[jabberwocky]

@americancyclo 14535 wrote:

If anyone is thinking about getting a Garmin Edge, the Open Street Maps are fantastic, and it’s free to download, as opposed to Garmin maps which run around $100.

++

The OSM maps are better than the Garmin ones, too. Much more comprehensive.

[jabberwocky]

@SteveTheTech 14386 wrote:

I plan on getting a Garmin 610 next anyone have any experience with this?

I have one for running. Its a great running computer, but I wouldn’t get one for cycling. One of the Edges (500 or 800) would be a much better bet.

[jabberwocky]

Walter Reed is definitely easier than 41st. I’ve done it on the fixie and it wasn’t that difficult.

[jabberwocky]

@dcv 14297 wrote:

Sounds like dirt and jabberwocky have tried it on a fixed gear and came close, their gearing was higher than mine. Has anyone made here made it up that hill fixed?

Both Dirt and I run front brakes on our fixies though. Because we aren’t suicidal. :p

That hill is totally doable fixed. I’ve come close. I know if I was there on a day I was riding well I’d make it up.

[jabberwocky]

Rosaryville is a good one too. I tend not to think of it as a beginner trail due to its length (10 miles per loop). The terrain is not difficult at all though. Its a good beginner trail for someone with decent fitness.

http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=Rosaryville_State_Park

[jabberwocky]

Wakefield is an excellent beginner trail system, easily accessible from the beltway:
http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=Wakefield

Lake Fairfax is also a good one for Reston folks:
http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=Lake_Fairfax

Laurel Hill is an excellent, somewhat new trail system in Lorton:
http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=Laurel_Hill

Schaeffer Farms is a good one for Maryland folks, although its slightly more difficult than the above trails:
http://www.logoffrideon.com/trails/index.php?title=Schaeffer_Farms

If you want company for a loop around Lake Fairfax, drop me a line. Its my local trail. I’d be happy to play trail guide.

[jabberwocky]

@Marcella 14069 wrote:

Is this forum only for advocacy?

Of course not, but that seems to be the focus of a lot of people here. Its affiliated with WABA after all, which is an advocacy organization. I think all are welcome though. I wouldn’t take anything said here too personally; I’m pretty sure most folks are are just joking around. Its hard to read tone over the internet.

@DismalScientist 14070 wrote:

Any anti-spandex comments I make are solely directed to riders of non-metallic steeds that cost more than my monthly mortgage. Particularly if they are young and can’t keep up with this geezer on his 35 year old steel machine. And, besides that, it is all in jest.:p

Me and my Sram Red-equipped carbon machine resent that remark.

[jabberwocky]

@Marcella 14064 wrote:

Why are so many people on this forum so against people who ride for fun instead of transportion? Why is it necessary to make fun of people who are just out to have a good time and get some exercise? Newbies need to learn trail ettiquette, sure. People who don’t have experience riding in cooler temps haven’t figured out yet what clothes to wear, okay, we all have to learn sometime. That doesn’t make them inferior to you just because you ride a bike to work.

I think most people here ride for recreation as well. I think the forum is dominated by commuter/transportation types though because those are the ones who are most interested in advocacy type stuff. When you’re riding for fun, you can be a lot more selective about your route. Commuters often have to ride on less-than-ideal routes simply because their start and end points are fixed, and as such tend to be much more interested in the nitty-gritty of laws/cycling facilities/etc.

I do agree that judging folks on what they wear is silly. I generally wear mismatched spandex when riding just because its comfortable and cheap, but I ride with folks who run everything from expensive team kits to baggies. Its all good.

[jabberwocky]

@Marcella 14022 wrote:

I don’t think Military has killer hills. You need to get off the main road onto the side streets for the real inclines.

Military itself is a nice grinder, decently long though not that steep. You’re right that the really fun stuff is off to the side.

@Marcella 14022 wrote:

But then again I wear spandex shorts, and I sense that is considered a bad thing.

Spandex represent.

[jabberwocky]

I was 44-16 on my first attempt. The second was 48-18. Those were marginal for me. To keep the bike moving, I was hauling on the bars so hard I was afraid I was going to break them.

Man, you guys are making me want to go back and try it again.

[jabberwocky]

I’ve tried 41st twice on the fixie. The first time I made it to the pedestrian walkway at the top and simply couldn’t keep the bike moving. The second was post hurricane, and it had two trees down across it. I made it over the first one near the bottom, but the second one close to the top thwarted me.

Definitely on my list to retry someday.

[jabberwocky]

I had some knee issues last year when I started running. A friend recommended yoga to work on total body flexibility, and after about 6 weeks of that my issues went away.

[jabberwocky]

Walmart sells (or used to sell) dri-star wicking synthetic tshirts that work well as base layers. 6-8 bucks each. I have like 10 of them.

[jabberwocky]

@Tim Kelley 13704 wrote:

Apparently cyclists in Pennsylvania shoot back–Yikes!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46143485/#.TyISZUEgcUU

As a friend on another forum said, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes”.

[jabberwocky]

I used to worry about light brightness, since my old commute was largely on the W&OD. For several years I ran a Light and Motion ARC (HID), which was 600ish lumens and very bright. When it died, I picked up my Dinotte 800L (800 lumens), but generally ran it at medium on the trail. I always tried to flip it sideways so as not to blind folks, though trail ninjas got the full beam (if you are gonna be invisible, I need all my light facing forward so I don’t run into you). FWIW, I witnessed a few accidents on the W&OD caused by people not running lights. I never saw one caused by someone being blinded.

These days, half my commute is in the land of self important pricks in german cars (aka Great Falls) so I’ll take as many lumens as I can get. My 800L does great, but I’d cheerfully trade it for something even brighter if the chance came up.

[Author]

Posts