[eminva]

Just a reminder for people meeting up in DC to ride to Proteus together:

The rendenvous spots are as follows:

19th & L NW between 11:15 and 11:30
9th and T NW between 11:30 and 11:45
The R Street Entrance to the MBT (5-10 minutes later, approx. – ?)

I think myself, vvill and elcee will meet at 19th and L. We will ride to 9th and T to meet jrenaut. Then to the trail (to meet dbb?). Anyone else we should be on the lookout for? If you pm me, we can exchange cell phone numbers if you think that will help.

In a salute to Dirt, I will be wearing all pink. The bike is a non-coordinating combo of white/red (road bike).

Liz

[eminva]

Just got a League of American Bicyclists email and it had this:

We’d like to invite everyone to join the fun finale to the summit, the National Bike Summit Congressional Bike Ride – Friday, March 23rd 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Meet at Garfield Circle, Capitol Hill by 8:15 a.m. for a tour of DC and its bike infrastructure led by our friends at WABA.

Guess the destination and route is a surprise. I’m guessing they will highlight various cycle tracks, show off all the Capital Bikeshare stations, etc. If you want to join the group in progress — just look for a giant mob of cycling advocates on wheels.

Liz

[eminva]

I asked this question a while back and got these answers.

In the time since then, I have become more intrepid, and what usually happens is that I get caught in a brief downpour, or steady drizzle, but thunder and lightening have not been near the threat I thought they would be. And you are very right that microclimates make it difficult to handicap.

Good luck.

Liz

[eminva]

Wow — amazing. Keep up the good work! See you on Tuesday.

Liz

[eminva]

From your description, you could be living on the same block that my family and I were on until five years ago. You are in a great neighborhood and I think you will enjoy it a lot. Best wishes and welcome to DC.

Liz

[eminva]

This doesn’t look ADA compliant. You might add that point for emphasis.

Liz

[eminva]

@acc 16537 wrote:

I saw the number 26 on my speedometer as I cruised around Hains Point by myself.

Did you download your data to Strava? Did you get a QOM? You know, you really CAN be like Mr. Kelley.

I am more impressed that you are commuting on some not very bike friendly, infrastructure-free roads in the middle of Fairfax County. Kudos to you and I hope you are inspiring legions of future bike commuters to join you on those roads so things get better in the future.

Liz

[eminva]

I wouldn’t have a problem with this if you limited to travel against the flow . . . e.g., if you wanted to go from Foggy Bottom to Vienna in the morning rush.

For my own part, I don’t find it pleasant to take a bike on metro at any time. I took metro home after the 50 States Ride last fall. I had to wait through four cycles of the elevator to even enter the system at Woodley Park (lots of strollers coming from the zoo) and at Metro Center I just carried the bike down the granite stairs because the line was so long for the elevator. The trains were packed due to track work on multiple lines, events on the mall, etc. I had to wait for several trains both on the red and orange lines. There were people with grocery carts, etc. I was within the letter of the law, but I really felt like I didn’t belong there and should have just ridden home to Vienna after the event.

Unfortunately, our metro system seems to be operating at peak capacity, if not exceeding it, during key times. I doubt it will get better any time soon (Silver Line, anyone?). I like the idea in theory, but in practice, not so much.

Excellent reminder that you can always put you bike on the rack on a metro bus, Klizotte.

Liz

[eminva]

@cephas 16506 wrote:

I’m curious how you take to get from Vienna metro to get to the W&OD in an efficient manner to head into DC. I’ve gone the 123 Nutley route before, but that seems more distance than necessary, and Rt 29 isn’t exactly a breeze in the park. Options?

From Vienna Metro Station, you can take Virginia Center to Nutley (left on Nutley), then right on Tapawingo. Stay on Tapawingo for about 1.3 miles (long climb), then turn right on Glyndon. Turn left on Adahi, which deadends at the trail. If you find Virginia Center too busy for your liking, let me know and I can give you an alternate route through the townhouses/condos across from the metro station and the trail network behind there (thanks to acc).

If you have metro station flexibility, Dunn Loring station is only a short hop down Gallows Road from the W&OD.

Liz

[eminva]

Does anyone know how to clean Pearl Izumi Lobster Claw gloves? They have both fabric and leather, so I am reluctant to throw them in the wash. Dry cleaners?

Liz

[eminva]

If anyone needs a buddy to get from Vienna to the Farragut North area on Bike to Work Day or any other day, to arrive about 8:45 a.m., feel free to contact me by PM.

Liz

[eminva]

@MCL1981 16428 wrote:

I’m confused. Not a single one of these “pit stops” is on a trail…. you know… where everyone rides their bike…. Am I missing something obvious here?

I know you are not a Virginia commuter, but the Vienna and Dunn Loring pit stops are right on the trail, and the Falls Church pit stop looks like it will be, too. And the Rosslyn pit stop is right across from the trail; can’t miss it.

@americancyclo 16448 wrote:

I’ve been leading in a convoy from Falls Church for the past few years, but I always hear that the Rosslyn Pit Stop is way better. I may have to make extra time to stop there this year. All the newbies can cross the river by themselves, right?

You heard right. Rosslyn rocks. The first year I lived in VA, I joined the Vienna convoy to learn the way into town. Our leader stopped at Rosslyn and gave us a spot to meet 15 minutes later if we wanted to continue on with him into DC and ultimately to Freedom Plaza. You could do it that way.

@vvill 16471 wrote:

Although I lost one of my goDCgo ones a couple months and today saw it on someone else’s bike on the rack at work. I’m 99% sure it’s the same one, because there’s the same grease stain on it that I made. Glad to see it’s being used.

What a hoot! That’s a cyclist who is in desperate need of Bike to Work Day swag. I hope he or she takes advantage of several pit stops.

Looking forward to multiple free breakfasts,

Liz

[eminva]

@KLizotte 16422 wrote:

Oh……my……God, the route from Jefferson Memorial – Rock Creek – Georgetown – Key Bridge – Rosslyn was a mosh pit of peds EVERYWHERE at 6:00 pm.

Yes, I went through the latter three about that time, too. I detoured onto surface roads until Ballston, but even that limited portion of the Car Free Beltway (Ballston to W&OD/Custis intersection) was a hair raising experience.

But you don’t have to wait for cold weather again — they all disappear in the mid-90’s temp and humidity. Also, rain or any threat thereof.

Note to self: Look up the recent thread with instructions for using surface streets all the way to EFC (I’m not imagining that thread, right?).

Liz

[eminva]

And you will be able to follow Dirt’s, any everyone else’s, progress here.

Liz

[eminva]

While I’m not a triathlete, I think our region benefits from a variety of major races and I am very sorry to learn this news.

I am a member of WABA and LAB and whenever I get an email action alert, I write a letter to my member of Congress or whoever I am being asked to write. If, as you suggest, local fitness groups start an initiative of some kind, it might be a good idea to get the support of organizations like WABA, or get organized somehow, so we can all lend our voices to the cause.

Good luck. Hope NPS relents at least on this one, although I guess it is too late.

Liz

[Author]

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