[JustinW]

Have a friend from Austin who is participating for his 3rd or 4th time this year. He keeps begging me to go with him. Snow? No thanks, got enough this past Winter…

But he has shown some purty pictures from past rides. Some long and challenging (!) hills and some wonderful downhills to suit.

[JustinW]

@Drewdane 87562 wrote:

Dude, if you’re going to draft me without announcing your presence or offering to take a pull, at least get your bike tuned up!

*squeek – grind – clatter – skweeel – GROOONK!* .

You are assuming that those are *bike* noises….

[JustinW]

I won a one-year Better World membership last year thru the National Bike Challenge. Have not had to use it in any way, but I do look at the monthly emails that they send that do indeed convey a sense that the company is progressively focused and at least talks a good talk.

[JustinW]

On the Holmes Run trail in Alexandria, just west of the Holmes Run crossing that sometimes (like now) is covered by water, there’s a stretch from 395 to the crossing where the embankment is concrete and there are numerous water channels running down in, and most go under the trail in little conduits. One of the covers for a conduit must have been washed away, as there’s now a 6 or 8 inch cut in the pathway perpendicular to the pathway. Drop a wheel in there and you won’t have a great day. Bunny hops are an option…but fixing it is a better option. Who to contact about that, Alex. Parks?

[JustinW]

Back in my day, if you had a bike, it was your *only* bike, and thus it was an all-purpose steed. Making rubber tracks from fishtailing? Got it. Jumping dirt berms in the woods nearby? Nailed it. Racing other kids downhill? All set. Riding around town to do stuff that kids do? Yup. Riding it on a muddy C & O Towpath such that the space between the fenders and the tires was clogged with mud? Too much fun. Hitting that curb pop-out and going head over heels due to watching the college girls at AU playing softball INSTEAD of watching where I’m going? Loved it…tho my mom was less pleased with the result. How did that bike survive my “care” I’ll never know….

[JustinW]

You take the sidewalk along Seminary past the obstacle and can re-join the trail after.

[JustinW]

Rt 50 Westbound from ~ Pershing, on the path next to Rt 50 proper: Remove the bollards (2, each fixed, metal, unmoving) centered in a couple of pretty narrow curb cuts. No reason for their existence, except perhaps to make cyclists unhappy and possibly cause a wreck. See map here.

[JustinW]

@consularrider 73149 wrote:

Justin, we have some forum members who would be happy to show you how to rack up miles on a short commute (anyone for Harper’s Ferry, the long way?).

I know how to do that – my route home routinely includes “extra” miles just because. One day I’ll have fewer things competing for time such that the “long way” can be even longer and more varied!

[JustinW]

Planned on increasing commutes vs. aiming for specific mileage increases. My short commute does not lend itself to racking up the miles, but I was successful in biking to work more frequently. For 2014, aiming for an even higher biking percentage, commute-wise.

[JustinW]

It is slowly improving, tho still a bit of a surprise if you are not paying attention. The realigned portion west of Columbia Pike has a good gravel / stone base, now they need to asphalt it.

[JustinW]

Loved seeing you guys @ Ballston – the watermelon helmet was a highlight of the day…

[JustinW]

@dbb 62746 wrote:

While the trail area around DCA and Gravelly Point seems to have a disproportionate number of horses asses on the trail, tonight was a bit unusual in that the rest of the horse was also present. Not a lot of room to pass.

What’s the proper hand signal for “Watch out for the horse poop”?

[JustinW]

@mstone 61453 wrote:

so it sounds like no accommodation was made? and then through sheer bureaucratic cussedness they’ll keep putting back the fence rather than putting that effort into adding a minimal accommodation for demonstrated demand?

. I suspect that accommodations are made in cases of disruptions to existing, formal paths. In this case, there was no such thing. The new switchbacks will be the first true connector; the trail beaten earlier through the undergrowth was in no was a proper or legitimate path.

[JustinW]

Had to share this – appropriate topic. Happy Friday! (Click the link for pics)

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/nyc/3796206422.html

Oh my god. Oh. My. God.

best of craigslist > new york > Oh my god. Oh. My. God.
Originally Posted: Fri, 10 May 08:15 EDT
Grab a paper bag, breathe into it and calm your ass down. You’re hyperventilating because you ain’t never seen a deal like this before. Now collect yourself, then keep reading this incredible description that barely serves to do justice to my 2010 Felt Gridlock 3 speed fixed gear bike. Yes 3 SPEED FIXED GEAR. Also known as the greatest bike the city has ever had the privilege of existing around.

What makes this bike so much better than every other bike that has ever been pedaled? Glad you asked. It starts with the paint scheme. It looks like Iron Man if Iron Man were a bike. That’s bold, son. Curb appeal. It’s probably also why some piece of trash stole the front tire that originally came with this beauty. Why didn’t he steal the whole bike? Because he knew he wasn’t man enough. That’s ok, I replaced it with something that looks even more boss. The next thing is the genuine leather seat. My taint has had a love/hate relationship with this particular bit of the machine. But it’s got those swanky brass rivets so I can’t stay mad that it smashed my prostate and has likely rendered fatherhood impossible. But let’s face it, I’d rather have have a bike than a kid.

What else? Let’s talk about that three speed in-the-hub, fixed-gear transmission for a second. It’s as gnarly as it is exotic. Like the tropical, saw-toothed platypus. Which is a species that does’t even exist. Fortunately this crazy ass hub does. It offers 3 speeds, as the name implies. It also offers a terrific chance to introduce that dome of yours to the asphalt if you sleep for one single second on this beotch. So don’t trip. Ride safe. Get a helmet and if you’ve never ridden a fixed gear bike, maybe it’s time to move along, young sir because this back tire doesn’t flip flop and it doesn’t offer any respite. What this bike does offer is a one-way ticket to legits-ville. Find a bowling ball. Then find another one. Your nuts must be at least that big to even consider making this whip the dreamiest object to ever take up too much space in your tiny ass apartment. But you’ll be filled with joy once you throw a leg over this flawless piece of American-made* cycling excellence.

What else? Ryan, the paint’s a little dinged up. Yeah, well, that’s called real life. It comes at you fast, bro. Besides, you really want this glimmering, shimmering sex machine catching the eye of some small time thief? I already told you what happened to the tire. You really don’t want to be living your own version of PeeWee’s big adventure. Consider the lived-in feel a natural crime deterrent. If this bike were denim jeans, it’d be called “de-stressed” and you’d be paying extra for the privilege. I’m not gonna charge you extra for it, though. Cause I’m not trying to take advantage of you. But you should take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

But, aren’t you sad about selling the greatest bike on earth? No. When you ride this bike once it permanently eliminates your ability to feel sad about anything ever again. Even for little puppies who are afraid to walk down the stairs, because the stairs…they’re so big, and they’re so little. Puppies who are young, but have already discovered the world to be a cold, unforgiving place. But you won’t give a shit about it because you’ll be on your awesome new bike living the dream.

Ryan, is that a toilet in the background? Yes. Why? Because this bike is the shit. And you’ve just learned something else about me. That’s right, my name is Ryan. And your name is lucky sonofagun if you make the best choice of your life and pay me cold, hard cash for this ridiculous ride.

*Felt bikes are imported from Taiwan. Sorry to burst your bubble, homie, but globalization has been restructuring the way products get manufactured and sold since the 80’s. Some believe it’s eroding the American middle class. If you’re the last to know, sorry for party rocking. Read “The World Is Flat.” Form an opinion. Join the dialog. By the way, the book is like 12 years old so this shouldn’t be news. Shit’s fucked up, but we didn’t start the fire. No we didn’t light it, but we tried to fight it. Now buy this bitchin’ ass bike.
it’s NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[JustinW]

@Arlingtonrider 56783 wrote:

And Justin Wilt won a Better World membership! Congrats to both Justin and Mikey!

But how can it truly be a Better World without a year’s supply of toilet paper? Guess I’ll find out and let y’all know!

[Author]

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