[JorgeGortex]

@hozn 151175 wrote:

I think there is a trend to move cleats a little further back (for avoiding knees issues, I gather), but if you can’t get it near the ball of your foot, that does seem surprising.

Looks like Steve Hoggs recommends being 1+cm behind the pedal spindle for average size feet.

https://www.stevehoggbikefitting.com/bikefit/2011/04/power-to-the-pedal-cleat-position/

In the photos the Wolvhammers do look to have cleats fairly far back on the shoe.

I had a bike fit for both my BMC road bike and old Specialized Stumpjumper. I run Time ATAC pedals on both, and had two sets of shoes re-adjusted from my previous settings which leaned towards the more traditional positioning. In all cases Neil at Revolution adjusted the cleats to the newer behind-the-spindel position. Comfort appears improved as does overall power transfer. My knees seem happier too.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

2016 Highlights:
— Got out and road
— Had fun riding
— Bought my awesome 2013 BMC Gran Fondo, and road it a bunch but not as much as I’d like
— Climbed the McKinnley Road hill in Arlington, twice, without wanting to barf.
— Ran alongside my son on his push-bike.
— Road from G-town along the C&O to Great Falls and back in blistering heat, and had a blast.
— Generally increased my mileage but no where near as much as many of you- bravo to you!

2017 Goals:
— More of the same!
— Maybe meet some of you good folks in person.

Cheers and Happy New Year all.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

@Judd 130367 wrote:

A brand new Trek CrossRip, although it was brought by Judd Claus.

Nice. I have one two as my commuter bike. Enjoy!

(adding to post) I ended up removing my suicide levers. They look cool, but as said took up a lot of bar space and I didn’t really like the feel of them. Go with what’s comfortable. Cheers.

[JorgeGortex]

Welcome to the group, and Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy both. Cheers,

JorgeGortex

[JorgeGortex]

Tim, it’s the PAL logo that caught my attention, followed by the bright yellow. That said… I was huffing along and trying to watch out for the friend ahead of me who was on a cabi and not used to riding the haul out of Rosslyn, so maybe I misinterpreted something. I am sure the individual meant no harm, and I don’t want to make more of a fuss than I have. I was just sort of bummed and wanted to share. I have no doubt the person in question does infinte more good on a bike daily, than I have in the last six months. Again, maybe this is just a good reminder for people to keep aware that their actions do get interpreted by others one way or the other.

Ride on friends.

JG

ps- I just joined the group, thanks!

[JorgeGortex]

@jnva 147722 wrote:

There’s been a lot of posts recently about bad behavior on the bike path. I think it’s indicative of the type of people who live in the DC area. I regret raising my kids in this area and plan to retire somewhere else. I can’t wait to get out of here…

I grew up here, in Arlington… I’m not one of THOSE people. Usually the opposite, unless I make a mistake, which I will admit to when it happens. Please don’t generalize.

I do agree that this area does seem to draw a certain type-A personality that hasn’t always been educated in their youth the importance of manners and consideration for others before one’s self. Still you can find that anywhere. And that is why I read this forum because i believe that the kind of positive people I want to meet on the trail, be them faster, slower, eBike, hybrid, unicycle, or N+ enviable road rider, are here sharing ideas. I hope we are out spreading the word through example. I believe you’ve come to the right place too… with the rest of US people.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

@Tim Kelley 147770 wrote:

Thanks–can you tell us more? How did you know they were a PAL ambassador? Wearing a reflective vest? Pulling a trailer? Male/female?

Hi Tim. I knew they were a PAL because they were wearing a bright yellow PAL vest, which first I was excited to see, but then had my secondary reaction. He was, I believe, an older man, glasses, on a road bike equipped for commuting. He wasn’t outwardly rude, but given the light level, location, number of riders on the trail, etc. it was disappointing. Luckily no one was coming the other way either.

[JorgeGortex]

A double your pleasure special:

To the gent last night, as we exited the stretch of the Custis Trail near Lyon Village on the way to the corkscrew: thanks for sitting on my left shoulder, as we approached a pedestrian from behind, neither easing up, passing, or saying “boo.” I had to grip the brakes so as not to hit the pedestrian while you launched yourself around me on your way to the Tour.

To all the other rude, in a hurry, people I’ve enountered as I’ve commuted from Rosslyn to Westover over during the last two days: thanks for using pedestrians/runners, and slow bikers as your personal slalom cones, saying nothing, ringining nothing, and blasting past people like… you are on your way to the Tour. It makes me sad to find the kind of self-important, rude, and reckless drivers I encounter on the roads on the trails too.

[JorgeGortex]

Speaking of crosswalks…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/77-year-old-dc-man-on-bike-struck-and-killed-by-car-in-college-park/2016/09/13/9a65f13e-79fa-11e6-bd86-b7bbd53d2b5d_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-moreheds_bikerkilled-745pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory

[JorgeGortex]

Nice bike! I have one too. I think the tires that came with it would be good for this sort of ride on the C&O. Especially in the areas of trail that are less gravelly.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

I just read this-this morning. It goes along with the incident in Reston where a guy was robbed the other night. Do I have to start open carrying just to ride my bike and use the trails? Maybe its time local law enforcement starts patrolling the trails regularly. We aren’t safe from cars on the street or thugs on the trails.

This is really disheartening.

[JorgeGortex]

@Jason 145520 wrote:

Hey everyone, I am considering adding the C&O onto my fun/training rides. This topic/question is spanning two areas, where to ride and bike/technical so didnt know where to post it. Thinking of riding the C&O for somewhere to ride that’s just different from what I have been doing (arlington Loop, Beach Drive, ect). Also the allure of being away from any traffic sounds good, at least on paper. I currently ride 2-3 days a week averaging 20 or so miles each ride on the usual Arlington-style hills. My only, and current bike is a Cannondale CAAD10, and that wont work on the C&O. Not sure if its worth another bike for a single trail but considering the following options:

Gravel Bike: allot of new options in this area, would also be useful for a wet weather training bike
Cyclocross bike: not sure if this is any different than a gravel bike anymore, same advantages
XC Mountain Bike: Hard-tail or full suspension? I dont currently mountain bike, but this would maybe open up the occasional mountain bike trail as an option. I have little to zero skill on a mountain bike trail.

FWIW I did this ride https://www.strava.com/activities/660267634 on my ’96 Specialized Stumpjumper with tires similar to these http://bike.michelinman.com/tires/michelin-country-rock. (Mine are old and slightly different with a shoulder knob. 26×1.75). I had not done a distance like that, especially off-road, in awhile, and was perfectly comfortable. Plenty of speed, good control, and felt good at the end.

Unless you plan to get into serious mountain biking I don’t think you need full suspension. It would be overkill for the C&O. A used hard tail with sem-slick tires like I used would give good grip and good rolling resistance on that sort of trail. Otherwise one of the new gravel grinder bikes, or like someone else said, a Cross bike with as wide tires as you can stuff it in would work (I did see a couple of those go by me).

If you ever want to ride that route I’d be game. Good luck.

JG

[JorgeGortex]

Let us just say for clarity that the kid lives on that side of the street within sight of the corner (as I learned after the accident). “Flying” is my wording, not necessarily 100% accurate. Everyone should keep in mind that I was focused on the cars and intersection in front of me, and it was the odd movement at the intersection that caught my attention. My next impression was of him “flying” as he “released” from his bike “into the air” and then stumbled with his bike to a stop. Lots of quotes to emphasize that words don’t always describe the exact nature of the event. I am but a humble wordsmith trying to relate a tale for the purpose of relating a tale on our forum.

JG

@DismalScientist 145543 wrote:

I was told as a kid that riding bicycles (at any speed) on sidewalks was dangerous. It seems that every year I see a Swanson student taken out while riding on the sidewalk of Washington Blvd at a driveway or street crossing. Sidewalks are designed with sight-lines appropriate for walking speeds. Tell your kids to ride in the street rather than the sidewalk. If the street is too busy, try an alternate route. If Washington Blvd is too stressful, try 16th Street, which has much less traffic.

(If the kid was on the sidewalk on the north side of Washington Blvd heading east, he was riding “against” traffic (not illegally). Imagine if you are a driver making a right on red. You are likely looking left to see if there is no oncoming westbound traffic. What is the likelihood of you seeing a fast moving person on a sidewalk coming from the right? (Since the kid went “flying,” he likely was moving quickly.) It maybe doesn’t matter whether you come to a complete stop or not. What part of the car hit the bike? If it were the back end, the car could very well have been astride the crosswalk before the cyclist even entered it.)

[JorgeGortex]

Purchased in June, from a great guy in Alexandria who had changed up his ride, for a sweet deal: 2013 BMC Grandfondo 01 full Di2 Ultegra, with Zipp 404 rear and 303 front (which I had rebuilt by Bill Mould at Spokes with White Industries hubs). I have never enjoyed riding a bike more… I swear it makes me faster, which is good, because I am really slow. Love.

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[JorgeGortex]

To all the guys in full kit, riding full carbon everything, and hauling ass on the blind corners of the Custis between Harrison Street and the top of the Glebe Rd. bridge, during the evening rush hour commute… I hope your insurance covers dental work. I hope the person you hit does too. Slow down jackasses… I could do the same, but excerise control of my bike by using the thing called a brake to slow my Zipps.

Love, JorgeGortex

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