[eminva]

Here’s another low end solution: I use flat pedals and fleece lined boots. I throw in chemical hand warmers when it gets to teens and below.

I covet the Lake boots, but don’t have them in my cycling budget this year . . .

Liz

[eminva]

This is a good thread — I will soon have the same problem as the OP — I work at 18th & L, in a building with a secure, access controlled bike cage, but my office is moving across the street next year and the bike parking appears similar to what vvill described.

I already carry a ulock with me at all times because I often run errands on the way home, so it sounds like that will do the trick. There is some heavy equipment right next to the bike rack, but I can give my business card and a small gratuity to the parking lot attendant and he can alert me if any maintenance work looks to threaten my bike.

On a related note, when will garages start getting better bike racks? And why don’t they think to install something that all the locks can be affixed to when not in use, so that you can actually park your bikes on the rack instead of dodging dusty old forgotten locks?

Liz

[eminva]

I think about an hour? But I was double and triple checking everything to make sure I was doing it right, and I have an Old Man Mountain rack that is attached to the rear skewer, adding to the fun.

On a semi-related note, and all of you veterans should ignore this next piece of advice, but there are lots of good books on bike maintenance out there. Most of them assume some knowledge of bike maintenance already. I have found the Complete Idiot’s Guide to Bike Maintenance and Repair is a good guide that assumes no prior knowledge. It is out of print but you can get used copies at Amazon.com and ABE Books. It answers all the questions you are too embarrassed to ask with good illustrations. I had that book open next to me and was consulting as I went along.

Liz

[eminva]

I just had this dubious pleasure a few weeks ago. Not difficult, but time consuming if you haven’t done it before (or at least that was my experience).

Do get the hand cleaner, but someone also recommended keeping surgical gloves in your emergency supplies.

Liz

[eminva]

Great ride and great video! Looks like you were passing quite a few people!

I took my son to watch. We got there about 1 p.m. and watched the masters race (I think). My son was quite impressed, especially with the guy we saw bunny hop the obstacles.

Sorry we did not stay for the rookie race. It looked like fun.

Liz

[eminva]

Last year’s discussion of studded tires:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?317-It-s-too-icy-to-ride….-Or-is-it

Discussion of Socks & Boots:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?309-Feet-Part-2-The-wonderful-world-of-socks.&highlight=lake+boots

More on Boots:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?308-Hands-warm-How-bout-those-feets&highlight=lake+boots

There’s more; you can do a search through the comments for specifics. But from these threads, it looks like some of those cycling specific boots have a tread pattern that would make it safer to drop your foot in ice/snow/etc.

I have pedals that are SPD on one side and flat on the reverse. I just wear general purpose fleece lined boots when it gets too cold for cycling shoes.

As far as winter wardrobe, I am a big fan of a wool base layer. I have ski sweaters in various weights. Depending on the temperature, I add maybe a vest and a wind blocking layer. Add wind stopper pants and it’s passably cozy.

Am planning to put studded tires on my mountain bike this season so I can increase my winter commuting. Last year, I was fine with the cold, but any ice on the trail sidelined me because I was riding a road bike. It takes a surprising amount of time for all that ice to clear — sometimes two or three weeks post storm.

Liz

[eminva]

Wow, who knew there was so much sewing talent amongst our posters?

It is good to know I am not the only one who had to learn by trial and error. I bought an expensive rain jacket and its waterproof qualities did not stand the test of time. Apparently these products don’t always live up to their advertising.

Excellent tips, Pete. I lost a glove at the end of winter last year and need a new pair and those neoprene gloves sound like they would fit the bill.

Good luck to everyone doing cycling events this weekend.

Liz

[eminva]

Alas, that is the day my husband begins his C&O Canal cycling trip, so it looks doubtful for me. Have a great time!

Liz

[eminva]

@theakston 9127 wrote:

Of course if you are heading East you probably still have a walk light but not one that the traffic can see! so be very careful heading that way!!!

Maybe that explains why, when I was coming in this morning, having dutifully waited through the light cycle, when I got the protected walk signal a cab came flying around the corner right into my path. Of course, being a cab driver, he should have known what he was expected to do regardless of whether the signal was working, but oh well.

Liz

[eminva]

Wow, congratulations to all who did even a part of this adventure! I’m dying to know, who was the other hearty soul who made it the whole way? How long did it take? At least you had a nice day for it.

I spent the day on a pool deck with a stop watch. If not for that, I could have done 10,800 feet of climbing. At least that’s my fantasy and I’m sticking to it.

Liz

[eminva]

My bike was stolen three years ago from the racks at the Ballston metro station. It was a mid-range hybrid, nothing fancy. It looked, from the broken locks scattered around that afternoon, that quite a few bikes were liberated that day. Right in front of the taxi stand for the hotel there — so much for witnesses. If you are going to leave it there for an extended time, I would either ride a bike less attractive to thieves or give a lot of thought to your locks.

As another poster said, inside a garage would be great. Is there a parking garage where you are going for training? Might they have a bike cage inside that you could get temporary access to?

Liz

[eminva]

My morning commute is a tiny bit lighter, but the evening is very crowded this week — joggers, cyclists who came home from work and hopped on their bikes for an evening spin, etc. A huge proportion of which didn’t have lights on their bikes at 7 p.m. last night.

I do expect that another 10-20 degrees and winter winds will give me the trail mostly to myself, though.

It was fun to see the kids riding their bikes on the trail yesterday a.m. for Walk or Bike to School Day.

Liz

[eminva]

Weather.com had a window of about three hours of no rain for Indian Head, Md., starting about 12:30. My husband and son thought I was crazy as we loaded the bikes on the back of the car in the pouring rain. It was cloudy for most of our ride, but no rain. And the sun did peak through briefly as you see above.

Liz

[eminva]

If you cleaned them up, you could have a nice Pee Wee Herman style bike: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089791/

On the other hand, isn’t that the type of bike the original mountain bicyclists used on their way to developing purpose-built mountain bikes? If you can just get them rolling, you can bomb down hills with them.

I had my mother’s old cruiser bike from 1962 — eventually I gave it away to Bikes for the World.

Liz

[eminva]

My parents live in Northern GA and when we are there we always visit family friends who live near the Silver Comet Trail in Cobb County. It looks very nice and well maintained. I was intrigued but we never have our bikes with us.

Now that I know how far it goes and that the end of the trail in Alabama is right near a chilldhood friend, maybe we will have to bring our bikes down and try it sometime.

That is beautiful country. Have fun and let us know how you find the trail.

Liz

[Author]

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