[KLizotte]

@baiskeli 5912 wrote:

I’m by no means an expert on this, but my first thoughts are:

– yes, wider tires
– lower air pressure?
– a suspension seat post. You can easily install a seat post with a suspension spring in it. That’s probably going to work best.

I already have a suspension seat post though nothing fancy. I didn’t try lowering the air pressure since I was afraid of getting a flat (I was running at about 75-77 psi – the tires max out at 80).

[KLizotte]

:)Very cool bike; I’ve never seen one like that.

[KLizotte]

@jrenaut 5784 wrote:

But this means that the city needs to work out this National Park Service exclusive contract crap so that they can put CaBi stations on The Mall and other prime locations where they currently can’t. It would also be nice to get more signs pointing out attractions that are easily accessible by bike. I got stopped by a large group of CaBi tourists at Hains Point asking me where a particular road went, and I had no idea. They seemed to be having a ball on the bikes.

The biggest problem with the Mall right now is its popularity, esp now that summer is here. I ride the Mall every day on my commute and dodging peds is a real challenge. It would be super helpful if the NPS would install (or paint existing pathways) cycleways with “no peds allowed” signs; that way, peds and cyclists could largely avoid one another. Without some “traffic management” I fear adding CaBi stations will just exacerbate the current congestion.

[KLizotte]

Many thanks for the head’s up on this. As a resident of PC I am so looking forward to some of these improvements (though I was quite disappointed in the intersection “improvements” recently made to the Columbia Pike/S. Joyce St intersection – not particularly well designed IMHO). Would love to see a cycletrack and being able to bike easily to Clarendon would be a huge boost to residents of both neighborhoods.

[KLizotte]

Last week three bikes were stolen from the racks located at the entrance to the Federal Aviation Administration’s HQ on Independence Ave (where I work) during the night. I don’t know what time but I doubt it was that late since it is rare to see that many left overnight. Supposedly all three had cable locks which is stinky since I prefer cable locks over U-locks.

What’s amazing is how brazen the thieves were. The racks are at the employees only entrance, just a few feet away from the doors where there is 24/7 security personnel and cameras. I figure it must have been a roaming gang that snipped and rode away.

*sigh* I was an exchange student at Oxford Univ (UK) over a decade ago and everyone left their bikes unlocked all over town without a second thought. Granted they were all beater bikes but still….

[KLizotte]

Out of curiosity, where are you in the pic?

I wish I had a bike path right outside my front door.

[KLizotte]

I just fell off my chair. Never in a million years would I have thought it possible to go that far on a PF. Do you mind if I ask what your average speed was? So much for me saying I can’t do a century on my slow-poke hybrid.

Kathy

[KLizotte]

Hmmmm….really setting some time records there I see. And I thought I was slow :p

[KLizotte]

@acc 5573 wrote:

It was um, remarkable on so many levels…

But my suggestion to Purcellville is they need to add a little something to the end of the trail. It is kind of a let-down to make it all the way out there, over the river and through the woods, past the Horseshoe of Death, through the stroller obstacle course around Vienna, across the bowling lane adventure known as the Wiehle Intersection and then find out the W&O simply ends with a restroom. If this is a preview of heaven, I’m in big trouble.

I propose a cannon be added to the end of the trail set to go off each time a cyclist passes the little circle. Live ammo is not necessary, but would liven things up a bit.

ann

Hahaha. I think we should be truly thankful there is at least a restroom (hopefully very clean and modern) else that could make for an uncomfortable ending. I was so disappointed the first time I arrived at the southern end of the MVT – I was expecting something more in biker friendly facilities (admittedly I haven’t cycled around the roundabout to the actual estate itself yet).

I think Purcellville may be missing the boat in terms of capitalizing on the WO&D. Not too long ago I considered making the trek out there from Pentagon City. Given the slow speed of my hybrid bike (and legs) plus my penchant for stopping at anything that looks interesting, I’d need to make it an overnighter. When I investigated the charms of Purcellville, particularly its night life, I decided to give it a pass. I think I’ll stop at Leesburg instead.

[KLizotte]

Happy anniversary to you and Spartacus! Many best wishes for a long and happy life together

Much blessed to have made your acquaintance.

Kathy

[KLizotte]

@StopMeansStop 5483 wrote:

I hope they follow up with writing tickets. I have been complaining for years about the near misses.

I ride thru Gravelly Pt twice a day on my commute and I can’t say I’ve ever seen a real safety issue with cyclists only slowing down or riding thru the stop sign (little traffic and usually one gets waved thru by drivers anyway) but I have seen some some seriously dangerous situations with the peds along the trail right at the end of the runway. The peds don’t look before crossing, stand in clusters on the asphalt, let their kiddies play there, etc.

Ideally, the county or NPS (I don’t know who controls the land) would build a trail detour along the western side of the grass and back over to the trail at the northern end of the playing fields. That way cyclists can bypass that bottleneck altogether. Since the land is already cleared and mowed regularly anyway, seems like the only cost would be building and maintaining the trail itself. They could even go so far as to mark that short detour as “cyclists only” to deter joggers/walkers from turning it into a circuit.

Kathy

[KLizotte]

@Usern Ame 5500 wrote:

Its not their path either. Its a shared path. Letting kids run around on it is dangerous and moronic The other thing I have to point out is that I’m not sure I’ve ever actually seen kids running around on the path.

Oh I definitely have, esp around Gravelly Pt on the MVT. I’ve seen toddlers left to play on the asphalt with their toys(!), scooters left lying in the middle of trail (which I removed with a warning to the parents – who looked completely confused by what I was saying BTW), kiddies on big-wheels riding wherever they like, kiddies making sudden u-turns, kiddies suddenly darting across the trail without looking, etc.

Also keep in mind that the MUTS around here are filled with tourists who may never have been on a MUT before or even speak English for that matter. In fact, they may not even be familiar with bicycles and how they are used in an urban setting or even be aware that cyclists are on the trail at all. When I was in Munich for the first time over a decade ago I didn’t know what the funny green paint signified on the sidewalks; after almost being run over by cyclists a few times I quickly figured it out (but not before being yelled at).

Then there are those folks who do not think we have a right to be on the MUTs and simply won’t give way.

And lastly, there are those who simply lack good common sense.

[KLizotte]

God god. A picture is worth a thousands words. It’s as if they intentionally created a booby trap. Lawsuit anyone?

Did you contact the “proper authorities”?

You should send this photo to Dr. Gridlock of the Wash Post since he has a pro-car bias. Would be nice for him to see (and post on his blog) what we cyclists are up against on a daily basis and why we often have to take the lane.

Grrrrr…..

[KLizotte]

Thanks for the head’s up and info on this class. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that my boss and the weather cooperate so I can leave work early to attend.

[KLizotte]

@CCrew 5333 wrote:

My biggest issues have really been the deer and the urban assault bunnies. Oh, and the skunk the one time. That was a very bad thing. I’ve had two collisions with deer, one that ended me in the hospital with surgery on a shoulder, but you’re talking dumb animals in a close quarters suburban setting. These things happen. I’ve gotten 1 deer with the car and did $4k damage in the same timeframe.

You must have been a hunter in a former life. The deer are getting revenge! Maybe you should spray yourself with eau de coyote.

I see a ton of bunnies every day (they are so cute!) but have yet to see a single one place a paw on the trail. I think they are smarter than the Kamikaze Kiddies.

Tonight I saw a racoon up close and personal on the MVT about 8:30 pm. It was walking on the rocks near Gravelly Pt. Turned around and walked up to me then stopped when it was about seven feet away. Did this numerous times like it was looking for food from me. Rabies did cross my mind since this is not typical coon behavior (I grew up in the country and we used to catch them in traps all the time) but it looked healthy and on the young side (I reckon it’s a teenager). I suspect it’s overly friendly because it’s young and dumb as well as a city animal.

@CCrew 5333 wrote:

This is with me entering the 4th year of riding on a daily basis year round, so I really don’t think the odds are that bad. I’m pushing 1200-1400 miles a month on the bike – With that kind of seat time I’m going to see more than the average rider.

Wow, I only do 3,000 miles in my car per year!

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