[ginacico]

I got my friend Peter the Timbuktu Alcatraz backpack for Christmas in customized colors. It was the only one that fit his 17″ computer. Super nice features, and very comfortable.

He also has one of their messenger bags, called Light & Bright or something like that, because it’s reflective and also waterproof. It’s nice too, but he went down one time (rode off the edge of the Holmes Run trail on a rainy, dark night) and his laptop got damaged. He suspects it was because of the way a messenger bag carries a computer kinda diagonally — which prompted thinking about backpacks instead. YMMV.

Timbuktu has more styles than I ever knew until I browsed their website, and they’ll let you customize most of their bags. Which is FUN 😎 plus you can prioritize for colors, waterproofing, reflective features, etc.

[ginacico]

I asked the guys at the VO shop whether the zeppelins have a quick release (before I’d seen them), and they said no. So at the very least, they don’t describe them as such.

In my minimal clearance situation, I cranked mine down pretty tightly at all points so they wouldn’t move or rattle, and occasionally I’ve tugged on the stays pretty hard to micro-adjust. I wouldn’t bet on those R-clips releasing to avoid a disaster. They might, if you were able to leave them loose and chop the ends of the stays off. It’s a doubtful maybe.

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@Raymo853 135869 wrote:

What brand are those pretty fenders?

Hi Raymo853!

That’s my bike, and those are Velo Orange zeppelins in polished aluminum. I gave you a quick review over in your fenders thread — love them, wish they had a quick release.

When I was outfitting the bike for touring, I actually took it out to visit the Velo Orange guys in Annapolis. With fat tires, disc brakes, and racks there were a lot of potential compatibility issues. We futzed around and gladly it all worked out. They’re solid. And pretty!

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@jrenaut 135305 wrote:

Really pleasantly surprised by this place. It’s tiny at the moment, but the brewer and his wife are serving, it’s totally relaxed. He recently retired and had always wanted to brew beer, so now he does. They’re expanding slowly, and should have a lot more space soon.

So good to hear this! I know the owner, he worked at NatGeo and told us about his plans for Public Option when he announced his retirement. He’s also a musician, and I think owning a bar really suits him. I wish them all the best.

Now I really need to get down there and try some beers!

[ginacico]

Hey, Nineteens!

I feel spring coming, and I hope you’re all finding time and good excuses to ride your bikes.

As I mentioned early on, I used the Arlington Visual Arts Bike Tour as a motivator to get me out during Freezing Saddles. All the sites are within 6-7 miles of my house, in some cool neighborhoods with lots of great coffee shops. One of my favorite things about riding a bike is exploring my community at the ground level. And especially if I’m riding by myself, I prefer having some destination than just riding aimlessly around in circles.

Today I knocked off the last of the sites on the tour. It would be possible to see them all in one out-and-back ride… unless you’re finding them for the first time, then it takes quite a bit of meandering and exploring. A few I had to visit a couple times, because the art was inside a locked building, or I just didn’t find it the first time. And to prove I actually visited them all, I took pictures of Vaya next to all of them. Here’s my Instagram feed #ArlingtonArtTour.

Here’s one of my favorites, called Liquid Pixels (VIDEO), on the side of 1801 North Lynn Street in Rosslyn. There are many, many more art installations in the area that aren’t documented on this tour — maybe it needs an update!

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@lordofthemark 135708 wrote:

After allowing myself to become demotivated all week, I finally decided to get back to commuting this morning

Go Team 19! I also dragged myself out early and went to Java Shack, intercepted by the caravan at Jackson St. BTW I find it really helps to hum our team theme song, “Hey, Nineteen” for motivation! Also, pie. The sour cherry pie went fabulously well with a latte.

Great to see the Friday crew, and grateful for these sunny mornings.

[ginacico]

@Steve O 135547 wrote:

The most exciting part was along the W&OD just east of Madison Manor. Four Mile Run had come out of its banks and had flooded the trail up to the sound wall. I decided to forge through, figuring it might be 3-6 inches deep. When it got above the ankle of my TOP FOOT, and I was fighting the current and hardly moving I decided it would be prudent to turn back.

I ended up walking through that, from EFC metro around 6:45. Cold, fast flowing water, up to my knees. It occurred to me how unsafe it was, but there didn’t seem to be another way around on foot. Another guy was waiting under the Ohio St bridge to see if I made it through alive. Despite my instructions to close his eyes and click his heels three times, he forged through also.

“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore, Toto.”

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Not sure this one quite qualifies for your criteria. But this ride deserves a prize for something, and I couldn’t justify it for “Strava Art” because it was totally random.

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Here’s the Strava route, with pictures.

This Labyrinth was created when I set out to find more sites on the Arlington Visual Art Bike Tour. I rode the Custis down to Court House, then picked off points heading generally back towards Ballston. Problem is, most of the sites are on Clarendon Blvd, which is one way the wrong way. So I kept ducking out to Wilson Blvd, then back, and went around several blocks trying to find the next building or sculpture.

It’s a continuous line of mostly riding and some walking. I painted Court House red trying to find a mural that was inside a locked building. There was a diversion back to Court House when Peter called, and rode up from TR Island to meet me. There was another detour to Harris Teeter’s bakery for doughnuts. Then we got caught in a downpour on the way home. Good times!

It’s not Strava art, it’s not dead ends, it’s just a very stupid ride greatly influenced by the given infrastructure. Which seems to meet the spirit of your challenge, but you be the judge. I’m not sure how you’d score it.

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@Steve O 135473 wrote:

One feature that has saved my butt twice is the front quick release. If something goes between the fender and wheel, the fender will pull out of the release, preventing an endo. On the Cider Ride last fall this happened to me. A fat stick went right in there. Destroyed the fender (and made a terrifying noise), but turned out to be no big deal. If the fender had not broken away it’s possible the front wheel would have locked up at 24.8 mph (isn’t Strava great!?), and I might not be playing Freezing Saddles this year.

I have Velo Orange zeppelin fenders on my Vaya. The one feature I wish they had is a quick release, for the reason Steve O describes. I broke another fender the same way, on an older bike, which could’ve been a much bigger disaster without the quick release. Spend any time riding on the C&O Canal or the GAP, and sticks are inevitable. I’m living with that risk, but am constantly aware that one stick can ruin your whole day, or worse.

Besides that, the VO fenders mount pretty easily, stay put, and look awesome. They provide leather pads with the mount kit, which I used liberally to reduce the rattling. With enough fiddling and adjusting they work beautifully. Mine stay permanently mounted, except when I occasionally remove the front fender to save weight during a dry period.

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[ginacico]

I joined BAFS purely as a personal challenge. I may be in the bottom ranks, but as I figured all along ANY biking I do between December and March is more than I’ve done in the past, and it’s been a great learning experience for me. Heck, even when the weather was perfect I wasn’t riding more than 2-3 days per week, because all of it is new to me. I’m not a gotta-do kind of person, and I’m Teflon when it comes to peer pressure. I go for a ride whenever it makes sense in my circumstances and there’s some measure of enjoyment in it.

Frankly, if there had been a beginners category or a way to participate outside the team competition, I would’ve preferred that. But there was a whole lot of pressure that everyone should play, and you must be on a team, etc etc. “It’ll be FUN!” (cringe). That’s how we ended up with 250+ people on 21 teams, and of course there’s a wide spectrum in their participation. I think you either accept that, or change the basic premise of the game for next year.

Now all the talk of minimum requirements seems all too predictable and inevitable. I can barely keep up with my own team’s stats (my team is awesome, btw, I am sincerely inspired by them). I don’t know which teams my friends are on, and I don’t have time in my week to do a lot of Strava spying. The only reason I have a Strava account at all is because of BAFS, and I won’t use it after winter is over. The side bets and pointless prizes are the most fun, but I can’t keep track of more than a couple of them.

In short, the BAFS game feels way too big. I do love the community, and even on those lonely rides in the cold and dark, I never feel like I’m out there alone. If we did nothing more than hand out neon green ankle bands and organize happy hours, I’d be all in, but the competition part of it is kinda making me wish I hadn’t committed.

[ginacico]

@ian74 135362 wrote:

Not too shabby, huh?

I’ll say! Those crafty Germans.

What I especially like about them is the minimalist profile. Since they don’t go through the frame at the fork and seat stays, you can run big tires and not worry about clearance.

I’ve fretted and futzed with Velo Orange zeppelins so they fit on my Vaya without rattling and driving me nutz (well, usually). But I would totally consider these for the road bike.

[ginacico]

Picked this up from the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park’s Facebook page. The Potomac River has reached peak flood stage from all of the melting snow. The remaining ice is washing downriver, and some parts of the towpath are under about 3 feet of water. Recommending that cyclists avoid it for the weekend.

–quote–

Flood Update! The following park closures will remain in effect until re-evaluated on Monday February 8: Boat ramps @ Snyders Landing, Taylors Landing, Brunswick, Lander, Monocacy, and Edwards Ferry as well as Parking areas @ Edwards Ferry and Rileys Lockhouse.

Towpath remains closed between Burnside Farm (MM 89.1) and Dam #4 (MP 84). Click here for the detour map.

Billy Goat Trail A remains closed.

Towpath is still very muddy and is snow covered in many locations. Visitors should try to avoid these areas but if attempted, they should be prepared for very difficult hiking conditions. Bicycling should be avoided completely. Potomac River is still running very high, very fast, and very cold. Do not get near the edge of the river and avoid any areas where you could slip in. (bjh)

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Univega back from the LBS with newly installed Campagnolo triple!

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Swapped the crankset, two derailleurs, and bottom bracket; all vintage-appropriate Campy parts found on eBay. Plus new cables, chain, and bar tape. This bike hasn’t looked this great in 15 years, and I can’t wait to ride it. (Insert disclaimers about there needing to be less ice and grime, and more bike lanes, before I go ride hills on a road bike.)

[ginacico]

@vern 133214 wrote:

I think your comment assumes there will be a rush hour tomorrow, which I think is doubtful at this point. The FEDS won’t open until the Metro is fully operational and DC is quasi-functional, and that’s a long way off.

FWIW I just saw a Metro train leave EFC heading towards Ballston. Not to say they’ve opened above-ground segments yet, but obviously the track-clearing and staging is underway. And I just read this:

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel says that in addition to the 24 mostly outdoor stations that were reopened at 11 a.m., the transit agency tentatively plans to reopen several more this afternoon and is “hoping for” a fully open rail system for Tuesday.

But he could not be sure. And if the system does entirely reopen, the wait times for trains could still be longer than normal, he said.

Still, so many neighborhood roads are unplowed that it’s questionable the Feds or other businesses will open tomorrow. No need to commute if work is closed.

[ginacico]

The W&OD beyond the Custis split is still untreated. And snow was even more unavoidable right before the I-66 underpass.

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