[mello yello]

Thanks all,
I certainly felt threatened, and did call it in, but it was probably classified as a traffic violation and not assault.

The Potomac Ave (SE DC, not MD) Metro station could certainly be confused with Potomac Yard and the Alexandria Potomac Ave. It’d be easier to just re-name it Hill East, since that’s what the neighborhood is now calling itself. Of course, same could be said for National Landing.

[mello yello]

This is newly relevant since I started a job in Tysons in January. I’ve been bicycling to a metro stop, and have been experimenting with routes to Greensboro metro in preparation to guide my co-workers safely to work on BTWD. Right now Custis looks like the winner, especially for biking with relatively new cyclists, but it’s a bit daunting to do more than just once in a blue moon.

This morning I rode to Potomac Ave, took the bike on the Orange line to E. Falls Church, and then rode W&OD to W. Glebe, to Old Courthouse – the ultimate (?) work-around for the Custis hills.

It’d be nice to be able to do the whole distance without hitting those bonkers hills, and the routes suggested here will take a little while to explore.

[mello yello]

So a few months ago I traded Christian an ’88 Haro BMX bike for the Alpine that was in the shop in Del Ray. I picked up a pair of Nuovo Record pedals for it, and I have a new cassette on the way, as I’m pretty sure the skipping in one gear is a worn cassette. It’s a nice ride! I think I may keep the NR pedals for the completeness of the Campy set, but swap for a set of Looks for actual riding.

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and the Haro.
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[mello yello]

Sold… a while ago.
Also, I lowered the seatpost and put a different saddle on there, I think that helped.

[mello yello]

Capitol Hill and hill east are really pretty good for biking – at least, there are a lot of bikes and cars seem to be looking out for you, but there are lots of stop signs and lights, so unless you’re into looking at the old row houses, it’s not the best for “going for a ride.” I’d also suggest Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and the Anacostia River Trail system in general. It’s a lot less crowded than the Mount Vernon Trail or Capitol Crescent, and quite scenic.

I’m less familiar with the bicycling around Potomac. My memories of that area are from when I tried to keep up with some group rides that went out River road, which was not relaxing bicycling, but I can’t remember if it was narrow shoulders or being in a paceline on a fixed gear.

If you’re doing a loop, it’s a big loop no matter what, but it doesn’t have to be quite THIS long… https://goo.gl/maps/HcE8BtQmBM32

[mello yello]

I’ve been riding the Bicycle Space hills of Anacostia ride the last two weeks… well, last week’s was cancelled but I did it anyway.
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[mello yello]

@Crickey7 178433 wrote:

After a week of riding in rain, I’ve discovered many new squeaks. Looks like a good weekend to repack bearings.

squeaks? I’m getting crunchy sandy noises.
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[mello yello]

There was all sorts of good swag at Anacostia, ART @ Benning Rd, Bladensburg, Port Towns / Edmonston, and Tacoma Park / Sligo creek.

Anacostia and Bladensburg moved indoors, and it was a little hard to see the Anacostia stop from their usual / published stop. Bladensburg looked like an empty tent except for the park ranger waving people to come inside. Everyone else looked wet!

Really not too bad on the rain intensity today. It will be worse on the way home – at least it’s bike TO work day, and I can put the bike on the car to come home!

[mello yello]

@drevil 178406 wrote:

Haha, I use a purple one with pink polka dots, but I’m not sure where it is now. A buddy found these at a drug store mid-ride, which I think were intended to keep your beehive/bouffant nice and poofy

[img]https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3057/2346878037_e58328542b_z.jpg?zz=1[/img]
Kevin Lookin Sweet in a Shower Cap! by ricky d, on Flickr

Oh Man! Missing my “like” button.
That’s better by a long shot for the downpours! Even has a visor!

Now I just need one of those big green shaded visors like the old ladies on the golf course or the poker dealer costume has.

[mello yello]

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PSA: for cheap helmet covers shower caps are with the hair dye at any grocery / CVS / box store. It’s probably going to be wet tomorrow.

[mello yello]

30-pack of shower caps: $2.50

Dry head on tonight’s ride home: eight and one-third cents.

I’m also going to be experimenting with modifying them as booties, with a hole and some rubber bands.

[mello yello]

Thanks!
I’ll be riding by there tomorrow morning. I think it would be a bad day to try and take the shortcut around that section.

[mello yello]

Do you have a car / how is your work for parking overnight?

When my commute stretched to 20 miles I drove in with the bike, parked, biked home, and biked in again. Then my work moved again and it’s still 20 miles, but just Silver Spring instead of Laurel.
That’s my strategy for tomorrow, so that I can do BTWD. I did it all of 6 times last summer, I’m hoping to do a lot more this summer. I used to bike commute almost every day, when it was 5-10 miles each way. 4 hours of bike riding / commuting just won’t fit into my day, where two could.

Anyway, one-way commutes could be an option to explore. 4 days a week, at least, and then you’ll either have to do RT on Fridays or alternative transportation.

[mello yello]

I was coming in here to post how wonderful and invigorating my (late) morning commute was… what a bummer to find a hit and run instead!

Today I saw… deer, turtles, snakes, frogs, buzzards, maybe two dozen bicyclists, a runaway dog, a dog peeing on a fire hydrant, a toddler peeing on a fire hydrant, and no hit and runs. Best weather ever. I’ve missed commuting. Today was 1mph / 15 minutes slower than last night’s dash home, but I didn’t feel quite as tapped out.

Edit: I’m lying about the dog peeing on the fire hydrant. It’s to contrast how absurd it is to see a 3 year-old peeing on a fire hydrant. In the city. Don’t know if I’d do different if the other option was a wet, miserable toddler though.

[mello yello]

I’ve got to echo the halo imprint thing… it does take about an hour to go away. I’ve been using them (full and headband) for rides up to an hour and they do keep my eyes from stinging, even when it’s raining. The regular headband is maybe a bit too tight but the cap has a tie back that helps keep the band in the front from digging in too much.

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