[peterw_diy]

@Tim Kelley 150639 wrote:

Discussed here: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?11335-December-2016-Road-and-Trail-Conditions

NPS has a meeting with WABA and other concerned folks at the BikeArlington offices tomorrow night where they have said that they have a big announcement. We expect it will be snow clearing related.

So, what was the announcement?

[peterw_diy]

It would also be nice if the ART buses would not stand idle in the auto travel lane with their hazard lights flashing. Their refusal to stand somewhere more reasonable (like the huge maintenance yard RIGHT THERE ON EADS) will make people in cars resent the bike lanes for “forcing” bus drivers to block the auto lanes.

[peterw_diy]

1) ISTM that boulders by a MUP isn’t ideal. Can you imagine this treatment along the MVT or WOD?
2) Will the city ever relocate the motor vehicle prohibition sign that they erected in the wrong spot last year?

[peterw_diy]

@lordofthemark 150600 wrote:

2. The bike FX did in fact have one less cog. So they said it was that, plus…

Seriously? You need a new salesperson.

8 speed (as on the FX 2) is totally fine. Better than fine – parts are less expensive than 9s, shifting is less finicky (especially for Shimano, with its low cable pull ratio setups). Unless you’re really picky about having closely-spaced gear ratios and maintaining cadence, losing one rear cog is no big deal. 7 speed is also fine (one downside: Shimano no longer makes pretty silver colored 7s cassettes, you have to settle for brown).

Also the FX 2 and FX forks can take a front rack – they’re even drilled for it. Front bags/baskets are a big help with shopping trips.

At N=1 you’re stuck with compromises all around. The FX and FX 2 look like better urban bikes to me because of their utilitarian forks. But the 7.3 FX should be more comfy on long rides (though IMO anything longer than 10 miles deserves drop bars).

But I wouldn’t trust anyone who argued that 7s or 8s was insufficient. Plenty of other reasons why one bike might be better suited, but not that!

[peterw_diy]

BAFS has 100,000,000 registrants (expressed in binary). Whee!

[peterw_diy]

@rwhiffen 150458 wrote:

Does anyone know how we go about getting the lights fixed on the baseball field side of the pedestrian bridge? There are a lot of lights out, but this one in particular is problematic. If you’re heading west bound on the detour, you have a fairly sharp right turn onto the pedestrian bridge and the light at that corner is out, effectively making it a blind corner at night. The trail is sparsely populated at night now that it’s cold, but if we get some nice weather, who knows.

The light pole in question doesn’t seem to have one of those ID tags on it.It has some weathered ‘caution tape’ where I would expect the ID tag to be.

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I suggest contacting Alexandria’s complete streets coordinator, Ray Hayhurst, next week – the folks at 703.746.HELP can connect you. If anyone can prioritize it, he should be able to. Hopefully these are City-maintained, and not Dominion Virginia Power, over whom Ray likely has less influence.

[peterw_diy]

@lordofthemark 150295 wrote:

I like being upright in traffic. I fear being even less confident in traffic if I were not upright. Though I want to at least test ride a road bike. It’s time

Try a cyclocross bike with interrupter brake levers, if only to see how they let you ride upright with drop bars and retain instant access to your brakes. Interrupters are available for all common mechanical brakes – disc, V/linear pull, and standard sidepull/cantilever.

I spend the vast majority of my commuting time “covering” the brakes by either riding on the brake hoods or riding on the flats within reach of the interrupters.

[peterw_diy]

@wheels&wings 149934 wrote:

Another option are small safety reflectors, either the clip-on type or the ones that dangle from little chains. They come in fun shapes and colors, and can be attached to zippers or knapsacks or other gear. But I’m not sure where to buy them in bulk. My brother in Sweden gets these for us all the time, so maybe he knows a good source.

Sounds good. Alibaba lists 2″ snowflakes for 20 cents (minimum order $100): https://m.alibaba.com/product/60330932260/Snowflake-shape-Glow-in-dark-pvc.html or maybe https://m.alibaba.com/product/60468587331/promotional-gifts-reflective-snowflake-shape-acrylic.html but the soft ones are probably better (less fragile, less noisy, safe for attaching to helmet or clothing).

[peterw_diy]

I like ankle straps and am grateful to Steve but I found the slap straps uncomfortable.

What about custom Tyvek race bib numbers? We wouldn’t even need them numbered (and probably wouldn’t want to, considering all the folks who ride multiple bikes), just print the same base design on each of them. Zip tie one to your handlebars, another to your saddle…

[peterw_diy]

In honor of Dirt, and Subby’s new garage decoration, let’s all just tie pink ribbons to our bikes and helmets.

[peterw_diy]

20% off at Velo Orange: http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2016/12/winter-sale.html

[peterw_diy]

@hozn 149890 wrote:

Maybe if I had a quick release! I would need that for 12mm thru-axle. I don’t think this exists, but I’d be happy to be wrong.

… paging vicegrip, I think we have a project for you…

[peterw_diy]

@hozn 149878 wrote:

For commuting I don’t have a good backup, since the trailer hitch doesn’t work on my road bike’s breezer-style dropouts

Isn’t that a $20 problem?

https://www.bikeshophub.com/trailers/burley-alternative-hitch-adapter-p-2660.html

[peterw_diy]

@DrP 149268 wrote:

I saw an English language one this morning on the post at the Mt Vernon bridge heading in towards Arlington.

And today there’s only one remaining, a Spanish language sign. I wonder what’s happening to them, as the restoration project signs don’t seem to be disappearing. Is someone preparing to make some fenders and panniers?

[peterw_diy]

@Tim Kelley 149251 wrote:

So you’ve already been in touch? That saves me an email!

With Ray in Alexandria, yes. I should have mentioned that when I posted the photo. Perils of posting quickly from the sidewalk – too much haste, too little consideration. Sorry.

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