[JorgeGortex]

@lordofthemark 190013 wrote:

If I am coming off harshly, we are engaged in a bitter, emotionally exhausting fight over Seminary Road in Alexandria. A bike advocate in DC was just murdered last Friday. I am really, really, really, not in the mood for people crapping on bike advocates, especially “avid cyclists”.

Doesn’t seem like crapping on all the rest of us that have an interest and support of change for cycling in our area is a great way to get your fellow cyclists to support your POV. If you are that tired and upset, then maybe stepping away to get a fresh head might be in order.

We all want the same things: safe places to ride and enjoy our sport. How each of us is able to contribute to that effort is a wide spectrum with millions of angles… but beating each other down isn’t one of the ways to encourage change.

[JorgeGortex]

Pretty ride, Josh! I love the versatility of the new all-road machines. But I don’t think I can give up my road machine b/c it is so light. I am trying to pair down now though.

George

[JorgeGortex]

@josh 189669 wrote:

Assuming you were there in the past couple days, one of those bikes was mine! It looks good (and fast).

Yeah, I brought her home on the 2nd. I was drooling over the Rodeolabs bikes I saw in there. They look really sweet. Clem, is faster than I can make her go at the moment. The 38mm tires are a bit wide, but they add some nice cushion when I took her out on the Towpath recently. Definitely faster than my old Specialized Stumpjumper HT from’95. What are you riding?

[JorgeGortex]

@josh 189123 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I saw your frame in the shop (orange bikes are tight!). Sucks about the DK though.

Cool! Yeah, There were, surprisingly, a couple of orange bikes in there at the same time when I picked up my bike. Working with Pete to get her up and ready was great. Loved working with him and they are now my go to shop. The day my bike was ready I hopped in the car with the wife and son and started to head over when three blocks away, when we stopped for traffic, I realized I had everything to ride the bike home but forgot my shoes… so I hopped out, let them go on to their destination and hiked back up the hill to the house. I grabbed my walking gear and started the 2-mile walk to the shop. Got there, chatted for a while and went over the bike with Pete. Then, I was off… motoring towards home on my ride. Sweet. So, for those that are interested, meet Clementine:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]19950[/ATTACH]

[JorgeGortex]

Cats are the devil. https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/teens-sudden-onset-of-schizophrenia-sparked-by-a-cat-scratch/?fbclid=IwAR2fuaoRbIbieW_EaLv3XmMiTMeDTtuKKF_CLga24TpqyEzWY08VLjdMLW8

[JorgeGortex]

I think avoidance of the area is the smartest and safest method. I think I’d take Key Blvd, to Jackson and then pop out near Kirkwood. The beautiful thing about being on a bike is exploring places anyway…

[JorgeGortex]

@Sunyata 188897 wrote:

Yeah, I know the feeling. For Kanza, you really need to start training in early February unless you consistently do 100+ mile rides.

If you do end up deferring, I will hopefully see you out there in 2020!

Well, I tried to defer, but because it was a promotion from DK through Enve they couldn’t do it. Easy come, easy go. But Enve is going to send me consolation swag.

Yeah, I am not doing regular 100s. Not yet anyway.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

I can’t support the Westover changes, other than better road markings and a flashing pedestrian crossing at the between said Beer Garden and the Lost Dog plaza. The other suggested options (#3 I believe in some of literature I’ve seen) will only make a very congested area even more congested and dangerous. I don’t think the cramming a dedicated bike lane in here will do anyone any favors. Want to see change beyond my suggested flashing crossing? Put in an active speed camera at either end of Westover to slow people down to a reasonable speed. I’d even suggest they lower the speed limit through here to 25.

[JorgeGortex]

@Steve O 188455 wrote:

Okay, so I’m a 54. Now I have a job, so $250 is NBD.
But what exactly will I do with this bike, I wonder?
Rimas, of course, would say, “Who cares, any N+1 is a good thing.”

And, I will be moving soon, and I’m not sure about space for it.

Perhaps I should do a test ride.

Steve O, its here for the testing, and I can store for a bit, depending on how long that bit is. I just want to see it go to a good home where it it will be loved.

[JorgeGortex]

@pmf 188617 wrote:

If you can find a good shop/mechanic near where you live, that’s ideal. I do a lot of work on my bikes myself, but there’s always times when I just say screw it and go to Spokes. Over the years, I’ve built a relationship with the guys who work at that shop. Hopefully you can do the same.

Agreed. I am pretty handy, but know when I am in over my head… and running internal brake and Di2 lines was my marker this time around. In the future maybe I’ll tackle such things.

[JorgeGortex]

@huskerdont 188619 wrote:

Seems like something that’s going to need to be posted in the “pics of your bike” thread eventually.

Absolutely. I’m excited and happy to share in the joy. Now if I can get rid of the creeping crud my 6yo brought home I could get back to riding the other great bikes I have.

[JorgeGortex]

@Sunyata 188611 wrote:

DUDE!!! That is quite exciting! Let me know if you need/want any Kanza prep advice. Although, the course is almost completely different this year, which I am bummed about missing, but I will be back next year!

Sunyata,

That is very kind of you to offer. I’d love to chat about your experiences sometime! That said, I think I am going to need to defer for this year. I have not been training like I think you need to be, and am not sure I’d be able to do so and cover the logistics for the trip in the time available. I can’t see flying out there for anything less than the DK100 or DK200. I’ll have to check and see how the course changed… I wasn’t aware they had.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

@pmf 188578 wrote:

Spokes in Vienna. Jessy, Ron or Paul are all really good mechanics. Paul’s a little grumpy, but most good mechanics are. I’ve had them build up several bikes for me over the years (I always go the buy the frame and components route). They’re not cheap — I think a build is $250 — but they do a really nice job. I can walk in and they’ll fix minor stuff for free. Yesterday I took one of my steel bikes in. I’ve had it for several years and its always bugged me that the rear wheel is hard to get on and off. My other bikes with horizontal drop outs aren’t that way. Ron filed the drop out down a little and expanded it, and now the wheel goes right on and off. He spent almost an hour with it and charged me $10. With the exception of bikes for my kids. I’ve never bought a bike from them, and they still treat me really nice.

So Jorge … what did you get?

Thanks PMF and everyone else for the great advice. I ended up going over to Bike Kinetic tonight and talked to Pete… super nice guy and knows his stuff. It works well because it’s about a mile and half from my house, 2.5 max. So an easy walk to go pick it up when the time comes…

And that pick up will be my new-to-me Open U.P. Classic frame that I scored from the Pros Closet. Parts are mostly Shimano Ultegra Di2. Enve G23 wheels, and a mix of other stuff. And get this… I came out of the shop, got in my car, pulled out my phone to check and see what was buzzing and found an email from Enve telling me I had won an entry through them for the Dirty Kanza in june. WHAT?! I am not worthy… or ready. Yikes.

[JorgeGortex]

Bump!

[JorgeGortex]

Bump!

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