[OneEighth]

Yes, but does it build character?
I lugged a cast iron dutch oven to the office for CFC one year…

[OneEighth]

If you aren’t wed to a 32 minimum, consider Vittoria Zaffiros. They are high pressure, dirt cheap ($15) and are better all around than the Gatorskins I had before—and I liked my Conti’s.
The only 32’s I’ve used again and again because I really like them are Vittoria cross tires, but they wear fairly quickly and aren’t cheap. Trying Grifos this winter.

[OneEighth]

I certainly agree that more trail users will help with safety and had no intention of discouraging anyone from using the connector.

However, I am a big fan of situational awareness.

I don’t see loiterers every day. But since the trail opened, I have seen public drinking and have smelled marijuana in the underpasses where folks tend to hang out. That’s also where I tend to find broken glass or trash on the connector trail. I’ve also witnessed several individuals urinating on the concrete walls of the underpass.

That is the sort of unacceptable behavior that needs to be nipped in the bud in any public park/space. Think of it like the broken window theory.

Any group of guys (in particular) with nothing to do and nowhere to go has the potential for mischief, especially if you mix in alcohol and/or drugs.

Tactically, I don’t like where I’ve seen them gather either. The underpasses are a choke point, are hidden from general view, and put anyone entering from the outside at a disadvantage because your eyes need to adjust to the lower light level.

Bear in mind that many crimes are opportunistic and situational.

Most of the folks I see on the trail aren’t bothering anyone and that’s great. I really want to keep it that way.

Ride friendly but please ride aware.

[OneEighth]

“These go to eleven.”

I use Zaffiros, too, and prefer to pump them about as hard as they will go.

Do what is comfy for you within the inflation range of the tire. But don’t overinflate it to get it to the max pressure. You’re not doing the tire any favors.

[OneEighth]

Now if only the PD would do regular sweeps for the loiterers…

[OneEighth]

I use Izumi halflinks. Other than the hassle of pinning them into the chain, they have worked fine.

I think my habit of using this fixie for hills shortened the bolt’s life. Gotta say, the chain “stretched” quite a bit in one year.

[OneEighth]

Both the riders I saw hopped onto the Parkway at the northern edge of Alexandria and proceeded toward DC from there.

[OneEighth]

Much appreciated, but right now I’m planning to just do the walk of shame—ie, take the bike home on the Metro—and sling another screw in. I use Izumi Vs on both my bikes and have always found them reliable.
Stupid thing is, when cleaned the bike last weekend, I looked at the bolt and asked myself if I should be replacing it and possibly the chain.
Question answered.

[OneEighth]

Good for you, Stephanie. I hope everyone else follows your example.
And, very glad you weren’t hurt.

[OneEighth]

I’ve seen two different Darwin Award candidates pulling that stunt during morning rush hour.
I think the first one is my favorite. He managed to wobble into a parked car while trying to squeeze past traffic stopped at the light on Bashford Lane before turning onto the Parway.
Ride, Forrest, ride!

[OneEighth]

Something to think about—sweat degrades the shock-dissipation properties of your helmet. That is why helmets (for motorsports, too) should be replaced not only after an impact but also after you’ve had it for a while.
Think of the funk as a wear-indicator.

[OneEighth]

Much appreciated. Will give it a shot.

As a total aside, the last time I used my heat gun was to warm the oil in the pan of the motorcycle on really atrociously cold days. Hopping on the bicycle is so much easier (and more pleasant) in those conditions.

[OneEighth]

Any particular brand of penetrating oil that you liked best?
The last time I dealt with frozen components was on the motorcycle and I just relied on WD40 and an impact driver for the quick and dirty fix.

[OneEighth]

Well I screwed up.
I skipped my post-winter-riding maintenance and didn’t strip my crap-weather bike down the way I should have back in March.
Finally did it today after riding through bottom bracket deep water a few times during the last week.
The bottom bracket bearings needed cleaning and repacking as did the headset bearings. Desperately.
Plenty of rust inside the steel frame.
But the annoying thing is that my seat post is now fused in place. Even some not-so-gentle rubber mallet work didn’t budge it.
Had I followed Dirt’s simple trick of removing the post after wet weather to drain the frame properly, I would have been better off. Heck, if I had just pulled it all apart as intended in March, I would have been better off.
Lucky for me, the seat is at the correct height.
Happy cleaning.

P.S. I’m the type who greases everything. The seat post and seat tube were both wiped down with marine grease before assembly and that still wasn’t enough to protect it.

[OneEighth]

There are several low areas that will probably have standing water when you are heading South:
1- Right before the Memorial Bridge
2- After the second overpass by National Airport
Not sure what you will find below Alexandria.

[Author]

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