[ian74]

It really is just easier to take the Crystal City connector trail to Crystal city and hop back on the MVT via 4 Mile Run (when going southbound). I will just avoid the area completely until it’s all done.

[ian74]

@Judd 140631 wrote:

I noticed a lot of trail work being done this morning (hooray for trimming since I have been ducking lots of branches lately). Maybe related? (Totally speculative).

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

#sadface #tallpeopleproblems

[ian74]

Great day out there! Today I went to Friday Coffee Club at Java Shack! I usually go to the one in DC (currently at A Baked Joint). I have to say, what a great group of people! Both Cyndi and eminva let me test ride their Volagi’s, and I am very grateful! It was also nice to see rcannon, sjclaeys, DCV, Chris Shue, Shawn Dread, Fast Friendly Guy, Steve O, Vern and Dismal. I’m going to have to stop at this coffee club more often. Thanks for a a fun morning everyone!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11840[/ATTACH]

[ian74]

@KayakCyndi 140258 wrote:

Let’s meet up for you to test my 53 Viaje. We’ll see how that fits. If too big we can try to get you on a 50. I’ll probably be on it Thursday and Friday. Live in Falls Church and commute into DC. Message me and we can coordinate.

@Tania 140260 wrote:

I’ve got a 2016 Rove ST in S/M that you can try. I’m almost 5’5″ if I stand up straight and inhale deeply.

@eminva 140262 wrote:

Let me know when and where and I can bring my 50 Viaje.

As if anyone could ever doubt the awesomeness that is the BikeArlington forum, seriously, I couldn’t ask to be part of a better community.

I’ll send a PM to you Cyndi, and cc’ eminva on it too. Basically though, let me know what’s best for both of you, I’m willing to ride out to meet you anywhere along your commutes (or in DC).

Tania, I’d love to try out your Rove, that’s exactly the size I would probably be interested in too. Whenever you come through DC on your AM commute on it, let me know!

[ian74]

@KayakCyndi 140187 wrote:

Between eminva and me we could probably get you on a Viaje in the “right” size. I’ve got a 53. She has the 50. What do you want to try?

Thanks for the offer Cyndi! Based on what I’m riding now and the geometry on the Volagi site, the 53 might be a good fit for me. Then again, I might be completely riding a bike too big for me (I’m 5’4). I test road a 50 once (Bianchi that I have now) and it felt kind of cramped.

[ian74]

@Mark Blacknell 140227 wrote:

From my 2010 Yelp review:

That covered my experience with them from the late 90s until then. Looking at their Yelp page, it doesn’t seem like anything has changed. And if you ask cyclists who have been riding in Arlington for decades, you’ll get even worse stories (and speculation), I bet.

I have lots of experiences and opinions (positive and negative) about lots of shops across the DC area, but it’s only Big Wheel Bikes that gets my open disgust.

Such a shame. The BWB in Alexandria is actually decent. At least for repairs. The manager there, Bennet is just an all around great guy and I totally trust him. He’s done quick fixes for no charge for me before, one time he gave me tools and just said, all you have to do to fix it is do this x, y, z and stood and watched while I did it.

He just loves bikes, last time I was there he was showing me his classic steel ride he just picked up and we talked for quite a while. Another time he gave me a tamale when I just popped in to chat with him.

[ian74]

@consularrider 140233 wrote:

Yeah that’s kinda what it looked like when arlingtonrider, kayakcyndi, subby, GovernorSilver, and I arrived around 8:20, but no coffee and no club.

I think it might be more of an early meet up. Sorry, I really wish I could have made it, but I was hauling too much crap today for my ride. I guess it was karma, since I got stuck on the damn red line AGAIN and it took me more than 2.5 hours to make it to work at Medical center.

I’ll be at the next one, probably a bit before seven. Thanks for organizing again Judd. Leo, I don’t deal in Xboxes elusively, I’m selling everything in my apartment that is not a bike so I can buy a new bike. Xbox was just one of the many casualties. Now…I still have a PSP and a sometimes working Dreamcast if you’re interested. My last big money maker is a classic Orvis CFO II fly fishing reel. So, you should consider taking up fly fishing….

[ian74]

Those short people test riding blues….

So, I sold off tons of old stuff lying around and now I’ve nudged my budget way up that any of the bikes that were previously out of my range are no longer!

I’ve been at shops test riding. I love all the bikes. I’ve rode the Surly 650b straggler, the Salsa Vaya, Salsa Marrakesh and they were all great. I really dig the Marrakesh the most, but a heavy tourer for long distance commuting might not be the best choice. There are some Kona bikes though I was looking at. Nice thing, Bicycle Space seems to stock a fair amount of 50-52 bikes for me to test out. However many other shops I notice don’t. I wanted to try a Kona Sutra, Kona Rove ST, but a couple of the Kona dealers I’ve been to in the area just either aren’t stocking the Sutra, or Rove ST. Or if they do, it’s not in my size.

Also weighing in on the Volagi Viaje too, Bikenetic had a 57 in stock and I saw it yesterday. Lustworthy for sure, and probably the lightest steel bike I’ve picked up yet. But too big. I hate to buy a bike without test riding, but one of those bikes might be better. Has anyone just bought the bike without the test ride and hoped for the best? Or have you always bought a bike you’ve ridden in a shop?

I get the practicality of not stocking every bike in every size, but sometimes, being on the short end of things can be a real drag.

[ian74]

I might be there tomorrow, perhaps no though. I might not be riding. My knee is all ganked, and I have to haul a bunch of crap to work (my xbox I’m selling to some co-workers). It’ll be a game time decision! Don’t forget to tell Andrea about it too!

But thanks for posting the thread Judd.

[ian74]

@KWL 139974 wrote:

Ian – This is for you…

REALLY????? Ken you are a freaking saint! Did Judd and Leprosy Study Group tell you I was being all whiney because I didn’t ride 5 days and couldn’t get one? Regardless, a thoughtful and very very incredible gesture. I can’t possibly thank you enough!

[ian74]

My bad! From your first post it sounded like it was something new. Good job on that route, you’re definitely braver than I am. I used to live in Rockville and the thought of riding on the pike was terrifying to me.

I hope you find a riding partner for tomorrow! Stick around too, there are quite a few MoCo people that commute down from that neck of the woods. Is there any reason not to ride on the Memorial trail? My commute is going to change and I’ll be heading that way soon. I was planning on riding it for a few miles.

[ian74]

Good for you! Congrats on biking to work, I would like to suggest you find an alternate route though. Riding from Rockville to Gaithersburgh completely on Rockville Pike is probably not a very good idea. It’s a heavy traffic road, with no bike lanes to speak of. Your only option would be to ride sidewalks, which is not a very good idea either.

I just searched with google maps and chose bicycle as mode of transportation, it suggested 2 routes. One by taking Rock Creek Trail to G’bugh, and the other by taking the Millennium trail. Here’s a link.
I would love to ride with you, but unfortunately, my ride ends in Bethesda!

https://goo.gl/maps/MbDz5CNtSTM2

Also, some other forum regulars with more local riding experience can give you some suggestions as well! Good luck and have fun!

[ian74]

I am SO getting the giant bowling pin!!!!

Is this all for just one pitstop?

[ian74]

@hozn 139808 wrote:

That has got to be one of the most understated frame paint jobs Fuji has ever created. I really like it.

I might dremel out the cable stops for running full-length shifter housing (assuming it already supports brake hose/full-length housing). Not sure why that isn’t more standard.

I agree, big fan of the understated look. I’m OK if we move away from heavily branded/over-logo’d frames.

[ian74]

Awesome. First day back out after being home sick Monday and avoiding the rain yesterday. I went and played around at Hains Point before cycling back to Crystal City for the Bike to Work Week pit stop. It was so much fun! I saw so many good friends! Judd, Leprosy Study group (Leo), Andrea N, dbb, KWL, vern, Henry Dunbar, and sjclaeys to name a few!

There was coffee! Square bagels! Bananas! and free socks today!!! I’m totally going back tomorrow to see who else shows up! So much fun and not even that late for work!

Here’s Judd, Leo, and dbb (showing off his new socks)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]11773[/ATTACH]

[Author]

Posts