[JustinW]

Simple route for me – 4 miles at the shortest (AM from ~Shirlington to ~Ballston). The return / PM route is invariably longer as (a) I get bored with the same simple route home, and (b) it is fun to check out new routes / neighborhoods, and (c) it is always useful to add some extra miles when time permits.

[JustinW]

@ShawnoftheDread 40672 wrote:

I like it, but isn’t this what commuting is? I take my kid to school, ride to work, ride back to pick her up, etc. Lots of us already take the kids places or stop for groceries (or cat food) as part of our daily riding routine.

We gotta take the challenge beyond the routine, into the absurd (if needed). I do the day to day stuff, sure, like many of the readers here. Let’s blow it up, go big….ride a century with various “real life” tasks interspersed, or so on. This is partly just a silly suggestion in appreciation for the ladies’ efforts that started this thread, but if this group can’t take a half-formed idea and roll with it, who can?

[JustinW]

Ok, this has the makings of a new challenge for forum readers.

Often for centuries and such we talk about whether or not the ride is supported….you know, as in are services provided to the riders. No cares or worries for the riders. Nice life, really.

What these ladies did in a fashion was the reverse: rode while taking care of themselves *and* took care of others as well. That is called the real world, at least from a family standpoint.

Hence a new sort of challenge. We should devise a ride, or series or rides, interspersed with “real life” chores and responsibilities. Ride x miles, perform some feat of normalcy, then ride y miles, conduct another duty, etc. Chores could involve kids or other family members, or yardwork (chainsaws!), or doing a weekly grocery shop, or…..

Could mix the mundane with the silly – life-like, really – and call it the Real World Challenge or something like that.

KOM or QOM on the road vs. who had to deal with more after-school activities in more locations, or who had to cook for more people, etc.

If only we could get a proper sponsor to underwrite the whole thing….

Anyway, kudos to the ladies for showing us the way, and in such entertaining fashion.

[JustinW]

Summer of 196?, when I all of a sudden rode training-wheels free, making endless sorta wobbly circles in the driveway at my parent’s house in DC. I felt like the king of the driveway, which I was since there was no one else around….

Sometime reasonably soon thereafter, flying down the sidewalk, hitting the coaster brake and leaving a lovely fishtail skidmark on the sidewalk.

[JustinW]

Memorial Bridge is fairly easy to access, and as long as a bit of car-dodging on the VA side can be done safely (to cross the Parkway and access the MVT) then the OP is closer to Rosslyn that way.

To get to Memorial Bridge, use any ~southbound route you are comfortable with, take a right at the National Mall (heading west) and aim just past the Lincoln Memorial.

This is actually a great time of year to explore different routes (weather notwithstanding) since there are so few tourists out and about (on the Mall and elsewhere).

[JustinW]

@Certifried 39447 wrote:

I think, if I read correctly, that you can send them all of your files and they’ll import them for you. Check Strava’s support website, the FAQ or something has the details.

I understand how to stuff the data into Strava. Just don’t know if there’s a workable way to pull it out of MapMyRide…?

Or maybe I’ll just leave it there for posterity if exporting won’t work….

[JustinW]

@Bilsko 39434 wrote:

You should be able to upload files in batches of 25 at a time: [ATTACH=CONFIG]2206[/ATTACH]

I had seen that already. Is there an export function of any sort for MapMyRide? How else can one pull the data?

[JustinW]

Considering moving over to Strava from MapMyRide, where I have years of data. Any way to import that data into Strava without a lot of manual work?

[JustinW]

@TwoWheelsDC 38797 wrote:

Consider this a bike decoration throw down.

Uh oh, how many grams did you add?

[JustinW]

Papillion Cycles (http://papilloncycles.com/) on Columbia Pike host a tire changing class on Tuesdays and a general intro-to-maintenance class on Thursdays. Both are promoted in-store, tho only one is mentioned on their website. Helpful guys there – you may enjoy it.

[JustinW]

@rcannon100 37573 wrote:

You should send an email to trails@arlingtonva.us

Should, and did. Thanks!

[JustinW]

You could try this:
– Seatpost rack that accommodates panniers: http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1023820_-1_400031_400005_400104
– Then add pannier(s) of your choice.

I’ve had success with this sort of set up for years. Can carry moderately weighty things like a laptop, lots of groceries, and even a chainsaw if need be.

Also thumbs up to stocking your workplace with extra clothes and such. Supply once, use multiple occasions. Your co-workers will thank you!

[JustinW]

@Dirt 33125 wrote:

Best post of all time on the entire internet.

Glad dasgeh specified “bike” in that post. If “rider” was stated instead, then that’s a different story….

[JustinW]

Seconding those kudos for Dr. Lin. The PAs there seem pleasant and competent too.

[JustinW]

Signed up to volunteer and awaiting “the call”….

[Author]

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