[komorebi]

I was very sad that a morning meeting kept me from going to Team X’s Sugar Shack meetup. But I did get the next best thing: a flyby with Christob50 while he was on his way to the meetup. That was you on the Potomac Yard Trail, right? Sorry, my caffeine- and sugar-deprived brain didn’t recognize the green FS armband until after we’d already passed.

[komorebi]

Ignore the post title: ride has been rescheduled due to weather.

In conjunction with rumipumi (aka Mrs. Maryland Meadworks), I’m organizing a bakeries, brews, and booze ride on Sunday, March 3. All are welcome to join.

The plan:
— Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Velo Cafe in DC, purveyor of local coffee, Acme Pie, and other excellent baked goods.
— Roll out at 11:00 a.m. and take the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail to Maryland Meadworks.
— Do a loop up through U.Md., along Lake Artemesia, and back down to Hyattsville.
— Visit Sangfroid Distillery (just opened December 2018; $10/person for tour and tasting) and Streetcar 82 Brewery (first deaf-owned brewery on the east coast). Neither place serves food, but Vigilante Coffee and Franklin’s are nearby if people need nibbles.
— Since there’s nothing like pie to soak up that alcohol, roll back along the ART to Dangerously Delicious Pies on H Street.
— Return to Velo Cafe.

The route is about 37 miles, mostly trails but also some roads, at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29290890. Social pace (12-15 mph), no drop. Nondrinkers are welcome too.

Directions to the start: the Velo Cafe at District Hardware is located at 730b Maine Ave SW, in the Wharf. The nearest metro is Waterfront. If you can’t find street parking near the Wharf, it’s pretty easy to park at Hains Point and bike over.

If you’d like to join us along the way, let me know and I’ll see if I can get my Garmin LiveTrack working.

Depending on your stomach/liver capacity, you might be able to score points for four separate pointless prizes: coffee, pastries, beerneuring, and spiriteuring.

If you think you’d like to imbibe, please PM me or respond on this thread so that I can let the good people at Maryland Meadworks, Streetcar 82, and Sangfroid know how many people to expect.

Bring snacks, money, and a lock. And a metro card if there’s a chance you might want to metro home.

[komorebi]

I’m claiming points for attending Sunday’s Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail meeting. Strava proof of attendance: https://www.strava.com/activities/2137050339. Do I get bonus points for being smart enough not to sign up for additional email distribution lists?

[komorebi]

@Christob50 187236 wrote:

The write-up I prepared to go with / explain the route map image I’d pieced together, when I shared it with my family (all non-bikers)…

This is great! I was trying to explain Strava art to my mom (also a non-biker), but your explanation is much better and more poetic.

[komorebi]

Thanks to everyone for coming out to the duck ride! Special props to Christob50 for hauling his e-bike up and down the stairs without complaint, camiller for gamely continuing even after a ferocious detour sign reached out and bit her, Nadine and awitt for completing the ride even though they could easily have peeled off when the route went right by their neighborhoods, Steve O for being so determined to complete the duck’s head that he did the Heisman maneuver with several cars on Lee Highway, CBGanimal for doing not one but two Strava art rides today, elizsnyder and Todd for bringing mountain bikes and demonstrating proper stair-riding and curb-hopping techniques for the rest of us weenies on road and hybrid bikes, and lordofthemark and Susan for being brave enough to tackle their first-ever Strava art. That was fun!

[komorebi]

@hugopatacon 187204 wrote:

Dumbo, a Team 12 effort that started out as a baby elephant but morphed along the way

Nice! The ears were a great touch, and so was the mouth. I can definitely see this elephant smiling as he takes flight over Arlington. And thanks for posting the “map” and “real life” pics for contrast. It’s always fun to get some insight into the creative process.

[komorebi]

@Christob50 187210 wrote:

Hi–did you change the route URL in the posting, after making the original post? (Ie, V.2?)
I swear the first time I read this and clicked the URL I could see the route design… but tonight, it opens up the link, and shows no map at all…

I tweaked the route a bit this afternoon, but it should have saved to the same URL, https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29275735. I also had problems opening up the link the first time I clicked on it, but it worked properly after that. Anyway, I saved an identical copy of the route to https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29304930. Hopefully one of those two links will work for you. I’ll also bring a few extra printed copies of the cuesheet to the ride.

[komorebi]

@josh 187039 wrote:

Isn’t that the one right off the Custis? I.e you’d take the Custis to a bit before the corkscrew part, then hop into the parking lot and you’re there?

@josh 187050 wrote:

Pretty sure it’s around mile 1.8, heading up the stairs from Lee Highway to N Scott St. Here’s some people headed down those stairs during komorebi’s Arlington bike lane ride. Your option to avoid the stairs would be continuing along Lee Highway, climbing N Quinn, making a right on N Scott, and then regrouping.

Josh is correct on both fronts.

We’ll also be going up and down a half-flight of stairs at the intersection of Key Blvd. and N. Uhle St. — i.e., where N. Uhle St. would continue southward if there weren’t buildings and a parking lot in the way. Here’s the Google StreetView link (not sure if that’ll work). It’s pretty easy to ride around those stairs using N. Veitch St. and Key Blvd.

[komorebi]

@Christob50 186994 wrote:

Not yet on Strava here, but I am going to try and join you anyway — curious to see how the resulting art looks on the Apple Watch – Bike Workout’s map of a completed ride…
Also — is the tip of the tail of your duck safe from the trail closure/detour (mentioned in another forum thread here) — that goes into effect I think 2/11? (ie, if that 2/11 date is honored, and the detour isn’t activated beforehand.)

Good question about the trail closure. We’ll be turning from the W&OD onto the Custis, and my understanding is that part of the trail network will remain open even after the detour goes into effect. But your question also reminded me to check the status of the 7th Street South trail detour. That work is still ongoing, so I had to tweak the route a bit. Now we’ll be doing even more offroading, and having extra fun (woohoo!).

Looking forward to seeing you and anyone else interested on Sunday.

[komorebi]

In honor of the world’s loneliest duck, I plan to ride a Strava art duck on Sunday, February 10. Everyone is welcome to join, particularly those who are curious about Strava art.

Details:
— Meet at the Starbucks in Lyon Village, 3125 Lee Hwy. in Arlington, at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 10.
— Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29275735, about 20 miles.
— Social pace (12-15 mph), no drop.
— I’ll probably grab a snack at the Italian Store in Lyon Village after the ride.

Because no Strava art ride would be complete without some urban adventuring, be prepared to (1) carry your bike up 2.5 flights of stairs,* (2) offroad on two short grass or dirt slopes, (3) salmon on the sidewalk for a block, and (4) ride on busy streets like Washington Blvd. and Wilson Blvd.

*If you’re not a purist about avoiding Strava pauses and want to skip the stairs, you can pause Strava, ride a few extra blocks, and meet us at the top of the stairs.

[komorebi]

@Christob50 186957 wrote:

Are those organized rides just posted in the Pointless Dumpling thread? Or, posted somewhere else…?
While not on any FS team this year, I’d gladly sample dumplings or pastries, etc. (Not a big beer drinker here, so if there’s a wine ride or martini ride — wait, that last one is probably a bad idea…!)

In addition to being posted on the Google Calendar, many of the events are also posted on the Rides, gatherings, and events thread. I’m planning to organize a pastry ride, date TBD but likely toward the end of the month. All FS friends and participants are welcome to join. Hope to see you there!

[komorebi]

Thanks for coming to the dumpling ride, everyone. Including the people who came just for coffee or lunch, I think we had 18 people. It was fun riding and munching with you all!

I’m planning an open-invite Strava art ride (likely this Sunday) and pastry ride (date TBD). Stay tuned.

[komorebi]

@rumipumi 186852 wrote:

Please confirm – this has changed to Sunday February 3 correct? but same meetup and timing?

@rumipumi 186853 wrote:

Oh duh, just saw this. original poster may want to update the original post to avoid confusion.

Thanks. Original post updated. And yes, the ride has been changed to Sunday, February 3, but otherwise the timing is the same: meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Whole Foods for coffee, roll out at 9:00 a.m., be at Mark’s Duck House by 10:00 a.m.

I may tweak the route slightly to avoid untreated trails. If so, I’ll post the new RWGPS link in this thread.

[komorebi]

@komorebi 186825 wrote:

At the risk of jinxing the dumpling ride — it looks like it actually might not rain on Saturday!!!

Ooops, spoke too soon. Clearly, the heavier-than-expected snowfall this morning was all my fault. The roads and trails might still be dicey on Saturday morning, so I’m postponing this ride until SUNDAY, February 3. Same times as before: 9:00 a.m. rollout from Whole Foods, getting to Mark’s Duck House by 10:00 a.m. We should finish riding well before the start of the Super Bowl/Puppy Bowl, if that’s your thing.

And if the lamentable lack of dumplings has you casting about for other things to do on Saturday afternoon, you should go to the Four Mile Run cleanup from noon to 2:30 p.m.: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?14099-Pointless-Prize-KOT-and-QOT&p=186811#post186811.

[komorebi]

@DrP 186774 wrote:

Oh, and the hydraulic fluid in my brakes. Loss of brake usage would be bad.

I had problems with my hydraulic brakes last winter if my bike was left outside in freezing temps for more than 20 minutes. Bikenetic replaced the brake caliper, and the brakes have been fine since — even on today’s commute.

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