[paulg]

@Dirt 79366 wrote:

Guns into Plowshares

Google and my Flickr feed will make it easy to find, but I’m curious if anyone has ridden to see it.

It’s the plow sculpture outsde the DC Evidence Control Facility near the old DC Village on DC Village Lane SW. Just at the end (or beginning depending on your direction) of the Oxon Cove trail which links SW DC to National Harbor and the Wilson Bridge. My bike commute takes me through here.

Cool photo thanks for sharing.

[paulg]

Hey thanks for posting this! I have Niterider Lumina 650 and cateye wireless computer and it’s been driving me nuts that the computer hasn’t been working recently. I even assumed the cold weather was responsible, or that the wheel mounted magnet had lost some oomph. I just didn’t think about the light.

Thanks for solving the mystery.

I just did a quick test and it seems the light in low and medium mode has to be 4.5″ away from the computer. But here’s a strange thing: When running at full light output there is no impact to the computer when placed side by side!

So solution: Run your light in full 650 (other trail users be dammned!) and your computer will work.

[paulg]

Its not a difficult fix. I personally just pop the broken links off and put a quick link on. I carry a few quick links in my MTB kit, but don’t bother on the road bike.

I agree. The SRAM quick links are a good quick fix.

On possible reason for the chain break: The shimano chains require a special pin to be used when joining the chain, this special pin drives out the old pin and has tapered sections to help through the hole in the side plate, without stressing the side plate. If one of these pins wasn’t used to connect up the chain, the pin won’t make a good fit with the side plate and can lead to something like you have in your picture.

[paulg]

@Justin Antos 57600 wrote:

Hint: it’s inside the Beltway. (People who follow my strava feed are disqualified

Oxon Hill Farm Trail trail just at the concrete footbridge that crosses Oxon Creek, which is the link between National Harbour and DC Water Blue Plains, Naval Research Lab and Bolling Base?

[paulg]

Here is the funny strider bike video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPOCwixDfnw

[paulg]

I really like the Strider and so does my just turned 3 year old boy.

It’s light and well put together. I (170lbs) have ridden it by standing on the chain stays and it’s solid as a rock. The tires and wheels may look a little cheap but they do the job and hold my weight without any sign of issues.

They have a funny marketing video about how your life would turn out if you rode a tricycle instead. which involves punching your boss and then moving back home due to pent up frustration! Trouble is I can’t find it on the net right now.

[paulg]

It could be a good idea if it’s carried out correctly. If the road surface is changed from black asphalt to block pavers for example and other features are added to create a different environment then I think it could work. Why not do this for king street too and make the entire area a pedestrian friendly area? I’ve seen this kind of thing in Britain and it can work.

[paulg]

A while ago the Park Police issued tickets to vehicle drivers who actually stopped to let pedestrians cross the road, I haven’t read any more about this practice. I’m confused now when I drive up to these crossings as the signs for vehicles drivers are large and yellow and point out the crossing but I know I shouldn’t stop as that is likely to cause yet another rear end collision. At least the site lines and single lane deal have made this particular crossing a little safer. I think from reading these posts I will only stop if someone is already in the cross walk, otherwise I’ll keep goingl, even though it seems rude, (safe but rude)

A dedicated trail user controlled stop light would solve a lot of problems at these crossings and I bet would save lives, but I guess it would ruin the view.

[paulg]

It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve broken many spokes on rides and carried on.

You might want to just check out the rim and other spokes just to see if there is a more serious issue, such as cracks, if not you’ll be OK to get home. Did the tire flat? I’m surprised that a spoke broke but you didn’t pinch flat as well.

Do you have a multi tool? If so they quite often have a spoke wrench that you can use to true up the wheel just enough to stop it rubbing on the brakes. Doing that will make it easier to get home or to the bike shop. A good start is to loosen the spokes on either side of the broken one, do a half turn each time and check if it’s making a difference.

You should also remove the broken spoke or bend it around the other spokes so it doesn’t flop around and impale you or get caught in the fork.

Good luck.

[paulg]

You can take Four Mile run trail from the MVT at the south end of the airport and head West on four mile run. Just before the water treatment plant and just after the electricity sub station you take a right onto South Eads St. This road has a bike path but the markings could do with some fresh paint. Cross over Glebe and head north on Eads.

From Eads turn left on either fort Scott drive or 26 th street both of which are low traffic (but some steep hills). from there you can climb up 23rd to Arlington Ridge or 20th which is a bit less trafficky.

Most of the roads in the Aurora highlands and arlington ridge ‘hoods are quiet except for a couple such as 23rd.

[paulg]

I guess it may depend on the Old Town Waterfront plan but right now train cars get delivered down to the Robinson Terminal to the south of the plant so the tracks are still being used.

I’m not sure how the Waterfront Plan affects the Robinson Terminal but if there are plans for the terminal site then maybe the tracks could come up and a really cool and wide right of way created.

The power plant is still up and running, does anyone know what the plans are for shutdown and ultimately something being done about the trail?

[paulg]

Come on Park Service get something done to make these highly dangerous intersections safe for everyone. People are getting injured and killed on a regular basis and have been for years. Giving out tickets to drivers who stop for people crossing is not the answer. If the park service admit the area is confusing then they should sort it out.

[paulg]

I think this time they’ve gone too far.

This morning on the MVT at the North side of the Wilson Bridge the ‘new’ side trail that recently had the utility pole removed (see earlier posts) was blocked so they could install yet more truck stopping bollards. So they moved the utility pole that was IN THE MIDDLE of the trail and then installed bollards that are IN THE MIDDLE of the trail. Very annoying.

So the reroute was along the road like the good old days but I can only assume in a vague attempt to block the trail from vehicle traffic the contractor parked the excavator with the boom forming an arch over the trail, and yes they required us to ride underneath with no other way around! I haven’t checked the OSHA regs but that doesn’t seem right to me.

Here are a couple of pictures of another crazy reroute.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1163[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1164[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1165[/ATTACH]

[paulg]

So the pinch point is gone, took a little longer than 2 weeks but they got there eventually. The utility pole must have been removed yesterday and there is now a steel plate (be careful in the wet here) covering the hole. I am hoping that the final surfacing in this area under the bridge will be done soon. I see the contractor’s laydown area at the Jones Point Park job is being cleared up which is a good sign that things are wrapping up.

I still don’t like the bollards on the south side of the bridge and have a horrible feeling that we’ll be seeing some on this side too.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1134[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]1135[/ATTACH]

[paulg]

Rootchopper

You are right about the North side of the bridge. I took some photos back in April and sent them to the Potomac Crossing folks and they called me back to say the pole blocking the trail was temporary and that final surfacing is still to be done apparently. They said it would be gone by mid May (still waiting for that to happen) They had some other comments which I posted here:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2132-New-pinch-point-on-MVT-under-Wilson-Bridge

Maybe time for another call to them.

Paulg

[Author]

Posts