[Jason]

I counter this alarmist journalism with the following event, whose like I see frequently (like today)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/driver-of-jeep-that-killed-5-month-old-may-have-been-on-phone-court-records-say/2016/09/06/ced82f2e-7462-11e6-8149-b8d05321db62_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_jeep-930am%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

A witness told authorities that the driver of a Jeep that struck and killed a 5-month-old boy in a stroller in Loudoun County sped up before the collision and may have been looking at his phone, according to a court document…
Now, a witness quoted in an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Loudoun Circuit Court said the driver, a 45-year-old Leesburg man, “turned at the last second.”
The witness, who was “traveling directly” behind the Jeep, according to the affidavit, told police he “observed the male driver of the Jeep through the rear window holding a phone in his left hand as if he was watching or reading something” before the crash.

[Jason]

I didn’t read the original article because I hated it.

[Jason]

Thanks everybody, I finally made it out. Putting the bike in the car and driving up to DC is more of a pain than just going out on the Arlington loop, but the pay off is no pedestrians (once past the nature center area). All in all, a great experience.

I rode out and back to around the Viers mill area. Question: After that, what do? Do I join the bike path to the end of rock creek, or is there more road I can use? I am asking about what to do at the end of Beach Drive where it intersects Dewey. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again to all the prior posters!

[Jason]

Not sure if they make them this wide, but in 28mm I commuted for 3 years on Continental Grand Prix 4 Season with only a single puncture (28mm).

[Jason]

@mstone 144891 wrote:

No, there are no trails in the area wide enough to safely pass down the middle when there are people in both the lanes. You may get away with it (people usually do) if everyone’s alert, but there is no margin of error and you’re not giving everyone else sufficient distance. If anyone wobbles, you’ve caused an accident. And that happens rarely enough that each person making unsafe passes may cause 0 or 1 accidents in their life, but as a whole it’s too many for something easily prevented. It simply isn’t that hard to slow down and wait for the oncoming traffic to pass. And, honestly, it makes the trails a terrifying experience for those on foot regardless of whether you’re absolutely certain that you’re being safe (because except for the mind-readers out there, the other people have no idea how well you’re planning or not). Also, remember those statistics that show that most drivers think that most drivers are bad but that they personally have better skills and are safer than most? Cyclists are the same. Practice defensive riding, not “I’m pretty sure I can get away with this” riding.

What’s extra special about this move is when someone misjudges and has to cut over quickly, making one or more people slam on their brakes. Because we’re humans and we’re generally not as good at judging speeds and distances as we’d like to think we are.

Generally, I concur. Passing down the middle while there is visible/nearby oncoming is reckless. This is how I was hit head-on, someone thought they could pass down the middle, then into my lane thinking I could yield more lane for their pass, when I could not. Riders should not have to yield their lane so someone can pass using it. The middle should not be used to pass if there is any oncoming traffic in any sort of fast cycling range (Ie, passers should not assume I am moving at 6mph when I am actually moving at 20mph).

[Jason]

That area is truly terrible.

@bentbike33 143907 wrote:

Good news! Arlington County has figured out a permanent fix for the Custis Moguls at the Bridge-to-Nowhere!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12241[/ATTACH]

[Jason]

YOU: A couple, on road/race bikes, slicked out in spandex, taking up BOTH SIDES OF THE TRAIL. TWICE– as we were going around the Arlington loop in opposite directions

ME: Also on a road/race bike, also in spandex, well because… I like it…

Guys, when you are taking up both lanes of the trail so you can chit chat about your latest merger, acquisition, or about how your spouses don’t know you are cheating on them after your EPIC Arlington loops: STAY TO YOUR SIDE OF THE TRAIL. Also, DEFINATELY don’t give me a dirty look for giving you a dirty look for taking up the trail. I am sure your latest EPIC merger DIDNT include the trail itself, in its entirety.

Thanks.

[Jason]

If you stay all the way to your right, oncoming traffic will take your lane, and be more likely to hit you. Stay in the middle of YOUR lane and adjust as immediate circumstances dictate. In my experience (including a crash head on) if you stay to your right, oncoming traffic will take dangerous advantage of that space, and passing traffic will also be more likely to pass you dangerously. I move to my right when someone calls their pass or if oncoming is so dangerous I need that extra room. If you start all the way to your right within your lane, you will be giving up all your safety space.

[Jason]

I had a guy pull a crazy Ivan right before this section just the other day. i also had two separate incidents on back to back week end days with oncoming riders where I made hand gestures waving them back to their lanes. One told me to F@ck off and another one told me he could see me (but clearly didnt care) I think the same ignorant people who drive recklessly in this area also rode bikes. There is nothing you can do to teach these people to ride safer. All you can do is to do everything to protect yourself and ride safely.

[Jason]

I really wanted to go to my local bike shop for fixes and sales. Problem is, fixes take forever at nearly every bike shop in Arlington, waits can be weeks at some of the shops. As a result, Ive become my own bike mechanic. It was painful at times, but now I am glad I went through the process. As for local shops, my best experiences were actually at Freshbikes. My salesman was Jason, and he was excellent and very accommodating. Clovis is outstanding and equally accommodating. Management however, on getting wide fit shoes, to a specific specialized glove is byzantine at best. So I have to pay up front for a special order shoe? Ummm, why go to the bike shop then, I can just order online thanks. And thats what I did. Revolution was totally HORRIBLE in Clarendon, the front staff was just completely unknowledgeable and would describe products as “THATS THE BOMB.” Hmmm, less informative than an internet forum and way more annoying. NOPE! Oh another shoutout for Freshbikes, the mechanics there are super good and helpful. Easy to talk to and knowledgable.

[Jason]

@zapata 139700 wrote:

I’m surprised I haven’t witnessed one of those yet. I commute via bike and frequently run on 4-mile run and W&OD trails. I can’t count how many close passes I’ve had while running by people on bikes who don’t understand safe passing. When I bike, I’m sure I annoy many fair weather bikers by slowing down when I approach runners if there are oncoming bikes/pedestrians in the other lane.

This is EXACTLY what I do, and I frequently hear the HRUMPFHS from bikers on my wheel who want me to pass dangerously so they can maintain their speed. I feel like stopping behind runners/walkers gives me an opportunity to sprint. I am certainly not going to pass unsafely so some a$$hole can maintain their speed/PR on Strava. I get back at annoying wheel hangers by dropping them after I pass safely.

Both yesterday and today, I had to wave at people heading directly at me in my lane as they leisurely used my lane (their oncoming lane) to pass slower bikers/runners. Yesterday one douche said “oh dont worry buddy I can see you.” My response was “O really, CAN you.” Today as I waved some guy to get over back to their lane said “F*** you A$$****.” I returned with my best and deepest sounding punk rock style “FUCK YOU MOTHERF*****”

OneEighth’s method of not hugging the side but instead running right down the center of your lane DOES work and I have been copying this method the last few months since an ELITE cyclist ran head first into me after doing an unsafe pass into my lane. You need to show oncoming bicyclists with your body language that their use of your lane to make unsafe passes is not acceptable.

[Jason]

Already said but:

Route was sorta Meh.
People WAAAAAAAY overestimated their speeds. I saw fat bikes with kick stands with beefier riders in the 14mph area. Ummmm. I underestimated my speed (I do 15mpg average on the Arlington loop) to be 14mpg, but most in my group couldnt do 7 for 17 miles. I stopped for a piss break on 395 for about 5-7 minutes and repassed my entire group and the 16mph group as well. Crazy. Maybe next time they need to ask people to be more honest with themselves or add more sections (10mph, 14mph, 16mph, 18mph, ect…)

Not sure if I will do it again.

[Jason]

@AFHokie 140053 wrote:

They had no record of me signing up when I tried to pick up my packet today. Shit happens & I just sent them a copy of the registration confermation email and a copy of the credit card transaction so it “should” work out. However when combined with previous posts here, I can’t say I’m all that impressed.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

Right-on. Its organized by a company who’s profession it is to organize thing. Its not an amateur event company. You would think it would be smoother. right?

[Jason]

Thanks, I read that. All the information is scattered all over the place, and allot of rules regarding various stickers, one for the helmet, another for the bike, and yet another for my jersey for my chest? Chest mounted safety pins. mmmm ok?!?!?! So how should I get into it?

[Jason]

I had the same question a year ago, and this is what I ended up doing in my apartment situation (an apartment building without hose hookup):

Get one of those $15 garden sprayers with a large capacity.
Get a large bucket
Car sponge
POWERFUL (500 or more lumen) headlamp.
A collapsible flat bed cart from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Magna-Flatform-Capacity-Wheel-Folding/dp/B002TITK8O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463344776&sr=8-1&keywords=magna+cart+flat
Dawn Dishwashing liquid
Bike Work Stand (Feedback)
Park Tool Dummy Hub
Chain cleaning device (I use Park Tool)
Brushes from Park Tool are nice to have

I store all my stuff in a storage unit in the building
Fill bucket with hot water
Fill sprayer with hot water
Place on cart
Wheel down to garage/sidewalk/outside
Get bike and stand out of storage unit
Put on headlamp.
Put some dawn in bucket, agitate.
remove back wheel, place in dummy hub.
Degrease chain with park tool chain cleaner thingy
Use leftover degreaser on cassette.
Lather up bike with hot water, top to bottom, this gives degreaser extra time to work.
Scrub with brushes.
Lather up wheels with water/brushes
wash off chain with sudsy water from bucket
wash off bike with sprayer using LIGHT mist, do not get spray directly in bearings.
spray off wheels using LIGHT mist, do not get spray in bearings
Dry off chain with rags, compressed air is optional. – doing this first gives time to dry fully before lubing.
dry off rest of bike
Check brake pads for metal, remove with pick if necessary.
lube shifters cables if necessary
silicon spray on frame if desired (makes it easier to wash next time)
lube chain.
replace wheels
Remove from bike stand to ensure wheels in straight.
check shifting performance — if off, likely rear wheel in crooked. Adjust barrel adjuster if necessary (if you have shimano 10 speed with under bar tape shifting this is likely needed every week!)
Remove from bike stand.
Check brakes to ensure performance.
Empty out bucket, spray down area with remainder of garden sprayer.
Break down setup and put back in storage unit.
Done.

[Author]

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