[GP_Slowride]

Hi Nadine! I think this is my fourth year participating in freezing saddles. Hopefully this year I can participate in more group rides. I am back in school so depending on the weekend, I may have assignments to finish up.

As far as what kinda bike nut I am, that is hard to define. I am a sucker for brewery rides and bike camping mostly with a party pace vibe, but with a little zip here and there.

[GP_Slowride]

Morning everyone! My name is Kevin and this will be my third BAFS. I sat last year out but did 21 and 22. Looking forward to getting out there in the (hopefully) cold weather again!

[GP_Slowride]

I must be one of the only few people who commuted, at least partially, by bike yesterday and today. I had the goal of riding from DC to Falls Church but after taking a look at the Custis and then seeing how bad Wilson Blvd. was, I elected to take my bike on the train. Arlington and Fairfax County didn’t do as good a job at clearing roads and sidewalks as DC did but that doesn’t mean DC is perfect. Even with studded tires conditions were very hazardous yesterday AM and somewhat hazardous today. Hopefully this evening I won’t have to spend any time walking.

[GP_Slowride]

Another vote for a backpack. On the rare occasion I need to bring my laptop to work, I use a messenger bag. I have found no better shock absorber than my body for electronics.

If you really want to stick with the basket, you probably want to try a layer of thicker foam in your basket under the bag and/or around the laptop for added shock absorption. The sleeves in the bags are designed assuming that it is on your back so they are minimally padded. Also make sure that it is strapped securely as loose bungies will lead to more vibrations making it to the laptop and likely more severe impacts in the case of pothole strikes, etc.

[GP_Slowride]

@Steve O 211711 wrote:

I see a lot of people voting for socks. I love socks as much as the next cold-footed person, but I’m struggling to understand how they will work as an identifier when we are out on the trails in the dark. I guess you could hang one from your helmet or something. But it still might be hard to see in the dark.

I agree with this. I usually wear socks under tights or pants so nobody would see them.

Maybe something like the tags that Safety Pizza sells? They are easier to spot than zipper pulls, socks, etc. Or something like this with custom printing/colors? Blue Lug makes a variety of smaller ones.

[GP_Slowride]

@ginacico 211606 wrote:

Some may not be aware, but CaBi bikes have strobes by default.

Interesting. At one point they had always on lights. I can’t imagine that the strobes on the CaBi bikes are particularly bright though. More of a low powered blinky as opposed to a high powered bring the dance club to the trail light.

@DrP 211607 wrote:

This year I have noticed that in the morning there are a lot more ninja pedestrians and cyclists on Custis and the MVT than there used to be. No lights or reflective bits, in fact, usually wearing black or dark gray (and the recent set of full-pack camouflage troops walking on the MVT is particularly bad, although a few have taken to wearing a small red light – keeps their night vision but I can see them before I run into them), and yes a few cyclists too. I have come close running into them, which is especially a problem because so many coming towards me have decided that walking (or biking in one case) in my lane is just fine. I also find a lot of cyclists who turn into ninjas, especially on the Custis. I see that there is a cyclist coming towards me on a curve way ahead of me. Then the light disappears and so I assume they left the trail, but suddenly they are in front of me with a completely covered light.

I have also noticed more ninja pedestrians on the Custis in the evenings this year. Last year I mainly ran into them on the W&OD west of East Falls Church metro.

[GP_Slowride]

We are getting into the headlight required part of the year again for both sides of the commute and there are noticeably more bike commuters on the W&OD and Custis trails this year over 2020. I noticed something this year that I haven’t in previous years.

Early morning commuters (generally between 5am and 6:30am): These cyclists seem to have shaped beam headlights, cover their light with their hand, or turn it off as we approach. This seems almost universal minus a few users (like one has three or four headlights and another who has a blinky red light on the front of their bike).

Evening commuters (generally between 5:30pm and 7pm): A MUCH larger percentage of cyclists with ultra bright headlights and/or strobe flashing lights especially between Rosslyn and the W&OD on the Custis trail. There are some cyclists who cover or turn off their light but many keep that high beam on full blast/strobe even in areas where the trail is well lit.

I thought this was an interesting observation.

[GP_Slowride]

Thanks for the input!. With the thick layer of ice this morning and the threat for more, I elected to drive. I may try again tomorrow morning though.

[GP_Slowride]

I made a mistake here. I hadn’t read anything about or ridden any part of trail in years and was under the impression that there was a bunch that was still dirt and not paved. Riding from Thiess Park down to Accotink Marina proved otherwise. I had no clue so much was paved.

[GP_Slowride]

Hey everyone! Kevin from the hills of Glover Park here.

This is also my first year doing FS and I am looking forward to the challenge. My goal is to ride an average of 100 miles a week this year and I am to ride every day starting tomorrow. I wasn’t able to ride on Wednesday due to curfew and won’t be able to ride today due to illness but I’ll be back at it tomorrow. I bought studded tires last year that I never got to use so I’m set up for any snow or ice we may get. My goal is to average 100 miles a week for the entire year and bike commute 90% of the time.

I commute by bike (no work from home for me), ride around the city for errands, sometimes grind my way up the C&O for fun or the occasional overnighter, and am interested in exploring more gravel roads and getting back into mountain biking. Hopefully bike shops will get more mountain bikes in stock soon. I sold my old mountain bikes early pandemic assuming I’d be able to replace them with something newer soon.

I’d say discord or slack would be the most efficient way to communicate. I don’t spend much time on social media these days.

[GP_Slowride]

@ginacico 203151 wrote:

I’m a big fan of his channel and overall vibe.

ICYMI his partner Laura (who works for Adventure Cycling) is going through chemo. Good time to buy some Gravel Specific stickers and put them on everything

Oh wow! I had no idea. I’ll definitely be picking up something from his shop.

[GP_Slowride]

@rcannon100 203101 wrote:

This guys reviews of gravel bikes are the best

Path less pedaled

Russ does the type of gravel riding I’m into. Party pace, maybe a drink or three in a bag, and riding for the fun of riding.

[GP_Slowride]

Kevin here! This is my first time doing Freezing Saddles. I’ve been riding in and around DC for around 15 years at this point mostly for commuting/running errands/getting around and fun but also for exercise. I am looking forward to putting more miles on this winter and hopefully getting back into mountain biking if anything my size and price range would ever come back in stock. I try to commute by bike at least 80% of the time (I’m essential so I’ve still been going in the whole pandemic) and try to squeeze in at least one other ride per week.

[GP_Slowride]

Still not many people working I guess!

Started communing on the regular more often and noticed that the W&OD and Custis have been less crowded the past two weeks compared to May, June, and July. Perhaps everyone who decided to go outdoors early pandemic tired of the sun and heat? At any rate, it has been empty enough that I have been taking the trails home instead of streets.

I had a negative interaction with a SUV (looked like a CRV) north on West St. and Broad St. There were two cars stopped at the red light at Broad St. and I got next to the first in line and as the light changed, the first car quickly passed me and I kept straight with the aim of getting on the W&OD. As I entered the intersection, I heard a honk from behind and as I exited the intersection a lot more honking right behind me. I was all the way to the right the entire time and the SUV passed me, half crossing the double yellow. His windows were up but he was yelling something and pointing at me. His lack of attention almost caused him to rear end a car stopped at the W&OD letting pedestrians cross.

[GP_Slowride]

That is exactly what I am looking for. I start a little east of your start point so I don’t have to worry about crossing 495 or 66. I typically ride up West. St. and cut through the neighborhoods to get to the W&OD so this will be easy to follow. Thanks so much!

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