[mello yello]

A big thanks to Brian and Brett for the route suggestions, and an even bigger thanks to Brett for riding with me on my first commute in 6 months last Thursday, pointing out the landmarks, helping repair my flats, lending the spare tube and patch kit, etc. It made BTWD possible for me. I have an extra spare for you the next time I see you. I’m hoping I can do round 2 next week!

Heading to Laurel Lake / Granville Gude involved two awful crossings of MD 198 on 4th and 5th streets, and I took Brett’s suggestion and crossed at Van Deusen near Sandy Spring Rd. It looks like I can loop down to the river trail near the pool, and take that to my office. If anyone were to need to bike to Laurel MARC station that would also be a good route.

[mello yello]

I did my most pit stops ever today, and ended up at my office much later than usual.

Twinning 7a. Got the shirt, coffee, banana, donut, blinky, signed up for WABA membership, and WON Green Guru zip pouch & two movie tickets w. popcorn.

Benning 7:45 stopped to say Hi. Ate a pastry.

Bladensburg 8:00 Got a bar, block puzzle / fidget thing, and temporary dinosaur tatoos

Edmonston 8:20 got an apple & cliff bar from MOM’s, $5 Community Forklift coupon, reflectix pant strap (snap-bracelet style)

College Park 8:50 got a banana and coffee, as things were packing up.

Work got the opportunity to earn a paycheck, but logged into Bike Arlington Forums instead… I should really get back to it.

edit: A few years ago I think WABA and Bicycle Space had patch kits at all the stops. That was a great freebie, and I was hoping to come across another, since I’ve used mine all up. Guess I’ll just have to actually stop at a store instead!

Oh, and found a pair of pliers.

Oh, and ran over a snake and a squirrel.

[mello yello]

@TwoWheelsDC 160223 wrote:

So….an Alleycat?

But you can’t call it that or all the messengers will show up and kick all our butts.

Last one I did involved easter eggs and Mapei jerseys, and was put on by someone who went by “Spud”. Fun times.

[mello yello]

Suggest New District Brewing…. Bike and dog friendly and WABA / BTWD have had events there before… plus, it’s my friend’s business, and I like to plug it. I may even benefit from it eventually… full disclosure.

[mello yello]

Poor books! Maybe they can print a sheet with the tear-off strips, the ones you used to see at grocery stores with classifieds and the phone # on the tear-off portions.

Sounds like a neat thing. I think it’d be relatively straightforward to have everybody tag their stop in a google map at the start point, and have the race organizer share the map with all participants at the start of the race.

[mello yello]

@streetsmarts 159933 wrote:

I rode near the volleyball courts by the Memorial Bridge (the Ken Center side) and took out some gloves so had the panniers there. Then i rode to Linc Memorial and around, Ohio Drive and 14th st. bridge. Mt Vernon trail to 4 mile run then to Giant near Pot Yards. There i discovered panniers gone.

Wallet in them.

Any ideas? Cancel cards, etc.
Call Natl Park Service.

It would be cool if a cyclist found it/them

I’d bet on a cyclist. I’ve picked up people’s panniers before – one had gov’t ID and gov’t issued cell phone in there. If your wallet was in there someone will probably find you.

[mello yello]

@Judd 159739 wrote:

The best part of the ride last year was getting coffee afterwards with Ed, Reba, LSG and Komorebi.

But isn’t that like every other day at various coffee clubs?

[mello yello]

@dasgeh 159463 wrote:

The best bike for you is the one you love to ride. Sounds like you know this, but test rides are the way to go.

And you may look at used. Phoenix Bikes in Arlington (Barcroft Park) is awesome (their a non-profit that teach kids bike maintenance skills), and if they don’t have what you need, you can swing by Ye Olde Bike Shop on the way back into DC (Lyon Park).

I have to agree. Also, in DC Gearin’ Up Bicycles has a similar program to Pheonix Bikes, they have bikes from $100 – $400 that have been fixed by their skills training students and/or volunteers. They do maintenance classes, etc.

[mello yello]

@cvcalhoun 159422 wrote:

Since I can’t sing, I go for Pandora. Set to the ’60s folk music station. Shall we see if we can start a big argument on this topic?

Peter, Paul, and Mary were clearly superior to Simon and Garfunkel.

[mello yello]

@Rockford10 159411 wrote:

It’s not at quite the end of the ride and this ride wasn’t otherwise epic for this person, nor is this person otherwise epic.

Done that… non-epic ride, load bike into car, instant KOM to home. If you point it out in an obviously tongue-in-cheek sort of way to the new record holder, she can edit the ride, split it and keep the part that she actually rode.

Otherwise there’s no hope of catching up so… Donuts.

[mello yello]

it’s raining bikes. I pulled this basic SS/FG from the Patuxent by my office today. Rust on the spokes, rusty gunky water pouring from every hole. I suppose the tubes and tires are still good – they’re holding air. Headset spacers and other aluminum parts should be ok, too. I wonder how sealed “sealed” bearings are.
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[mello yello]

For your situation it sounds like a bike that’s designed to be pretty upright would be the best fit. A disc-brake hybrid would be my choice, plus chain guard, full fenders, and a rack. I personally love the rack trunk for storage, easily removable and keeps things off your back. Collapsible panniers could do well for groceries.

There’s a lot of good options for under $500. Of course, my favorite lock was $100 by itself – an abus link lock… but if you’ve got secure parking on both ends a less robust lock would probably work just fine.

[mello yello]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 159218 wrote:

I probably would have assembled it outside the store and mounted the bike on it and carried it all home like a battle standard to let those cars know how the war is going.

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[IMG]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18193690_10103521131216626_6705235693530335143_n.jpg?oh=e84010a7b541dff1c9f106c7af286a1c&oe=597BFB31[/IMG]

[mello yello]

Hey guys, I saw this deal, and thought someone might like it!

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/bik/6107986661.html

(just kidding!)

[mello yello]

There were probably a dozen in Cheverly, out 50… it’s a drive for sure.

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