kittens trapped in trees…and to return lost dogs to their owners (okay, that one actually happened once)…:p 😎

But seriously, so much seems to be route dependent. My brother just started commuting one way (20 miles) to work. His first time really riding his new road bike (his first bike in around 20 year) and his average speed was ~15 mph. He has done the commute about 3 times now. I commute daily (more or less) for around 1.5 years and have a roundtrip of about 30 miles. I think my highest average speed has been maybe 12 mph? It makes me feel slow and wimpy. But then I see his route is mostly flat and has around 3 stops in 60 degree weather. Mine has 3 stops within the first mile and 900-1000 feet of climbing each way, with temperatures half that. Then I don’t feel so slow.

[ebubar]

@datgl 107382 wrote:

What’s the condition of the GBT between Bethesda and Jones MIll rd?

I got word this morning from jopamora that its not rideable on slicks/skinny commuting tires. Perhaps with studs or large knobbies?

I’ve gotten sick of fighting cars in the city, so i’ve bailed to an alternate route through the neighborhoods of Bethesda/Chevy Chase.
Its a bit hilly, but not too bad. Nice and quiet with minimal traffic.

Here’s my strava route if you want to try bypassing GBT:

https://www.strava.com/activities/249876248

[ebubar]

Tonight’s ride home had some impromptu wind tunnel training!

[ebubar]

Tis clearly a larger project than I wished. Thanks for the assembled knowledge!

I’ll probably keep my eyes open for a full frameset like a Cross Check as those seem like pretty versatile and well-loved beasts. Possibly a summer project!

[ebubar]

Mixed mode for me today. Only 2 miles to metro instead of the usual 15 to work. I just don’t trust drivers when white stuff falls from the sky and roads are possibly slick. They seem to panic and do stupid things. I was lucky the first time I got hit. Want to avoid testing my luck a second time.

[ebubar]

Complete bike. So I should get back everything but the frame.

It’s ready and waiting at Proteus as of last night (EXCELLENT service from those guys and gals!). Just need to find the time to get over there and do a fit.

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