[Fast Friendly Guy]

Title: Bird of Peace
Date: Feb 20. 2014
Image file
​[ATTACH=CONFIG]4819[/ATTACH]
Strava Ride URL: http://www.strava.com/activities/114749338
and http://www.strava.com/activities/111577094

Drawing Only: 35.2 miles
Full Ride: 42.4
Comments, Explanation, Stories..
I did the head and olive branch in the morning before work, but the hills took more time than I expected, so I had to ride the wings and tail feathers at lunch. Glad I didn’t wait longer, because by mid afternoon ominous dark clouds were threatening rain. The idea for this began weeks ago when I looked a Strava ride I made between my office at Ballston, Marymount Main Campus and Arlington Central Library on Quincy. I said to myself: This is the head and beak of a giant bird! (second Strava link, above) From that point it was easy–all I had to do was find the rest of it! I considered leaving out the olive branch, because the best olive I could find was flat on one side, but after all this IS the Bird of PEACE. I made the entire picture without a single GPS pause; I rode every point, but if I were to have used a pause, it would probably have been to crop the tail feathers between Columbia Pike and Army Navy Drive.

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[Fast Friendly Guy]

You know Tim’s given everyone an extension to Feb 24 to do a Strava ride drawing of a bicycle in Arlington! So if you have a plan for a bike, you should ride it….err, draw it, err, both at the same time! I know there’s a lot of talent out there–share it with us! Don’t make me be the only one!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Dirt 77847 wrote:

Wheeeee! I’m riding on the highway!!!

(Not really. It is actually Arlington Blvd. Felt like the highway though. If only the path were plowed.

Oh yeah–Looks Familiar! Welcome to the world of what Strava makes you have to do! Whew, sometimes there’re lines you need that are just plain scary rides! (see rear wheel “Riding Down Columbia Pike”)

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@KelOnWheels 77678 wrote:

Anybody going tomorrow? I miss your helmety heads and smiling faces!

After missing last week, I don’t want to miss another!
I’ll have to leave home early, because my route will be a little longer than usual since it includes a beak, olive branch, right wing, and tail feathers.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Geoff 77639 wrote:

Totally understand your point of view. I’ve had a couple of bad falls that put me out of action for months at a time too. Discretion is the better part of valor.

And look at what happened to poor Trish, yesterday!
http://www.strava.com/activities/113998801

[Fast Friendly Guy]

Clockwise on the Arlington Loop. Few icy patches between EFC and Ballston–Ballston connector is a nightmare–and again on twin sisters. Longest sustained bumpy ice was bridge over Spot Run and climb up to Lee Hwy. Not too bad down into Rosslyn. I expected Trollheim to be bad, so no surprises there. Some sustained single track in a 10″ trough from 14th St Bridge until Gravely came into view. A few rough spots on bridges by the airport. 4MR was really no problem. W&OD from Shirlington to EFC no worries. W&OD west of Lee Hwy to Little Falls was ridiculous and I fell twice into a snowbank (no problems) while trying to remount after coming to a forced stop.

[Fast Friendly Guy]

If you want to know what cobbles feel like just ride the road leading to Arlington Cemetery from Memorial Bridge. Genuine cobbles!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@jrenaut 77483 wrote:

You can check my Strava ride – there’s snow everywhere. I have a fairly low tolerance for faceplanting into slush, and an unfortunate habit of tensing up and fishtailing wildly when I encounter snow. And everywhere I went i had to turn around. I tried the 14th St Bridge, and it’s fine, but the MVT isn’t. Someone more adventurous than I could certainly do it, but on skinny road tires, following that 10″ wide path of pavement just didn’t seem like much fun. So I checked Hains Point, which is closed and covered. I almost got on Rock Creek Parkway by accident, then turned around to check the Roosevelt by the Kennedy Center and the snow actually laughed at me. So I can home. I’m done with snow.

I used to feel the same way, until I got the Black Battleship. (TREK CrossRip with fenders and studded tires) Still when it’s this bad I generally stick to the roads (including, reluctantly, on the bridges)
Dave

[Fast Friendly Guy]

Feb 15, 2014
[ATTACH=CONFIG]4795[/ATTACH]
Now Where Exactly is DCA?
On Strava: http://www.strava.com/activities/113538131
13.7 miles (drawing only)
38.0 miles (Full ride)

When I left the house it was sleeting, and it stayed wintry the whole ride! By the the time I got home the wind was also a challenge. In spite of everything, however, this was a fun Strava drawing, most notable for the amount of off-road snow, slush, and mud! Cutting back and forth across the snow-covered front yard of the Capitol was a lot harder to execute than it was to plan (same for Stanton and Franklin Squares) The hefty walls and stairs don’t show on the map even in the satellite view, and lifting the Black Battleship over and climbing was a lot of work! The rest was pretty much a breeze (but later, pretty much a gale)!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@ShawnoftheDread 77397 wrote:

I rode on 110 for 1/2 mile or so because the trail was unusable.

Had to do the same thing yesterday. Also had to ride the street on Memorial and 14th St Bridges. Hopefully they’ll clear the bridge sidewalks today. Glad you made it in okay.
Dave

[Fast Friendly Guy]

This is FFG Reporting from INSIDE the Java Hut. Dismal has entered the building!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

Class was canceled today so I thought woo boy coffee this morning! Arrived at Java Hut right on time only to find this:

I’m sticking around till eight just to see my friends!

I’m chilling at Mr. Tire next door until I see someone ride up on their bike. Can’t wait until eight I could use a hot coffee!

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Rod Smith 77322 wrote:

Snow Angels ride with Pete and Ben

Hey look at those blue mountaineering gaiters Dirt is wearing! I thought I was the only one to use climbing gear for rides (e.g.,insulated Gortex overmits–They’re like Moose Mits on my arms!)

[Fast Friendly Guy]

@Rod Smith 77322 wrote:

Snow Angels ride with Pete and Ben

Hey, I passed you guys going the other way on Pennsylvania Ave and waved. I was heading East. I couldn’t miss the unicycle, but I didn’t recognize you, so here’s a belated hello from Fast Friendly Guy! Dave

[Fast Friendly Guy]

Hains Point was not accepting visitors. For an idea about how wet and sticky that snow was — my bicycle does NOT have a kickstand!

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