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There’s a tree fiddy piloting at at Dirty Kanza this year. DKXL is by invitation only, self-supported, expected to complete the course in about 24hrs.

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Not exactly local, but in case you need an excuse to visit Stillwater, Oklahoma (yay!) there’s the Land Run 100.

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@lordofthemark 169391 wrote:

But unless the bike lane is VERY heavily used by people on bikes, I welcome them

@DrP 169395 wrote:

If you are otherwise acting like a (slightly wider) bicycle, the bike lane makes far more sense to me safety-wise for all.

Concur. My skating days were over after I tripped and got 9 stitches in my chin, but that was back when the White House grounds were open to the public (and a popular meeting place for group skating) and DC had no bike lanes. Nowadays, I would totally utilize the bike trails and lanes.

Runners in the city don’t have great options, either. I don’t begrudge them using the bike infrastructure, as long as they’re going the right direction and are mindfully cognizant of other people.

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Witnessed two instances yesterday of people riding IN the basket of a dockless bikeshare bike. The first was maybe a pre-teen, balancing with his butt on the basket of a Mobike while his older brother/friend pedaled. The second was a small child in the basket of a Limebike, at the doomy intersection of 15th and Constitution (really, parents?!).

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@lordofthemark 169117 wrote:

I am interested in your opinion, and everyone else’s opinion.

Just the messenger:

2. No social scoring. It’s inequitable, and a lot of people think it’s downright weird and creepy to the point of being a deal killer. That discussion needs to stop or people will bail.
3. Demote the individual leaderboard.
4. The team scoring system has to be simple, data based, and transparent. Nobody wants to do advanced math to understand their ranking. (If it’s built into the software, just have a place where it’s explained.)
5. Everything else is pointless prizes. Maybe not so many of them that the competition is drowned out by noise.
6. The endless agonizing pregame forum “discussion” drives people away every year. It is a primary cause for people who play but don’t have an online presence, and don’t care to meet in person. Even more regular members hope this annual “tradition” dies down and results in minimal changes. It’s NOT a community builder. Disable Steve O’s account for Nov-Dec if necessary. (Sorry. Not.)
7. Go ride your bike with people you like. Have a drink. Win. (thanks, americancyclo)

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@lordofthemark 169063 wrote:

Which indicates that people really like it as it is now. We don’t seem to be seeing people leaving –

………yet. Not everyone is expressing it on the forum, but I am not alone.

You fail to account for people who stopped participating last year, partly due to the game’s change in direction. And for the dozens of newcomers submitting their one obligatory qualifying post on the forum, who intend to ride their bikes and otherwise prefer to stay anonymous.

Again, who cares what I think. I’ve already bailed with no regrets, and you’ll get 250 regardless. But the change in dynamics (especially the suggestions that meddle with and complicate scoring) IS causing a change in participation.

@lordofthemark 169047 wrote:

That suggests that improving it in any way is not actually a priority.

@lordofthemark 169065 wrote:

. Many people have weighed in agreeing that FS is more than just days and miles,
It is. But not everything that It is needs to be incented through the scoring system. It just emerges naturally as part of a light hearted competition.

Agree with above.

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I like to ride when it makes sense; weather conditions are not often the determining factor. I would never appear in the high mileage category, or add all that much to a team ranking. To turn the winter months into a cycling game the past two years taught me good stuff about how to endure the cold on a bike*, but it was primarily a self-challenge. I enjoy sincere interactions with people I’ve met in this community, just a quick catch-up or great conversations while huddling over coffee. I really don’t care if anyone grants me the badass label, and I respect and appreciate those of you for whom that’s a thing**.

This game as it’s evolving with emphasis on scoring social interactions, mandatory social media participation and selfies, consuming empty sugar-based calories, and prizes for a wide array of “whatever” seems adolescent, totally confusing, and ultimately abhorrent to me. There’s an undercurrent of real competition, but it’s lost in the two-faced advertising. Culling the losers in an otherwise ridiculous game where everyone can win something seems like an arbitrary, cruel, and unnecessary bait-and-switch. Sure “each of us can participate in our own ways,” but geez that’s a LOT of noise to tune out. There’s literally nothing about FS that motivates me to want to participate. Obviously at least 250 people disagree, so one of them can have my space.

*Key elements: good 4-season bike, quality clothing layers, a damned impressive Buffs and socks collection, a tiny audio system for those dark cold solo rides, and attainment of zen.
**Seriously, those of you itching to battle it out, why not just organize yourselves and make it happen?

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@streetsmarts 168932 wrote:

all this plus Swing’s coffee!!

Whoa, that’s not “bread” 😮 I hope to be there, then back to Alexandria for the Scottish Walk at 11am.

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@accordioneur 168330 wrote:

the donation only kicks in once you hit the 100k

Well, I signed up for their free Logbook anyway. It’s pretty clear once you’re in, the Holiday Challenge meter appears right on the dashboard with the rules spelled out.

They may or may not get donations out of me, we’ll see, but I’ll get some ERG time. Go anomad!

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@accordioneur 168322 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I couldn’t touch 100km in a month

Me neither, but for myriad reasons I really need to do some time on an erg. As I read the rules, there doesn’t appear to be any downside to falling short of the goal (they’ll donate $.02/km until you reach 100k, then it goes up to $.04). Am I reading that right anomad?

Their 2017 charities are all particularly noble causes, IMO, so I’d be glad to use the challenge as motivation and contribute whatever I can.

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@bentbike33 168216 wrote:

The sign does not need to be fixed.

Precisely what the neighborhood thought, when the restaurant owners had an opportunity to refresh (and correct) their awning back in 2012.

“Ownership had a change of heart after learning of the support and appreciation for the awnings from customers and neighbors. One man even asked to purchase one of the awnings after learning of ownership’s decision to replace them.”

That is SO Del Ray.

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@huskerdont 168213 wrote:

Mostly just posting to ask if they (partially) fixed their sign.

Oh heck no, I go by it all the time and the speling [sic] hasn’t changed. Wafles ftw!

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@ginacico 165963 wrote:

I will host a Home Coffeeshop (refer to rule #3) one day during the week

So, I’ve been slammed at work, and also my boss quit, so my Home Coffeeshop never happened. Sorry!

Anyone want coffee/breakfast at Wafle Shop (sic) tomorrow morning? They open early, so I’ll be at the counter about 6:30a and I have to be back for an appointment. It’s across from MOM’s on Mount Vernon.

Coffeeneuring 2017 ends this Sunday, Nov 19th!

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@lordofthemark 167712 wrote:

Looks like I could avoid part of it by taking Lang, then cutting through the shopping center to get to the signal to cross Glebe at Meade?

Yup, or Lang to 28th St S behind the shopping center to Meade is nicer than navigating the parking lot.

@DismalScientist 167717 wrote:

You do realize that Arlington Ridge road goes up a hill, whereas Army Navy and Eads are much flatter?

Sounds like he’s approaching from some other direction and would only be riding down the hill, I could be wrong.

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@lordofthemark 167698 wrote:

I may have to be at a home near Arlington Ridge Road (near Lynn and S 18th) after 7 on Wednesday. I might ride home and then drive with QOTM, but assuming I ride, I would either be riding down Arlington Ridge to the 4MRT, going over to Army Navy, or going the long way back to Eads. I’ve only ridden Army Navy that way by day, and never ridden on Arlington Ridge. Your thoughts?

I’d take Arlington Ridge. Steep 1-block climb up 20th, hang a left, and it’s a fast ride downhill to Glebe and 4MRT. The first half is better lit, but there’s a good shoulder / bike lane almost the whole way and it’s low traffic. That’s the most direct route, and it’ll be over so quickly you won’t notice.

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