[GuyContinental]

@dcv 38229 wrote:

I have CF, AL and steel frame bikes, my all time favorite is an old Reynolds 853 steel frame LeMond. After that I’d say CF, AL, then CroMoly steel. I haven’t tried Ti yet, my $0.02

This made my battered Poprad with Reynolds 853 smile… (and me too, it’s not the fastest or lightest but I’ve never had a bike that felt so right)*

*now if I could just keep my tires inflated and on the rim…

[GuyContinental]

DES Responded on ArlNow:

(lots of the usual cyclist hate in the comments too)

Arlington County Department of Environmental Services
December 14, 2012 at 2:02 pm

Snow removal on bike trails is an important issue for Arlington County. County staff have been strategizing for the last year to find a viable solution to improve bike commuting in winter weather. It is an issue that has included Department of Environmental Services planners and operations staff, and Department of Parks and Recreation. There are several significant safety and environmental concerns for bikers and our trails that have been raised.

– Trails don’t have gutters or drainage, so snow pushed to one side will continue to melt, run on or along the trails and refreeze. A thin layer of ice can be difficult for cars to maneuver on streets and is also an important safety concern for bikes on trails where it could potentially be a greater hazard.
– Salt can aid with refreezing and treatment for light precipitation events, but it’s toxic to most vegetation and landscaping along bike trails, most of which run through County parkland.

The County is still in the process of identifying resources to make trail plowing possible. This includes procuring properly sized equipment that would be capable of plowing narrow trails and bridges that could not withstand the weight of a heavy pickup truck equipped as they are used on streets for plowing and treating, as well as identifying and training additional staff. We are dedicated to finding the best solution, including coordinating with area agencies who are also responsible for maintaining trails that run through Arlington County.

[GuyContinental]

@cephas 38189 wrote:

I ride from the White House up Penn, across Key (all on street until) turn onto Custis, jump off at N. Aberdeen, Wash Blvd, left on Lee, onto W&OD for a mile, before heading up to the WFC metro. I hope this hasn’t thrown anybody’s eyesight off!

Do you mean Abingdon St at Washington Blvd? I’ve never thought of going that way (but I do everything I can to avoid traffic)- with the multiple lights it can’t be faster than the Custis (even when crowded) and there is some serious traffic at the intersection of Washington and Lee.

Regardless, I leave my rear blinkie on for the same reasons- I can’t really turn it off and I’m in enough Londoun traffic that I need all the attention that I can get.

[GuyContinental]

Depends if you are angry for me blowing by you (I called the pass but between my muffled mouth and your muffled ears I’m not sure you heard me) 😮

Between Sterling Blvd & Church at about 7:25, I was in a red jacket, blue Cannondale, NCVC knickers, hauling some Strava-worthy butski trying to find a heater for my frozen fingers

[GuyContinental]

@jnva 38150 wrote:

It was cold, but I was surprised how many bikers there were on the WOD and custis this morning.

There were indeed lots more folks out than on your average wintery day- Westbound WOD I actually passed more outbound riders than I ever have (and I was all sorts of jealous of the guy way out in Sterling with his Moose Mitts). Also, nearly everyone was polite with their lights- I suppose anyone out on these cold morning is pretty serious about it and therefor more likely to dim/cover.

[GuyContinental]

Heck, I’d be happy if they didn’t pile snow on the trails… seems like a low bar: “should we put the 10′ mound of snow on the bike corridor or off of it…”

Also, they should be shamed by FFX county with it’s leaf-blasting, snow melting jet-engine trailer thing

[GuyContinental]

@Steve 38127 wrote:

Yea, they lied on the forecast. Lied! My god it was cold this morning. My body warmed up pretty well, but my thighs and digits were pretty cooooold. And my shower at work doesn’t have adjustable temperatures, so it inevitably feels scalding hot.

I opened my weather app this morning and it said 65 degrees- right date, right location, wrong time (an hour ahead) and very very wrong. I’d guess that Hunter Mill was in the low 20’s at 6:30.

Even with my lobsta’ gloves and liners my thumbs and index fingers got dangerously & painfully cold. Cheeks and forehead were bad too. Everything else was good (thanks to my new spiffy windproof plastic pants). +2 pts to the Gore jacket.

[GuyContinental]

@americancyclo 36686 wrote:

let us know how your new fancy plastic underwear works!

I had to follow up- the “plastic underwear” worked very well on their maiden voyage this morning, didn’t notice that they were there and my ‘bits stayed nice and cozy. It’s a lot of layers (tights + wind briefs + knickers) but wasn’t any more constricting than my usual kit. Perhaps one of the better $20 I’ve ever spent and a simple solution to the problem.

Now if I could just figure out my hands… I’ve been hovering over those Cozy Winters gloves for the last 45 minutes but probably won’t pull the trigger… now if they were $50 less Santa might come early. Sigh…

[GuyContinental]

@ozmeister1984 38074 wrote:

I don’t mind the strobes on the trail, just not the insanely bright ones.

Totally subjective but IMO < 35 ln = blinkie; 35-50 ln = bright; > 50 ln = strobe of doom. I think that there is also an electrical difference between a true strobe (pre LED it would have been a built up discharge) and a LED that just turns on and off (blinks)

People may have different tolerances for them (maybe based on pupil size?) but short of physically covering my eyes with a hand (not very safe) I can’t hide from the damn things even with my eyes closed. On the plus side, when I’m not blinded, I have awesome night vision…

[GuyContinental]

Being a lonely, early and pretty fast WB rider I don’t often have this problem, but I find that having someone with brighter lights on my tail will cause a shadow over my light path that effectively leaves me in the dark- frankly, it’s really an odd feeling, light light everywhere but not a bit to see by. It’s far worse off-road- I always make my partner in dawn patrol LFP CX go first because his newer 300 ln single LED virtually cancels out my older 150 ln dual set-up*.

Anyone dabble in the physics of overlapping light waves of varying intensity? Is this just a perception issue?

*That’s my story and I’m sticking too it. If he happens to find that dang hissing possum before I do, well that’s just a bonus.

[GuyContinental]

First, welcome! As a Seattle rain rider, you’ll be entertained by how much a little moisture thins out the trails…

I swear the “outreach” (or feigned epileptic seizures/ screaming “I’mmmm blinnnnnd”) is starting to penetrate- at the start of night season I had 4-5 nasty strobe “Bobs” that I’d pass on the WOD every evening, last night only one, the others merely blinded me with sun-bright, poorly aimed high-output lights (I can sort of hide from those…).

[GuyContinental]

The MVT commute along the river at dawn really is pretty special and makes you appreciate where we live!

Congratulations!

[GuyContinental]

@mstone 37913 wrote:

tubeless is all fun and games until you get a flat.

…then you put a tube in… :rolleyes:

Tubeless does not give you the liberty to not carry a spare tube but it absolutely has traction and performance advantages off road due to the ability to run considerably lower pressures. Now, my setup is clearly messed up in some way but that doesn’t mean that when done correctly it can’t be as robust and dependable as a tube.

[GuyContinental]

@dcv 37892 wrote:

GuyC- Did you pinch flat at the last race? If so better check that tire pressure.

Dave – if it rains you can get classic muddy cx race photos, so pro.

Oh, far worse- I lost a bead on my tubeless set-up (my inadequate tubeless setup). I’m probably going to tube the front this w/e due to a complete lack of faith in my Stan’s conversion (3 de-mountings over 2 weeks). But I’m also bringing a spare tube and CO2, no DNF for me this week! DFL maybe but not DNF…

[GuyContinental]

@DaveK 37883 wrote:

If it’s raining I’m probably not going to go, but if it stays dry I might. Probably a late decision.

Looks like rain… I’m excited… but I’m sort of sick that way (Snotcycle is one of my favorite MTB races)

[Author]

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