[ginacico]

Quick update, the Custis trail is clear down to pavement between EFC and the I-66 underpass, with some unavoidable patches of snow and ice in between dry spots.

Here’s a few pictures between McKinley and where it splits off from the W&OD.

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[ginacico]

@consularrider 133030 wrote:

Just wait until they try to plow it. Last year the plow truck (with chains) couldn’t get up the hill after it got so packed down from the sledders. We learned to park a car down on Four Mile Run. Guess I should have mentioned that yesterday.

Um, I think your car is under there somewhere. I assume it will be well preserved until spring thaw. I doubt we’ll see a plow for awhile. Gladly I have no need to drive anywhere, but my Subaru will be fine when I do.

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That said….. the Custis got cleared at least twice yesterday! The W&OD was impassable beyond the junction, though. It was still snowing and blowing like crazy, so it was quickly covered up again. Made for GREAT cross-country skiing. Jesse (accordioneur) and I went down around Bon Air Park, and by the time we came back our outgoing tracks had disappeared.

This was taken about 3:00 PM yesterday. (I’ll post another when I get out there today.)
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Somewhere in the mix, sjclaeys was spotted schlepping his bike through Madison Manor, presumably trying to get in a sleaze mile.

[ginacico]

@consularrider 132789 wrote:

I’ll bet you wish I left the Pugsley in Arlington after all. Montana will be a pain for you, and be careful on the driveway.

Vaya has been a trooper even w/o studded tires, but tomorrow may be a very different story. 16-30″ means I switch to cross-country skis 😎 Saw several cyclists go by with a couple inches on the ground, including at least one fat bike. I should hang up a sign and serve espresso drinks / cocoa / tea / hot toddies — people can stop by before conquering Brandymore Castle hill.

Montana IS the most popular sledding hill in town! Dozens of kids (of all sizes) all afternoon.

[ginacico]

With the snow storm and accompanying cabin fever looming, I geared up and got out. The main corridor of north Arlington was bustling with activity. I stopped at Northside Social, which was open and busy as ever.

They don’t make a Nutella latte…. I asked. So I got a regular (Counter Culture espresso, whole milk) latte, with an Eggnog cookie. Watched the first snowflakes falling from my perch upstairs by a window.

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[ginacico]

8:30 PM on the W&OD at Ohio / McKinley.

About an inch (I scraped my toe to the pavement, so you can see the depth). Only two sets of tire tracks. It’s a beautiful evening for a little snow ride, where are you guys?!?

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Just don’t drive anywhere. Cars are wiping out all over the neighborhood, and I-66 is a parking lot.

[ginacico]

@Brünø Moore 132537 wrote:

Those assembled are to be reminded that my favorite local “competition” does have a “Blinding Speed” award. They should bear in mind, however, that said award is given not necessarily to the first sculpture to arrive at the finish, but to the fastest after all penalties, bribes, etc. are taken into account.

Oh, THAT competition. I’m well familiar with its “rules,” as I got to participate as a barnacle for this lovely entry in 2015.

Who doesn’t like a ballerina?
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Here’s video of the graceful water entry:
https://pasadenagina.smugmug.com/Events/Kinetic-Sculpture-Race-2015/i-V6MH5Dq/A

And here was our prize. I can’t explain what it was for, and neither could the judges, but we were proud.
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I, too, rode to Mike’s this holiday morning, and drank two cups of 50-cent coffee. Then I went home, lingered in a hot shower until my toes defrosted, and made myself a Nutella latte. I’ve been looking for a local coffee shop that makes one, but alas Pound the Hill (Eastern Market) has changed ownership and doesn’t serve them anymore. Did a little research and it turns out they’re not difficult to do yourself — make a latte, stir in some Nutella before you pour the milk, and enjoy.

Steve O and I discussed the esoteric nature of Brünø’s Big Bad Coffee Challenge over exceeds-expectations-for-.50 coffee at Mike’s. With this added clue, I’m starting to get it. And I have no idea who’ll get the prize at the end of BAFS2016 or how they’ll earn it. But sipping my Nutella latte — at least for the moment — I was sure I’d “won.”

[ginacico]

@Tania 131896 wrote:

Trying to guess what time they’ll actually open this Monday (MLK day).

Answer: 8:30 AM, though nobody knew that in advance. We circled around in the cold for awhile, then saw someone inside doing prep; Steve O sweet-talked her into letting us sit inside for 10 minutes before they started taking orders. Great food, cheap coffee, unpredictable holiday hours.

MLK @ Mike’s participants: ginacico, DismalScientist, GB, Steve O, rcannon100. FFG and someone else (beard, face mask?) had tried earlier and given up.

[ginacico]

@Boomer2U 131875 wrote:

I had a work conf call at 7:30pm or else I would’ve joined MMPC to bid Consularrider farewell (again).

Work, as an excuse NOT to commute and drink good coffee at home. This guy’s genius knows no bounds.

@Brünø Moore 131878 wrote:

(Wait, is Mike’s the place that has pretty good ice cream up front, beer in the back, and will make you a beer float?)

Dunno. They do have ice cream, but I’ve only been there for breakfast and never ordered a beer float. Join us any Monday to see if they’re on the menu… just don’t come for the coffee!

This morning I made a mocha with my espresso machine. Beans ground with my antique burr grinder. It doesn’t achieve a grind quite fine enough for espresso, but what the heck, it tastes SO much better.

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Flavored with Dutch processed cocoa and honey (just sweet enough), and frothed almond milk. Breakfast comfort food. I hadn’t tried the honey in coffee before, yum.

The bike connection… The honey came from one of my Saturday morning trips with Vaya, carrying panniers, to the Falls Church farmers market.

[ginacico]

@Boomer2U 131761 wrote:

I drank my coffee inside the comfort of my home because the real feel was 17 F this morning and even the dog didn’t want to go outside.

@Brünø Moore 131851 wrote:

I’m assuming the beans were fetched by bike…

I was going to inquire about that, too, but I see he’s outsmarted us all. Well played, Boomer, well played. To think I got suckered into commuting this morning, with a few extra miles to Mike’s for pancakes. (I brought my own brew from home, in a thermal mug that fits in a bottle cage; Mike’s coffee is terrible.)

[ginacico]

@Tim Kelley 131791 wrote:

You can take your bike inside. (seriously!)

Whaaa?!? That’s quite hospitable of them… and now I want a re-do.

Glad New District had such a successful launch, and I’m still trying to figure out what their hours (open to the public) will be. It could make a great FS#19 team outing.

[ginacico]

Finally, I’m out of the starting gate, rode down to the New District Brewing Company. The place was packed, and there was very little bike parking. I saw two bikes locked to the one sign out front, but there was nowhere else to leave Vaya. I figured I had little chance of finding anyone I knew, so I went on to Best Buns. Sure enough, cruising through Shirlington I bumped into KayakCyndi (with Dave) and consularrider.

Had something really weird happen when I loaded the ride into Strava. I use a Polar M400 GPS watch to track my workout, which then syncs here:
https://flow.polar.com/training/analysis/353436414

But when I exported a file (.tcx) and imported it into Strava, it reported only 5.0 miles, even though the route was the same. Wha?? Cheated!! I deleted the ride, exported a .gpx file, and that seemed to import correctly and got picked up by the Freezing Saddles app.
http://www.strava.com/activities/466771878

[ginacico]

Hey, Nineteens!

I’m Gina (aka the “stand-in” for consularrider) living right off the W&OD in north Arlington. I moved from Anne Arundel County this past summer, and since I’m now a short radius from work (NatGeo downtown) I started bike commuting a couple days a week. I love winter sports, but this will be my first season attempting to cycle in cold conditions.

Vaya (my bike) is equipped with 40mm tires, and she’s always up for adventure. I’m especially motivated by coffee (first-time Coffeeneuring finisher!), social gatherings, and any silly excuses to get outside.

To wit, I’m hoping to visit some of Arlington’s public art projects in the next couple of months. They can be solo rides, but with enough advance notice I may post here in case anyone wants to join me and log a few miles.

I just got back from a trip south (canoeing in the Okefenokee and visiting Jekyll Island), haven’t been on a bike in awhile but anxious to resume. Really looking forward to meeting more of my teammates and other BA folks!

[ginacico]

How about Coffeeneuring-style “coffee without walls”? Extra credit if you make your own outside — bean grinder, camp stove, and French press?

The importance of coffee, nor the motivation it provides to pursue Pointless Prizes, should not be underestimated.

Maybe this will be my next job.

[video=youtube_share;gFpDnASzUlk]https://youtu.be/gFpDnASzUlk[/video]

[ginacico]

@KWL 130118 wrote:

This may be seen on the Mt Vernon Trail this evening as I ferry it home.

By chance was that you on a fat bike around dusk this evening, in the Roosevelt Island parking lot? Happy New Bike Day!

[ginacico]

Wow, there’s quite a party on that bike. I can’t figure out half of what’s goin’ on there.

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