[JimK]

Regarding the snowplow comment: a NVPA person told me about a year ago that they had purchased a snow plow for clearing the W&OD an other trails. They did not get a chance to use it last year.

[JimK]

Agreed that Cedar Lane is a busy road. However, I cross it at rush hour both in the morning and afternoon and don’t really have a problem: usually, after I get to the stop sign, the first or second car approaching the intersection stops to let me cross. Drivers at the Park Street crossing also tend to be very considerate.

[JimK]

The rumble strips are nasty and unnecessary. There is a stop sign at the intersection for people on the trail; if they want to emphasize that you should stop, they could make a bigger sign or put in two signs! Does anyone thing the rumble strips will prevent even a single accident? Cyclists better raise their voices now before they are everywhere: rumble strips first, then speed bumps. It is silly to think that only “elite cyclists” object to irritating obstructions on the trail.

[JimK]

I hit a relatively large piece of that white rock while turning from the W&OD on to the connector trail to Owaissa. It blew a hole in my Conti 4000S front tire that was only about 80 miles old and inflated to about 115 psi. Fortunately, Performance gave me a new tire, no questions asked. I’ve been carefully avoiding gravel since then.

[JimK]

The town of Vienna put in ped crosswalks where the W&OD crosses both Park and Church St. About a year ago, when crossing Church, I saw two Vienna policeman on motorcycles by side of the road, near the crossing. I asked them if cyclists were supposed to be treated the same as peds at those crossings. The policemen said “good question, we don’t know”. I told them that if cyclists were supposed to be treated the same as peds the signs should say so, something like “cars must yield to peds and cyclists.” Does anyone know the answer to my question? Next time I see a Vienna policeman I will ask if they have figured it out.

[JimK]

Police help sought as tacks on road cause about 30 punctures during Tour de France 14th stage

FOIX, France – Tour de France officials are asking police to investigate the presence of tacks on the route — causing around 30 riders to encounter punctures during the 14th stage.

Speaking on French TV, race director Jean-Francois Pecheux has also credited the Sky Team — whose leader, Bradley Wiggins, is in the yellow jersey — for encouraging the pack to not speed ahead or take advantage of the mishaps of the affected riders, including defending champion Cadel Evans.

Pecheux said the search for the culprit would be “difficult” because thousands of fans were on the roadside on the Mur de Peguere climb as the riders came by.

He said about 30 riders picked up flats over about a one-kilometre stretch.

Stage winner Luis Leon Sanchez and several other breakaway riders were many minutes ahead of the pack and appeared to be spared the sabotage during Sunday’s 191-kilometre stage between Limoux and Foix.

[JimK]

I have saddle soars for the first time in my life. Help!

[JimK]

Lots of people riding on the W&OD before sunrise today. Great to see so many people get up early to beat the heat, although if you rode past about 7:30 you lost and the heat won.

[JimK]

By the way, regarding bunnies, as others reported, I have seen a lot of them in Falls Church and on the W&OD between mile 2 and 4.5. But I haven’t seen many, perhaps none, further west. I was wondering if they are being wiped out by fox or coyotes. (Is the plural of fox “fox” or “foxes”?)

[JimK]

I ran over a snake on the W&OD a couple of days ago early in the morning. It was a big, black snake, stretched out across the trail just to the west of Hunter Mill Road. I was heading east, down the big hill approaching Hunter Mill. I saw the snake, but there was no way to avoid it without risking going off the trail. When I got to Hunter Mill, there was a young guy waiting for me, he really excited and said, “Dude, did you roll over that snake?” He did too. It did not jump up and bite either of us!

[JimK]

Reston: thanks for the info. How much more are they going to do? I hope they get the nasty stretch about a half mile west of there where roots have caused ripples in the pavement. On Wednesday, I watched the work and it seemed like they were doing much more than just laying asphalt down; if true, that would be good news.

[JimK]

Are they done paving on the Custis?

[JimK]

I have two different types of Incredibells. I like them except that I have trouble ringing them when wearing lobster claw gloves. Fortunately, not many people are on the trails when I need the lobsters (below 30 degrees F).

[JimK]

I almost hit a bunny on the W&OD just south of the Custis intersection. It sprinted beside me for about ten feet then cut in front without signalling. It did not have a bell.

[JimK]

So what is the best way to react when you are riding and a cyclist blows past you without signalling? I usually ring my bell as they pass. I doubt it does any good.

[Author]

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