[Jason]

Thats actually what I look like in real life.

[Jason]

That whole area is terrible. Even walking there is confusing for everyone. Arlington has no plans to make the areas reasonably accessible for bicyclists or pedestrians.

[Jason]

Its tragic. When I visit Europe its clear we dont live in a first world country here in the US. For instance, in a tiny country like Finland, where winter construction is difficult, there is an over or under pass at every big bike intersection, traffic lights, segregated downtown bike lanes. Here in the DC Metro, considered “bike friendly” for the USA, we have multi-year studies to build a single over/under pass at the GW Parkway intersection with the memorial bridge/MVT. Ridiculous. We have truly chosen cars over PEOPLE here in the USA.

[Jason]

@wheels&wings 149934 wrote:

Another option are small safety reflectors, either the clip-on type or the ones that dangle from little chains. They come in fun shapes and colors, and can be attached to zippers or knapsacks or other gear. But I’m not sure where to buy them in bulk. My brother in Sweden gets these for us all the time, so maybe he knows a good source.

They have the same in Finland and they are pretty sweet.

[Jason]

Thank you very much!!! EMAIL SENT! Quickly tapped out so not perfectly worded but:

Greetings,

I am an Arlington County resident of over ten years. I live in a household of two, both of us also vote in the county. My wife and I are avid recreational users of the trail system. We urge you to increase the recommended budget for trail maintenance and construction for FY2018. We also use the trail for commuting to our jobs. While the trail system is excellent, many improvements for health and safety must be made to maintain that system. Currently there are several areas along the trail system that pose safety hazards to trail users. We hope we can count on you to recommend an increased budget to the trail system that will accommodate the large number of residents who use it for both commuting and recreational purposes.

Thank you for your attention,

[Jason]

“Now watch out for the double-strollers of death, the extended dog-leash of death, hissing angry spring geese (of death), black snakes dropping from trees along the canal, crazy Ivans, and the group-of-4-walking-obliviously-abreast-while-deaf, and you’re just about good to go. “

— Those I already have under my belt, even the black snake, but it was crossing the path (near Arlington Mills) not hanging from a tree. Also got Children of Soccer of Death as the game must have let out along the W&O and their parents all felt it was a good idea to take the entire trail in both directions at a shuffle pace.

[Jason]

Hey guys, thanks for all the great advice. I took a trip as recommended that included a short section of the C&O. This is how it went?

So google maps, screw you. I went up military road from courthouse, to where Randolph is at the top of it, should be bike friendly at the top to chain bridge. NOPE, Its straight down a 20% to a chain link fence. Apparently that section is “closed” so you have to to down this include around the chain link fence. Maybe on a downhill mountain bike this woudnt be a problem but on my road bike and my skills, nah ah. Had to dismount cross style and shimmy down in my road shoes. Then I tried to cross the chain bridge on the path side, except a drugged out criminal (trust me I can tell) was trying to tell some fish story to two would-be cyclists. They were blocking up the bridge. I interrupted the druggie/criminal by asking very politely if they could move to the side so I could pass. I got the lazer look of death from the criminal, as I had interrupted his snake-charm story by which he was trying to scam the cyclists. No movement. I waited longer, and asked again, finally they moved over. I went down the spiral stair case of death and onto the C&O trail. I have a fair bit of experience commuting, so I know crappy trails/roads well. I knew within a few feet that its doable on my 25mm tires, but I would honestly not recommend the ride for fun on anything less than 33mm, strong preference on 37-40 tubeless. Ok, so that information done, I went to the next connection point to the CCT. I have never been on the CCT but figured it would be fun to check it out. The connection to the C&O via staircase (for any future riders reading this) is a no go on road shoes, DO NOT DO THAT. Too steep except on cross/MTB shoes, and even then a pain. Lesson learned! So I went on the CCT for a few miles, heard some strange noise above me. As is my habit, when something seems wrong, I get ready to adjust (on a bike that means out of the saddle by an inch or two and fingers on the brakes, no peddling). JUST as I did that, a tree branch about 7 feet long and 4 inches thick fell 3 feet in front of me. I had visions of Adam Yeates in the Tour De France. I seriously thought I was going over the handlebars. Somehow I plowed right over the only part of the branch that didnt have lots of little branches sticking out and made it through ok. I then kept going to Bethesda. Hey guys, in Europe they have special bridges and underpasses for bikes. Not here, not even in one of the the richest sections of the East Coast of the richest country in the world. Nope, you have a crazy multi intersection mess in a major thoroughfare in order to continue onto what? A dirt trail (Georgetown Branch) on what is again, one of the richest parts of the country. I’ll never understand how we do things here.

Anyway, conclusions. The previous poster was right, a wide-tire fitting bike with the necessary disc brakes to fit those tires, either cross or endurance is the way to go around here, maybe for all trail riding. I think with the conditions of the trails around here (crappy), potholes, gravel sections and wet weather, a disc equipped wide tire road bike is it. Unfortunately my bike is only 25mm and rim brake, so great for smooth roads but not for the poorly maintained (compared to Europe) and poorly designed “trail” system. Now if only I could figure out a good cross bike that has a relatively low center of gravity (low bottom bracket for a cross bike) I would be good to go.

[Jason]

What happened?

[Jason]

@KLizotte 145571 wrote:

Obviously this game was dreamt up and sponsored by the local orthopedist association.

So was Crossfit

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Stack em High and Stack em Deep.

[Jason]

@hozn 145581 wrote:

Just to follow up on the idea of 28mm tires, it looks like from this thread http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=104735 that maybe pre-2013 versions of the CAAD10 may not have clearance for 28mm. (But it sounds like there are several reports of people running 28mm tires on the more recent CAAD10 frames, which suggests that if you also have a newer frame it might be simply a matter of finding a set of calipers known to provide a little more clearance. It obviously depends on where the tire is making contact too. And of course measured size is not the same as nominal size; if you have wide rims then a 25mm might be measuring closer to 28mm, etc.)

Its a 2013, and I know the 28mm will not fit (as I have rebuilt the bike from frame up), I just didn’t want to rain on your parade

[Jason]

@huskerdont 145519 wrote:

They had a unicycle category at Monster Cross. I thought these people were insane, and turns out, when I saw many of them carrying their bikes at the end of the first lap when I was on my second, I was right.

SWEET user name.

[Jason]

It depends how they are done. In the DC metro area they are pretty bad, so I actually have found that (except in the case of incensed drivers) its safer to take the lane than be in the bike lane with the chances of being doored, right hooked, ect…

[Jason]

Thanks Hozn, great advice, but the CAAD10 has ultegra brakes, 25’s BARELY fit. Shimano says 25 is the max, 28’s a no-go. Good advice though, because I AM trying to steer away from an additional bike. I can get a Raleigh RX 2.0 2017 for around $900 (Cross bike, SRAM 1x, TRP Mechanical disks). I already have a spare set of XT MTB pedals from when I commuted, so the only additional investment would be the bike itself. Not sure if being able to ride the C&O is worth it enough to get a seperate bike. Hmmmmm.

[Jason]

What is up with the unicycle craze. Are people wishing they lived in a time before two wheels or gears of any kind?

[Jason]

I totally agree, and have come to a similar conclusion. I am trying to stick to the path (arlington loop for example), but thats nearly as dangerous with the pedestrians (like people with dogs on one side of the path, person on other, leash in between). Ive considered Mountain biking but I dont have that skill set and the places I could do that are a drive away. Beach drive isnt too bad, but also, a drive or dangerous ride away. Its pretty disheartening out there.

[Author]

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