[myoglobinologist]

Thanks for posting these updates. I’ll ride (slowly) tomorrow!

[myoglobinologist]

Thanks… Looks like one still needs to be careful. Do I need snow tires?

[myoglobinologist]

Thank you all for the suggestions…they sound great. I’ll try the Loop + W&OD…

Cheers!

[myoglobinologist]

Yes. It was a little brisk this morning…

[ATTACH=CONFIG]4436[/ATTACH]

[myoglobinologist]

Bluemont Jct peel-off from W&OD was v. icy this morning. I rode slowly but watched one runner fall down there.

The same intersection was Ok this evening but the (wooden) bridges over the creek were heavily rutted and frozen solid.

[myoglobinologist]

I can vouch for Bikenetic. They are great, and Jan is cheerful, personable, and knowledgeable. I bought a Jamis touring bike from them this summer and they just put fenders on my commuter bike.

[myoglobinologist]

Dear CCF;

I was really sorry to hear about your accident. I bike(d) through this intersection twice a day for a year. It was because of a near miss from a minivan (also turning right on red) that I bought a new set of bright lights: a 600 Lumen front headlight and a Korg Blinder for the back. From what I’ve read in your blog and the original posts, it looks like neither of these would have helped because the driver wasn’t paying attention.

About six months ago, I changed routes to connect to W&OD via Bluemont Jct trail. This stays on the south side of Fairfax (construction is on the north side), and also helped me avoid the intersection w/ the Custis where there was an armed mugging in April ( http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?4725-Muggers-on-Custis ).

Hope you have a quick recovery.

-k

[myoglobinologist]

Excellent response, thanks.

[myoglobinologist]

@ronwalf 66575 wrote:

I’ve had both regular and longboard SKS 45s. The regular were fine in length once I added a mudflap. The front one eventually blew up on a trail (I think something got caught in it and the fender tried to invert itself).

The rear longboard is a great length to keep not only myself clean, but also anyone behind me. The front one is long enough that the rubber mudflap will catch the edge of a curb or stair unless I lift the front wheel a bit. I could use it a bit shorter (and may take a hacksaw to make that modification myself soon).

Fenders came on one of my bikes and because of this discussion I was thinking of getting them for my commuter (a Trek 7300). Are fenders something that one can install oneself or should I take them to an LBS? This video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG_WZVS9SUY ) made me think that I should have someone who is relatively mechanically/craftsmanlike inclined do the job.

Thanks in advance for any advice from the community.

[myoglobinologist]

Be safe.

[myoglobinologist]

Awesome, thanks. I ride west out of Ballston along Custis and then W&OD to East Falls Church. I’ll try the Bluemont Junction trail as you suggest.

-k

@baiskeli 48225 wrote:

The Custis ends at Bon Air Park – do you mean you want to go eastbound? or are you connecting to the W&OD?

If you mean going west on the W&OD, take the Bluemont Junction trail from the end of Fairfax Drive, which takes you to the W&OD. The entrance is behind the wall just past the Holiday Inn where Fairfax turns into an on and off ramp for I-66. This trail crosses the intersection of George Mason and Wilson, catty-corner, and continues on to the W&OD east of Bon Air Park.

[myoglobinologist]

Thank you for the warning. I bike this route every day.

Is there a better way getting on to custis, west bound, from Ballston, at night then? Two possibilities appear to be:

1. Go out on wilson and turn in at bonair park?
2. Continue west on surface streets on Fairfax drive west of the on-ramp to 66 and then connect on George Mason drive.

Are either of these preferable?

Thanks.

-k

[myoglobinologist]

I just got back from biking westbound on Custis and W&OD. Enjoy your tailwind!

[myoglobinologist]

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=206522848752276615041.0004d39ae63d254135c4b

[myoglobinologist]

You beat me to posting a photo. The front tire is bent and there is a bike lock (a wire w/ plastic sheathing) but it doesn’t appear to be locked to the post itself.

The bike is purple/black w/ a yellow floral bell that says “Electra” (I think).

Should this be reported to Arlington Police? It’s on the Custis just near the Patrick Henry underpass.

[Author]

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