[KLizotte]

Hi there and welcome to the group.

Are you by any chance a new employee at Amtrak HQ? Just curious since I used to work in the Strategy division there.

Anyway, I bought a Trek 5200 WSD in Jan of this year and love it even if it’s not entirely cool. It’s a hybrid with front and back suspension, upright riding posture, trigger shifters, 24 speed, super comfy saddle, etc. The major downside is the weight and upright position when it’s really windy. It’s also not super speedy by any means but if you are going to be on trails and crowded sidewalks/lanes in DC then you shouldn’t be going faster than 15 miles per hour anyways. Thus far, the longest trip I’ve done at one time is 40 miles (a super hilly charity ride) and was comfortable the entire way. I’m only 5’2″ so I got the smallest one they had available and I can easily put my foot down at stops (not easily done on most bikes at my height, including the CaBi bikes). I bike commute on the Mt Vernon Trail and Independence Ave. It’s only 5.5 miles one way but during the good weather I take the long way round by adding many more miles as I see fit along the various trails. I added a Topeak rack so I can easily pop off various panniers and my commuter basket. I have about 1,300 miles on it and have had only one flat.

My best advice is to check out bike manufacturer’s websites first before heading to the bike shops to get an idea of what is available, including prices. Also, check out at least 3-4 brands since you will be surprised how differently they all feel. Also, any good bike shop will throw in a year’s worth of free service when you purchase a new bike. If you don’t like the vibe of the bike shop, go elsewhere.

My LBS is Spokes on Quaker Lane in Alexandria. I highly recommend them for a great service dept (there is also a good residential area next to them for trying out bikes). Some of their sales people are well meaning but kind of useless with the exception of Mark who is FABULOUS! He is very patient and really wants customers to find the bike that is right for them and he’s really cool with the ladies. Oddly enough, he seems to divide his time between the service dept and sales. If you were willing to travel to Alexandria, I’d give Spokes a call and ask if Mark is in before you get there. If I end up buying another week, he’ll be the first person I go to.

Also, BicycleSpace in DC allows you to try out their bikes during guided group rides which is a great way to try out a bike for an extended period. You can also rent a few different kinds of bikes for a day since there are now lots of rental outlets in the area.

Once you get fit and used to biking along your commute you will surely start exploring the other trails/roads; it’s remarkably easy to get around here by bike. I’d advise getting a 24 speed and not a 3 speed since we do have hills (and the CCT does have a slight grade all the way to Bethesda from DC).

Kathy

[KLizotte]

Thanks so much for the head’s up (no pun intended) about the incident. I live in Pentagon City and will certainly keep an eye when I’m passing through there now.

I had a very similar incident happen to me when I was a high schooler attending an outdoor political rally in Boston. A full wine bottle bottle was dropped from a high up balcony off of an apartment building onto the sidewalk right in front of me. Glass (and wine) went everywhere. Fortunately I had fairly heavy clothes on and was spared from injury from the glass shards (though I was picking them out of my coat for weeks). It freaked me out so much that I refused to attend any more rallies for years. I don’t think it was an accident since it was way too cold to be sitting outside on a balcony for the fun of it.

[KLizotte]

This whole thread really made me laugh.

When life hands you lemons….

[KLizotte]

@CCrew 4725 wrote:

Twas the eclipse wasn’t it last night?

There was a lunar eclipse last night but it wasn’t visible in North America (don’t ask me why, that’s just what the newspapers were reporting). The fabulous pink and orange colors were due to the sulfur thrown up by a recent volcano eruption in Chile.

[KLizotte]

@Mark Blacknell 4727 wrote:

Kathy, I encourage you to ask the County Board members that every time you see them Trail maintenance is continually given short shrift in Arlington, and that’s very unfortunate.

Have done and will continue to do so. The squeaky wheel…..

[KLizotte]

@Tim Kelley 4715 wrote:

I’ve found out this from the Parks & Rec Trails Manager:

“Some repairs are scheduled to occur from marker 12 – 15 with money from our past fiscal year. We are hoping to complete the work by July 1. Additional repairs may be made on the Custis Trail through another unit in coordination with the current activity.”

Given the generally horrible state of the trail overall (natural speedbumps anyone?) it is unfortunate that the entire trail couldn’t be resurfaced all at once. It’s not a trail that I do at night because of the unexpected bumps and potholes along the hills.

I guess something is better than nothing.

BTW: Fab moon view along the MVT last night. I’ve never seen a pink moon before. Dirt would have approved.

[KLizotte]

Cowbell?! Cowbell?!!! The stuff this sport requires is getting more and more insane. Funny looking shoes, spandex sausage clothes, cow plows on the front of my bike to clear the kiddies off the MVT, band-aids the size of Pluto to cover my road rash, brain buckets…..

No wonder the runners think we’re all a bit nutty.

[KLizotte]

Cowbell?! Cowbell?!!! The stuff this sport requires is getting more and more insane. Funny looking shoes, spandex sausage clothes, cow plows on the front of my bike to clear the kiddies off the MVT, band-aids the size of Pluto to cover my road rash, brain buckets…..

No wonder the runners think we’re all a bit nutty.

[KLizotte]

“And, because I live just a few blocks away from the Clarendon Cup, I’ve been there every year. Loads of fun. The course is so small that you can walk the whole thing a number of times – and watching from an outside table (at, say, Mad Rose or Liberty Tavern) when you feel like taking a break. You can see a number of galleries from previous years efforts (when it was also known as the CSC Invitational) here. Here’s a piece I did for the Clarendon Patch earlier this week that links to all the basics.”

Awesome photos. Everyone should check them out!

Thanks Mark.

Kathy

[KLizotte]

“And, because I live just a few blocks away from the Clarendon Cup, I’ve been there every year. Loads of fun. The course is so small that you can walk the whole thing a number of times – and watching from an outside table (at, say, Mad Rose or Liberty Tavern) when you feel like taking a break. You can see a number of galleries from previous years efforts (when it was also known as the CSC Invitational) here. Here’s a piece I did for the Clarendon Patch earlier this week that links to all the basics.”

Awesome photos. Everyone should check them out!

Thanks Mark.

Kathy

[KLizotte]

Thanks Mark for the info on BikeFest and Clarendon Cup. I sure hope it cools down for the latter; I’m not a hot weather person.

I met Mark (and probably Liz) at Jay’s happy hour earlier this week.

See you Sat night

[KLizotte]

Thanks Mark for the info on BikeFest and Clarendon Cup. I sure hope it cools down for the latter; I’m not a hot weather person.

I met Mark (and probably Liz) at Jay’s happy hour earlier this week.

See you Sat night

[KLizotte]

To Dirt:

Oh my god! Even your bike is pink!!

You are one committed person. 😎

[KLizotte]

To Dirt:

Oh my god! Even your bike is pink!!

You are one committed person. 😎

[KLizotte]

Mucho thanks to the organizers, beer/food providers, swag givers. Except for the heat it was a great time and I hope we meet up again soon. Nice to be able to put a face to the online names.

Hats off to those of you who biked yesterday thru the furnace.

Kathy

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