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@KLizotte 147583 wrote:

I can’t find a start date for the law to go into effect. Anyone know?

December 16, 2016

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Just this morning I noticed those two bollards missing, at the top and bottom of the Roosevelt Island helix! I hadn’t gone that way in awhile, was just taking the long route in this fabulous weather.

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@BobCochran 147521 wrote:

How long does it take to disassemble and pack the bike, then reassemble it? Have you had any problems with the process? How do you deal with extras like handlebar bags?

If I’m doing it myself, it takes about an hour at either end. If Peter and I collaborate, we can get two bikes done in 1-1/2 hours (45 min each). I think our process requires a few more steps than “rinko” described in the article, just because we’re collapsing the bike into a smaller package. It’s not a race, the goal is just to wind up with a bike that functions. And no, I haven’t had problems, but taking a bike apart into a million pieces really teaches you some mechanical skills! There’s almost nothing on my bike I can’t fix or adjust, unless I’m stuck needing new parts.

Inside the case, there is a LOT of blank space to stuff things like seat bags, clothes, etc. Small parts, required tools, and greasy stuff (e.g. the chain) get stored in Ziplock baggies so I don’t lose things. I even wedge my helmet and fenders into the case. As long as the overall weight doesn’t exceed 50 pounds (airline regulation, plus the bag just gets unwieldy) the more gaps I fill, the less things will shift around. My rear rack doesn’t fit well, so I usually carry it and the panniers separately.

The unique thing about “rinko” is that they’ve stacked the wheel-frame-wheel in such a way that it can stand on its own, and strapped it together so nothing rubs or shifts.

If you do attempt traveling with your bike, keep us posted how it goes!

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Could’ve been @streetsmarts? She went down this morning, and her Strava track abruptly ended at precisely that time and location. She says she went to ER to get checked out, lots of cyclists stopped to help. Sounds like she’ll be okay, with some road rash and possibly stitches.

Hope all is well!!

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@Judd 147469 wrote:

Wow! That’s pretty impressive. I’m having trouble telling from the pictures. Do you have to take any of the cabling off?

Off? Not really. The two derailleur cables that run under the bottom bracket are also coupled with little barrel screw gizmos.

The rear disk brake cable is more of a pain. The cable is sheathed in plastic, so it can’t be spliced. It runs along the top tube and down the seat stay, attached to the braze-ons with cable ties. I have to snip the ties, unscrew the brake mechanism from the frame, and carry around a bag of cable ties for reassembly.

Salsa kind of forgot about the cable conundrum when they designed the Vaya Travel. I called them on it, which they admitted was a flaw. I bought the cable couplers and had Spokes install them retroactively, and worked out the rear brake process. NBD really.

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@BobCochran 147443 wrote:

Does anyone actively “rinko” their bicycles so they can be carried in trains, etc?

Hi Bob,

I didn’t know it had a Japanese name or tradition, but yes…. sort of.

We (“we” being my bf Peter and myself) discovered that train travel can extend bike adventures in really fun ways, if you’re willing to piece all the logistics together and learn to disassemble/reassemble your bike. A few of the train/bike tours I’ve done, or still want to do:

• West Virginia (train to White Sulphur Springs, bike to Cass, steam train to Elkins, bike to Cumberland, train back home)
• Pennsylvania (train to Baltimore, light rail to Hunt Valley, bike through York and Columbia to Harrisburg, train back home)
• GAP-C&O (train to Pittsburgh, bike back home)
• Climate Ride (train to New York City, bike back home)
• Outer Banks (train to Morehead City, bike back home)
• Shorter trips with Williamsburg or Charlottesville as destinations
• Long trip to Ontario’s Great Lakes Waterfront Trail (and someday to the Trans-Canada Trail)

Amtrak continues to expand their bike service, which is great news. However, you still have to navigate walk-up service (where you roll the bike onto the train yourself) vs. checked bike or baggage service (which requires handling by the conductor, and limits the stops where you can board or depart). What rinko allows you to do is take your bike as carry-on luggage. You load it yourself into a baggage rack, and you never have to lose sight of it.

I just returned from a trip up north, and rode Amtrak. Though walk-up service is available on the Vermonter line, I couldn’t do it on my travel dates because of track work that required a bus bridge (everyone got off the train and rode a bus past the closed section of track). No problem, I rolled my “suitcase” onto the train (and into the cargo bay of the bus) and got my bike to Vermont.

The only difference between what the article on rinko talks about and what I do, is that my bike has S&S couplers. Essentially, the frame was cut in two and the couplers enable putting the bike together again. The same amount of disassembly is required, but since the frame splits in two, the whole bike fits into a more compact case (26x26x10, which is also airline regulation size for allowable luggage). The bike pictured in the article was nested wheel-frame-wheel, whereas I have two sections of frame to puzzle together. Also, my case is harder than the bag pictured in the story. The size of a rinko package is a little bigger, too. Amtrak claims to have a size restriction for carry-on luggage, but I’ve never seen anyone try to enforce it, and I’ve never had trouble finding space for luggage in coach class.

I think trains provide a way to take your bike along many places that you’d want to go. And yes, I’ve also used the skills to load my bike into really small cars!

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@vvill 147447 wrote:

Cool. I was just curious because I like that original color too.

Same here. The copper color is kinda old school, and looks good on the vintage lugged frame. [OT: Did you see that copper Trek 520 at the warehouse sale, with Rohloff internal gears and a generator hub? We were busy dissecting it with our eyes when the cashier rudely whisked it away because someone else bought it. Great touring setup, it was a gem.]

I basically have no cred in this conversation, because I have little interest in fixies, but I do like projects where I get my hands dirty and learn stuff. If it was me building a first-timer, I’d give it a flip-flop hub and brakes, at least initially.

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So I bought a friend’s registration last night, and got her confirmation email.

Their site has all kinds of stern warnings that “transfer registrations” (for which they charged $15 and implied are a huge pain) are closed as of 10/8, no exceptions.

I’m just planning to show them her confirmation, pick up a cue sheet and t-shirt (which may be the wrong size, so I’ll give it to her), ride and eat pumpkin treats. I hope that’s not a problem. They sure seem to be making transfers harder than necessary. Does anyone understand why?

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@Dachs6 147255 wrote:

I’m still seeing Strava tracks on the normal 4MR to/from the airport. Does anyone have any idea when the trail will be closed and the detour mandatory? I have been using the detour, but if it is not necessary, I am happy to skip it.

Not sure when the official closure will happen. I went through there twice yesterday. They’re putting up orange fencing around areas where presumably they’ll be working, but so far the trail is open and they haven’t enforced the detour. Yet.

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@dkel 146663 wrote:

My son was asking about trying track cycling just a couple of weeks ago, and was disappointed that there is essentially nowhere for him to try it out.

You could try the velodrome in Trexlertown PA, it’s pretty dang cool. In addition to hosting races, I think they have programs to get people of all ages to try it out. Might be worth a call to find out what they can offer, and plan a weekend up there.

I went up with a bunch of adults many years ago. They outfitted us with track bikes, and let us spin around the loop. For me it was a creepy experience being on a fixie, but mind-blowingly fun to “race” around the track with friends.

Also, find a copy of “Hearts of Lions” by Peter Nye, great book about the history of bike racing.

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Lifeline 100 has been on my radar since their inaugural event in 2014. That year we rode the metric distance. We lucked out with spectacular crisp fall weather, but the challenge that time was headwinds. Peter and I had the advantage of being on the tandem, and we found a lot of people hugging our rear wheel for a wind break. A few people who rode the full century were pretty worked by the time they got to the finish line picnic.

Conditions are variable, of course, but the event is exceedingly well run and the beneficiaries of the ride fee are all worthy organizations. I joined BikeAAA when I was still living in Anne Arundel county, and they’re doing a great job with bike advocacy and education.

Great route with a mix of trails and scenic roads, friendly checkpoints, fun ride. I haven’t committed yet myself, but you may see a few NatGeo jerseys there – say hello!

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Longest commute EVER.

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@Subby 145933 wrote:

It was like getting licked by kittens.

:D:D

Arlington County Government, in their “Arlington Insider” email newsletter, did announce the stream restoration project and trail closures as of this morning. It’s sent to any residents who opt in. The web page has a bunch of details and background, plus contact info for this particular project.

There’s even a ground breaking event, which oddly isn’t happening until October 5th. It sounds like signs for the trail detour are going up next week, but I’m not clear when the 4MRT will actually close to require the detour.

Anyhoo, talking to people at various Crystal City coffee clubs, many are already trying alternate routes and finding their way around. Do it right, and Whole Foods draft lattes are right on your way to work!

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@Steve O 145852 wrote:

For those of you who do not attend the ABAC meetings, this was a major topic of discussion on several occasions. The members of the BAC expressed numerous concerns with the planned detours and suggested other alternatives, most of which were ignored.

@chris_s 145806 wrote:

That is how it will be signed. I also expect it to be thoroughly ignored.

So, that’s a two way street (pun fully intended).

I’m in for some laps down S Glebe. It’ll have to be early if we still want to make it for coffee.

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@Steve O 145831 wrote:

Is the trail through Oakcrest Park rideable? If so, then one could work through the neighborhood streets to 23rd and not deal with the traffic or the curves on Arlington Ridge. Can’t avoid the climb, though.

It’s narrow, paved, and steep. Would be an interesting diversion from Arlington Ridge. Goat Path, without the bollards. Death is imminent.

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