[Mikey]

@Dirt 27533 wrote:

Brilliant! Hopefully they’re tenderizing it a bit first.

You soak them in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and salt water then fry them up in bacon grease. A yummy source of iron.

[Mikey]

I passed that polka dot guy this morning, he was headding west on the MVT toward Rosslyn, I east toward the 14th street bridge. I passed him on the humpback bridge, he had just performed a “perfect” 3 inch pass on a poor unsuspecting older woman on a cruiser bike, He looked back at her after passing her and then turned forward with the biggest smile on his face as I then passed him. Made me think he had been trailing granny for the last few miles and finally kicked it up a notch to pass her on the “steep hill” leading to the humpback. I looked over at Granny, she was not impressed.

[Mikey]

We’ve all been there, your milage will get better with practice. Make sure you are properly hydrated, I’m fairly used to 40-50 mile commuting days but if I don’t have enough water even 15 feels too far. Stretching properly before you head out can help, so can a couple ibuprophen to keep swelling and inflamation at bay. When it’s really hot it’s okay to take it easy and slow down. Lastly, don’t get discouraged, soreness and stiffness is a badge of courage.

[Mikey]

Can we get a free one at 500 posts? . . . (If yes I can do this all afternoon).

[Mikey]

Can we get a free one at 500 posts?

[Mikey]

@Birdstrike 25969 wrote:

I live in the housing area north of Poe and have also explored back in there extensively on my mountail bike. All you have to do is say (a) you were in the Accotink Creek Wildlife Refuge and got lost (b) you’re a bow hunter checking out the high seats for next season or (c) Sign, what sign? I still use Poe once in a while to get to Tulley Gate but it’s just as easy to take Telegraph to the Fairfax Pkwy Extension bike trail to Backlick and cross at the Hess station. I, too, never use Rt 1 but don’t ever need to, there’s plenty of alternates.

Yep, I think I turned off of the main road too fast and ended up by the horse stables. With a fast aproaching deadline (not in class by 8:00 on first day lose spot) I decided to double back and take Rt 1. Every day after that I took Telegraph to ffx co parkway. Not a bad trip 9 days out of 10.

[Mikey]

My two week adventure in “SOFAX” is finally over and I can actually say that I will miss part of it, not all of it.
Things I will miss:
1) sustained sections of Pohick road south where I could stay in my largest gear and just crank away.
2) The large downhill section with bike lane leaving Fort Belvoir where I could keep up with and the pass traffic and arrive first at the light at the enterance of the post.
3) Quietness of the trail (very few zombie joggers, open sightlines).
4) Big miles for the B-team (36 mi per day).

Things I definitely not miss:
1) Telegraph road (even roads with bike lanes are scary if traffic routinely zipps by at 55 mph + (speed limit 35) just a few inches from your left shoulder
2) See #1,2 in the like section but in the opposite direction.
3) Afternoon thunderstorms that seem to consistantly pop up over Springfield.
4) poorly maintained sections of the FFX co Parkway sidepath.

Things I learned:
1) a roadkill deer only lasts about 2.5 days in 98F heat before it completely disappears
2) Rain won’t kill you, Wind-fallen tree limbs will, lightning will, but rain won’t
2A) After about 3 minutes of heavy rain, you will not be getting wetter than you already are.
3) ding-ding- “passing” works fairly well
4) Heat index should be limited to 96F, anything above that should just be reported as >96F. When it’s that hot it’s just too damn hot, no real difference between 97F and 106F.
5) Ice cold Gatoraid is quite refreshing, 85F Gatoraid is hard to swallow.

[Mikey]

@Bilsko 25709 wrote:

Did not know about Chariot until now – thanks for pointing to them. Do you recall which model it was that you used? It looks like there’s quite a range of options (even for those of us who will only need a single-child carrier)

We have liked the cougar 2. Even if you are planning to only have 1 kid, get the double, much more storage. Now you can carry your kid and 3 bags of groceries. We actually have 2 of these (we wore out the first over 5 years and a nasty rat in our storage shed that ate through some of the shell/rubber components). We use the new one for the kids and the old one for gear. Get an extra rear adapter so that you and your spouse both have the ability to tow. This way when one of you is tired you can swap pretty easily. We like the standard (non-jogger) stroller wheels which stay attached to the chassis but are out of the way when towing, it makes the stroller very versatile.

[Mikey]

My wife and I have used the chariot and loved it. Yes it is more expensive but can also be used as a jogging stroller so if you plan to use it as such you can “share” some of the cost. If you can get one on Craigslist, get it, the ride is by far the smoothest and safest. Because of the sturdy roll cage and 5 point harness, we didn’t even put helmets on the kids inside which allowed them to sleep easier, and fit two good size toddlers inside. Last September on the CCT (just below the boat house) I flipped our chariot with 2 kids inside when it’s right wheel caught a dowed tree limb too close to the trail. I didn’t fall down but the kids inside were just a little shaken up, no bruises or scrapes. They even got back in to ride the rest of the way to Lockhouse 6. In any other trailer I think we would have needed a ride to the hospital.

[Mikey]

@Certifried 25250 wrote:

From the Proteus Bicycles group ride this morning. Guess where (“end of the trail” is not a full answer)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1354[/ATTACH]

Do you hear gunfire where you are? WB&A trail (name?)

[Mikey]

@dasgeh 24996 wrote:

Can’t. Have to take toddler to swim class. And put toddler to bed. And clean up mess made by said toddler during the rest of the day. Then rest the pregnant belly.

This is why I’m lobbying for close-in happy hours – at least I can stop by on my way out of work.

How about bike commuter baby shower? No beer but all the cucumber sandwiches you can eat.

[Mikey]

I tried Poe Road on the first day, ran into a sign that read something like, ” Warning, entering US Government property, Military test range, live fire and unexploded ordenance can cause severe bodily harm. . .” I figured that this option was closed to me; my government ID would not protect against live fire and unexpoded ordenance. 😮

[Mikey]

As promissed: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1415563

Nice charlie brown cloud in Springfield yesterday afternoon! Good 30 minute downpour, but after 5 does it really matter?

[Mikey]

I’m comming from near Fairfax City (GMU area). I stuck to the sidewalk until the last 3/4 mile when I had to get out on the road and pray. I’ll post my route once I get a chance.

[Mikey]

@rsewell19 24684 wrote:

Ughh, and on top of that you had to take a course… I hope it was a wine tasting course, or a meditation course, or a sleep course! Hang in there, maybe you got all the demons out on the first day… hope the next few weeks are better – Cheers!

Systems Engineering for Federal Acquisition. like I said it was a rough day.

Good news though I took a modified route and it was much better: no rain, no snakes, no downed trees, about 1 mile longer but I didn’t have to ride on Rt 1. 18.5 miles in about 1:20, but since I was in my big cog most of the way I realize it was mostly down hill. This afternoon should be fun.

[Author]

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