[ebubar]

In case you’re on the forums:

Me: Passing on a White, steel, Jamis road bike near the CCT entrance/exit in Georgetown

You: Super tall hybrid with bar ends

First:
Sorry if I startled you when I called my pass. I find that I get startled more when people don’t call their passes. I’m guessing I might have slipped and called my pass a little too late so was closer than intended. My bad, but thanks for being cool about it and letting me know in a calm and rational manner.

Second: You were cruising at that hybrid. If you’re on here, multiple elites are due to you good sir.

Happy rides!

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[ebubar]

For me its definitely the service and convenience aspects that take me to the LBS. Occasionally I go to a shop because its close and/or on my way home and I need something quick. For service, Proteus is my go-to place. They understand their customers needs. I needed a courtesy tuneup on my new commuter. Rather than leave the bike with them for a couple of weeks until they cleared their backlog, they put me on a wait-list and called me to bring in the bike when they had time. I was able to keep using my commuter and was only “out” for 1 day. I also wasn’t keeping up with my basic maintenance (chain cleaning and relubing) and needed a new chain. The staff kindly explained that I needed a new chain, told me the exact way to clean it and suggested the frequency of cleaning to keep everything working smoothly. In the long run, this was to save me money on replacing a cassette. A lesser shop would let me continue riding harshly and profit from my poor maintenance. Proteus gave me the knowledge (and tools) to keep things running smoothly longer. I don’t get that service from Amazon.

Plus as Greenbelt says, they recognize women as a customer base. My wife is comfortable stopping at Proteus and gets good service there. They have appropriate bikes and expertise with what women deal with regarding cycling. Other shops don’t always have this expertise.

[ebubar]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AYML7K/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=35078873724&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7604123795465439583&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4bu0j0drsl_b

If your thumbs are weak or just need to be preserved for your videogaming, I recommend this for mounting RIDICULOUSLY tight tires.

[ebubar]

Anyone having sync problems with endomondo? My miles are on there but not syncing to the NBC. 120 miles for the week and I’m getting credit for 1 mile for 1 day.

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[ebubar]

Last day of summer before the semester goes full swing for me. Had a morning chocolate croissant at a rare Wednesday DTSS coffee club. Took a trip down the CCT with jopamora and had my first visit to Hain’s Point. Was joking about doing laps to get up to a century (haha) and wound up doing enough laps to make my whole ride a first ever metric century for me! 4 and a half hours to go 63 miles. I was reasonably pleased considering that’s by far my longest ever ride and I didn’t really properly prepare (only brought water and a few fig newtons). Regardless, it was a great ride. A little sore but the legs actually feel okay. Giant turkey sandwich, power aide, protein bar and a bag of lays for recovery food and I’m a happy camper. Next stop a full 100 miles!

[ebubar]

@newbiehere 92437 wrote:

**Update**

After riding back and forth a few hundred feet near my house last weekend, I got on my bike yesterday afternoon and rode to 17th and G and back with a partner! I just wanted to practice my commute to get more familiar with the route. Few things:

1. I joined the NW Branch trail via University Blvd (somehow I missed Standford hill). When I reached 38th Ave, I followed Jeff’s route to get to Metropolitan Branch Trail.

2. Holy hell, that hill on 20th St NE is horrible. I changed to a lower gear and still ended up walking up the hill in exhaustion with my bike. I’m not sure how I’m going to do that every morning.

3. As Jeff suggested I took R street, then Q street eastbound to the 15th Street cycletrack down to the White House and merged onto 17th and G.

4. I love the 15th St cycletrack! It’s so convenient!

Congrats and welcome to the bike commuter fold! A bit of practice and you’ll be riding up hills like nobody’s business. I used to huff and puff up some big hills in the Rosslyn area on the Custis trail (they’re often discussed here) and now I can spin up them with almost “normal” breathing. Maybe you’ll even start seeking out hills? Or perhaps a future “Kill Bill” Century rider

[ebubar]

I got a heart rate monitor to start trying to train. So far it’s been interesting to see where my heart rate is throughout my commute. I’ve been reading up on training and hope to get a plan together soon. Thus far, I’m thinking lots of long slow (heart rate zone 2) rides to up my overall maintained speed. Maybe that would help for you?

[ebubar]

Might I suggest NASHBAR for bike stuff instead of Amazon (if you’re looking online). They regularly have 20 percent off coupons as well as free shipping deals. I got a pretty good Edge 500 deal from them recently.

[ebubar]

Rereading your posts, since you ride on the hoods, the Liberty CXD shifters shouldn’t be a problem for you.

Also note that even if a bike doesn’t have mounts for a rack, you can always go with a cycling backpack (I find I kind of prefer this to keep my bike feeling light and spry) or use pclamps to mount a rack to a bike without attachment points (depending on the weight of your commuting items).

[ebubar]

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/mProduct4_10551_10052_1152634_-1_catNav

An LBS option? I’d check the rack suitability and the tire clearance.

[ebubar]

You could contact nashbar and see if they’ll give you more exact specs. I don’t like the cantis for an all weather bike based on what I’ve read.

The lack of integrated brifters on the bikesdirect is a big turnoff for me. I like shifting in the drops and the thumb buttons are not conducive to such activity. That’s why I never pulled the trigger on that one.

Never bought a bike online but I’m not opposed to it. I think if you’re willing to watch some YouTube videos and know what size frame will fit you’ll be just fine.

I HATE when people make this kind of suggestion but for 620 you can get a new Giant Defy 5. It has Claris shifters and I believe the frame is suitable for a rack and wheels up to 28’s.

[ebubar]

I’ve pondered this for a cheap all-weather commuter: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/gravity/liberty_cxd.htm

[ebubar]

Strava puts me at 70 miles a week. That’s mostly my commutes (2 days a week, 30 ish round trip). I do make sure that I get in at least 1 mile a day for the National Bike Challenge. So far, I haven’t missed a day. Ramping up soon since I’ll be commuting 5 days a week once the semester starts up again.

[ebubar]

Dear Ninja Prius with DC plates,

You are quite the jokester! I can only assume that you were trying to be ironic or something by nearly running me off the road and into the “SHARE THE ROAD WITH BIKES” sign on Sligo Creek.

I’m really quite ashamed that I can only accelerate so fast from a stop sign and that the pace I can maintain 5 minutes into my ride to work is only 18-20 mph. I should be ashamed and deserve
to be menaced by drivers for going 5-7 mph under the speed limit. As we all know, speed limits are really just guidelines and you are supposed to consider them the minimum acceptable
speed on a road (not the maximum as the term “limit” would imply).

I’m seriously considering returning my newly purchased Garmin 500 (when it arrives) and getting a Go Pro to record such things!

[ebubar]

Glad you’re okay! I’d agree that you should consult an attorney as well.

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