[eminva]

Wow, Pete, I salute you. Who else made it out? I cannot consider it because I still haven’t investigated studded tires. Also, school was cancelled and I am home with a 10-year-old.

I do hope to be riding on studded tires by this time next year at the latest — probably using a mountain bike that is part of my fleet and that I don’t often think about. However, your last point does give me pause — I worry very much about that last mile and a half of my commute that takes me along the streets of DC. The cars are scary enough when the drivers are in full control of their machines . . .

Liz

[eminva]

Well, just look at the last 60 years of automobile advertising — it’s obvious they’ve been trying to sell us a lot more than mere transportation for decades.

I wonder if the contempt that some drivers have stems from the opposite impulse of must-be-a-DUI/illegal immigrant — that being able to pedal to work is a luxury they couldn’t afford. To the uninitiated, they might think that to be able to commute by bicycle, one must have (1) more leisure time (it takes longer than driving, and if you have to get to the day care center by 6 p.m., that’s a non-starter), (2) fewer obligations (picking up two kids from day care, running errands and taking the kids to soccer practice are also incompatible), (3) more discretionary money (a nice enough bike costs a fair chunk of change) and (4) good health. I’m not saying this is what I think, I’m just considering what their thought process might be. I consider all these obstables to be surmountable, and indeed, I have figured out ways around them.

My bicycle commute started six years ago with a revelation. I usually took the metro to work, but for two weeks I had to drive because of a summer camp my son was attending near my office, but out of metro range. I saw all these people on bicycles who looked like me. Prior to that, I had never considered it. Over the years I have arranged my schedule so that it is doable even with family obligations, and have increased my commitment after moving eight miles further from my office. I hold out hope that some of those drivers, not the hostile ones maybe, but some of them will look at me and all of you and the light bulb will go off in their minds, too.

I got Bike Snob’s book for Christmas, and he posits that the way to get motorists’ and public officials’ respect is not so much through advocacy, but through sheer numbers. The more bicyclists out there, the less they can ignore us. Not sure if he’s right, but if he is, I don’t think we are at that tipping point yet. I’d love to see us get there.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello —

I was telling my husband about this last night and he thought of something I hadn’t — some intersections in DC have cameras mounted on the traffic signal structures (and not just red light cameras that are triggered by scofflaws). If this is one of those intersections, there might be a video record of this incident. The first step of course would be a police report, but it might be worth looking into if there is a camera.

Liz

[eminva]

Wow, very sorry to hear this. I hope you are okay. We all dread this encounter and I wouldn’t criticize anything you did.

Love your bike!

Liz

[eminva]

CCrew, would the chemical toe warmers (brand names are Grabbers, Toastitoes, etc.) be okay for you? I use those on the coldest days and my toes don’t complain so much.

[eminva]

Well, as you might have guessed from my name, I am a woman, too. I’ve only been on this forum a short time, but one thing I have appreciated is that the more experienced riders are so generous with advice and welcoming of newcomers to the sport. Many are quite funny and get their points across with gentle or self-deprecating humor. I do not mind the give and take or casual camaraderie that comes with that.

I notice more women on the bike trail and on the forum everyday. Also, I think, given its sponsorship and nature, the forum would be a good entry point for families seeking advice on recreational riding or even cycling more for chores and activities (now here’s a picture I would love to see on the photo subforum: a family running errands on their bikes, with the smallest tyke on the back of the cargo bike!). I would hate for anyone to be turned off because of a perception that the website was not friendly for all visitors.

Also, I think there are plenty of other places on the world wide web for pictures such as these.

As for whether the administrators should remove the post or we should let moral suasion carry the day, I don’t have strong feelings. Maybe we should all post more pictures of ourselves, “hot” or not, “chicks” or not, to fill up that subforum with more content congenial to all users.

Liz

[eminva]

I rode the W&OD and Custis this morning and they were fine. A few small puddles had frozen over, but they were easy to see and avoid. It looked like they were already melting and might be gone completely within a day or two, if temps rise during the daylight hours.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello —

Thanks for all the info. I rode in on my road bike today (joining the trail between Maple Ave and Cedar St in Vienna and riding W&OD/Custis to Key Bridge). East of Gallows Road is completely clear. There are still a few icy patches, some covered with light snow, in Vienna and between Cedar and Gallows. Most of them you can ride around. At one point it completely covered the trail. However, I picked my way through carefully and remained upright.

If the forecast is accurate, this should be gone by the end of the weekend.

Liz

[eminva]

Hello —

My question is more basic — what kind of bicycle is best for snow/ice cycling? My bicycle fleet is very small — I usually commute on a basic road bike — and I’m wondering if I need to get a new bike before I investigate studded tires. I have missed bicycling in these last couple of weeks. Thanks.

Liz

[eminva]

Thank you, everyone, for your very helpful replies. In response —

In the cases I’m referring to, it was definitely drafting — my headlamp suddenly got twice as bright and I could see how close he was by our shadows in the streetlights. I am very much used to and don’t mind having other cyclists in close proximity. Especially on the Custis Trail with all those hills, it’s not unusual for other riders with a similar pace to close the gap/stretch out (I’m petite so I don’t get down the hills as fast as some others!). If they are going about the same pace, I give them space so I don’t catch up to their rear wheel at the crest of each hill, when I know they will fly down the next hill.

The evening that got me thinking about this was cold and there weren’t many cyclists out there. I judged that I was going a fair bit faster than a cyclist I was catching up with, so I passed him. Then, he stuck with me for at least a couple of miles. I didn’t consider the “drop him” approach because I had a bad headache and thought that, even if successful, the exertion might make my head explode (not really, but you get the idea!).

In the future, I guess I could slow down, wave him/her around me (not sure my shadow would understand the subtle signals of the more knowledgeable cyclists), and if I got really freaked out, think of a reason I need to stop at a 7-11 or other shop near the trail.

No, I’m pretty sure I can’t anticipate someone attacking me by jumping from their bike to mine! I suppose if someone were determined to attack, the best way would be to create an obstacle in the cyclist’s path, so I probably shouldn’t worry so much about someone behind me, huh?

Thanks again for all your help!

Liz

[eminva]

Hello —

I just came over from the WABA forum, too. I commute from Vienna, VA to DC. I am very hopeful I will one day encounter the pink fixie that sounds like Santa’s sleigh!

Liz

[Author]

Replies