[Marcella]

@dasgeh 14087 wrote:

Personally, I didn’t see insulting comments in this thread. It seems that you did, and people have apologized for that. After a couple of months on this forum, I sincerely believe that no one intends to insult other cyclists, and that new cyclists are welcome here. What might be more helpful is for you to point out specific statements that are insulting and unwelcoming, so those posters can take a look at what they’re writing. If you come at it from a belief that the posters meant well, then your phrasing might be better received (e.g. “I’m sure you didn’t mean it, but XYZ came off as an insult”). And if you don’t believe the posters mean well, then maybe it’s not worth your time to fight it.

I am not a new cyclist, but I am new to this forum, and I do not feel welcome here. And I did specify the comment I found objectionable.

[Marcella]

I haven’t been to Cedarville in a long time, but I seem to recall that it’s pretty easy.

[Marcella]

So then you think it’s okay to make fun of people who are different from you. It’s okay to insult people, as long as you claim that you don’t really mean it.

[Marcella]

@jabberwocky 14065 wrote:

I think most people here ride for recreation as well. I think the forum is dominated by commuter/transportation types though because those are the ones who are most interested in advocacy type stuff. When you’re riding for fun, you can be a lot more selective about your route. Commuters often have to ride on less-than-ideal routes simply because their start and end points are fixed, and as such tend to be much more interested in the nitty-gritty of laws/cycling facilities/etc.

Is this forum only for advocacy?

I do agree that judging folks on what they wear is silly. I generally wear mismatched spandex when riding just because its comfortable and cheap, but I ride with folks who run everything from expensive team kits to baggies. Its all good.

It’s not just judging about what people wear. It’s looking down on people who are new to the sport or simply trying to get some exercise. You are not better than they are just because you’re more experienced or you ride your bike to work. And when you act like you think you are better than they are, you drive them away.

If you want more people cycling, you need to welcome other cyclists, not make fun of them or make excuses for the people who do make fun of them.

[Marcella]

@rcannon100 14047 wrote:

😎 He He 😎 Nah…. I wear spandex shorts… It’s just that, well, its just so cute to see the noobs come out on the weekend, you know, the matching young couples, in their perfectly matching, brand new, spandex. On their bikes where all the equipment is original and there are no scratches on the paint. And they gleefully cycle down the MV trail, side by side – making it dangerous to pass – and they are not sure what the bell is for on their handlebar My favorite is the guys I see recently wearing full spandex pants, and matching jackets et al…. when its 50 degrees out.

When I see a guy whose equipment, 50 percent of it doesnt match, and his bicycle looks like its been through the ringer, and he’s wearing pretty much whatever he found on the floor (or his Bike to Work Day shirt from 8 years ago)… that’s a commuter.

Why are so many people on this forum so against people who ride for fun instead of transportion? Why is it necessary to make fun of people who are just out to have a good time and get some exercise? Newbies need to learn trail ettiquette, sure. People who don’t have experience riding in cooler temps haven’t figured out yet what clothes to wear, okay, we all have to learn sometime. That doesn’t make them inferior to you just because you ride a bike to work.

[Marcella]

@rcannon100 13981 wrote:

Turn East, and go down Military Road, through Bellview Forest, Donaldson Run Park, Lee Heights, and past my favorite Windy Run. All on nice Bike Lanes – with killer hills the whole way. At this point you are in Lyon Village and can hop on the Custis Trail.

I don’t think Military has killer hills. You need to get off the main road onto the side streets for the real inclines.

But then again I wear spandex shorts, and I sense that is considered a bad thing.

[Marcella]

@Tim Kelley 13859 wrote:

Further clarification:

“The only sharrows that should be installed on the right side of the lane are the first installations in the county – we were using an older standard out of California back then. Those locations are N Harrison St north of Lee Hwy and George Mason Drive between Wilson and I-66. There is one additional location – N Quincy St just north of Washington Blvd – where the sharrow location is offset to the right to point the cyclist into the bike lane. Other than that (off the top of my head), if they are not marked in the center of the lane then they were installed in error.”

Southbound Walter Reed Dr south of Four Mile Run. I’m pretty sure those sharrows are over to the right.

[Marcella]

@Tim Kelley 13825 wrote:

From a county engineer on this topic:

“Yep, we’re doing it as we pave. I can try to fill in sections between there, but those come after paving projects in the priority list every year during marking season. I think the next sections we will get are from the hospital to Washington Blvd and maybe from Washington to Wilson, but it’ll depend on what the markings workload is like next season.”

Is there a reason why some sharrows in Arlington are in the middle of the lane and others are along the right side? I think the ones on the right reinforce the notion that cyclists should hug the curb, which encourages drivers to pass dangerously close.

[Marcella]

If you have clipless pedals, make sure the cleats are adjusted correctly. You might also need to switch to a different kind — my knee pain has largely gone away since switching from SPDs to Speedplays because the Speedplays have more float.

Other than that, I’m able to manage my knee problems (patella tracking wrong) by not using gears that are too hard.

[Marcella]

Also, learn the words to the Foo Fighters’ “All My Life.” Sing as necessary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ04WbgI9rg

[Marcella]

I did a horribly boring metric century on the utterly flat eastern shore. It was torture. After that, I realized hills provide a nice change of pace. And a chance to coast on the downhill.

Then I went out and did a really hilly century that left me in all kinds of pain, mentally and physically. After that, the hills on my old regular routes seemed easy.

The more your ride hills, the easier it gets. Go for some variety. Ride up that nearly vertical one near Nelly Custis Dr in Arlington. Ride up Lorraine Ave in McLean. Just don’t forget your inhaler.

[Marcella]

@vvill 13701 wrote:

I’m considering the Air Force Cycling Challenge Crystal Ride (up to 100km) and the Reston Century this year amongst others but I really don’t want to pay for a group ride on the W&OD.

In defense of the Reston century, the full 100-mile route gets you more time on roads and off the trail, and I’ve heard it’s quite challenging. I’ve only done the metric, since I no longer have interest in full centuries.

And even the shorter route was worth doing once, since I plan to use parts of the cue sheet to add variety to my solo WOD rides.

[Marcella]

Insane Arlington hills?

[Marcella]

My favorites are the Ride to End Hunger in Calvert County in April, the Patuxent River Rural Legacy Ride in June and the Civil War Century in September.

The Ride to End Hunger is on April 28. The route takes you along the Chesapeake (on the western side) and also up to Deale. In the past there’s been good schwag — a nice totebag plus other odds and ends in addition to the t-shirt. And your registration fee goes toward feeding people.

This is the url for the Patuxent River Ride. They haven’t updated it yet for 2012 but the info rarely changes from year to year, other than the date. This year it’s June 16. http://www.ohbike.org/events/rural_legacy_eflyer.html

The Oxon Hil club also had the Soutern Maryland Fall Century on Sept 9. I’ll be volunteering at that one. http://ohbike.org/century/index.htm

I did the Reston Century (metric) last year for the first time in a while. I didn’t love it. Too much on the WOD, which is understandable given the lack of alternate routes in some areas, but still. Also I didn’t like the spacing of the reststops.

I did the Seagull in a nor’easter some years ago. Do not ever do a bike ride in a nor’easter. Seriously, no matter how much you prepaid for it. Just say no.

Also, it’s more than 3 hours away and there’s a $250 fundraising minimum, but one of the best rides I’ve ever done was the Livestrong ride outside of Philadelphia. It’s very hilly but the scenery is beautiful and the atmosphere among the riders can’t be beat.

[Marcella]

Well I was car-free for years and I watched just as much TV as I do now.

I commute by car because it’s easier for me. I don’t want to commute by bike. I’m glad you guys like it, but it doesn’t interest me. And my ass is neither sedentary, fat nor in need of exercise.

I’m pretty new to this forum but I’m getting the impression it’s really just for bike commuters, and that recreational cyclists are not welcome.

[Author]

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