[JimF22003]

They recently put one of these in on Gallows Rd in front of the Woodburn School. It’s useless as far as I can see. I was driving on Gallows the other morning and the light was flashing and the poor pedestrian was just waiting there as cars just blew on through in both directions. I (slowly) pulled to a stop in front of the crossing, and cars continued to blow past me on the left and from the oncoming lanes. I was lucky I wasn’t rear-ended. Finally a few drivers got the clue and stopped also, and the pedestrian was able to cross. There would need to be actual consequences for disobeying the signal (for example like blowing past a school bus with the flashing lights on) before people might start paying attention.

[JimF22003]

Not Strava, but here’s from Garmin Connect. Instead of taking the 601 route past Mt Weather I went down to the river and followed 606. It’s very pretty, but has some pretty steep stuff too:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/402040085

[JimF22003]

First rest stop on a 100 mile ride on Saturday, from Leesburg, out Snickersville Pike, to the Shenandoah, out to Front Royal, and back via Rectortown and Purcellville. This is beautiful downtown Bluemont at the base of the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains:

[JimF22003]

Had a missed connection with EIGHT folks and one car last night at Hains point:

1) Eight people walking on the road in a straight line near the point, completely blocking both traffic lanes. As I slow-rolled up hoping the curtains would part, one of them yelled at me to “use my bell”… Huh?
2) On the backside just about 30 feet from the stop sign, some a$$hat driver swoops around to my left, and cuts right in front of me right where the left lane goes away, and right before the stop sign. Missed me by 5 feet at most, and immediately slowed down to roll through the stop sign.

[JimF22003]

I used to use a blinding Dinotte taillight that I wouldn’t run in blinkie mode on the trail. I’ve been using a much less bright Cygolite Hotshot taillight lately in blinkie mode. I just assumed it wasn’t bright enough to be a problem, but maybe it is. I rode behind a bunch of blinkie folks last night, and none of them seemed to be much of a problem.

[JimF22003]

Mosaic has turned into a decent area, surprisingly. I thought Freshbikes would be kind of marooned there, but it’s not a bad location. Getting there by bike is quite safe:

W&OD >
Gallows (bike lane) >
past metro (no bike lane, but it’s only a couple of blocks and you could ride on the sidewalk/path if you want) >
Right on Prosperity >
Left on Merrilee (X Rt 29 at light)
Mosaic is all over the place.

[JimF22003]

I got yelled at the other night. Maybe it was by one of the yellers in this thread? No need to fess up if it was you, but the comment was to the effect that I was “going to kill someone with that thing.”

First, the light was on the 2nd-lowest steady setting. But even at that I ALWAYS repoint or cover the light if it’s after sunset. I’m the most conscientious person I know about doing this. Seriously.

Second, it was THIRTY MINUTES before sunset. There was tons of ambient light. It was out in the open, and not going through an underpass or something.

There is no way in hell that this light could have caused a problem for anybody. It could have been a helicopter-mounted searchlight, and at that time of day it wouldn’t have been an issue. The only reason I didn’t cover it was that I actually forgot it was on. It wasn’t doing anything to light up the trail in front of me. It was completely washed out by the ambient light.

I guess somebody was trying to make a point. Point taken, but it was kind of a dumb point. And rude.

[JimF22003]

The only time I’ve ridden to (and around) Lake Anna was from Spotsylvania CH, following a Potomac Pedalers cue. I don’t know if that helps any or not:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/271928301

[JimF22003]

@americancyclo 67726 wrote:

Lots of mushy warm asphalt that stuck to my tires. Plenty of people had already rolled through before me too.

Samey here. I came through westbound about 5:45pm. It was really more like gooey sand than asphalt.

[JimF22003]

Any updates? I might do the Great Pumpkin ride again, but I’d like some options

[JimF22003]

@Rod Smith 66982 wrote:

Drivers should be required to get out of their cars and push the vehicle across intersection with bike path.

With the parking brake on, so they can be sure it doesn’t roll away from them.

[JimF22003]

Thanks for the suggestions! I’m always looking for new routes.

[JimF22003]

I ride to work in Tysons a couple of times a week.

It can only get better

Fortunately I just duck in from Gallows Rd across Rt 7 to my office (near the new REI), so I avoid the worst of it, but I’ve ridden my bike to the Honda dealership on Rt 7 a couple of times. Horrible.

[JimF22003]

Tonight I did HunterMill > Lawyers > Fox Mill (eek!) > FFX Cty Parkway. It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t “bronze-worthy”

The few times I’ve gone off the beaten track a bit I’ve gotten into some really hairy high-traffic areas. I’m looking at the map now, and I see where Glade runs. I’ll have to try that one.

Here’s the route I did, if anyone cares to suggest some good variations:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/391478072

[JimF22003]

OK, I guess I’m missing out on all the great places to ride in Reston. Much of it seems pretty unfriendly to bikes for my taste.

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