[Mark Blacknell]

Definitely welcome. Park on the left side of the lot (or along the back).

~

I’m going to start a new thread with info at the top.

[Mark Blacknell]

6pm on Wednesday, June 8th, at Jay’s Saloon & Grille (3114 10th Street North Arlington, VA 22201).

If anyone has any questions about how to get there, post ’em here.

[Mark Blacknell]

@acc 4266 wrote:

On days like today, I can go long stretches on the W&O without seeing a single soul. Lots of baby ducks though.

And right now, somewhere on the Duck Internet, one of them is posting about some strange bird who flew by without even politely dropping off something to eat.

[Mark Blacknell]

Yes, it definitely is. And acc is definitely buying.

I’ll post a reminder tomorrow and again on Wed.

[Mark Blacknell]

@CCrew 4252 wrote:

I’ll cop to not always doing it. If I can pass with a wide margin, and it’s something like a lone jogger with earbuds obviously in I frequently don’t bother. Mom with a kid? I’ll slow long behind and announce. It’s more about the specifics of the pass, but I can admit that I don’t always call it out. I’ll NEVER buzz someone close.

This is my approach. (I feel like we’ve had this discussion before . . .). I just try to avoid MUTs in general, but they’re often the only way to get across the Potomac, so I’ve spent many miles and hours on them. The utility of calling out varies greatly from season to season, and even by time of day. Mid-winter when it’s just me and the hardcore runners? You’ll get a ding (tho’ I suspect it’s mostly superfluous). Spring mid-week mid-day, and you look like a regular runner and there’s plenty of room to pass? Probably no call out. Summer, along Memorial Drive? Call out every time, even though it won’t matter a whit – it’s like navigating a herd of buffalo.

I’ve also spent a lot of time (tho’ fewer miles) as a runner on Arlington MUTs. Aside from the occasional incompetent cyclist who buzzed me, never really found a warning useful (tho’ I usually tried to acknowledge them with a wave). Don’t really understand how a lack of a warning can inspire so much annoyance.

[Mark Blacknell]

@acc 4191 wrote:

Bike commuting, a gateway drug… Sounds like it is working out great!

ann

Definitely.

[Mark Blacknell]

Yep, going. M. has the right bike, but I don’t. I’ll be showing up on something completely inappropriate, for sure. I hope they don’t all point and laugh.

[Mark Blacknell]

Obviously someone decided to provide some terrain for our urban freeriders . . .

[Mark Blacknell]

@StopMeansStop 4144 wrote:

So what do yall suggest for carrying groceries? Right now I have an old school rear rack, the kind with the spring loaded flap fornholding books.

I usually request a paper bag and strap the thing on with a bungee cargo net.

Id like to find a way to carry two bags.

I use this. The best part of it is that I can just drop my bags (reusable, plastic, paper – whatever) in without the repacking action that my other panniers require. It’s not perfect, though. I need to source an extension for the strap that keeps it closed/in the upright position so that I can use it as an additional load support when it’s really full/heavy (okay, for when I’m carrying a case of beer and a couple of bottles of wine). And I just *barely* have a foot clearance issue (probably not an issue for most, as my feet are, uh, big.). Even with those issues, this is probably the single most useful utilitarian accessory I’ve ever gotten for my bike. Been using it since 2005, I think.

[Mark Blacknell]

Hints and allegations lead to incidents and accidents.

I am merely confirming that I am, in fact, in.

[Mark Blacknell]

@Greenbelt – yes, you will notice the weight of the rack & pannier, but it’s not huge. One pannier isn’t really a handling problem – I bike back from the grocery store all the time with 20 lbs on one side w/ no issues. You won’t get anywhere near that w/ clothes and a laptop. That laptop is my only reason for hesitating at endorsing the transition from backpacks to panniers wholeheartedly. I’ve never been particularly comfortable about subjecting my laptop to the shock (however padded) of being connected directly to the bike. By putting it on my back, it’s *far* more insulated from shock than in a pannier. That said, there have to be a load of people who commute with laptops in panniers all the time. Anyone here ever heard of a problem? My objection is based entirely on theory, not experience.

@Em – in my view & experience, a backpack is preferable to a messenger bag. It’s a bit easier to control the load positioning, and you can get backpacks with padding that preserves some spacing between your back and the pack as a whole.

[Mark Blacknell]

I think I might bike on up to Contes and let them think I’m interested in an 8k bike. I guess they will measure me.

I know this was probably meant in jest, but please don’t do that. One of the reasons that we can get excellent service at places like Revolution and Conte’s (and comparatively blank stares at places like Performance and REI) is that Revolution and Conte’s pay for knowledgeable staff. When folks take that for free, and then go spend at a place that doesn’t provide it, it just not cool.

[Mark Blacknell]

Will someone please take the custard font color away from our Most Senior Member?

(And next time I see Dirt rolling for miles on a flat I’m calling Wheel Protective Services on him.)

[Mark Blacknell]

Jrenaut, hearing that you’ve gone from CaBi to bike commuting to utility biking warms my black little heart. Rock on.

[Mark Blacknell]

“Maintains” being used in a rather loose sense of the word, of course. I might sentence myself to some community service this summer and take a push broom to shove all of the glass and sand back into the travel lanes on the Roosevelt.

Also, I think we established last year that the PG County Parks folks maintain the Wilson Bridge, right? I ride it regularly, and no complaints at all (unless I forget to bunny hop those gaps, and hit one at speed, that is).

Update: Due solely to my own awesome powers of recollection, and not at all to any subtle jabs by email, I now recall that:

“The Maryland State Highway Administration maintains the Wilson Bridge, and the Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission maintains the ramp down to the bridge and the deck over the park and the trail to National Harbor.

If you are injured or need assistance, don’t hesitate to call the Park Police for assistance. Their Emergency Number is 301-459-3232. The non emergency number is 301-459-9088. They will assist anyone on the trail system that is in need including if you are on the bridge. Officers are stationed in the area from 5:00 am until 2:00 am.”

[Author]

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