[Emm]

@chris_s 111414 wrote:

BikeDC was quite successful at $40 for 24 miles of car-free riding back in 2012. I’d say you’re in the right ballpark.

http://dcist.com/2013/03/bike_dc_canceled_without_permits_fr.php

I struggle to understand how Bike DC struggled with permits, when it seems like there is a marathon almost every other week impacting travel around DC and Arlington. Not sure if it is just the routes being different, or DC and the park service prioritizing marathons over bikes. I would have loved to ride on bike dc…so I hope it comes back someday

To the OP–totally depends on your target audience. Personally, I’d want a 15-30 mile ride, with a water bottle and snacks at rest stops included for $40 . If your audience is more tourists, then 10-15 miles may be your limit.

[Emm]

@peterw_diy 110793 wrote:

Crews were out working on this last stretch yesterday and again this morning.

I saw that this AM. Looks like they paved the “landing” right by Braddock road and were about to finish it up.

What would improve the situation more is if someone hadn’t dumped an entire truck of rock salt on the path between Monroe Ave and the movie theater (Potomac Ave section of the path). The entire path is nothing but sharp rock salt gravel–it was solid white last night when I biked by it. I’ve never seem something so ridiculous. Even the joggers were getting off the path (I carried my bike onto the street once I realized how bad it was). Rock salt–especially that much–is terrible for bikes and shoes, and downright dangerous for dogs and the environment.

[Emm]

@dbb 110604 wrote:

No. Buying tools is always an honorable thing to do. Like snowflakes, every one is unique (even the duplicates). Even if you don’t have a technical use for the tool, you can always just admire it.

You must be my fiance’s twin. I think every time he goes to Lowe’s he’s just protecting his honor

Side note: Lowe’s will match any other major retailer’s price, even sale/black friday prices, and then beat it by 10%. And then give you an extra 10% off if you have a military ID. That’s how we got a $200 ladder for $100 last November. I that store.

[Emm]

@DismalScientist 110598 wrote:

If you had a 15mm open end wrench, it would work on pedals as well.

You just saved me $10. Thank you. I had ordered a pedal wrench last night so I could switch my former commuter bike’s pedals back to the standard (not clip-less) ones before I sell the bike, and the box end one I just ordered has an open side as well. So I cancelled the pedal wrench. I really need to look more closely at descriptions before I buy tools…

[Emm]

@Harry Meatmotor 110586 wrote:

Awesome choice! that’s a great deal on that bike. You’re also right about the IGH – I’d suggest you might try practicing rear wheel removal quite a few times to get the hang of unattaching and reattaching the shifter cable. That’s by far the most difficult part (even I find them a bit tedious, and I’ve been wrenching on bikes for 20 years now!). Another smart option is to carry a can of Green Slime or similar (the type that has a built in C02 charge) just to get you home, should you get a flat. Then, once you get home or to a shop, properly replace the Slimed innertube. One other thing I’d recommend is to carry an actual 15mm box-end wrench to loosen/tighten the axle nuts. Any multi-tool small enough to fit in a saddle bag is probably not going to give you enough leverage to loosen/tighten the axle nuts. Surly makes the Jethro Tool that could work in a pinch, but is still a little too short, IMHO.

Very good ideas–thank you! I ordered a 15mm box end wrench off amazon, so I should be able to toss that in my pannier bag. I’ll also practice removing the tire a few times this weekend. I’ll look into the slime stuff. It appears it’s not compatible with presta valves without some serious work though, so not sure how it would work in an emergency.

[Emm]

So I ended up going above my budget and skipping the FX line and treks altogether. I got the Raleigh Cadent i11. It was on sale for $999 from $1750 at Revolution. It’s got disc brakes, and an 11 speed internally geared hub. I went to Spokes and tried the Specialized Vita (women’s version of the Sirrus), and wasn’t hugely impressed. None of the stores around here carried it with disc brakes, but they could order it at least. After trying it I felt like the FX was a better bike overall, but the Vita had the option for disc brakes…so I was a little stuck. I also tried a few other Treks, but they were all over $1,000.

The last commuter bike I bought was not a great bike for my needs, so I’m really hoping the Cadent works out better. I test rode it a bunch though (I was nervous about how the IGH would work on hills) and was happy. It has solid tires, I liked the disc brakes, and the bike has a clean look to it. It’s seemed to be a little heavier than the Specialized Vita or Trek FXs due to the IGH, but not hugely so.

The only thing I am NOT looking forward to is getting a flat on the back wheel of the Cadent since with the IGH, it won’t be easy to remove. I’m ordering a new bike tool on amazon now that has the right tools for this since my mini-tool does not.

[Emm]

@Crickey7 109806 wrote:

It looks pretty solid to me, though I personally would never buy a commuter without disc brakes.

For the same price, you can have that,too.
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/multi-use/sirrus/sirrus-sport-disc

I agree, it looks like a really good bike. I can’t find that bike at any of the Alexandria/Arlington shops that carry Specialized, but I reached out to Bicycle Pro shop to check since they don’t list their stock online. Hopefully they do.

[Emm]

@vvill 109814 wrote:

Agreed ^

I think flat-bar hybrid/road bikes are great commuters though. My first 700c bike was a flat-bar road bike with fender + rack mounts, and I still enjoy riding it.

If you’re set on buying new from Rev I would consider Raleigh/Felt models too. Looks like Trek has a 7.2 Disc but no 7.3 Disc. I am always a bit surprised what the a big brand like Trek charges for hybrid bikes with steel or alu forks and entry level components though! I think Raleigh is a bit better value wise (the Cadent range looks about equivalent?)

Thanks! I will check those brands out too. I think Revolution just doesn’t carry as many options for those brands, although I did see the Raleigh Cadent i2x8 is on sale, for /almost/ my size (I think I’m a 52 and they have a 54…which might work). I don’t /have/ to buy from Revolution though. It’s just so far they’ve had the best service plan I’ve seen, which is important for me when buying a bike I plan to abuse.

[Emm]

@GB 109539 wrote:

Revolution in Clarendon is having their end of winter sale. BOGO or 40% off. Please save some men’s mediums for me.

Their off-season tune up rate also ends Saturday. Fiance and I are dropping 3 bikes off there Saturday morning so we can save $20-$30 a bike…

[Emm]

you: my spare tube
me: Missing you. Once, we were connected. Me, on my bike. You, in my saddle bag. It was a wonderful relationship. You made me feel all safe and secure just by being there in my life.

And then…I ruined everything. I was an idiot and took my bike tool out of my saddle bag this morning and forgot to close the zipper. Now, you’re all alone somewhere on the MVT. The fact you sacrificed yourself and let my C02 cartridge stay protected in the bag means alot to me, and to my wallet.

Now I just need to figure out where I put my spare-spare tube…After getting 3 flats in 6 weeks this past spring I HATE riding without a spare .

[Emm]

3rd-ing the ortleib recommendation. I use mine on my hybrid. I biked 6 miles through a thunderstorm this past summer and my ipad and laptop stayed perfectly dry. For already wet items, I keep a plastic shopping or trash bag in there. My backrollers came with an inside pouch, which was easily accessible and perfect for keys and phones. The bags are big enough for a weekeends worth of clothes and a laptop, or groceries. I love them.

For “I NEED IT NOW!” items, I actually love my schwinn phone case (it comes in more colors that just the one on the link). It fits my smartphone, work ID, and keys, plus an energy bar. I cant use it on the road bike (doesn’t fit), but it fits great on my flat-handlebar hybrid.

[Emm]

@Geoff 97055 wrote:

I know there are people on this forum who do all errands by bike, but for me stopping at the store for a few items is a problem – I don’t have the extra carrying capacity for a gallon of milk.

I ran into this issue twice recently on my commute home. I leave my lock at work, so unless I think ahead, no bike lock. I remembered the lock 2 weeks ago and stopped by the store to get cat food since it was a pretty urgent need. In the store it looked like an 11 lb bag would fit in my smallish backpack…but when I got out…nope. I forgot to take into account the lock takes up alot of space. I emptied all 11 lbs of kitty kibble into my backpack utilizing all the pockets and had a very unpleasant (and smelly) final mile ride home. Luckily the backpack was washable…although my cats and the dog are still pretty obsessed with it.

Then last week the same thing happened at the grocery store and the food wouldn’t fit. I ended up tying the final plastic bag to my backpack, which was NOT safe since it kept knocking my head. Luckily I only had 4 blocks to ride home, and traffic was light.

I much prefer my hybrid with panniers for errand days, but it’s just so much slower than the road bike for work commutes, so I utilize it less during nice weather And yes, as the woman in the house, I am stuck more with groceries and errands (fiance would just order pizza instead of picking up rice, but I think that’s laziness on his part, not sexism).

[Emm]

@jrenaut 96991 wrote:

The worst part about those rare times when I have to drive somewhere at or near rush hour is passing trails I know and seeing cyclists on them and wishing I could join them. Though downtown out to Dulles and back was actually pretty painless.

I go through this too. My metro commute on the yellow line lets me see the cyclists on 14th st bridge. I am always sad and jealous when I see them.

[Emm]

@SerialCarpins 96819 wrote:

Also, technically, the racks are located in the service tunnel that runs between Switzer and Cohen, so that employees of both buildings have access to them, so Switzer does have employee only racks underground.

THANK YOU! Im moving to switzer in a few months as part of the big HHS consolidation there, so this is super helpful! The HHS facilities people said we didn’t have underground bike parking when I asked, but I guess they just were not being creative…

[Emm]

@CPTJohnC 96797 wrote:

BTW: to my knowledge, getting a permit to park a bike at HHH does not require being SES, but does require one to completely forfeit one’s Transhare benefit (which is not a very viable option for most of us who metro even occasionally.)

Good to know–i was offered a pass once while working for a political (Greatest job ever, i had some sweet perks). But for some reason our parking coordinator told me it was unusual for non ses-er, and might not be worth it. I guess thats why!

Apparently the new DHS facility in anacostia either offers you a locker (which assumes you bike in), or transhare. It’s really tough to get a locker, so fiance keeps the locker even though he stopped biking in. Personally I think thats not worth it with how much metro costs, but w/e.

[Author]

Posts