[eminva]

Here are some old threads where we discussed lights:

Here

Here

[eminva]

Thank you, Pete, that is a very thoughtful take. I also appreciate the articles you linked. It is good to get the perspective of people who are close to the sport.

I’m just a casual fan, but I’m a more astute fan of track and field where this is also an issue. Some observations:

1. When the incentive to get an edge outstrips state of the art surveillance mechanisms, fans of the sport have to accept that the playing field is not level and their heroes might have feet of clay.

2. Maybe the sanctions for athletes are too severe. “Zero Tolerance” mechanisms tend to increase the incentive to cover up mistakes (on the part of athletes, team officials, and, sadly, governing bodies). Graduated sanctions that start off low for first time offenders might have the effect of opening some day light, and allow young athletes who make a mistake to be rehabilitated without draconian consequences.

3. This is at the edge of my knowledge of the cycling world, but enforcement efforts should focus (or continue to focus, if they already do), on the “enablers” — trainers, doctors and coaches who might pressure athletes but don’t face the same public scrutiny. Get these people away from the sport.

4. Lance was probably going to have an outsize personality no matter what he did in life. Generous, arrogant, courageous, vindictive, disciplined, etc. — all part of the package. Livstrong is a great organization that provides a valuable service and it probably took a cancer survivor to understand just how much support patients and their families need. That he could be so generous, and yet, (if the charges are accurate,) still do something unthinkable, doesn’t really surprise me.

Liz

[eminva]

I forgot to mention that I saw dbb yesterday morning on the Custis Trail. I forgot to take a picture. Nice riding with you!

Liz

[eminva]

@Certifried 29514 wrote:

Be careful out there

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Hit-and-Run-Leaves-Cyclist-Reluctant-to-Ride-See-Friends-167638145.html

Wow, this is really awful. That name is familiar — maybe I saw it on Strava? Anyway, first and foremost, I hope she has an uncomplicated and speedy recovery. Second, I hope the driver reconsiders and makes himself or herself available for the investigation.

I would love to send a card — if anyone has contact info for her, please send me a PM. Thanks.

Liz

[eminva]

Wow, that’s a nice bike, Greenbelt. I don’t have a “baby Jake” anymore but maybe that would meet the needs of the OP?

And mstone, I hear you about the weight. We have to keep the bikes in the basement and getting it up and down the steps is a major ordeal.

Good luck.

Liz

[eminva]

What are you looking for, specifically?

It is possible to ride a mountain bike on roads and (paved) trails. There will be a difference in speed and pedaling effort, but most kids aren’t looking for performance. My son has always ridden a mountain bike and it works out well because he likes (and seeks out) a variety of surfaces to ride on. Now that he’s getting older, he’d like to try a road bike, but he is big enough for standard adult models.

I do wish, however, that they sold single speed bikes for kids. When my son was younger, he’d drop his bike in front of the door and not really pay attention to which side was up. Thank heavens for the mechanics at Spokes, who earned my undying gratitude.

Liz

[eminva]

@ShawnoftheDread 29405 wrote:

Right off the W&OD around Herndon?

Close — Reston. Part of the Fannie Mae campus.

Liz

[eminva]

Can you guess where?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1587[/ATTACH]

[eminva]

Last year, they did make the data file, suitable for download to the Garmin, available on the website a couple of days before the event.

I was sworn to secrecy, but I had to get the cue sheet in advance last year. I had no Garmin technology at that time, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to read the cue sheet without my reading glasses, which I didn’t want to wear on the ride for obvious reasons. I asked for the cue sheet in advance so I could enlarge it before printing it. They did accommodate me, but made it clear it was a very special exception. I also think they should make it widely available. It would allow participants to go over the route with a map the evening before. It’s such a complicated route we need all the help with can get with navigating it.

In my earlier message, I should have pointed out another advantage of a mountain bike or hybrid: the roads are a bit rough in places, so that will allow for a smoother ride.

Liz

[eminva]

@ShawnoftheDread 29334 wrote:

So, is it doable on a 32 pound, flat bar bike?

Well, it’s doable, but it’s not like riding 65 miles on the W&OD. You have to constantly start and stop, so you don’t really have the chance to build any momentum. The heavier the bike, the more weight you’re moving each time you push off. Conversely, the flat bars are probably okay because you’re going to want to be upright most of the time to see street signs and traffic. You wouldn’t be speeding along in your aero position anyway, even if you were riding such a bike.

I wouldn’t discourage you — the nice thing about the ride is that if you get tired, you are never far from the metro or a good turnaround point if you just want to stop and go home.

Liz

[eminva]

I can’t do it this year due to family events, but I did it last year and I’m glad to have done it. For being “lightly supported” I thought it was an extremely well organized event. The cue sheet is seven pages long so you really have to be on your toes. If they do the same route as last year, there is a long gap between the Eastern Market pit stop and the one at AU, so make sure you bring plenty of water or keep your eyes peeled for 7-11s or corner stores.

It was fun riding with little groups of people, which randomly changed as the day wore on. That helped with the wayfaring.

I had the sense that a lot of people dropped off along the way — I know we were getting more spread out, but the numbers did seem to fall off.

Oh, and every state street that starts with “A” has an unfortunate hill in it or near it.

Here’s a thread where I posted a review, as well as a collage I made from photos of all 50 state signs.

Liz

[eminva]

@vvill 29276 wrote:

Do you know if the tube didn’t fit? Tubes are supposedly quite flexible in terms of what tires/wheels they will actually fit.

The tube was 700 x 23-25 and the tire was 700 x 28 1/2. I thought it would be adequate to get him to the bike shop at least, but he didn’t want to chance it.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello to the man I attempted to help in an ill-fated Good Samaritan gesture (late afternoon on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge):

I’m very sorry my tube didn’t fit your tire. I realized when I was almost home that I still had the money you kindly offered me for the tube, even though the tube ended up being the wrong size! If you read this, please let me know how I can get your money back to you. We were both too polite; you in offering the money and me in taking it. And now see how it turned out!

Hope you got home okay, if late.

Liz

[eminva]

I hope he checked the frame carefully, too, to make sure there’s not some damage?

Good luck and heal fast, Kel.

Liz

[eminva]

Well, since you live in the Columbia Heights/Petworth area, and that is where I had my one and only dooring, here goes if it can help you or anyone else.

This happened just a few weeks into my fledgling bike commuting career. I was riding north on 14th Street NW in the bike lane, on one of those four block long uphill stretches (I think it was north of Spring Street a couple of blocks). I was scanning the row of parked cars to be alert for possible doorings. However, as a new commuter on a heavy hybrid on a long hill, I was probably going about 6 mph. That should have given me plenty of time to see cars arriving into spaces and anticipate a driver exiting the vehicle. You can imagine my surprise when, near the summit of the alpine climb (well, that’s what it felt like at the time), a door was suddenly flung into my path. I guess the guy had parked a while earlier and had been sitting in the car on the phone or doing paperwork or something. Because of my slow speed, no harm was done to me or my bike, although a pannier bungee broke and the pannier went flying. The driver was super apologetic and friendly.

Since then, I may ride in the bike lane, but I’m usually a little farther to the left if cars are parked to my right. I try to stay out of the door zone.

Liz

[Author]

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