[eminva]

Always good to see articles validating Dismal’s wardrobe choices.

I dunno, as I’ve mentioned here before, I was inspired to take up bike commuting nine years ago when I saw “people like me” commuting by bike on the other side of my windshield. I was relating more to the demograpic (middle aged DC commuters) than equipment (bike or wardrobe). I would not have been put off if all of them had been riding state of the art racing bikes and wearing the most expensive technical gear available. I wouldn’t have known the difference. I just wanted what they had — a convenient and sane way to work that got me some exercise to boot.

I built my cycling wardrobe over time. At no point did I go out and drop $1100. I think I started with my running wardrobe, but eventually figured out my jacket didn’t cover my backside when I leaned over the handlebars, so I replaced that, and so forth. I still wear ski sweaters as a base layer. I still have a couple of pair of tights from my running days that I wear in winter.

I wear street clothes when I’m riding around downtown at lunchtime or for short errands in my community. But I suspect our commutes are longer than the average in Copenhagen and it is certainly hotter in summer, so it might not be realistic to expect all of us to commute in our work wardrobe.

On the other hand, I agree that “environmentalism” is not the most effective hook for convincing the masses. But I think sophisticated marketers such as Bike Arlington have already figured that out.

Liz

[eminva]

If I can get jr. moving quickly enough I will make it. I’ll try to time my arrival for scones, but that’s a moving target. Hope to see a few folks there.

Liz

[eminva]

This was actually the topic of my first post to this forum. Interesting how it resurfaces from time to time.

Since then, I’ve gotten used to it during daylight hours, but it still freaks me out at night when I can’t look over my shoulder and see who’s behind me. The overlapping wheels is bad; I’ve had that from time to time but I usually try to get away from that rider the best way feasible (either slowing or speeding up).

Liz

[eminva]

@KLizotte 69210 wrote:

Thanks for this eminva. After seeing bobco’s video I was gonna do a loop from WO&D – Lake Barcraft – Holmes Run, etc. this wknd and am now thinking I’ll wait till spring if this is the case.

@rcannon100 69213 wrote:

Drat. I was thinking of going down to Alex and back on Holmes. It is a nice loop.

You can join the trail at the Parklawn Swim Club; just google to find the street route to get there. Everything south of there is open. You can back up and do the three stream crossings, if you wish.

Liz

[eminva]

Bobco’s video made me realize I meant to post something here about the Holmes Run Trail.

I was coming back from a conference in Alexandria on Friday, got out early, and decided to explore someplace new on my way home. I took the Holmes Run Trail starting at Eisenhower Avenue with the intention of riding all the way up to Columbia Pike. HOWEVER . . . I didn’t notice the “Trail Closed Ahead” sign tacked to a tree near the Parklawn Swim Club. So I forded the run three times, then discovered the fourth crossing was out of commission, due to the plumbing work, I guess. A huge pipe crossed the run right at the ford and the other side was bulldozed beyond recognition. I didn’t have a camera with me to take a photo. I turned around, forded the creek three times again, and consulted the map on my phone at the swim club to get out of the neighborhood on the streets.

After that, I rode through the Lake Barcroft neighborhood and then up to the W&OD near Shreve Road. It was all new to me and a very enjoyable ride, if a bit hilly.

Liz

[eminva]

@consularrider 69146 wrote:

Probably need to look in Buckhead or Little 5 Points.

Hmm . . . going to have to study Ridewithgps very carefully to find a route there from my parents’ that doesn’t involve a road ending in “85.”

Liz

[eminva]

Alas, I will be celebrating Thanksgiving a bit south of here this year. I’m thinking of bringing my bike, though. Should anyone else be traveling to the Atlanta area and care to join me, perhaps we can start a Gwinett County FCC. Or, if anyone knows what coffee shop the cyclists hang out at in those parts, please advise.

Liz

[eminva]

@mstone 69038 wrote:

All of the for-profit data companies end up doing this. They feel that your data is their value proposition, and they aren’t interested in sharing it. If you don’t like that, don’t give your data to a company and let them control access to it. The right answer is open APIs that let you keep your data where you want it, and allow apps & other authorized users to access it on your terms. That will only happen if people insist on it, and most people don’t care that much and will put up with whatever strava/facebook/twitter/etc do.

My issue isn’t whether I like it or not. It’s just that if their most avid users, including a fair number of their paying “Premium” users have to go elsewhere to get all the functionality they want, they may end up deciding it’s not worth sticking with the original once they get most of what they need elsewhere.

The thing that really got me thinking was vvill’s note that Ridewithgps can do segments. That’s probably the golden goose for Strava; if people can find that elsewhere, they’ve lost what sets them apart.

Liz

[eminva]

I’m not a technical expert and I don’t even know what “API” stands for, but if I’m on the Strava marketing team, I’d be reading this thread with increasing alarm. They either need to make the “API” available, figure out how to facilitate Freezing Saddles-type events inhouse or lose the franchise to a competitor or upstart.

Liz

[eminva]

Thanks, everyone! By the time I left, the bell staff had gone for the night so a concierge had to help me. I tipped him anyway. When I handed him my ticket, I said “I’m here for my bike” but he heard what he expected to, “I’m here for my bag.” So he was rummaging through various closets looking increasingly worried, and finally asked me, “What does your bag look like?” When I said, “It’s a bike” a wave of relief crossed his face.

Back tomorrow for more fun, but it worked out really well today. Thanks again.

Liz

[eminva]

@Subby 68352 wrote:

I’ve never done it before – but I am assuming if I commute every day via Custis I’ll be able to at least complete the race. What size tires do folks recommend?

All right, allow me to be the voice of someone with a maternal instinct here.

I understand this is a relatively technical course as cyclocross goes. Could I interest you in maybe sitting out this year, coming to watch as a spectator, practicing all next summer, attending a few ‘cross workshops and being able to do much more than just complete the race next year?

Of course I believe all that stuff we won’t talk about is in your past. I just don’t want to tempt fate unnecessarily . . .

Liz

[eminva]

@dasgeh 67925 wrote:

There’s a sign hanging from the same wires as the stop light in Tim’s picture above. That sign (according to both my memory and google street view) says no right turn on red. I’d go with the ArlCo roads engineer on this one…

Dismal and I are talking about when you are riding the opposite direction on Vietch. E.g., coming from Bergmann’s side crossing over to new green paint side.

If there is no turn on red there, I’m not seeing the sign on Google Street view and certainly this would be news to the multitudes of motorists I have seen turn right on red at that spot.

Liz

[eminva]

@Steve 67906 wrote:

That being said, part of me wishes they would do a green dotted bike lane thru the intersection on the other side of the street. It seems to me that people making the left turn onto Lee Hwy that the SUV pictured above is about to make is actually the most dangerous part of that intersection for bikes/peds (for those heading toward Courthouse).

Completely agree. Also, when coming up Vietch toward Courthouse, the lane is fairly wide and I’m not sure where to position myself when waiting to cross Lee on a red light. Putting on my LCI hat I would think over to the right is best, but then I am blocking motorists who could otherwise turn right on red. It’s sort of an unmarked double lane.

Liz

[eminva]

Thanks for the excellent and thoughtful analysis, Hans. I agree with everything, although I’m not sure how you would discourage sandbagging but encourage people to push their limits. And Mother Nature may have some influence on whether it is harder to achieve perfect attendance.:rolleyes:

I would be happy to help with Pointless Prizes again, that was fun.

I did enjoy working with my great teammates Subby, KelonWheels and crysb last year. But like Hans, I plan to sit 2014 out. My only cycling goal for the year so far is to ride less miles than in 2013. I have some other things I need to accomplish in the year. Of course I will continue with my bike commute, the occasional crazy stunt with acc, another scout trip, etc. But I just want to do it for fun, not competition.

Liz

[eminva]

I’ve had a pair of Pearl Izumi Lobster gloves for at least seven seasons and never had a problem shifting. They have lost their insulating capacity over time so this year I am replacing them with a pair of Planet Bike Borealis gloves as recommended by others on the forum. Those look like they would have even more tactile range because the first two fingers are independent. I don’t know if they are as warm as the Pearl Izumi gloves but I will let you know soon.

Liz

[Author]

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