[Joe Chapline]

@maximalized 3607 wrote:

So I know I’m two months late to the party but the search bar is my friend, eh?

I’m looking to commute from College Park to downtown all summer…I ventured the safest way for a gal by herself was probably just taking Rhode Island all the way down, but these videos are still a great resource, so thanks

BarbnDC just mentioned in another thread that you can go from College Park to downtown DC using trails. I don’t have experience with it myself, but looked it up on Google Maps. If this long link doesn’t work, go to maps.google.com, click “get directions,” type in start and end points, and choose the bike icon. http://www.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=7403+Hopkins+Avenue,+College+Park,+MD+20740+(University+of+Maryland)&daddr=East+Capitol+Street+Northeast,+Washington+D.C.,+DC+20515+(U.S.+Capitol)&hl=en&geocode=FbH5UgIdhu1p-yHlVzNBCL_dXCllG9ITuca3iTFMZku8Gt5OtA%3BFUNpUQIdyvpo-yGQV-Yc2WDSAQ&mra=pd&dirflg=b&sll=38.939294,-76.986881&sspn=0.115896,0.123081&ie=UTF8&ll=38.935111,-76.964035&spn=0.115902,0.123081&z=13&lci=bike

[Joe Chapline]

@CCrew 3579 wrote:

All I get is:

503 Service Unavailable

The server is temporarily busy, try again later!
Powered By LiteSpeed Web Server
LiteSpeed Technologies is not responsible for administration and contents of this web site!

Just a FYI

Thanks, I see the same thing. It was working this morning. If it’s not fixed by the end of the day I’ll put in a support ticket.

[Joe Chapline]

@Dirt 3382 wrote:

Seriously… look at the Clif 2 Mile Challenge link I just posted.

Dirt, thanks for this link. I remember seeing Clif’s two-mile radius tool years ago, and I just found it again: http://www.2milechallenge.com/map/

This is a very simple and very effective tool for helping geographically challenged persons like myself visualize what’s within easy cycling range. This tool helped convince me I could bike to the train station as part of my commute. I’m going to put a link to it on BikeArlington.com now, and see about making a 1-mile radius tool for WalkArlington.com.

[Joe Chapline]

I thought of this thread when got off the Metro in Alexandria today. The Braddock Road station always has lots of bikes parked there (200? Just a guess.) Today, hybrids outnumbered road bikes about 20 to 1. I suspect that these are almost all commuters with bike trips like mine — the bike portion of the commute is a short distance on urban streets.

[Joe Chapline]

U-lock for the frame, thick 7’cable for wheels and helmet. The cable can go through one of the helmet vent holes. The cable is also a good backup when there’s nothing to lock the U-lock to — the cable will go around a light post, phone pole or, as a last resort, a tree. Then I use the U-lock as an oversized padlock for the cable. When I’m stopping at a store for a minute, I just use the U-lock. I used to have skewers that required an allen wrench to remove. More of a deterrent to thieves than quick-release, but not as expensive as locking skewers. The last time I needed a new skewer, the bike store didn’t have those, but they’re available online.

[Joe Chapline]

That’s beautiful, congratulations. Nice picture, too.

[Joe Chapline]

Thanks Veik, that looks like it will provide a lot of options for commuters — bike to the park-and-ride and take the bus, drive to the park and ride and take the bus, or drive to the park-and-ride and bike the rest of the way in. Options are good. More information from FABB Blog.

[Joe Chapline]

You might want to check out this earlier thread, some of the comments might be helpful: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?349-8mi-commute-in-work-clothes

[Joe Chapline]

@Mark Blacknell 2871 wrote:

Indeed. Joe/Admin: it’s probably a good idea to update the title on this thread so no one casually passing by gets the idea that it’s still cancelled.

Done, thanks Mark.

[Joe Chapline]

Great! I hope you post a photo of the rebuilt bike.

[Joe Chapline]

I have a good feeling about your chances. Honoring the warranty is up to the manufacturer; I don’t think the dealer stands to lose anything except a little time. Here’s Jamis warranty info: http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/contact/faq.html#warranty

I had a bike replaced under warranty once, and it did take some time to get it done. You will probably be without the bike for a while. I’d suggest getting started ASAP, because the bike shops are going to be swamped with spring business soon.

[Joe Chapline]

Rick, I hope you get your sunglasses back. We didn’t have a general “lost and found” forum, but we do now thanks to your suggestion. This subforum used to be called “Stolen Bikes / Found Bikes.” We broadened it to “Lost and Found.”

[Joe Chapline]

Naturally, I’ll recommend the kind of bike I ride — hybrid. They’re good on a variety of surfaces, and the stability and more upright riding position make it easier to watch everything that’s going on around you.

Employers who want to encourage bike commuting might consider keeping a small fleet of “try before you buy” bikes, and having bike mentors. If a new bike commuter started with a decent bike that fit and was properly adjusted, the experience would likely be better than if they try a random yard-sale bike.

[Joe Chapline]

Or it might be like the Dos Equis commercial, something like: “He’s often detained by police, because they find him interesting.”

[Joe Chapline]

Thanks, Riley, that is a good article. I used to subscribe to “Outside,” but let it lapse because of their emphasis on everything “extreme.” Like there’s no point in going out of the house unless there’s a good chance you won’t ever come back. I haven’t seen the magazine in years; it’s great to see article about bike commuting. Although I guess it is pretty extreme bike commuting.

[Author]

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