[Megabeth]

Perhaps it could be arranged again that a tall man, wearing a Santa hat, pushing a jogging trailer with red blinkies, could run by and cause children to think Santa has visited their neighborhood early…

[Megabeth]

I think we have our first stop…check this place out: http://www.arlnow.com/2012/11/27/musical-holiday-light-display-benefits-awla/

Someone will just need to bring a radio tuned to 98.1 fm, and we’re all set!

[Megabeth]

So, full confession, when I did the tweed ride, I wore bike shorts under my outfit. (Comfort *and* style, oh yeah.)

When I first started bike commuting every day, folks would ask me what I would wear. I’d answer: sometimes jeans, sometimes shorts, sometimes dress pants, sometimes flats, sometimes skirts, sometimes heels, sometimes boots, it just depended on the weather (and what is clean, I suppose). And, there would be this look of wonder and surprise that I didn’t get all spandexed up.

So, yes, one of the biggest misconceptions women have with cycling continues to be that you to have special bike clothing to ride. And, sometimes it really does take someone to show that you can ride in anything. But, then, the more of us that ride in “anything” the more people will see that to believe you can ride in “anything”. (And, if gussying up in tweed or seersucker attracts more people to ride, then sign me up and dress me up!)

I am also drawn towards clothing that will stand up to the rigors of cycling, I’ve (almost) worn through dress pants and jeans in the upper inner thigh region and have torn up the hem of some of my dress pants (because the fabric was too slick and the reflecty band slid down making my pants flop around). But, that’s one of the costs of biking as much as I do.

On the other hand, we have a friend that started biking several years ago, but *refused* to wear spandex (for modesty reasons), so he’d wear soccer shorts for 30 – 40 mile rides. He was miserable. We tried to explain that there were other, more modest, and more padded options out there for sport riding (from shorts to underwear) that would help him out on the comfort side. (He wanted to ride the long distances so a little more padding would have helped him out.) He utimately stopped riding his bike because he just couldn’t get over the uncomfortableness and didn’t want to spend the money on padded shorts. There was no convincing otherwise.

[Megabeth]

I’ve never had a problem asking someone if they wanted one of my extra blinky lights or a reflective strap, etc. Perhaps it’s because I’m a female or, I don’t know. But, I try not to turn it into a lecture more of a “hey, you want a blinky light for your bike? I happen to have an extra one.” And, then as I’m putting it on their bike I’ll mention more casually something that is more of a bonding comment such as “…biking at night can be scary because cars don’t often see us…can’t have too many lights or reflecties, right? Hope this helps!”

I also keep them attached on my bike already so I don’t have to dig through any bags as they are standing there.

(Which reminds me that I need to load up on some more extras, I gave my last red blinky out last night.)

[Megabeth]

We rode to our polling place. Arlington Arts Center. 30 minute wait at the second smallest precinct in Virginia at 8 am. For once, I wasn’t the only one in there when voting.

They have no bike rack so we locked up our bikes together next to a wall. (After every election, I write them and let them know they should have racks. Last time, I rolled it inside, but the side door was locked and the line was too long inside.)

We walked in and the woman behind us asked while point to our legs, “where do you get those yellow bands?” I replied as I held up my leg, “Bike Arlington!”. She looked confused and then laughed because she thought the yellow leg bands were required to be in line like identifiers or something. I don’t think she had her coffee yet….

As we wound our way around, to their credit, the arts center did have CaBi pamplets on their counter.

I have to admit, we have one of the best places to vote. It’s set up in the “Tiffany Room” with large Tiffany stained glass windows lit up in the morning sun and artwork to gaze at whilst waiting in line.

[Megabeth]

Coming in a little late to the conversation because I’ve had a tremendous travel schedule lately – a victim of in-person meetings (how ironic)!

@rcannon100 34454 wrote:

Physical meetings as the necessary and required form of political process is a thing of the past. If you want the BAC to be more effective, learn that lesson. The fact that anyone can credibly say, if you dont come to the meeting, you cant complain, is 100% demonstrative of how the BAC has problems.

This is something that is going to get some focus and will be discussed at the next meeting – that is, how do we get the Arlington voice regarding biking if we can’t get them all in one room. Making sure everyone is represented.

Jakob sent out an e-mail to the BAC group last week with this month’s agenda and it’s a little different. He says in that e-mail, “a significant part of the meeting will be spent discussing what the BAC’s priorities should be for the coming 18 months. This is a topic I expect to spend time on during the next few meetings, so the purpose of Monday’s discussion is to come up with a list of potential focuses for the BAC.”

Part this discussion on focus will be on membership and how do we leverage both “in-person” and “online”. So, if you’re unable to attend this month’s meeting, we encourage folks to write him back with thoughts and input. While some of us can attend most of the physical meetings, we recognize that others can not or are just not able to commit that time. That does not mean, however, that their voice should not be, or is not currently, heard when we sit around that table.

In the meantime, the fine folks on this forum will continue see the BAC minutes posted here and everyone is invited to comment and give feedback.

Also know that many of the members of this forum are also BAC members. While some BAC members engage, while others just lurk, this forum continues to garner our attention to help prioritize and discuss items that are important to the community. I’m all for a good rant and so appreciate that we have a forum that is a vibrant as this one. I am glad that it has become, and will continue to be, a phenomenal resource (and motivator) for the BAC and the community.

Stay tuned…

[Megabeth]

Psuedo-threadjacking here: Everyone handing out lights on the 5th should then roll on up to the ABAC meeting. Court House Plaza (2100 Clarendon Blvd) in the main lobby meeting room from 7-9pm. All are welcome and even your bikes can hang out inside. This month we’re having a little different of a meeting by opening the floor to thoughts, ideas and brainstorming potential focus of ABAC priorities for the next 18 months. We’d love to see new faces around the table! Although not a traditional happy hour…we are happy people!

[Megabeth]

@Certifried 34295 wrote:

Megan would probably drop me

Aw, shucks. I don’t know about that. I’m just going to go into survival mode, not Strava QOM mode, on this ride.

[Megabeth]

@vvill 34309 wrote:

200 miles is a bit of a stretch for me. 200 kms I could probably do but I don’t know how much fun I’d have.

Come on, I’m doing the whole enchilada. I’m a giant ball of f-bomb dropping fun when I’m tired. You know you don’t want to miss that!

[Megabeth]

Thanks for posting!

[Megabeth]

Dear Woman at Intersection of Wilson and Rhodes yesterday evening,

I apologize for foiling your plan to stop at the red light and proceed through it as if it were rolling through a stop sign (or a green light for that matter). I’ll admit, I did make a loud “HEY!” sound which I’m sure interrupted the, I’m sure very engrossing, cell phone conversation you were having.

I’m sorry for that.

But, you see, I was only thinking of you. I didn’t want my bike, and my person, which was already in the intersection on a very solid green light, to scratch the hood of your car. What a bother that would have been!

I also truly hope that your child in the car seat didn’t get scared by my scream of impending doom.

Carry on,
Megabeth

[Megabeth]

@Tim Kelley 33002 wrote:

Probably a better question for the Arlington BAC sub-category, or for the BAC president himself.

Done. Brought it to his attention right before your post appeared, kind sir.

The next BAC meeting will include an open discussion on priorities and projects of the BAC. I have asked Jakob to add this to the list.

~

Also, I do highly encourage trying to get license plates and calling the non-emergency number Tim gave. We have found that Arlington police do take these calls seriously. Your call may help someone in the future…

[Megabeth]

I had a great time marshalling last year, meeting new folks, riding like a lead duck with little ducklings filing behind me. Wish I was going to be in town this year (work trip, boo). So, someone will have to take my place. Dirt needs someone to ride behind and blow the vuvuzela at…

[Megabeth]

@Justin Antos 32107 wrote:

Megabath – Pie, you say? Hmmm…. now I am seriously intrigued…!

Looking forward to it.

Oh, yes, pie! Warm gooey pie handed to you by the sweetest old ladies in the world.

The first year I did Seagull, it was during a N’oreaster. Those ladies were like Angels. The pie was the fuel that kept me warm in my tummy until the end.

The second time I did Seagull, the pie was so fantastic. We averaged above 20 mph the whole day, so I earned that slab of sweetness. In fact, I have fond memories of that pie. It was the last bit of solid food I had until after the surgery on my arm the next morning after busting it on the entry into the finishing tunnel. Tip: Do not put your arm out to break a fall else you break your arm and wrist and have to be whisked off in an ambulance. The upside – I got morphine instead of beer at the end and a “bionic” arm!

[Megabeth]

Make sure to eat that pie at the mile-80-something rest stop. It’s goooood.

[Author]

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