[ginacico]

Good points about how weight is distributed over the bike.

Traditional racks and panniers try to put the weight low at the wheel axles. If you tighten things up so nothing rattles around, it can be a very efficient way to travel on smooth surfaces. You have to be careful that the bike doesn’t tip over while mounting and dismounting, like you would with a motorcycle. Because of the bulk, and facilitated by Vaya’s sloped top tube, I’ve developed the habit to step through instead of swinging my leg over the back wheel (sometimes, it varies). But once you get going, you’re very stable. Many touring bikes have a longer wheel base to stop your heels from hitting the bags.

Riding a touring rig is a bit like driving a truck, gradual starts and stops, careful handling, and constant awareness of the load. (Add front and back panniers to a tandem, and this story gets exponentially more complex.)

By contrast, frame bags distribute the weight anywhere it can go without the benefit of a rack — handlebars, mid frame, under the seat — resulting in less weight and also carrying the load higher up. drevil and KayakCyndi can say more, but I imagine the balance is somewhat different, and I don’t know if it’s an issue tightening things down so they don’t sway. How to go bikepacking with Vaya and explore more off roads is something I’ve barely started to figure out.

With either setup, reducing the overall weight of your gear is a BIG win. Splurge on the ultralight stuff, cut the handle off your toothbrush, leave the hardcover novel at home, that kinda thing.

[ginacico]

@consularrider 158148 wrote:

Hill House?

Hilltop House is a sad, decrepit mess. A developer has been trying to renovate it since 2007 but a whole saga of hurdles has prevented it. I actually stayed there in maybe 2001 before it closed. It was reasonable, affordable lodging on a bluff with incredible views. It deserves better.

Sorry to hear Harper’s Ferry didn’t impress team D-Rock!

[ginacico]

@dkel 158134 wrote:

So, why all those packs instead of panniers? Is it just lighter without the racks?

Yeah, mostly it’s the weight. I’ve toured a lot with racks and panniers, but I managed to trim down my gear so I’ve never needed bags on the front. Still, the rear rack plus two large Ortlieb back-rollers weigh over 6 lbs before I put anything in them.

[ginacico]

Here’s a topo map, Sugar Knob cabin is on the northeast corner. I’ve hiked the Big Schloss loop a few times too, and it’s a rewarding route but rocky as hell. Even with stiff boots my feet felt all beat up, same story hiking pretty much anywhere in GWNF. I can’t imagine trying to navigate those trails on a bike, but then again I’m not a mountain biker (could be the cause-effect are backwards).

Any means one uses to get up there, that’s a beautiful area. We backpacked one time, pitched a tent somewhere along the Tuscarora Trail section, and we were surrounded by a chorus of whip-poor-wills all night.

[ginacico]

@Bob James 158132 wrote:

So the consensus is not to bike to work, on bike to work day?

People actually work on BTWD?

I’ll be biking to work very early so I can man the tables at the NatGeo pit stop. Hopefully the Crystal City stop will be open along the way, to check off a point for BTWW. Probably won’t get to my desk until afternoon sometime.

[ginacico]

Bicycle built for 2-1/2
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Dapper Steve O
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Henry classing up the place in tweed on a vintage touring bike
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Steve O had several rivals on unicycles, but he outdressed them all.
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[ginacico]

Rimas racing on a folder. How does he pick one from the stable, I wonder?
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Steve O showed up with a “three-wheeler”
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Josephine and the fox ride again
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Judd on a Brompton
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LSG with a beautiful new bike (and questionable taste in beer)
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[ginacico]

At least three of us on my Strava feed admitted we are still taking pictures of our socks and hashtagging them. And one person says she really enjoys seeing those pictures.

So, two truths:

1) We’re all Freezing Saddles idiots.

2) Sunyata has single-handedly upped the sock game in the DC metro area.

Appreciate that as you ride around admiring the well-accessorized cyclists.

(Next year… Buffs, neck gaiters, caps?)

[ginacico]

@dkel 157735 wrote:

We all suck compared to that guy.

Except Subby, who always wins.

Several years ago I was suffering up a big hill during a metric century, and was passed (not unusual) by a guy with one leg (whoa!).

[ginacico]

@GovernorSilver 157722 wrote:

No, I just locked up on one of the racks on M St.

Ah, that works. For future reference, they usually allow parking (bikes too) in the NatGeo garage for evening events. Access is on M Street near 16th, pretty swank bike facilities on the first level down, and it’s safer than racks on the street. NatGeo just won a Bike-Friendly Business award at Bike Summit, and I intend to make sure we continue to earn it!

If I bike to the Yellow line I usually go all the way to L’Enfant Plaza. Easy to find, and it’s a nice ride down the Penn Ave cycletrack and across the Mall. (And if I’m on a CaBi there are two docks close by.)

The White House is its own mess, which we all suffer. I’ve just learned to expect chaos and prepare to dodge around somehow.

[ginacico]

@GovernorSilver 157720 wrote:

Rode from Crystal City to National Geographic

Hey, that’s my commute!

Did you lock up in the garage? Riding the helix down to P1 (and back up) is one of my favorite parts.

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The Yellow line is my backup, and it’s really not bad going into the city.

[ginacico]

@jrenaut 157439 wrote:

Unfunny jokes aside

But, they’re cracking themselves up.

[ginacico]

I look forward to the final celebration

[ginacico]

Well, dangit. I’m finally forced to admit I’m in pain. Left knee feels like it’s losing cartilage or something, I could hardly walk yesterday. Ignoring it over the last several weeks has only made it worse, so I’m gonna avoid aggravating it until I know what’s going on.

Power on, Crazy Eights! Hope to see you at happy hour.

[ginacico]

What was an innocent coffee outing turned into quite the adventure.

It was late afternoon Friday and I’d had quite enough of this week, the roller coaster that it’s been. So I took off on a short ride to M.E. Swing’s, for a little pick-me-up and to restock on beans for home. Was thinking of friend and fellow Crazy Eights teammate WorkTheWeb (or Ed, as friends call him) and how we haven’t meshed schedules to meet up for coffee this whole season. He’s been off on vacation this week with his family in Florida, dutifully racking up bike rides along the beach. By his Instagram posts it looks warm and sunny down there. We all hate him, just a little.

Got to Swing’s, chose two bags of beans (MESCo and Sumatra), and asked the barista what he’d recommend to taste. It was a pour-over, made with Columbia Marisol Bravo. Menu description: “Big body. Soft. Sweet Lemon.”

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Review? The epitome of a great pour-over, drunk black with flavors that dance on the tongue, without making you run for the dairy products. Not a clue how something could be so acidic yet still as soft and mellow as Columbia Marisol Bravo. Sweet lemon, just as described. Delightful. Here’s to you, Ed.

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Coffee done I considered a detour to Sugar Shack, but the winds had picked up significantly and I’ve managed to avoid sugar points all season. I consider it a victory of willpower, really. So I went back home, struggling to maintain 11mph into the headwinds along the 4MRT detour.

In my driveway I went to stop Strava, and realized my iPhone was MISSING. I clearly remembered a hard bump turning from Commonwealth Ave back onto the bike trail…. and that strange noise that followed was likely my phone hitting the ground as it bounced out of the external pocket on my trunk bag.

Well the last thing I wanted to do was turn around, but dash back I did. My iPhone was nowhere to be seen. And once again I groaned against the wind to get back home. Ran upstairs to trace the iPhone, which told me via its GPS magic that it had wandered into Crystal City. I used the Find My iPhone app to lock the phone, and leave a message with my home phone number.

Almost immediately, the phone rang. A kind voice with a thick accent told me he could return my phone tomorrow, or I could pick it up later today. He gave me his name, phone number, and address at the restaurant in Georgetown where he works.

Fast forward about an hour later, he emerged from behind the sizzling grill and handed me my iPhone, in return for a gift card and a Reese’s peanut butter egg that I gave him out of gratitude. What had the potential for disaster didn’t go badly at all. I didn’t get caught in (much) traffic to/from Georgetown, parked the car quickly, and didn’t even get a ticket. How does that even happen during rush hour? The adventure ended with my iPhone in hand, two hugs and a fist bump.

If you wander into Georgetown hungry someday, stop by the Good Stuff Eatery. Say hello to Melvin. He’s an exceedingly good guy.

And, next time you’re at Swing’s, try the Columbia Marisol Bravo.

[Author]

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