[eminva]

@RESTONTODC 17966 wrote:

Since Ann has been working to so hard to organize this event, I can’t miss it. I will cancel all my meetings and appointments tomorrow for it.

I still haven’t own a lock yet. Hopefully, a bike thief doesn’t read this forum to get the heads up.

Rick

Rick, I will bring an extra lock for you.

Liz

[eminva]

Be sure to check out another current thread — a bunch of us are getting together for Happy Hour right along the W&OD Trail that afternoon/evening. It’s the thread with “Chasin’ Tails” in the caption but don’t be put off by that. They serve Cajun food, apparently. If you can time your return so that you are hitting the Arlington county line by about 5:30, then by all means, join us!

Liz

[eminva]

NO! Went back to the fleece lined boots.

The ferocious headwind on the ride home all week so far has nicely coincided with the need to bring about 30 pounds of extra stuff home each night in advance of our office move this weekend. Slowest times ever on Cyclemeter.

But it’s supposed to be back over 80 on Sunday, so be prepared for anything!

Liz

[eminva]

@Tim Kelley 17881 wrote:

I think there is a lot of support from the County for something like this, as it has been discussed as a potential project in the past. Cost of police shutting down the roads is a hurdle, but one thing that would definitely help make it a reality would be the general public rallying in support and asking that it happen!

Tim, when you say “general public,” do you mean residents of Arlington, or anybody? I am not a resident, but I do a fair amount of shopping and personal business in Arlington due to its bike friendliness, and conceivably would do more if something like this were to happen.

Thanks.

Liz

[eminva]

@Rootchopper 17844 wrote:

Liz

Have you tried the Indian Head trail in Indian Head MD? I think it’s about 32 miles out and back. Paved the entire way. Not much in the way of services.

Yes, we did! I posted a summary on a separate thread. We have to try more of these suggestions as the weather is getting nicer now.

Wow, that Crystal Ride sounds crazy! And frightening. To me, riding with cyclists of such varied speed and skill would be more frightening that riding in rush hour auto traffic. Will check the calendar and come down to watch, if possible.

Liz

[eminva]

Two things I forgot in my earlier message:

-Thanks, Ann, for bringing this up.

-If I’d had more time to think about my response, I probably would have tweaked them about how DC and Arlington are so far ahead of Fairfax County in bike friendliness and commitment to bike infrastructure. At least Fairfax has a bike map, unlike certain other suburban counties in our region. However, we don’t want to fall further behind our neighbors as cycling is becoming more popular. It ultimately becomes a tax base issue, as young professionals will be drawn to jursdictions with the amenities they want.

Liz

[eminva]

I also replied yesterday. I amended the WABA boilerplate language to include how many miles I ride each year in Fairfax and that I ride both for transportation and recreation. I also mentioned that my 11-year-old is trying to get some independence with a bike. I’ve never met Cathy Hudgens, but if I ever do, I will be sure to bring this topic up. I suspect this will be a perennial issue with tight budgets.

Liz

[eminva]

Thanks, Ann! Did you want a rough count for Friday night? Or the Outreach for Women?

I will be there on Friday. Let me know if you need any help transporting swag; I am riding to and from work through Arlington each day this week.

As for the Outreach Program for Women, thank you for the reminder. I meant to invite a friend who didn’t laugh immediately when I suggested she bike commute (I’m interpreting that as a positive response). I let it slip my mind and it looks like it already happened — does anyone know if there will be more similar events?

Thanks for setting this up.

Liz

[eminva]

I am loathe to admit it, but I immediately recognized the location of tomorrow’s Washington Post magazine “Second Glance” feature — the bike rack at Dunn Loring metro station. I used to catch the bus there in the evening when I didn’t ride my bike to work, and I would often stare at the bikes on the rack while waiting for the bus, if I had finished whatever reading material I had with me.

I swear I never stole any of them, though.

Liz

[eminva]

How does it calculate the percentage? Percentage of what? Percentage of your commutes this week that you completed by bike?

Does it omit days you didn’t go to work? (E.g., this week I went to the office on only two days, but I bicycle commuted both days — does that equal 40% or 100%?).

If you still need a team member I will send you a message. I am hitting about 78% bike commuting so far for 2012.

Liz

[eminva]

@CCrew 17597 wrote:

Lynn Street as a reminder to the idiot motorists that we use the roads too.

Judging by the hyperlink in Tim’s message, it looks like there is already one there.

Liz

[eminva]

If you take the Van Buren Street “alternate” route for the W&OD, you can see one of the original boundary stones for the District of Columbia in Benjamin Banneker Park, right next to the street. That is just southeast of Chasin’ Tails, as the crow flies.

Liz

[eminva]

Just for clarification, this happened at the base of the ramp, just where the trail intersects with the parking lot for Roosevelt Island?

Very sorry to hear this and I join all others posting here in expressing best wishes for the cyclist’s recovery. Thanks to all who stopped and rendered aid.

Liz

[eminva]

@DSalovesh 17467 wrote:

Old Man Mountain (and others) make exactly the answer in a “p-clamp”. Properly sized and installed they’re strong enough for fully loaded touring.

http://www.touringcyclist.com/gear/model_16556.html

This may be worth a try — however, make SURE they are “properly sized and installed.” When the LBS rebuilt my bike with the new frame, they attached the Topeak rack with some clamps (not sure what brand) on the seat stays. They came loose and rubbed the paint off my new frame — and that was just on the ride home from the bike shop. If you go this route, I’d probably ask them 100 questions to make sure they know what they are doing and that they do it properly.

Liz

[eminva]

I have the Old Man Mountain rack. Same problem as you; I had the whole Topeak system. When my frame cracked and the manufacturer replaced it, the new frame didn’t have eyelets. They guy at the LBS ordered me the Old Man Mountain rack. I use the Topeak trunk bag still; it’s not an ideal situation because I use the velcro to attach it to the rack but the plastic track on the bottom of the bag clatters against the rack whenever I go over bumps. I stopped paying attention long ago, but whenever I ride with someone, they usually look at my bike with alarm.

One solution would be to unscrew and remove the plastic track on the bottom of my bag, but I wasn’t sure how it would hold its shape after that. Another would be to get a new bag.

It is a major hassle when you have to change a rear flat, but I guess even in the best of circumstances there are small parts to keep your eye on.

Good luck.

Liz

[Author]

Replies