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@komorebi 101534 wrote:

I’ll donate another $0.05 per Freezing Saddle point earned by Mikey’s team, up to a total of $150.

Kudos to Mikey’s team (Mike and Keow) for collectively earning 1871 Freezing Saddles points this year! Way to tough it out in the cold, snow, rain, and wind. In honor of your hard work, I happily just donated an additional $94 to the Capital Area Food Bank.

Mikey, thanks again for setting this up!

[komorebi]

I’ll be there, although probably not until 6:45 or so. If someone else can set up a money collection point at the beginning of the event, I’m happy to help with collecting the funds and squaring away the accounts at the end.

[komorebi]

@CaseyKane50 111568 wrote:

the fence is still up at the Braddock Road end of the trail.

I was able to bike through this evening — the fencing had been moved to the side at both ends of the new section. (Woohoo!) However, there’s a trench at the north end where the newly paved section meets the existing trail, so use caution if you’re biking through there.

[komorebi]

@Steve O 111256 wrote:

My plans to put up 130+ points this weekend are scotched by some sort of intestinal virus. Apologies. I hope to be back on the bike by Monday.

Sorry to hear that, Steve! Get well soon!

[komorebi]

@CaseyKane50 110499 wrote:

I rode the MVT from Jones Point Park to Crystal City late this morning, while there are sections that are clear, there are still some sections that are ice covered and not easily ridden – Jones Point Park in the Shade of the Wilson Bridge, the area northbound from the abandoned power plant to the merge with the alternate MVT trail, and the boardwalk over the wetlands before the Washington Sailing Marina. In these areas I walked my bike.

The boardwalk over the wetlands by the Washington Sailing Marina was completely clear, with just a few wet planks, when I rode through around 6:00 pm today. I can’t vouch for Jones Point Park or the power plant bridges, though.

[komorebi]

@Powerful Pete 109736 wrote:

thanks for introducing me to Bakers and Baristas… that pastry should only take another 2-3 days of commuting to burn off! :rolleyes:

Zounds! You’ve figured out my plot to boost our team ranking. Pastry ride -> consumption of delicious pastries -> need for extra miles on the bike to burn off calories from said pastries -> more points for the Bollard Busters.

[komorebi]

Legal pedantry ahead. You have been warned.

@Mikey 109427 wrote:

The federal courts threshold has grown to $75,000

This is a fairly common misunderstanding. The $75,000 threshold only applies to cases that are in federal court on the basis of diversity jurisdiction. See 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a). Diversity here refers to the fact that the parties must be citizens of different states or countries. Example: contracts are usually governed by state law, so most contract lawsuits are filed in state court. But if a citizen of Virginia is suing a citizen of Maryland over a contract dispute, and if the claim is worth more than $75,000, the case can be filed in federal court.

The $75,000 threshold doesn’t apply if the case is in federal court on the basis of federal question jurisdiction — i.e., because the claim arises under the Constitution or under a federal statute. For example, in a lawsuit alleging infringement of constitutional rights, it wouldn’t matter if the claim was for less than $75,000. The plaintiff could still file the case in federal court, and the Seventh Amendment would guarantee a right to a jury trial so long as the claim exceeded $20.

Bottom line: I’m now going to do my Busterly duty and vote Like for Steve O’s photo.

(Insert standard disclaimers here: I’m not an expert on the Seventh Amendment, this post provides no legal advice, etc., etc.)

[komorebi]

@worktheweb 109250 wrote:

I did this today, from pretty much where you’re starting, and it went well. I started out at the path from Rt 1 that connects to Washington Street by Hunting Towers — it is plowed and quite clear. From there I hung a left on the sidewalk (also cleared) and went left on Church Street then Right on Columbus. I took that all the way to the end, making a left on Powhattan then a left on Slaters and a right on the path on the Monroe Ave bridge (cleared). From there I stayed on the path going alongside Potomac Avenue, which is plowed all the way to E. Glebe. From there onto the road taking Potomac Ave to Crystal Drive (making a right) and taking that until it ends at 12th St South. Take that then the right at Long Bridge Drive until that ends at Boundary Channel. Take that under 395 (a bit past that there is a plowed sidewalk for most of the way) until the sidewalk on the access ramp to 27 (S Washington Blvd) — get on that sidewalk, if you go under a bridge, you went too far. From there you take the trail and after the first bridge, it gets icy, it might be best to walk, even with my studs I dismounted this morning, but it is only about 1/4 mile. You have a few at grade crossings to get to Memorial Bridge (which is cleared). From there you’re in DC. With the exception of that 1/4 mile section in ice, it is all plowed, and all on road. Not as pleasant as the MVT in normal conditions, but much nicer today.

Thanks for the detailed route description! Hearing that the Monroe Avenue bridge and the Potomac Avenue path had been cleared gave me the confidence to resume my morning commute today, after more than a week off. Actually, my colleagues should be the ones thanking you, because I’m much more focused and productive when I can bike to work.

In case anyone’s wondering: that 1/4 mile section is still hard-packed ice or crunchy ice shards. I saw one intrepid rider taking an alternate route on the grass next to the trail, but I walked it.

[komorebi]

Tonight was the first time I biked home and didn’t see any other cyclists on the MVT. A combination of the cold weather and the holiday weekend, I guess. I’m going to miss these conditions come summertime, when all the fair-weather riders are back out in force.

[komorebi]

@Steve O 107931 wrote:

We need to pick up Fithsparo. He’s been heroically doing short sleaze rides despite his injuries. But we need to let him convalesce.

Totally agree on Fithsparo’s heroics. Get well soon, Fithsparo!

@Steve O 107931 wrote:

If the rest of us will just add 1-2 miles a day–a little extra detour–we can make up 100+ points a week.

Aye, aye, cap’n. I’ve been looking for an excuse to check out an alternative route anyway, and you’ve just provided a good one.

[komorebi]

Don’t bears hibernate for the winter? All of you BiPolar Bears should go back to your warm, cozy dens and snooze until the end of winter. That way, you’ll be fully refreshed when spring starts.

[komorebi]

Many thanks to dcv, Bikewoman, and the other members and associates of Team Octothorpe who not only let interlopers crash their group ride, but waited patiently — outside, in the cold — while dcv, Powerful Pete, and a good Samaritan fixed my snapped chain. You all rock.

[komorebi]

Second day in a row with a gorgeous sunrise. I’m lucky in that my normal commute route takes me along the Potomac. Yesterday, the sky was so colorful and the ice was so reflective that it looked like the river was on fire.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]7772[/ATTACH]

Today, the clouds were straight out of a Turner painting.
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Sunrise + fresh air = the best way to wake up in the morning. (Well, at least until the day that I’m so busy gawking at the sunrise that I ride right off the trail and into the river. Then I’ll really be awake.)

[komorebi]

I’m thinking of sponsoring a “we’re all in this together” prize, for the team whose members have the least variance in their individual scores (i.e., the team least dependent on or affected by extremely high- or low-mileage riders). Nature of prize TBD.

[komorebi]

Me: cyclist who sloooowly crossed the 14th Street bridge tonight while struggling to deal with the fierce crosswind blowing south.
You: much faster cyclist who safely passed me after we got to the Virginia-side ramp for the bridge. As you passed and headed south, you called out with gusto, “Finally, time for some tailwinds!”

Actually, I couldn’t hear you too clearly, on account of it being windy and all. But I want to believe that’s what you said, because it made me laugh at a time when I really need a laugh. Thanks, and I hope that you found your tailwind.

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