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@TwoWheelsDC 22103 wrote:

Ouch, hope you heal up quickly! It’s not just fatigue that’ll get ya, yesterday I about ran into a car whilst paying a little too much attention to some members of the opposite sex that were out walking…it was fine though, it probably didn’t look like anything out of the ordinary to anyone looking at me, but I about locked up my brakes in an “oh sh*t” moment.

Yeah, well, I was riding through the GW campus and almost got taken out by a motorist who took a left turn much too tight while turning his neck in a complete 180 to check out a lovely co-ed. I guess I should be grateful he wasn’t texting. But I did notice what he did.

Liz

[eminva]

I feel at a loss in this conversation because I don’t have any expertise in transportation infrastructure, as many who participate in this debate locally and nationally do. I’d be interested to know what the League of American Bicyclists favors? An organization like Alta Planning?

I am in favor of separated facilities (cycle tracks, bike lanes, etc.), not because I feel the need for them myself, but because I think they attract more people to cycling. I do use them where they are available. I think with time, experience and education we can work out the kinks (like motorists parking in bike lanes, poorly designed lanes, etc.).

There is another variable we are forgetting here. I think both DC and Arlington desperately want LAB Gold Status. If that means adding more bike lanes over the reticence of non-cycling residents, I don’t think they’d hesitate. So yeah, the time for advocates to pounce is now.

Liz

[eminva]

@MCL1981 22094 wrote:

This is impractical and unreasonable. Hitting a pedestrian with a moving bicycle is going to knock both of you over regardless and both are going to get hurt. Assume a walking pace of 3mph. So you want everyone to slow down to 4mph to pass every pedestrian?? Sorry. Not happening.

Well, this is what I do, on the Custis and the W&OD, everyday. I don’t necessarily slow down all the way to 4 mph every time, but I always slow down and sometimes I slow down to a walking pace (especially if there is oncoming traffic; I always wait for that to pass). I still get to work in about an hour and get home in an hour and 15 (14 miles each way). I don’t find it impractical or unreasonable.

Liz

[eminva]

@PotomacCyclist 21999 wrote:

The big weakness for most of the kids I’ve seen is their inconsistency and lack of pacing skills. They have youthful speed but they don’t show any restraint. They will sprint almost all-out for half a mile and wear themselves out. Then they start walking. Then they get their 2nd wind and start sprinting again. They repeat the process until they finally wear out completely and walk it in the rest of the way.

You are describing my 11-year-old. Much to my alarm, I have realized he can outsprint me. On a mountain bike. But throw in any distance, and the result is wild inconsistency.

Liz

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[eminva]

Very sorry to hear it. Get well soon.

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[eminva]

@Dirt 21917 wrote:

Slowing down is a great idea.

Without knowing any of the facts of this unfortunate incident, I would hesitate to speculate, but Pete’s advice to slow down is great all purpose advice in passing situations. Be ready for anything and you will not be surprised.

Liz

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[eminva]

@Tim Kelley 21794 wrote:

A photo from Mark of me, Dave and Megan bombing the downhill. See how composed Megan is!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1181[/ATTACH]

Mark, did you manage to get a photo here when I came down? Would it be possible to see it? Thanks. Not that I expect to be composed looking or anything.

Liz

[eminva]

@Tim Kelley 21877 wrote:

I started towards the back,

If you call that the back, where I started was in North Carolina.

Liz

[eminva]

Vienna ES is the smallest school in FCPS so this will require almost 1/3 of the student body to bike to school! Kudos to their SRTS coordinator.

I count seven VES students on my block. Maybe I should offer bike tune ups to all the kids to help encourage them.

Liz

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[eminva]

Alas, I have to be back in Vienna and presentable (to non-Lycra clad types) by 7 pm which is not consistent with bike commuting for me. Metro is as bad as you remember.

Liz

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[eminva]

@rcannon100 21720 wrote:

It’s 8.15 pm. The sun is going down. Spent the day exploring why the garden drain was not draining (turns out the garden drain pipes have probably not existed for 20 years… nothing but mud). Do I give up on NatBikCha? Do I give up my 20 points per day on a bike?? HELL NO! Drag the carcass onto the bike. Forget my helmet (oops) and forget my glasses (oops). And put in 2 long painful mournful terrible despicable atrocious miles! #IWillNotBeDropped #WellMaybeNextWeek

Ah, the joys of an older home (and yard).

But thanks for the laugh — I have a hectic week and will not be on the bike as much as I have been so far, so I WILL be getting dropped. Maybe we can hope all the front runners have a sudden need for a vacation, huh? Someplace without miles and miles of bike trails?

Liz

[eminva]

I made it and it was fun! Thanks for the advice, everyone, it was sound. At first I was afraid I had repeated my mistake from the 1994 Cherry Blossom 10 Miler by starting too far back (which resulted in a very disappointing time for that event — go ahead, you can look it up on their website. The internet never forgets). The first lap was kind of crowded (and I got stuck behind the big accident by Roslyn), but it gradually got better and eventually I was able to pick up the pace so I could complete the full six laps (but just barely). I didn’t get a gold medal because they had run out, but I already emailed asking for them to send one — we’ll see (thanks vvill).

It was good to see everyone — I think I saw most, but not all of the folks vvill identified. A couple of other Bike Arlington jerseys but I didn’t recognize the cyclists wearing them.

Here is a photo — vvill was kind enough to lend me his medal for staging.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1175[/ATTACH]

Liz

[eminva]

I used to do a similar commute (Takoma DC to Farragut North) and took the first route SilverSpring suggests (Piney Branch to 13th to Colorado to 14th). The only downside is that the bus routes go down 14th so you are always interacting with buses and you specified that you were looking for something a little quieter.

Instead of a quieter route, I would suggest looking at the WABA website and taking a Confident City Cycling course. This would give you more practice on your road bike and also give you tips for riding on the busier city streets. That way you can take the easiest and most direct route. It is not hard to get used to with a little practice.

Good luck!

Liz

[eminva]

@vvill 21666 wrote:

Anyone figured out these timing chip thingies yet?

There was an older gentleman in front of me in the queue remonstrating that his bike shoes didn’t have laces and he wouldn’t be able to attach the band easily.

I was wondering the same thing. Does it have to be affixed to our shoe? Can we put it on our bike (like loop it around the seat tube)? Or somewhere else on our person?

I thought if all else fails, I will wait until I get there to put it on and see what others are doing.

Liz

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@dasgeh, another way in which motorists are disadvantaged by the status quo is that it is a difficult area to drive — I realize commuters who drive it every day know all the ins and outs, but it is nigh on impossible to navigate for the uninitiated. Also, when there is an accident or other delay, there are very few escape routes so they tend to get stuck there indefinitely. Better engineering might solve multiple problems for both motorists and cyclists/peds.

I don’t see what is wrong with Shane having lunch with Lon Anderson (I almost typed Lon Chaney) to talk about how they could make common cause on the GWMP. What is there to lose?

Liz

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