[mikoglaces]

Interesting thread. I haven’t formed an opinion for sure, though I lean to the anti-argument. I’d really like to see this in action but it seems it is on the trail during my morning commute when I am not in that area and not on weekends when I am.

I am a lawyer but reading these legal arguments like this makes my head spin. Legal arguments are only that–arguments. And park and law enforcement authorities can make their own decisions on what the law allows, which decisions can then be challenged in court. If the ELF is not allowed on the trail, then the legality will be tested if and when a law enforcement agency issues a ticket. If no ticket is ever issued, then as a practical matter it’s allowed.

It does seem to me that the laws were created with other types of vehicles in mind, not the ELF. It isn’t clear to me at all that a court would clearly rule one way or the other.

[mikoglaces]

My sister and stoker Mary and I at the end of the century:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9822[/ATTACH]

This was Mary’s first century, and my first on a tandem. It went well. We broke a spoke on the rear wheel around mile 30 and couldn’t get it fixed during the ride, but amazingly had no further problems with that wheel during the ride (a 40-spoke tandem wheel).

[mikoglaces]

Hey, I saw you guys at each rest stop beginning at mile 54. That was my sister who claimed, incredibly, never to have had Nutella before. Great ride.

[mikoglaces]

@AFHokie 125548 wrote:

When people ask why I commute by bike, I tell them it’s because I’m lazy…by riding to/from I’ve combined my commute & workout so I don’t have to find time to exercise before/after work.

I’ve had metro & driving commutes take an hour over the average time, but when cycling my variable is at most +/- 5 minutes. The hard part’s maintaining a consistent departure time.

Exactly. Before I was commuting by bike, I was getting up early to get a ride in before commuting by bus and metro. When I got off the metro at Foggy Bottom, I’d walk through Washington Circle and see the same cyclists I saw riding by me at my bus stop in Falls Church! That’s when I knew i was wasting time and so I started bike commuting. That was 21 years ago.

And yes, the time commuting is very consistent-unlike metro or driving. My bike commute probably takes longer than driving – say, 1 1/2 hours/day biking versus maybe 10-20 minutes less driving (assuming I leave late after rush hour like i usually do), on average, but for that 10-20 minute investment of time I get to ride for 1 1/2 hours. And i don’t have to drive (which I don’t particularly like, depending of course on what NPR has on) or walk to bus, bus to metro, fight for seat, walk to work (not my cup of tea).

[mikoglaces]

@dasgeh 125305 wrote:

We had EXACTLY THIS DISCUSSION with the COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY at the Arlington BAC in July, because a representative of ACPD thought bikes in crosswalks would be vehicles (that makes no sense). It’s legal to ride in a crosswalk, and when doing so, you’re considered a pedestrian.

I got a ticket for not coming to a full stop on the W&OD where it crossed a road in Loudon County. I beat it in court (because the W&OD is not a road, and so the “intersection” is not an intersection, and i couldn’t be charged with failing to stop at an “intersection”). Anyway, when I cross-examined the deputy sheriff, he testified that a cyclist has to dismount in a crosswalk. He didn’t know where it said that, but he knew it.

Of course it’s nonsensical. If cyclists did dismount and walk where the W&OD crosses roads, motorists would not be pleased as it would just take cyclists longer to cross.

[mikoglaces]

@btj 125200 wrote:

Now I can pick my wife up at the metro without the car…

My initial test ride didn’t go so well, only had one center bolt holding the the fork mount onto the rack and it swiveled after I went down the road a bit. But a couple more bolts to hold it still should do the trick.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9750[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9749[/ATTACH]

DIY tandem. For the cost of a fork mount and a few nuts and bolts. Brilliant.

[mikoglaces]

@hozn 124209 wrote:

Those roads out there are kinda terrifying for cycling. Avoid Hunter Mill if at all possible, anyway.

You’ll be fine on 32mm tires, just don’t scream “no brakes” and bomb down the hills. And bring 2 tubes (and patches) to ward off the evil spirits. I’ve ridden it tubed and tubeless with 32mm tires.

If I had tubes in a 32mm tire I’d probably run it 50psi for my ~175lb weight. I would expect to bottom out (and pinch flat) at 40psi. I used to run 40-45psi when running Kenda tubeless 32mm tires on those trails. I’m running tubeless now with 38mm (measure a little smaller, I think?) Triggers and running somewhere a little north of 35psi. The more feature-rich trails are to the south/west of the CCT once you hit 7, but the CCT does have some roots and rocky sections too.

Definitely do the ride, though; it’s a lot of fun. And riding through Lake Fairfax to reconnect with the W&OD is highly recommended.

“NO brakes.” I love it.

I do ride Hunter Mill Road. Not the best. I’ll have to look on a map to find that lake fairfax route. Thanks.

[mikoglaces]

@gtmandsager 124190 wrote:

DaveK and I were on cross bikes, my tires were 35mm and I think the other were ~32-33ish. I ran mine at 40psi, I think he was similar. We were fine on the way up, but had a couple pinch flats on the way back (south). But I’d say it’s manageable on a cross bike, it may not be quick b/c you have to take some of the sections a bit gingerly (or walk, or both). I can’t speak to what it would be like if it were muddy.

Thanks. Very helpful. I might plan a loop where I ride north on the trail and back on roads so back won’t be a problem anyway.

[mikoglaces]

What I want to know is, can I ride my cross bike with current tires — 32C with tubes – on the CCT north of the W&OD? Either all the way or even part way? I do rides to Great Falls area/Riverbend Park from Dunn Loring/Vienna on my road bike and Route 7 doesn’t offer many places to cross (Towlston Rd., Beulah or Springvale primarilly) so I thought about the trails I see off of the W&OD, but not sure my normal 32C cross tires will do the trick.

[mikoglaces]

Just noticed this thread. I am putting in a plug for the Cannonball Century, held in Fredericksburg VA. This week it is the second Sunday in October. Slightly rolling, very rural, not that many riders. Going to do it on a tandem this year.

I am going to put in a plug for the Culpeper Century, which will be the first Saturday in October. Hillier than the Cannonball.

Has anyone done the Lakes and Grapes century, also out of Fredericksburg. It’s this Saturday.

[mikoglaces]

@CaseyKane50 119622 wrote:

This morning around 8 am

Me: heading north on the MVT

You: heading south, Behind a jogger and another bike rider

Me: Sees the bike rider in front of you slowing down to wait until it is safe to pass

You: not wanting to slow down, pull into the on-coming lane

Me: not wanting to hit you, I move off the trail and ride in the grass

I hope you got where you needed to be this morning.

[video=youtube_share;mzK_vVPqGxs]http://youtu.be/mzK_vVPqGxs[/video]

Yup, that’s happened to me too. I usually yell “Stay right!” Might make ’em think before they do it again.

[mikoglaces]

Me: riding to work on the Custis trial, probably ar around 20 +/- mph.
You: adult on a bike entering from a side path. You entered the Custis without stopping and waiting for me. You were riding slowly, and you casually looked my way as you were entering. I assumed you saw me and were going to stop, but you didn’t. At which point I started saying “Woah, woah, WOAH,” while moving right and braking.

You then went left, into the ditch along the path. You somehow got of the bike (step-through frame i assume), dropped it on the grass, and ran in the direction you had been riding. Amazingly you didn’t fall. I asked whether you were all right, you said yes and i rode on.

Well, no one was hurt this time, and I think you learned a lesson (hopefully).

[mikoglaces]

Great commute today. Took the cross bike rather than the road bike, over Chain Bridge, and then three miles of mud and puddles on the C&O to Georgetown. Gotta love the mud.

Better than my commute home last night. left the office just as the storm was starting. Worst conditions I’ve ridden in in months. Could barely see on the Custis and W&OD and had to ride slowly. Stopped and moved large branches off the Custis twice.

[mikoglaces]

@Crickey7 118354 wrote:

Let’s not forget that there may even be no smoking gun. There are large numbers of cyclists out there, and statistically, you’re going to have the occasional freak fatal accident.

No question there will be freak accidents. A couple of years ago there was a fatality locally that occurred when a cyclist hit a groundhog. That to me is a freak accident. But cyclist hitting cyclist when one is turning and they collide? Freaky that it was a fatality maybe, but not freaky that there was a collision.

[mikoglaces]

We don’t know all of the facts, but we do know this (1) a collision between cyclists, (2) on the W&OD (which we all consider pretty safe-at least I do), and (3) a cyclist died. And those of us who ride on the W&OD know that not all cyclists call their passes. And also that there are side paths, and that that is where you really need to be cautious if you are overtaking another cyclist. If there are any lessons here, it’s be careful, call your passes, and look before turning.

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