[eminva]

@huskerdont 144858 wrote:

I like 6 of those 7. I don’t get drafted much on commutes, but if I do and it goes on long enough, I’ll slow down or pull off the trail and wind around a neighborhood or something. After the collision that happened behind me a couple of winters ago when someone was drafting me and passed unsafely, I just don’t have the time for it on the trail anymore. Antisocial I’ll deal with, and unsafe if I can’t do anything about it, but I generally can do something about that one and do.

I totally agree and use the same strategy. As a woman often traveling alone (and in the dark in winter), there is another aspect to this, personal safety. If someone is riding unannounced right on my wheel for miles on end, I get concerned. I have had someone ask and that was great (although if you know to ask, you probably know how to draft safely). But if they just sit back there, slow down when I slow down, speed up when I speed up, etc. . . . they may just be a newb commuter who is doing all they can to get home, but I have no way of knowing.

Liz

[eminva]

@dasgeh 143705 wrote:

But why are they charging?

My understanding is that WABA charges a de minimus amount for pre-registration for all its classes to ensure that folks don’t hog all the spots on the roster and then just no show. There is an exception made in jurisdictions that fully fund the classes with the proviso that WABA not charge participants.

Liz

[eminva]

@huskerdont 142836 wrote:

They’re repaving at least one lane; this evening it had been milled. Agree that it’s annoying to have the cones and the signs on the already narrow sidewalk, but they did make an effort to put them as far over as possible, so it being Friday and me already on my first Saison, I’m going to choose not to worry about it.

For my own part, I could be generous, too, who doesn’t look for a challenge on a commute once in a while. But:

-the barrels don’t seem to be necessary to the milling work

-motorists don’t seem to be noticing the warning signs placed where they are; I witnessed one near miss collision while taking the photos when someone braked at the last moment just as they came upon the dropoff

-I am a WABA instructor so I have to worry about the newbies, two of whom I saw looking a bit terrified today.

Liz

[eminva]

Here are the photos:

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[eminva]

@consularrider 141743 wrote:

I can say this now that I no longer have to ride to work, but for six of the seven years I was a daily bike commuter to Rosslyn, I never locked my bike up in our building’s parking garage. The first year I did and left a U-lock on the rack, then one morning it was gone (the lock, not the rack, but the rack had been moved). The garage was available only to USG badged employees/contractors and weekdays had an armed Diplomatic Security uniformed guard checking ids. Never had anything but the lock disappear during those seven years.

For folks reading this who work in buildings with this level of security, your bike is probably safe. If you park in a garage with the usual affable but ineffectual Colonial attendants, I continue to maintain you need to take more drastic steps.

Liz

[eminva]

@creadinger 141528 wrote:

I was mostly referring to how most charity rides and other events usually have different distances one can ride. [/url]

You are right, and the event you cite is an excellent example. And set up to separate the fast folks from the beginners.

I guess I am expressing regret that there are not more closed street cycling events for any category of rider here. I know a cyclovia is pie in the sky, but it would sure be nice. Again, not trying to conflate the Challenge Ride with that — just wish there were a variety of events for different audiences.

Sorry to get off topic. I add my good wishes for speedy recovery for the injured.

Liz

[eminva]

@Rootchopper 141520 wrote:

Last night the bike valet was overflowing with bikes so you might want to get there a little earler than usual. An hour before game time is plenty.

Oh my! Then I guess I better end my work day very soon. 😎

Liz

[eminva]

Full disclosure: I did this event several years ago and got a gold medal (though we had 3.5 hours back then). My ride was uneventful and I’m glad I did it, but not really interested in doing it again.

I’m not disagreeing with anyone here, nor am I recommending any changes to the event, but question: What is the appeal of this event for strong cyclists who would be credible competitors in USA Cycling-sanctioned races? In other words, if one is capable of racing, why not just race? There is a whole calendar of races for amateurs; all sorts of events (crit, road race, TT).

@creadinger 141521 wrote:

There are PLENTY of family friendly rides in the region

What did you have in mind? I am only aware of Kidical Mass, which is great for families with wee kids, but I’m not aware of much for elementary age kids and up.

Liz

[eminva]

Thanks, Mariner! Go Nats!

Liz

[eminva]

I also got the email and I don’t even live in Arlington County. I am also curious how the campaign got my address, as I don’t generally sign Change.com petitions, etc. for the very reason identified above.

Liz

[eminva]

@KayakCyndi 141064 wrote:

Question is how to we reach them? Posting here is just preaching to the choir.

On another thread, dasgeh suggested BurmaShave signs along the trails. I’m not as clever as some of you, but I’m imaging pithy rhymes ending with “don’t pass up the middle” and “call your passes” (among other messages).

This would use humor and put the message right where trail users can see it.

Liz

[eminva]

@ShawnoftheDread 140789 wrote:

Eminva, do you plan to come to Fairfax off the Custis or Bluemont?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We are coming off the Custis.

We will ride on Fairfax Drive. Before we transition from trail to road I will stop and do a mini Traffic Skills101 briefing. I will discuss the pitfalls of bike lanes and where to position oneself in a bike lane (all things we cover in WABA classes).

Thank you for the alternative suggestions — I will mention these so they can try them out on their own if they don’t like Fairfax.

Liz

[eminva]

I will be leading a convoy from Vienna to Ballston to pick up the extra train capacity Justin mentioned for a mixed mode commute.

I have noticed in exchanging PMs with a few novice cyclists that they are very anxious about the five blocks on Fairfax Drive. Of course there are bike lanes, but mixing it up with traffic coming off the interstate and immediately having to cross Glebe is a bit intimidating for the uninitiated. If the Bike Arlington folks could ask the Arlington Police to have a presence at that intersection, given what will inevitably be a huge increase in foot, bike and auto traffic, it would be much appreciated.

Liz

[eminva]

YES to BurmaShave signs for the trails.

Orange line trains originating at Vienna will be reduced to three per hour, and I believe Silver line trains will be on the same schedule. I think I heard somewhere that they would be turning some trains around at Ballston to compensate? If so, it might be worthwhile to have suggested routes or convoys with the destination of Ballston for folks who are in no shape to ride a bike all the way to DC. They can park their bike at Ballston station and metro from there. It will at least get them past the worst obstacles.

Which leads to Enforcement — PLEASE assign some police to or a video camera to the bike parking at Ballston. When my low end hybrid was stolen from there in broad daylight (2008), the Arlington police were all, “oh that’s a known theft location — what a dork you are for parking there.”

Liz

[eminva]

@KLizotte 140281 wrote:

Whole Foods (!) can also be thrown into the grocery store bucket as providing poor bike parking (specifically, Clarendon, Alexandria, and Pimmit Hills). There are racks around the Foggy Bottom, Vienna and Takoma Park locations however.

While there are racks at the Vienna location, they relocated them after they opened their “beer garden” or whatever it is a couple of years ago. They placed them right in the middle of the newly planted landscaping on the traffic islands. They are VERY difficult to get in and out of and impossible with the cargo bike. I just open the gate to the beer garden and lock it up to the railing in there.

The landscaping is long gone as you can imagine, so the bike parking is a mud pit, usually.

Liz

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