[Emm]

I had my first ever completely aborted commute today which was sad. But I am really grateful that bikes can go on metro, and that DASH buses have bike racks.

While leaving work, I noticed this massive inch or so long bulge before I even left the parking garage. I immediately got off the bike and took the metro and bus home. It was screeching so loud against the frame while I walked the bike through the Pentagon metro/bus bay that I deflated the tire almost completely so I wouldn’t have it burst and cause an “incident”.

How on earth does something like this happen? The tire was already pretty chewed up and having issues sealing up all it’s punctures (thanks DC streets!), so I had already ordered a new tire and planned to get it installed Friday. So timing wise this isn’t the end of the world, but it’s definitely frustrating.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20204[/ATTACH]

[Emm]

Too funny. I was telling someone recently that I needed to go check these out soon. I’ll be there with a +1.

If anyone wants to convoy over from NoVa let me know.

[Emm]

Do you mean Sunday July 7? :p

[Emm]

@Judd 191880 wrote:

Me: riding in the bike lane in Braddock Road.
Me: “oh, that driver was nice to give me additional room.”

1 second later –
Me: “oh, they have a bike rack. It’s good when bike people look out for each other.”

1 second later –
Me: “oh, wait, that’s Emm! I wonder if she recognized me.”

1 second later –
Emm: waves

Good to see a friend out on the road.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I waved and shouted too when I drove past, then realized “maybe he thought I was a mean driver cursing at him… I hope he didn’t think that…”. Glad to know you recognized me

[Emm]

@Steve O 191705 wrote:

Is there a team still seeking a 3rd player? I am available at very low cost.

Reji and I are open to making you an honorary member of team Renegade.

[Emm]

@Steve O 191251 wrote:

Who wants me?

I have no Renegade. I believe I used my 1962, 3-speed Western Flyer last year. It’s got a basket, which came in handy.

(awaits sound of crickets)

hmm…do you covet a renegade?

[Emm]

@reji 191227 wrote:

Me, me, me…. pick me!

You’re in! Team Renegade! Any third team member must either own, or at least totally covet Renegades.

[Emm]

I just signed up for a team of 2-3 that’s going to totally beat Team LLB!

So um…who wants to join my team? :p

[Emm]

@ChristoB50 191175 wrote:

I’d be curious to hear what folks packed (but didn’t need/use) and what wasn’t packed, but was needed/missed…

I used pretty much everything I packed. Tent, sleeping pad, pillow, camp chair, food. I could have skipped the tent and slept inside, but I wanted to use the tent. I also could use some lighter weight stuff so I wasn’t completely weighed down, but that’s an investment for later.

[Emm]

@dasgeh 191084 wrote:

See Casey’s note — there is definitely something going on with Mt Vernon Ave. It sounds like the east side is open, but I strongly recommend talking to DES to make sure they don’t make changes that impact the ride.

I ride this section every day. It’s completely open on the east side, and it will stay open since the deterioration does not affect that side. They’ve installed numerous, semi-permanent signs directing people to the east side.

They’ve confirmed that the east side will remain open via press releases, notes to citizens associations, and notes to other affected parties numerous times since the issue was discovered a few months ago. They will NOT be closing the east sidewalk unless something unexpected and catastrophic happens, since it’s a VERY important crossing for bikes and pedestrians in the area.

Since I live close by I’ve paid very close attention to this issue since this bridge, and the one just north where both sidewalks are closed, are on my commute.

https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/four-mile-run-bridge-west-sidewalk-closed/

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/01/15/safety-concerns-prompt-sidewalk-closure-on-four-mile-run-bridge-to-alexandria/

[Emm]

@Steve O 191051 wrote:

This accompanying stock photo is interesting:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]20100[/ATTACH]

He’s riding a brakeless fixie (with a kickstand, interestingly), not exactly what one might recommend for a newbie.

Pretty sure not something a newbie would notice in the photo.

@Steve O 191051 wrote:

How is it his foot is not firmly on the pedal? That’s odd, particularly for a fixed gear.

same as above comment

@Steve O 191051 wrote:

Is he riding the wrong way on a 1-way street? Seems so. Or at the very least he’s on the wrong side.

Anyone who knows Alexandria would recognize that’s the maneuver required when getting off the MVT going Southbound at Royal Street…(crossing over the northbound lane to get into the southbound lane)

Perhaps instead of focusing on a silly stock image, we can say congrats to Komorebi and Conte’s for a getting featured in a nice article, and talk about how great it is BPAC is offering this program…

[Emm]

@smb9600 191032 wrote:

What time are the folks in the afternoon roll-out thinking about heading out?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If people can wait until early afternoon I’m thinking about joining. I have a volunteer thing with AFCC that goes until 12:30 or so, but I could probably leave right from there, or by 1:00/1:30 if needed. I’m totally fine with leaving later too.

I have a sleeping bag, and a tent* so I don’t need a bunk.

* kwarkentien’s tent which I still haven’t given back yet… 😮

[Emm]

@CaseyKane50 190942 wrote:

Also got three pairs. Gave away two pairs, including one pair to Judd.

And the other to me!

[Emm]

@DrP 190897 wrote:

Just be thankful it didn’t bite you. A cycling friend in Ohio was bitten by a bat on his commute home one day (late fall, I think, dark in any event). Had to go for the rabies shots. He was not amused.

Honestly, if you so much as touch a bat on accident and can’t say for certain where you touched it, rabies shots aren’t a bad idea. Their teeth are TINY, so you can’t always tell if you’ve been bitten.

https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/bats.html

[Emm]

@sjclaeys 190751 wrote:

I’m looking into getting a platform hitch rack. The Thule T2 Pro XT seems to get the best ratings, but I’m also interested in the Saris SuperClamp EX. Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks

I have the prior version of the super clamp. The version I have doesn’t have the tilt function, but it is otherwise identical.

Given the option, I’d buy it again. It’s light enough I can take it on and off my car easily (about 15 lbs lighter than the Thule rack), it’s VERY easy to load my bikes onto, and it works fine with racks, fenders, and bikes of vastly different sizes. The cable it comes with is also a nice feature. I wont really keep your bikes safe in an city parking garage, but it keeps the bikes secure when you run into a highway rest stop, or if you take other short periods away from your bikes.

If/when I look for a new rack I may also consider the 1up racks, but since my car is a small ford focus, I can only use the options with smaller hitch sizes.

[Author]

Posts