[jabberwocky]

@eminva 8963 wrote:

I’m dying to know, who was the other hearty soul who made it the whole way? How long did it take? At least you had a nice day for it.

I was the one who made the whole thing with Pete. I rode from my place in Reston, finished with 130.5 miles for the day. As for how long it took… I left the house at 6:45am, got home at 7:15pm (left before sunrise, got home after sunset). Total time was 12:30, rolling time was 9:15 or so. Weather was definitely nice, but it was cold at 6:45 in the morning! I elected to dress light and was cold for the first hour or so until the sun was up. I got cold again at the tail end as the sun was setting.

I am teh hurty today. This loop is evil.

[jabberwocky]

People certainly overestimate their visibility, it seems (which is why I always ran a very bright light when I commuted on the W&OD). I don’t remember ever seeing a dog at night, but if I was running with one I’d definitely try to get something reflective on him. Dogs (even well controlled ones on short leashes) are something I keep a very careful eye on, because they have an element of randomness that people don’t. As a cyclist, I’d definitely appreciate being able to see a dog as easily as possible.

The fact that you have him on a short leash puts you above 98% of the dog walkers though, so I certainly wouldn’t be inclined to yell anything at you.

[jabberwocky]

I mapped it over the weekend, based on Petes most up to date Kill Bill route and the bottom half we explored a few weeks ago. I’m guessing some tweaking will happen before the weekend (Pete was very disappointed with that 9600 elevation gain number and wanted to try and get another 400 feet ) but it should give you an idea of the route.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/745732

[jabberwocky]

I’m in, as you know. This one is gonna hurt.

[jabberwocky]

I’m an architect. Never done anything bike specific, aside from a bike stand when I lived in an apartment. These days I have too many bikes, so they all just hang off the ceiling on hooks.

What are you looking for? A shed-type thing?

[jabberwocky]

The amount of trouble I used to have with headphone-wearing riders on the W&OD is pretty definitive as to what a detriment they are, as far as I’m concerned. They make up a small percentage of riders but where an overwhelming majority of problems. I don’t ride the W&OD much anymore, but even now I’m always tempted to reach over and rip the damn things out of peoples ears as I go by.

To be honest, I’m even more scared of someone who wears them and argues that it isn’t a problem than someone who wears them and is oblivious. 😮

[jabberwocky]

Several years ago I had someone pass me on the W&OD in the winter, sans lights. As he passed, I asked if he usually ran without lights in the dark, and he said something like “yeah, I’m only going a few miles”. A mile or so later, I came across him and another rider sprawled in the middle of the trail. No-lights guy apparently couldn’t tell what lane the oncoming rider was in (oncoming rider had lights) and swerved into his path at the last minute and they hit each other head on. Fortunately nobody was injured. Some people are idiots.

[jabberwocky]

I went down with Pete and had a great time. It was definitely a really tough route. The climbs were not only long, but steep. Nothing like, say, Skyline Drive (which is long but not terribly steep). I ran my road bike with a 34/28 low combo and even then had to stand up and work sometimes. I passed quite a few fit-looking roadies walking their bikes on the steeper sections of the dirt road climbs. With my 23mm road tires, I had trouble keeping traction in a few places but managed to ride everything (I never walk if I can help it ).

I’ll definitely be back next year. It was a fun, well run event. And very challenging.

[jabberwocky]

@theakston 8380 wrote:

Just imagine how those “ninjas” must feel when you blast them with your 5000 lumen lights! Seriously this is a bit off topic but I hope fols are aware that these bike lights can seriously blind runners – even the ones using reflective clothing. I run on the trail before hopping on my bike to go to work in the morning and only one of the bikes I see frequently has the courtesy to cover his light when he gets within blinding range. It is much appreciated! (I run with a feeble LED headlight enough to see and be seen – that is until I get blinded)

I run a super bright light (dinotte 800L). Runners with lights or good reflective gear, I always swivel off to the right when I approach so as not to blind them. Runners with none of the above? They get the full 800 lumens, and I don’t feel the least bit remorseful about it.

I’ve seriously almost hit hundreds of runners in the years I spent commuting on the W&OD in the winter. Its astounding to me the number of runners out there with dark clothing and zero lights/reflective gear. What do they expect?

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 8379 wrote:

So pretending that they’re bowling pins and I’m a bowling ball is a bad thing, right?

Don’t you have a picture someplace of me using a gaggle of segway riders as a mobile bike handling course?

[jabberwocky]

The last time I rode there, some security guard followed me and my group around giving us sh*t for having our bikes with us. He kept telling us bikes weren’t allowed in the complex, and wanted us to lock them at the end of the path and walk around. I haven’t returned and likely won’t.

[jabberwocky]

36 to 34 isn’t much of a change… About a 6% change in gear low gearing. It will make it easier, but not dramatically so.

You might consider getting a 12-28 cassette instead. Going from a 25 to a 28 gives you a 12% change in low gearing, or about double the advantage of switching cranks. And a cassette swap would probably be cheaper.

[jabberwocky]

When I last did the 50 states ride the total group was pretty large. I was with a friend, but we had no issues getting into a large group of similarly-paced riders and hanging together for pretty much the entire ride.

I don’t think you’ll have any major issues finding folks to ride with, if you’re worried about doing it on your own.

[jabberwocky]

I’ve been a fan of Panaracer Pasela TG tires. A good all-rounder for commuting. I generally get five thousand or so miles out of a set, they have a kevlar liner for flat resistance and are reasonably light and fast rolling.

[jabberwocky]

Man, I’ll have to drop them a line. I have two of the Metropolis bags, and the oldest is definitely beat up and has some rust and such. I used the crap out of it and didn’t mind replacing it, but if they have that good a warranty I should drop them a line.

Chrome makes a damn good bag. I’ve been delighted with both of mine.

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