[Greenbelt]

I wear those ultralight running shorts over my padded bike shorts. The jogging shorts have a useful pocket for when I’m carrying my backpack and jersey back pockets less accessible.

[Greenbelt]

OK, I think we’ve got a winner, at least in the fantasy price range (and assuming very secure parking):
http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/bikes-and-tech/dirty-kanza-tech-nick-legans-salsas-vaya-ti_178867

[Greenbelt]

It’s a long haul from Alexandria, but Proteus in Maryland does a great job in my opinion with special fit needs. Not sure how much it costs, since our pro-fits have always been included when we bought a new bike!

[Greenbelt]

I guess one of the first rules of driving should maybe be “If you can’t see where you’re going, you shouldn’t!”

I spoke with a neighbor the other day who said he just broke a string of 8 years commuting without a crash — he got left crossed on Taylor street in NE DC.

[Greenbelt]

In my opinion, the WABA reporting form should not only be publicized, but should have some additions/ clarifications:

1. Clarify (allow) that witnesses, not just crash victims, can report — oftentimes actual victims are not in a position to report. Of course allowing witnesses to report may result in double reporting, and responses would have to be given an “event code” by moderators for statistics. However, given the amount of underreporting that we have now, I think allowing witnesses to report would be informative.

2. Allow pictures to be uploaded, or provide an email address where pictures can be sent.

3. Allow reporting of “near misses” or other dangerous incidents. Statistics on areas with a high frequency of incidents can help predict (and maybe even fix) things that will prevent the crashes in the first place.

[Greenbelt]

I tried to get a picture of a moving tour bus with the driver texting a couple weeks ago. But I couldn’t get my camera out in time. Metrobus drivers can be hazards, mostly by not giving enough space. But some of those tour buses and Chinatown intercity buses are downright scary.

[Greenbelt]

Yesterday, my wife reported an aggressive driver who purposefully buzzed her at high speed and sped off. She got the license plate and a picture since she found the car parked less than a mile further up the road. (Must have been in an extreme hurry, yeah…).

[Greenbelt]

Looks to me like the tires are in the hybrid/commuting range, medium pressure, not nearly as wide and knobby as most mountain bike tires — so that’s good for commuting. Can’t help you with the problems with the front derailleur. Although for me if the the front chainwheel doesn’t work, that’s less of problem for me than a balky rear derailleur — unless, of course the problem is that you can’t make it shift or stay on the bigger front chainwheel (higher gears for more speed on flat commutes) as opposed to the smaller one (granny gears for mtn bike slow and steep stuff).

If it were me, I’d ask at trusted shop or coop to do a basic inspection and (if it needs it — sounds like it does) do at least a minor gear and brake tune up, and also a basic fitting before commuting. And make sure to buy lights, spare tube, lightweight tire pump, and lock. If you’re new to commuting you’ll probably need all that stuff anyways and while you’re supplying up, any good shop will usually be happy to take a quick look and give you choices about how much work you want to do right off.

[Greenbelt]

I got this guy — highly recommend. http://www.serfas.com/product_details.asp?ID=503
Fits on the bike with the mount, or in a back pocket of a jersey (sticking out some, granted). Has a extension hose so you don’t snap off your valve stem. Can put your foot on the base and pump straight down for leverage, just like a floor pump. I don’t fill as high as 120, but some reviews I’ve read say it’s doable. Make sure to have the shop convert the schrader to presta setup out of the box — requires a PhD. Jill sells these at Proteus if you’re up in Maryland.

[Greenbelt]

Whoa, this discussion is making me feel like asking my wife if she wants to go for a ride.

[Greenbelt]

Whoa, this discussion is making me feel like asking my wife if she wants to go for a ride.

[Greenbelt]

I believe the laws in Maryland and DC are similar — it’s legal to take the full lane. In DC, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalks in the downtown area, a law that was passed back when speeding bike messengers were much more common. However, in the National Mall and Capitol Hill area, this prohibition is somewhat ambigous — several paths and wide sidewalks in Capitol Hill and in the Mall tourist zone are marked as bike trails in the DC bike map and on Google bike maps. Likewise, the wide sidewalk along 2nd street NE that serves as an extension of the MBT is marked as a bike trail. (Please be very deferential to pedestrians on those exceptions, though — tourists and pedestrians probably aren’t expecting bikes.)

[Greenbelt]

I believe the laws in Maryland and DC are similar — it’s legal to take the full lane. In DC, it is illegal to ride on the sidewalks in the downtown area, a law that was passed back when speeding bike messengers were much more common. However, in the National Mall and Capitol Hill area, this prohibition is somewhat ambigous — several paths and wide sidewalks in Capitol Hill and in the Mall tourist zone are marked as bike trails in the DC bike map and on Google bike maps. Likewise, the wide sidewalk along 2nd street NE that serves as an extension of the MBT is marked as a bike trail. (Please be very deferential to pedestrians on those exceptions, though — tourists and pedestrians probably aren’t expecting bikes.)

[Greenbelt]

My impression is that it’s legal to ride in all lanes here, even if a bike lane is present. Therefore the AP article could give people the wrong impression. In NYC the law is that you must use bike lanes except where hazards or turning or other things make that unsafe or impossible. I think the AP reporter got this story wrong. He or should have been more specific about the NYC law (which does allow exceptions to riding only in bike lanes) and was wrong to generalize that it’s the law everywhere. It isn’t I don’t think, although a lot of drivers probably think it is.

I generally use bike lanes, but narrow bike lanes next to parked cars can be very dangerous for getting doored, or alley’d, or right-hooked, or left-crossed. Riding in some bike lanes is much more dangerous than purposefully taking the lane. And, as in the video, a lot of times there are cars or blockages in bike lanes. That said, I try not to slow the flow of traffic if possible.

[Greenbelt]

My impression is that it’s legal to ride in all lanes here, even if a bike lane is present. Therefore the AP article could give people the wrong impression. In NYC the law is that you must use bike lanes except where hazards or turning or other things make that unsafe or impossible. I think the AP reporter got this story wrong. He or should have been more specific about the NYC law (which does allow exceptions to riding only in bike lanes) and was wrong to generalize that it’s the law everywhere. It isn’t I don’t think, although a lot of drivers probably think it is.

I generally use bike lanes, but narrow bike lanes next to parked cars can be very dangerous for getting doored, or alley’d, or right-hooked, or left-crossed. Riding in some bike lanes is much more dangerous than purposefully taking the lane. And, as in the video, a lot of times there are cars or blockages in bike lanes. That said, I try not to slow the flow of traffic if possible.

[Author]

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