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@dcv 193721 wrote:

I love this, it’s a perfect response.

Thanks dcv.

Goes w/o saying the consequences are worse if colliding with an oncoming ton of steel at high speeds.

I freak out for the opposite reason. On a dark trail at night, see an oncoming cyclist. Suddenly he disappears, having “politely” covered his headlight. WTF where’d he go?!? How am I supposed to avoid hitting someone I can’t see? Am I past him yet? Terrifying. Far worse if I reciprocate and we’re both groping around in the dark with only one hand on the controls. I just don’t get why we’ve developed different protocols for driving cars and riding bikes. The answer, as mstone says, is because we’ve made up this dumb rule as a twitchy reaction to bad designs and lazy adjustment, then berate each other for not doing the light-fiddling gymnastics. Please stop.

I’ve had dozens of those scorching flashlights with diffuse beams (the most recent one was literally branded as Scorch 2.0, bright af). If they’re bright enough to light my way, they’re obnoxious for anyone coming toward me. Maybe we should pass out index cards and rubber bands to jury rig hoods over the darn things. Count me in for advocating for better designs even if it means, like Germany, we institute some new standards.

Last night we rode a fast trip down the W&OD from the Custis, after dusk. Of those oncoming cyclists who had headlights on, about half of them were too bright or pointing askew or flashing (looking at you, CaBi bikes). Not once did my outrage get triggered. My visibility was excellent, so I just kept my hands on the bars and watched my lane, not even bothering to reduce my speed except while passing pedestrians**. Just like driving country roads at night.

Invest in a decent headlight, use a wall* to adjust where it’s pointing. No strobe, set it and forget it. Ride with two hands on the bars and eyes on your lane, cool as a cucumber.

*Did this on the 14th St bridge at night. We discovered if it’s not busy, the concrete and white railings are ideal for illuminating the beam. Take a friend.

**Extra kudos to the many runners wearing those neon lights that are like an X-shaped vest, who were highly visible and didn’t flinch as we flew by. You all earn my respect.

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@EasyRider 193678 wrote:

Bike headlamps with cutoff patterns are just great. I really encourage everyone to give one a try this winter. Not only are they better for fellow trail riders, they are better for their owners as well. The beam pattern more evenly lights the road ahead, unlike the overpowered flashlights that have become ubiquitous.

Agreed! Combined with a dyno hub, it makes night riding a no-brainer. The person who told me I’d never regret that investment was absolutely right.

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@consularrider 193675 wrote:

Actually, yes it would. My light is dynamo power and sits just above the front wheel so I’d likely do an endo if I reached down to cover it.

Ditto. Next time you’re riding on a narrow trail, reach down and grab your head tube badge and see how much fun that is.

I went and got a dynamo-powered light with a sophisticated beam like that of an automotive headlight. Then I adjusted it so it points exactly where it’s supposed to, not dazzling anyone but allowing me to see clearly when riding in the dark (the whole point of a light). It doesn’t strobe, I turn it on only when needed for safety, and I’ve never gotten a complaint.

So, nope.

Last night I was driving my way out of backwoods Manassas on a twisty, hilly, 2-lane road with zero street lights and no shoulders. There were lots of cars coming the other direction (half of which forgot to dim their high beams). Did I politely turn off my headlights for every one of them? No. Because passing each other in pitch darkness seems stupid.

Not putting myself at risk for some really questionable etiquette.

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@huskerdont 192781 wrote:

Mr. Happy must be very strong for his size

He’s been working out.

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@notinthe18 192704 wrote:

I ride through there fairly often and, like you, I had not seen any reason to dismount and was wondering what the deal was… until the middle of the day the other day when there were suddenly a lot of workers under there blocking most of the trail doing construction of some sort (unclear what). And then, a few hours later… gone again!

Ditto. When the crew is on site (at unpredictable times) they tend to be all over the trail. Sightlines under the bridge are limited anyway, and with reduced space and people moving around, the warning is fair.

Literally nobody obeys the signs and dismounts, but it does warrant slowing down. If workers are there, they’ll happily wave you through.

Agree, it would be nice if the signs were turned away when not relevant.

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@Sunyata 192414 wrote:

Head to your nearest drug store/Target and pick up some nail polish in the closest colour you can find. It will cover up the scratches nicely.

Or Testors model paint at a hobby store. Likely you can find an exact match.

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@ChristoB50 192388 wrote:

that barely-ridden, basically pristine, gorgeously purple object

After your story about feeling the e-bike is basically overpowered for your abilities, my hunch is you’ll be riding this old-new bike a lot. Congrats, can’t wait to see it in person!

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Scooter Repo Men

😡 😡 😡

IMO this is a moral equivalent to predatory towing, which is tantamount to theft.

More reason for local jurisdictions to get a grip on scooter regulations, soon.

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For those hoping to see the “Apollo 11: Go for the Moon” show Saturday night… We went tonight and found it quite easy.

You definitely want to be in the designated zone behind the screens to get the full effect of the show. At 8:30 there was no problem finding a spot on the grass between 9th and 12th. By 9:00 it had started to fill up. By showtime at 9:30 people had squeezed into all the vacant spots, but everyone was fairly polite. If you don’t get a spot there, you can still see the projection on the Washington Monument from just about anywhere.

I was afraid we’d all be standing and jockeying to see, but magically at T-2 people started yelling and everyone sat down in the grass. I’ve literally never seen such a thing in DC, and still can’t believe it happened.

Also, we walked right in with our bikes and laid them down next to us, and saw others do the same. Nobody cared. I was too afraid to lock mine up out of sight.

We found the Air & Space museum closed (at least the door we tried) and the Smithsonian tents outside quiet, I guess they’re daytime exhibits.

People cleared out and there was plenty of space before the 10:30 show. Clearly some people were going to stick around and watch again. 15th and other streets that were blocked off to cars were really nice for bikes, but avoiding all the pedestrians is the challenge.

Go… it was worth it!

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YAY! License lookup and app updates targeted for Arlington.

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/06/06/hows-my-driving-service-tracking-car-violations-may-roll-into-arlington/

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@rcannon100 191347 wrote:

Whoever put it there might remove it.

Respecting the right of anyone to assemble for coffee anytime, anywhere, without it being an “open event”. Not A Club Coffee is no longer a calendar entry.

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@lordofthemark 191123 wrote:

It IS a requirement that cars not enter the bike lane

Just curious, can you cite this law for Alexandria? Someone I know tried to look it up recently, and couldn’t find it. (The bike lane violators were parked PD cruisers in Carlyle.)

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Path Less Pedaled is my favorite bike blog (or really a YouTube channel). Subscribe if you’re at all into bikepacking / touring, gravel riding, bike and gear reviews, etc. He likes to go bike fishing, often paints watercolors of scenes along the route, and sometimes joins races just to give it a shot. I embrace #thesupplelife

About a year ago Russ and Laura moved to Missoula MT so she could go to work for Adventure Cycling, where she’s now in charge of the U.S. Bicycle Route System project.

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Once again a despicable story full of misleading language and misplaced blame.

This happened on a Potomac Pedalers club ride. An aggressive driver in an SUV threatened three cyclists, ran one off the road, then fled the scene. MoCo police are seeking any details.

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/local-news/montgomery-county-police-searching-for-aggressive-driver-who-left-bicyclist-in-critical-condition

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@LhasaCM 190834 wrote:

Caught up with Mark. A few things to pass along:

That was fast, thank you! All excellent news. I’m signed up as a beta tester. Could have submitted a couple in Crystal City this morning but selfishly didn’t want to interrupt my tour de pit stops.

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