[oldbikechick]

@GuyContinental 47189 wrote:

Only other one that I’d add that you really need to do is:
-Repack clipless pedals with grease (very easy with a cheap syringe)

I have no idea how to do this. My pedals don’t look anything like the ones in the howto videos on Youtube. I’ve had my clipless pedals for almost 2 years, through rain, mud and grit and have never done anything to them. What happens if you don’t grease them?

[oldbikechick]

I’m almost afraid to write this, but I haven’t had a flat since moving to DC almost 4 years ago. I do not even know what kind of tires I have on my hybrid but they are most likely under-inflated. Maybe there is something to the weight thing since my husband rides about 1% of the time I ride and he has had two flats (not including the one where the bike was also totaled).

[oldbikechick]

This is great and so true! I lived and biked in Brussels for 5 years, back in what was probably the 1% years. There are actually a lot of beautiful places around Brussels for recreational cycling, but you definitely had to choose your route on the street.

Whenever I see “difficult crossing” on a bike map here, I think back to this traffic circle in Brussels: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Rond-point+Montgomery,+St-Pieters-Woluwe,+Belgium&hl=en&ll=50.837282,4.407738&spn=0.00227,0.005729&sll=37.735969,-79.420166&sspn=5.820237,11.733398&oq=rond+point+montgomer&hq=Rond-point&hnear=Eurostars+Montgomery,+Avenue+de+Tervueren+134,+Woluwe-Saint-Pierre+1150+St-Pieters-Woluwe,+Bruxelles,+Belgium&t=h&fll=50.836815,4.408822&fspn=0.00227,0.005729&z=18

We definitely have it very good here in Arlington.

[oldbikechick]

I’m another Chris – although it’s actually Christine. I can be found commuting on the Custis and MVT on a red hybrid (I think that’s what it is) being passed by the rest of you while I work on my cadence. I have commuted by bike on two continents and in four different countries and have the distinction of not only having been hit by a car while biking, but also have been hit by a bike while walking. Next, I’ll be hit by a pedestrian while standing still

[oldbikechick]

I would never encourage anyone else to bike – there are too many people on the trail already!

Just kidding…(kind of)

I have had a lot of people show interest in commuting and ask questions, and some who start, but then stop. I think it really comes down to how easy it is for people for them to start and stick with it. I’m lucky to have a good set up – don’t have to drop off my kids anywhere in the morning (which is a big bike commuting killer for working parents), have great facilities at work and bike path almost the whole way. If it is not that easy, then it takes an extra level of dedication that many folks may not have if they are not lifelong cyclists. And it could also be very daunting to people who are not very comfortable on a bike. Really aggressive behavior by other cyclists on the trail does not help those timid folks and can be an obstacle. Those who mentioned bringing their kids up biking, I think that really is important (lifelong cyclists in the making!).

[oldbikechick]

@dasgeh 44031 wrote:

You may consider a combined bus-bike trip. Depending on where you’re headed, you may be able to take a bus up the biggest hill, then cruise on from there. You’re trip home should be nice…

Great idea. Thanks!

[oldbikechick]

@essigmw 44029 wrote:

It is uphill – you can check out http://www.ridewithgps.com and plot your course then look at the elevation.

Thanks- great tip on the website!

[oldbikechick]

Hi all- I normally commute from North Arlington to downtown, but today need to go to a dinner party in upper NW DC after work. I see on the map that it’s about 9 miles. My question: Is it relatively flat so I can go slow and arrive relatively sweat-free to the dinner party, or is it like my normal Custis trail commute uphill all the way?

Thanks for any insights

[oldbikechick]

To the guy who said “work on your cadence” as he passed me, I was mystified until I got home and googled it. All these years of commuting and I never knew “cadence” was a thing! While my poor cadence is apparently obvious to my fellow trail users, i have no idea how to work on it though. Do I pedal faster or slower, or just more consistently? And more importantly, why? By the way, now that I’ve read all about “drafting” on here, maybe I’ll stop pedaling altogether and just get someone to draft me all the way home.

[oldbikechick]

To the guy who said “work on your cadence” as he passed me, I was mystified until I got home and googled it. All these years of commuting and I never knew “cadence” was a thing! While my poor cadence is apparently obvious to my fellow trail users, i have no idea how to work on it though. Do I pedal faster or slower, or just more consistently? And more importantly, why? By the way, now that I’ve read all about “drafting” on here, maybe I’ll stop pedaling altogether and just get someone to draft me all the way home.

[oldbikechick]

My commute is 17 miles round trip and I feel very lucky that it takes me exactly the same amount of time that taking public transportation would (bus + metro) and is INFINITELY more enjoyable. I have secure parking at work, so I have done as others suggested and done the one-way commute, either due to weather or when I started up my commute again after maternity leave and just did not have the energy for all of it in one day. I also have little kids and I love it that I can kill two birds with one stone – exercise and commute all in one since there is no time for exercise otherwise. I’m very impressed with some of these longer commutes!

[oldbikechick]

@DismalScientist 41598 wrote:

I put my phone in my pants pocket and I don’t think it will freeze. To save battery, if that is an issue, turn off the wireless connections (put in airplane mode). I make sure to turn off the display when riding…I don’t want to butt dial anyone.
Once the phone syncs with Strava.com, all your data is replicated on Strava.com so you shouldn’t worry about losing that. If the phone dies or has strange data, you can always delete whatever ride on the phone and upload the correct mileage to Strava.com.

I had no idea that phones could freeze. Has this happened to anyone? I always have my phones in the panniers and never knew to worry!

[oldbikechick]

@Tim Kelley 17561 wrote:

This was forwarded to me from the Alexandria BAC listserv,

“This morning around 8am a cyclist was coming down the overpass from the Custis Trail to the MV Trail (over GW parkway) and apparently hit the steel post at the bottom in the center of the ramp. I talked to the NPS officer and he stated the cyclist was in critical condition. Upon leaving I noted there was some gravel on the lower portion of the ramp which could have been a factor although the officer said that speed was a factor. The officer was going to block the trail off but since he had not blocked the top of the trail at Lee Hwy and Lynn St it would not do much good.”

This was indeed a very scary and sad situation, which I unfortunately came upon shortly after it happened and did what I could to help. I sincerely hope the cyclist is OK. For the record, I don’t understand why the officer would say that “speed was a factor” since the only person who did see the accident happen did not seem to think so. I don’t know whether speed was a factor or not, but the officer certainly would not know that either, so why say it?

[Author]

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