[eminva]

@americancyclo 12714 wrote:

Male 69 77%
Female 21 23%

And the other 9% — ?

[eminva]

Apparently, I have been bicycle commuting too much. Last year, I took Metro about 40% of the time I came to the office. Through my employer I can designate pre-tax dollars for public transportation. It has been tough to get a handle on how much to designate each month, and for the last few months, I’ve been dropping my set-aside because it keeps proving to be too much. Today I got the following message from WageWorks, which just started loading this money on a debit card (“The Transit Commuter card”), which I am supposed to load onto my farecard at the Metro station:

Dear [eminva],

Our records indicate that you did not use your new Transit Commuter card last month. Your Commuter benefit is intended to be used each month to pay for your daily commuting costs. Please be sure to use your card and enjoy your pre-tax benefit.

Thank you,

WageWorks Customer Service

Guess I better take Metro one of these days so I can load up the farecard . . . or at least walk over to the station at lunch time.

Liz

[eminva]

I’m going to betray my ignorance and ask what kind of tire that is on front?

Glad you are having fun with it. Although that bike looks like it could handle the lake even.

Liz

[eminva]

I thought traffic was light, too, until I got to our bike cage here at work. There were a lot of New Year’s Resolutions parked in there . . .

Liz

[eminva]

Wow, that’s an average of over 4200 per person! I’m a piker.

Liz

[eminva]

@Dirt 12474 wrote:

Found a great riding product for cool winter rides. Doesn’t work so well when it is really cold, but it worked great for my ride today in temps ranging between 40 and 55 degrees.

http://youtu.be/XbRSRL8V31s

I dare you to wear it on your commute!

Liz

[eminva]

Haven’t I seen similar video from Colorado or Utah or other exotic US locales? Can’t seem to locate it with a quick Google search, but I think I have.

(Just to make the point that if you have a death wish — and I do not — you don’t have to go to Europe to fulfill it)

Liz

[eminva]

Thank you everyone! I can see there may be a variety of ways to get through Alexandria . . . next time I go, I will sit down with a map and the suggestions above to make my plan. I was along the railroad tracks at one point, and I did go through that Wilkes Street tunnel, so I guess I wasn’t too far off.

I think I figured out what was going on on Hains Point on Wednesday. I read in ArlNow that a Park Police officer’s funeral was that day, and some roads would be closed so his procession could pass the US Park Police HQ on Hains Point. I was through there much earlier in the day, but as I did my loops, a number of Park Police horse trailers were parking on Ohio Drive, so I guess they were using the loop as a staging area for a mounted police escort for the funeral. That’s a guess, but there didn’t seem to be any debris on the road or elevated tide that would suggest a closure for safety reasons.

Thanks again.

Liz (only 115 km to go now . . .)

[eminva]

Hi Christopher —

If you feel more comfortable riding with a helmet, and you visit your mother often, you might consider buying a helmet to leave at her home for when you visit. It wouldn’t have to be the most sleek/aerodynamic/expensive model, because the CaBi bikes produce the opposite of a sleek and aerodynamic ride.

I always use a helmet when riding CaBi, although I see plenty of riders who don’t. I think there have been remarkably few serious injuries in accidents on CaBi bikes, based on the reports I’ve heard.

But I think you should do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. However, definitely find a way to get on a bike in Arlington — it’s fun!

Liz

[eminva]

This morning, this segment of the trail was completely closed. I walked my bike across the now muddy grass and the basketball court. I managed to rejoin the trail just beyond the work zone. You could do it cyclocross style, but neither me nor the guy just in front of me wanted to risk incurring the wrath of the work crews, I guess.

Liz

[eminva]

I checked out the website and immediately realized the Miami Beach Bike Forum must have a completely different discussion going on in their “Layering 101” thread.:cool:

Seriously, have a great trip. Please report back with photos!

In answer to your last question, I don’t have a lot of experience elsewhere. Our family went mountain biking in southern Arizona about 20 months ago. That was fun, although a little too tough for my son (then nine). The first day he took a dive off the bike and into some type of cactus. That did not set a great tone for the week. However, for more intrepid riders, there is great mountain biking in that area. Tucson is a surprisingly friendly town for vehicular cycling, with bike lanes on all major roads.

I have also ridden in Berlin, Germany, which conforms to the European stereotype and has a lot more cyclists and cycling infrastructure than what we see here. It was a pleasure to be part of that.

I like your idea — will have to look for more opportunities to do “research” in 2012 . . .

Liz

[eminva]

My extremities have always gotten cold easily and I dress accordingly as follows:

Cold:

Lightweight wool ski sweater (Icebreaker or Ibex)
Ibex Shak Vest (the first thing to come off if I get overheated, or if it’s warmer on the other end of my commute)
Wind breaker or Bspoke Angel jacket
Tights of any variety (biking, running, etc.)
Wool socks (Smartwool or similar)
Bike shoes
Full fingered gloves
Lightweight wool cap
fleece headband worn around my neck or over my cap

Colder

Heavyweight wool ski sweater
Ibex Shak Vest
Bspoke Angel jacket
Tights of any variety (biking, running, etc.)
Wool socks (Smartwool or similar)
Fleece Lined Timberland Boots (on flat pedals)
Lobster claw gloves
Fleece balaclava

Coldest (I’ll ride down to air temps of 15 F or Wind Chill of high single digits)

Heavyweight wool ski sweater
Non-technical parka
Windstopper cycling pants
Wool socks (Smartwool or similar)
Chemical toe warmers
Fleece Lined Timberland Boots (on flat pedals)
Lobster claw gloves
Fleece balaclava

I wear a wicking sports bra year round.

My commute is anywhere from 55 minutes to 1 hour, 20 minutes. I do find I get warm and then cold if I start to sweat. I just stop and take off layers/add layers as needed. Some of you may have seen me along the trail. Yes, this is time consuming, and I do feel like I have half my closet in my bag at times, but it seems to work comfort-wise.

Some of this stuff is expensive, but I built the collection over years, got it on sale, etc.

Liz

[eminva]

Thank you very much. Just put an appointment on my calendar to go home early. Failing that, I guess I’ll take the 14th Street Bridge/Four Mile Run/ W&OD (thanks dbb for showing me the way).

Liz

[eminva]

Okay, Mark, now you have to post something so we can see what demented title Tim has concocted for you.

Congratulations! An excellent choice by the board.

Now let me just get through this mad rush at work (year end stuff) and then I will hit you with all my suggestions for WABA.

Liz

[eminva]

I have this second hand, but I think he had a cable lock on it.

Liz

[Author]

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