[ginacico]

@dplasters 126467 wrote:

October is wonderful, but the temperature changes between 6am and 4pm can be tough to plan for.

Totally. The challenges are both in the choice of what to wear and carrying capacity. My trunk bag is fine for a set of work clothes, but doesn’t have room for a bunch of extra layers I don’t need on the evening commute back home.

For the first time ever, I’m starting to get the concept of arm/leg warmers. Warmth without much extra volume.

[ginacico]

Emm,

I instigated NatGeo’s* corporate partnership with Capital Bikeshare years ago. We’re at Silver level, which means my discounted annual CaBi membership is $50 of which the company pays half. And I’ve met people from several Federal agencies who also have a deal with CaBi.

It comes down to estimating the cost to your agency for subsidizing CaBi memberships, and committing to a budget. How many do you think would join, and who is eligible? How much would HHS pay? The more you can do to help get ballpark numbers and think through the logistics of how the program would work, the better chance of success you’ll have. Talk to your benefits manager, but go in armed with good information.

Also, find a contact at goDCgo and get on their communications list. Once or twice a year they host a breakfast seminar with DC companies to talk about challenges and success stories in promoting alternate transportation options. It’s always a fun event, and you’d get lots of useful information.

*NatGeo is a nonprofit, not affiliated with the Federal government.

[ginacico]

@wheels&wings 126059 wrote:

I’ve narrowed it down to four choices (I think):
Schwalbe Marathon
Schwalbe Marathon Plus
Schwalbe Marathon Mondial
Schwalbe Marathon Deluxe

W&W, I have the Marathon Plus version (because that’s what Vaya came with, so I wasn’t boggled by choices).

I can attest that they are tough and puncture proof, no flats yet. They have a tread that makes them surefooted and confidence-inducing on all kinds of terrain. I find myself leaving the pavement for grass, gravel, dirt, and braving the creek crossings MUCH more often than I used to. Mine are 700x40s that make for a super comfy ride. I appreciate them in places like the C&O Canal.

I haven’t ridden it on ice or snow…. yet!…. so no feedback there.

They are heavy and somewhat chunky. Slicks would feel faster, but that’s a compromise I accept. Even though I’ve got the frame/fork clearance, there’s little forgiveness for installing fenders. As a plus, I prefer tires with reflective sidewalls, which these have.

[ginacico]

@CaseyKane50 126062 wrote:

Today, I tackled the mulch detour.

Two of us rode the mulch southbound this evening. It was pretty easy on my 700x40s. My friend felt a little sketchy on skinny tires, but made it through just fine.

We only encountered one other rider going northbound and squeezed by uneventfully, but more crowded conditions would cause me to walk it instead.

The mulch detour is short, over before I had time to overthink it. And according to the plan (which I finally read) they’re only supposed to be necessary for 2-3 weeks, if they stay on schedule. Yay to trail improvements!

[ginacico]

@Tania 125508 wrote:

And changing locations, have the eastbound moguls by the bridge to nowhere gotten deeper in the three or four weeks I’ve been off commuting?

Ugh, it’s like riding a bucking bronco. I vote that segment of trail the most in need of maintenance.

[ginacico]

@KayakCyndi 125460 wrote:

Gina and I just managed coffee at Kindred.

We couldn’t compete with a pink snail.

I just found out there’s a brewpub version of this challenge in the spring. Too bad nobody in this group will be interested. :rolleyes:

[ginacico]

The rules seem silly easy, and clearly the rewards are Coffee & Bike Rides. I’m in!

Today’s commute via Best Buns was a warm-up. Coffeeneuring officially starts this weekend. I’ll be on the Virginia Capital Trail riding a tandem with a captain who doesn’t drink coffee; just a little extra challenge.

[ginacico]

@consularrider 125172 wrote:

their debris on the roads is like hitting slick patches of gravel.

I forget exactly where I was yesterday, somewhere on the MCT, where there was a patch of big green walnuts on the trail. A rider in front of me hit one with his back tire and side skidded, while the thing got spit off into the grass. Too many of those would be a serious hazard.

It’s also paw paw season. The correct protocol for finding those is to stop and eat ’em, they’re delicious. But I’ve only seen them on wooded hiking trails.

[ginacico]

Of course it waited until evening rush hour to start raining.

So what to do? Waiting for Metro or figuring out what bus to take aren’t appealing.

Then Vaya says, “My name means ‘Let’s go!’ I’m made of stainless steel, I don’t rust. I have all-terrain tires, fenders, and I’m even wearing the rain jacket that keeps your stuff dry. C’mon, let’s go for a ride!”

M Street was completely blocked by fire-EMS, traffic chock-a-block, we detoured several blocks trying to find a way out of the city.

Vaya took me home, the long way (14th Street bridge – MVT – FMRT – W&OD), in a steady rain. And it wasn’t unpleasant in any way.

Except for the black SUV gunning a left turn towards me, when I had the light trying to cross George Mason. She sucked.

I swear she just winked at me.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]9686[/ATTACH]

[ginacico]

Another Time ATAC fan!

When I do a general Google search, a lot of the sellers that come up are from England or abroad. They’ll usually ship internationally, but it might take awhile.

In the states I like
http://www.backcountry.com/
http://www.jensonusa.com/
https://www.coloradocyclist.com/

I’d prefer to buy from LBS, but find most don’t carry them. Any clues are welcomed.

REI does have the replacement cleats.

[ginacico]

@Vicegrip 124065 wrote:

The second photo requires further explanation please.

But that takes all the fun out of it

We took the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad from Cumberland to Frostburg, Thanksgiving weekend Nov 2013. Santa was aboard the train and the crew dressed up like elves.

We were just going for a day trip, but Frostburg lived up to its name, we really had no idea the GAP would be that snowy. We rode as far as the Big Savage Tunnel, and as we gained elevation the trees looked like they were encrusted in Swarovski crystal. Crazy unexpected conditions, so beautiful and so fun!

[ginacico]

@KayakCyndi 123845 wrote:

Are you ready?

Oh, sure. But only if all snow days are this pretty!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9621[/ATTACH]

That was the day Cyndi’s Volagi was delivered by elves so she could go ride in the snow.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9622[/ATTACH]

[ginacico]

Awesome pictures!

We were probably in the rear third of the 100 riders, eating up the sights and tomato sammiches.

What a great ride that is. Incredibly scenic non-brutal route, solid support, and did I mention great food? (I’m very food motivated.)

Let’s do it again next year!

[ginacico]

@KLizotte 123541 wrote:

Has anyone done the Port to Pennisula Route of the Tour du Port? Do they close down the expressway while the event is happening? From some streetview Google pics along the route show it to be probably the most unscenic bike route I’ve come across. Am I missing the appeal of this ride?

I used to live in Pasadena, on the other side of the Patapsco River, so I’ve explored some of that area.

North Point State Park is fabulous. In addition to a full-on view of the Chesapeake Bay, they have a swimming beach and a great network of trails. You might not get to stay long enough to enjoy the place on an organized ride, but it is beautiful.

The rest of the route goes through Dundalk and crosses Bear Creek. It looks like you’d get a glimpse of the Port of Baltimore, and the (now-defunct) Sparrows Point steel plant, very industrial but interesting in its own right. A representative slice of Baltimore suburban character.

[ginacico]

@dkel 123088 wrote:

Much of the Cross County Trail is gravelly goodness. I had a couple of weeks of commuting from Accotink up to Merrifield, and thought it was fantastic. A few paved segments mixed in, but lots of gravel. My CX bike and I both highly recommend it.

+1 for the Cross County Trail.

Sometime this season I rode Vaya (drop bars and 700×40 Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires) from Accotink all the way to Occoquan and back. Lots of mixed terrain including several shallow water crossings. It was all really enjoyable, just seemed like the right bike for the job.

And if you get to Occoquan, there’s Mom’s Apple Pie shop.

[Author]

Posts