[n18]

Saw today that Vienna store(In Tysons Corner) has “Store closing” sign with 30-50% off. It was after hours, so I couldn’t tell what’s on sale.

[n18]

No, the detour is not going through the park, but on adjacent streets(See the last link on the page that Judd posted). Here is Isaac Crossman Park web page, and to the right you will find a link to Arlington County Park Rules & Regulations. The only two things related to bicycles is to only use designated surfaces and that no bikes allowed on Tennis courts surfaces. However, this Street View link shows “No biking” sign next to the park sign.

Edited to add: It looks like the gravel path resides entirely in Falls Church side. Here is their park page.

[n18]

@Steve O 183222 wrote:

I am not a big fan of trying to regulate these to death. One outcome is that jurisdictions then relieve the pressure to create transportation systems that move us away from being so auto-centric. The more people using scooters and e-bikes and electric unicycles the better, IMO. The more restrictions we place, then the fewer people will use them.
Agreed that many of our MUPs and other bike infrastructure are not made for these, and there’s not enough of it. But instead of trying to squeeze the genie to fit inside the existing bottle, we should make more bottles…or make it bigger…or make a barrel .

Unfortunately, without restrictions, we get jerks who would abuse the trails, and then more calls to restrict them. In other states, they came up with no E-Bikes signs, and trust me, they are not pretty to look at. It disadvantage people with health issues and seniors. See this Google mages link.

My goal for Trail mode is to mimic average cyclist speed(not the fastest cyclist), including slowing to around 10 MPH when going uphill. I prefer the terms Road/Trail modes over California number classification because a potential buyer would ask “What is road mode?”, or “Why there are road and trail modes?”, which leads to educating the buyer about safer E-Bike practices.

We could further divide Road/Trail modes to something like Road Mode 1, 2, etc, and the same for Trail Mode. Trail mode could be divided into full mode(No pedaling, for those who wear work clothes and want to arrive without breaking a sweat, but still mimic average cyclist speed), and Fitness mode(Like in the way back home, when they don’t care if they sweat a little).

@dasgeh 183244 wrote:

Just to pile on: I’ve never seen GPS be precise enough to distinguish between, e.g. the Custis Trail in Rosslyn and Lee Hwy. Having the motor suddenly cap at 10pm while on Lee Hwy beside the Custis Trail would be a bad thing. It would have the effect of encouraging ebike users to use the Trail instead of the street, which is the opposite of what we want (if riders are willing to use the street, they should, so the trail has more capacity).

Also, 200W is ridiculously low. Personally, I’d leave everything on the speed limit, and allow the fact that it’s expensive and eats battery to have more power. But, if you’re hauling a lot of weight, you need that power just to get up the hills. If we want families with kids to bike more, we need ebikes with more power. If we want a future where more deliveries are made by bike, we need ebikes with more power.

Also, have you ever biked 7-8 mph. That’s the speed we go on Kidical Mass rides (rides with kids on their own bikes). It’s difficult for many adults to ride that slowly and stay upright — ask those here who have ridden with us. Any speed limit under 15mph is laughable imo.

The number of Watts is just a suggestion, and also there should be no sudden speed limits. Maybe after a 30 seconds delay the new limit takes effect. As you have noted, GPS is not precise enough when a road is next to a trail. I suppose that instead of GPS/RFID that E-Bikes could have two buttons(Road/Trail), so the user presses one depending on the situation, but there is nothing stopping jerks from using Road mode always.

[n18]

Here is what I suggest for E-Bikes: All E-Bikes should have two modes:

1 – Road mode: No speed limit.
2 – Trail mode: Full power(Up to 10 MPH, for hills), 200 Watts limit between 10 and 15 MPH, perhaps gradually reducing power, then cut off after that, but the rider can still peddle.

The numbers above are just suggestions, I don’t ride an E-Bike, so I don’t know if these are reasonable.

How counties can enforce them:

1 – Require E-Bike manufacturers to include GPS, and county rules are uploaded to it and applied automatically.
2 – No GPS, but counties put RFID chips at trail heads, and E-Bikes read the rules and apply them automatically.

Finally, it doesn’t make sense to me to outlaw E-Bikes altogether, 10 MPH is fine, or even 7 to 8 MPH in some cases.

[n18]

I would use Velcro strap, or thin steel wire to secure it.

P.S.: You made me buy these bar mitts.

[n18]

@huskerdont 183116 wrote:

I see street signs knocked over everywhere on out walks, and think, but for poor timing….

I call that “Luck of the distracted driver”. Imagine a UPS driver, who records everything during a trip in a dashcam. After reviewing the video, he realizes that in 90% of right turns(Like in Fairfax county), there were no pedestrians. So a driver is 90% lucky that he or she didn’t hit anyone, as if it’s idiot proof. In DC, and some parts of Arlington, that’s a different story.

[n18]

I think you can use the outcome of the case(regardless of fine) to sue the driver, like for emotional injury. You can ask the bike lawyer about your options, or post to this site, and lawyers would respond with suggestions, mainly so you contact them. But you may want to search the site first for “bicycle” in Virginia. Here is a link to that search results. The main thing lawyers ask is not to discuss what happened publicly(including social media), just in case the initial version and later versions don’t match, which can be used to discredit a claim or witness. Welcome to the club!

[n18]

An update available here:

http://www.mymcpnews.com/2018/11/07/detectives-investigate-fatal-bicycle-involved-collision-in-wheaton-area/

“Update: November 21, 2018: The bicyclist is identified as Jaimie Roberto Diaz Caceres, age 47, of the 2300 block of Weisman Road in Silver Spring.”

[n18]

That’s what I call weekend special. In Vienna, I have read more than one report of drunk drivers waving across all 4 lanes of Maple AVE, so I avoid bike lanes after dark on weekends, especially during the holidays.

[n18]

@n18 182541 wrote:

Just got REI newsletter in the mail. The sale starts this Friday Nov 9 till Monday Nov 19. 20% off one full-price item(In stores/online), and 20% off REI-Outlet(Online only).

Cycling specific sales:

25% Off Pearl Izumi Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories.
20% Off Cycleops Bike Trainers and Accessories.
25% Off Garmin Varia Rader 2 Bundle Rear Lights($300, Amazon $199)
25% Off All NightRider Bike Lights
25% Off All Ortlieb Packs, Bags & Panniers.
20% Off All Yakima Racks, Roof Boxes & Rack Accessories.
$60 Bonus Card when you buy GoPro Hero7 Black($400-$60)

No bikes in the Ad this time.

Two days left!

[n18]

Once Upon a Time, in a post far, far away, Steve O posted: “Do not be attached to the bike–be attached to the experience of riding the bike.”

Typing “bike shop” in Google Maps shows more than 15 bike shops. Trek has a dealer there.

Also, Sao Paulo seems to have gotten their own docked and dockless bike sharing service earlier this year. I am not sure if it’s fully implemented, but you can download the app(Apple/Google) to find out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bicycle-sharing_systems#Brazil
https://www.pbsc.com/2018/01/bike-sharing-service-sao-paulo/
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-bikes/dockless-bike-sharing-start-up-set-to-brave-sao-paulo-streets-idUKKBN1KN330
https://techstartups.com/2018/04/04/brazilian-bike-sharing-service-startup-yellow-secures-9-million-first-dockless-bike-sharing-service-brazil/

[n18]

I was at their Bailey’s Crossroads location today, and it has 70% off everything(75% off clothing, limited number left), including bikes, but the store is half empty. You don’t have to be a member to get the discount. Only 4 road bikes left(see below), and about 10 to 15 Schwinn-type bikes. Most of what’s left are helmets, sunglasses, two Planet Bike fenders, one set of Forte Titan II Wheels, U-Locks, all OnGuard brand. No winter gloves, just fingerless gloves, bike seats, seat posts, seat bags. No panniers. Most bike tools are gone. 10-Speed Forte Dropbar Shifters(2 or 3 left, $33 per set after the discount).

Road bikes left:

Fuji Touring Disc Road Bike – 2018(Size 58) $1,080($324 after the discount)
Fuji Finest 2.5 Road Bike – 2018(Size 50 and 53) $495($149 after the discount)
Fuji Finest 2.3 Women’s Road Bike – 2017(Size 56) $450($135 after the discount)

[n18]

One option: use something like Public Storage, which costs something like $100-$200/Month. I never used them, but I was told that the paperwork would take 20 minutes, and I don’t think that includes reading it.

https://www.publicstorage.com/
https://www.cubesmart.com/
https://www.extraspace.com/

Another option: Make a compact bike storage like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tXYlUMkgY4

Some parts that are mentioned in the video:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/VPC-3-4-in-Black-Malleable-Iron-FPT-Floor-Flange-16-521-604/205955667
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Mueller-Global-3-4-in-x-Close-Black-Steel-Nipple-584-001HN/100163081
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southland-3-4-in-x-72-in-Black-Steel-Pipe-584-720HC/100144060
https://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-in-x-3-4-in-Black-Malleable-Iron-90-Degree-FPT-x-FPT-Elbow-520-004HN/100060658

[n18]

Also, if you want to avoid RT7, just continue on Glen Carlyn RD, and use the side streets to the west, like shown here. It’s less stressful when approaching REI/Giant from the west. I can’t take credit for finding these routes, most were posted here by other members.

[n18]

@Judd 182678 wrote:

How’s the ride down Route 7 when you take that route? When I go to REI through my route up George Mason, I take a lane on 7 because the parallel access road has all kinds of traffic and cars turning in from Route 7. I haven’t had much issue taking a lane on that stretch.

Have you taken the Columbia Pike route back recently? That stretch of the Pike is undergoing some major gas line work and utility undergrounding and is in terrible condition right now. Patches everywhere, missing lane markings and a plate or two.

I use the SW sidewalk(same direction as the traffic) along RT7, and sometimes the NE sidewalk, but that one requires dismounting at a gas station. I haven’t been to the area in about 6 Months, so I didn’t know about the utility work.

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