[huskerdont]

@bentbike33 129970 wrote:

Huskerdont:

Scoot posted his, and wrote it better, while I was writing mine. I’m thinking the license plate distribution among the local jurisdictions for the IoD right turns looks different in the afternoon than morning. Understanding the source of the IoD right turners would be interesting. I’ve not tried to observe their destinations. Are any trying great numbers trying to cut across the lanes to exit onto GW Parkway, or are all basically headed over Key Bridge?

Would be interesting to see the distribution for different times of day. I have noted few drivers crossing all the lanes to get to the GW Parkway. I think most who turn right are going across Key.

[huskerdont]

If M Street and Washington Circle are too hectic in the evenings (and Georgetown is far worse in the afternoons than the early mornings, I know), you could always do Water Street, then turn off of K before Washington Circle, say on 24th to I and then across the pedestrian plaza at GWU. I used to go this way years ago before I got accustomed to dealing with DC traffic, but it is a lot slower and you might have to walk the plaza part.

I don’t like the Whitehurst Freeway route myself, at least for the time of day I go in, which is early so traffic isn’t bad and drivers treat it like an Interstate. For me, the speed differentials are just too great. Running through those underpasses downtown is like a race against terror.

[huskerdont]

@repowers 129369 wrote:

If you were coming off the Key Bridge, and you had to get to K & North Capitol, how would you do it?

In the evenings I have been taking M Street through Georgetown, then Pennsylvania down to the White House, then New York back up to K Street and eastward from there.

Obstacle #1: It didn’t take me long to figure out that Mount Vernon Square is a bad, bad place to be on a bike. The NY Ave bike track just ends, and you’re on your own in a jungle of potholes, stalled cars, parked buses and unmarked lanes. My solution has been to go around – I angle off New York onto I Street (going through the plaza at CityCenterDC that once was a street), then left on 7th, then a simple right onto K. I’m curious if there’s a better way to get around Mount Vernon Square, though.

Obstacle #2: I may be crazy, but in the summer I would just plow straight through Washington Circle. Take a lane, be patient, wait for the lights, move with the cars as much as possible. With the change back to Standard Time, though, I’m suddenly very uncomfortable at being surrounded by cars like that in the dark, even with all my blinky lights. So I’ve been going around.

I do the Washington Circle route every day, but it is early in the morning before traffic is heavy. I still think that might be the best route. Then Penn through the White House/Lafayette Square area. I take G to Judiciary. For you, with H such a cluster right now, I think maybe dropping down to E Street may be the best route over 395. Takes you right to N. Capitol, then you can figure out the best route up to K.

G Street is fairly reasonable, though I have been hit in the bike lane there recently.

[huskerdont]

@PotomacCyclist 129968 wrote:

Many drivers would likely ignore such a right-turn ban unless police were there almost non-stop.

Case in point here just up the trail at both Ft. Meyer Drive and Oak Street. Both are no-turn-on-red and both routinely have cars run the red. As a cyclist coming down the hill with speed, these are dangerous points that need to be navigated carefully.

If right turn on red were repealed everywhere, these would be reduced. It can be easy to miss the relatively rare no-turn-on-red signs.

[huskerdont]

it would appear that virtually every driver looking to turn right across the IoD has to be coming from Jefferson Davis Highway

It’s I-66/Custis Memorial Hwy, innit? I’ve never taken that ramp but that’s what it looks like and what the map looks like to me.

Edit: Unless you mean that most are getting off of Jeff. Davis and onto I-66, then exiting. That would make sense. I see license plates from all three localities going through here though so a lot are probably coming from DC or across DC from MD, like Scoot’s option D I suppose.

[huskerdont]

@PotomacCyclist 129903 wrote:

https://www.arlnow.com/2015/12/16/video-collisions-down-at-rosslyns-intersection-of-doom/

According to the ARLnow article, the “Intersection of Doom” has dropped out of the top 25 (on the list of intersections with the most frequent traffic incidents). If so, that’s pretty amazing.

I only pass by there occasionally, so I don’t have any first-hand experience of the changes. What do others have to report? Did they largely fix the issues through better signal timing?

It’s definitely better, but you can’t just trust that folks will see the no-turn arrow and stop. It’s a nonstandard traffic signal that is dark until the light changes and people aren’t really looking for it. So, always be on your guard and you might be okay.

[huskerdont]

@JustinW 129667 wrote:

Hi all,

My old-ish steed (ca. 2006) has a carbon front fork, a Fuji FC-400. Recently I noticed some cracking at the top on the right side where the fork meets the frame, and a check by the folks at Phoenix Bikes suggests that yes, this fork’s day is done.

So now what? I’ve never replaced a fork. I presume this is easy overall, but I can’t find an exact replacement, so how does one shop for a fork? I understand some of the specs, but in general do I want something that closely resembles the incumbent, or does that matter? Do I run a risk of changing the bike’s dynamics if I get “the wrong” replacement?

Thanks for any (good!) advice.

The new fork will probably come longer than needed and will likely need the steerer tube to be cut. Some people do it themselves, and some have a shop do it. The important thing is not to cut it too short because then it’s done and you get to buy yet another one. You can get it cut a bit long and add a few spacers in if needed. Youtube has videos I used when I built my mountain bike.

[huskerdont]

@ginacico 129334 wrote:

Someone passed me outbound on the Custis trail the other day, with a full-size Christmas wreath on his back. Complete with lights, assume LEDs powered by a battery pack.

Kinda like putting a wreath on the grille of a Jeep or something, only much better. Made me smile!

I work with him, assuming there isn’t more than one, and that is his route. I enjoy razzing him about it a bit, but the guy is full-on Christmas and wears it with pride. As you’d have to.

[huskerdont]

@Guus 129512 wrote:

Don’t let this incident get to you.

20+ years of riding the trail and this is the first incident of its kind, so no worries other than I am more on my guard through there now just in case. Most runners are cool and can understandably get a bit spooked by a cyclist now and then, but as a runner myself, I know that’s when I’m most relaxed, so this guy seems to be looking for trouble.

[huskerdont]

@Tania 129502 wrote:

thank you for getting Don’t Want to Know if You’re Lonely stuck in my head.

This is a good thing though, yes?

Pepper spray suggested by others doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Frankly, the guy seemed crazy, with spittle flying from his mouth while he screamed, and it has occurred to me that he might reappear one morning armed. Most cyclists have lights that time of morning, so it’s a bit of a concern for all. Hopefully he was just having a bad day and won’t repeat.

[Author]

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