[eminva]

@Greenbelt 29128 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1572[/ATTACH]

Not the greatest photo, but here’s Laurie (120 pounds maybe) rocking the Kona Minute on a 15 mile ride with 1k of elevation and a small load. Was a great ride. Easy to manuever but still has a huge cargo capacity if needed. Kona makes a child seat ready shelf system.

This photo should go in Tim’s new thread about how far away Bike Arlington swag has been spotted!

Liz

[eminva]

Tim, I believe the words you were looking for are “Hand Sewn,” rather than “Home made.”

Bravo, Elizabeth! A lovely dress regardless of its technical features.

Liz

[eminva]

Sometimes it is good to work on the late shift.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello — I don’t put in thousands of miles a week, and I’ve never notched into the obese category, but I had major health problems in 2009 that had me off the bike for nine months. When I returned, I was overweight with a compromised immune system and zero in terms of conditioning and fitness. I started out very gradually — I rode less than 500 miles during the last four months of that year. I rode between 1000 and 2000 miles in 2010. Last year I rode about 3400 miles. This year I am on pace to ride over 5000 miles. I guess you just have to be patient. A bike that fits well helps avoid injuries, too. Good luck and you are already having a great year, even if you end up having to adjust your goal.

Liz

[eminva]

I see the same thing that vvill sees (but with my name and fewer miles).

Liz

[eminva]

@dbb 28856 wrote:

Select Local at the local/national and then the leaderboard

How do you do that? I can’t seem to select anything other than national. If I want to see something more specific, I have to go to the leaderboard and click on “communities.”

Liz

[eminva]

dasgeh, on Saturday I saw a family cycling by the central library in Arlington with a BAKFIETS! I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to flag them down and ask about it, but it appears there is one in Arlington.

Liz

[eminva]

@dbb 28814 wrote:

Just checked the full period, local leaderboard. Based on what I can see:

Kathy Lewis is 7, Megan Jones 8, Amy Adler 12, Zanna Worzella 17 and Kathy Lizotte is 23

I may have missed some but it seems the system doesn’t know much about where we are!

What I see for the full period:

Kathy Lewis is 34, Megan Jones 37. There are four women ahead of them in the 20s (myself included).

Very strange, and also a bit demoralizing — if everyone is seeing something different, how are we to know where we stand?

Liz

[eminva]

@Arlingtonrider 28799 wrote:

Liz,

Are you sure? I did a real quick check and saw a few of us in the top 10 or 20 on the local leaderboard – both for the entire period and for August. I didn’t have time to record the exact count for each.

– K.

Hmmm . . . For Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, I am seeing myself at #10 on the August leaderboard (no other women) and me at #21 for the entire period as the first woman. What are others seeing? This is weird.

Liz

P.S. EDIT: I have 4211 points/2114 miles.

[eminva]

While expressing absolutely no opinion on whether his miles are legit, I believe him on the battery issue. I’ve had my Garmin for less than three weeks and before that I used a smart phone app. Even on what passes for a long ride for me (no more than 100 miles) my battery dies. I guess someone could donate a Garmin to him and then we’d know for sure . . .

On another topic, everyone has done so well on this challenge, but regrettably, there don’t seem to be any female riders in the Top 20 of the local leaderboard. Are there any female participants who haven’t been logging miles lately? If so, can you please log them so the guys don’t completely bury us? Thanks!

Liz

[eminva]

Interesting point — my son and I were on the receiving end of some fast cyclist vitriol yesterday, mid-morning. We went to Spokes in Vienna and as we left, we decided to ride down the same side of Maple and cross that street at the W&OD, where we’d have a signal and no turning cars to contend with. When we got there, the light was red for the trail and already a long line of cyclists and pedestrians was forming to cross. My son was attempting to position himself in line (coming at it from the side) and was partially blocking the opposite side of the trail while he was maneuvering. A cyclist coming the other way blew through the red signal and yelled, “you’re standing in the middle of the road!” at my son. My son was so upset, he asked afterwards what is wrong with a society where people yell at bystanders while they break the law (yes, he did articulate it that way).

But really, cyclists looking for a speedy workout? The eastern portions of the W&OD in the middle of a Saturday morning when the weather is beautiful? There are some country lanes out in Loudon if you are so desperate to go fast you are reduced to yelling at kids.

Sorry for my rant.

Liz (a.k.a. Tiger mother)

[eminva]

Alas, my balky iPhone camera went off duty this morning, but I saw vvill on the W&OD this morning. Great to see you!

Liz

[eminva]

@vvill 28687 wrote:

What time are you going to be out there? I might be up that way on the W&OD Sunday morning.

Unfortunately, change in plans . . . my son wants to go with me, which means I have to drive. Please let me know how you find the backroads out there. I have some use or lose leave to use up before the end of year rush. Maybe I can get out there one of these days.

Thanks, everyone, for the help! Sorry I couldn’t use it just yet.

Liz

[eminva]

Probably not more steep than the worst of North Arlington, but if you want some variety, head to Takoma Park near Sligo Creek. Some of the side streets in the neighborhoods there are quite challenging (explore in Strava for some segments if you want to pick those off while you are at it).

Liz

[eminva]

@DaveK 28613 wrote:

I think I said it earlier but that’s why I sold my CC – too long of a top tube and too short a head tube for my desired seat tube length (aka my torso and arms aren’t long enough for the right size frame). If you have short legs and long monkey arms it would fit great. I mean long monkey arms in the most flattering way, of course, to allow you to swing from streetlight poles and whatnot.

Although I don’t have a Surly and no intention of buying one, I’m finding the side discussion of bike fit very interesting. The LBS salesman who sold me my way too big bike about four years ago had me try a Cross Check first. All I did was straddle it in the bike in the bike shop and he said, “Nope!” Maybe this was why — insufficiently long monkey arms. At least he got that much right . . .

I think a lot of forum participants like cross bikes for commuting, but do they make them in women specific frame sizes? I’ve never had much luck finding one that even passed the most cursory fit check for me.

@DaveK 28613 wrote:

4st7lb – is your CC black? I think I’ve seen you at Hains and thought to myself how generally awesome you are. Keep killing it out there.

I have not seen you out at Hains Point, but I agree with DaveK.

Liz

[Author]

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