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Passed through there a bit later, still two police cars hanging out along with a defunct police bike that was apparently having break issues. I offered to help but the cops seemed pretty intent on fixing it solo. In terms of 2012, this is the fourth accident I have witnessed there, which is exactly four too many. They need to start that trail project sooner rather than later.

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I’d be all over a forum jersey – as long as it incorporates the studly combo of colors known as plush purple and aquatic melon. Seriously though, great idea.

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@xmlwave 26041 wrote:

The Insight handles very well. At least compared to my old bike. This morning was drizzling a bit, but I still went out East on W&OD trail for few miles. However, this afternoon the weather was great and I was able to check out W&OD West of here. Looks like commuting to DC on this bike should be fairly easy! This week I will try to get biking gloves and few other accessories to make the commute easier/ more fun.

I noticed some noise from the bike (esp. at higher speeds), but couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. I will probably go back to the store for them to check out the alignment, etc. I am really glad that I got it from a local store vs. ordering it online and having to assemble it myself.

Here is a pic of the bike from this afternoon. [ATTACH=CONFIG]1392[/ATTACH]

That is a slick looking bike. Diamondback is definitely the Hyundai of the bike world – in the best way possible. They take a little bit from Specialized, a little from Trek, and mash it up into something people can afford. Happy Riding!

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@KLizotte 26023 wrote:

I’m probably not going to make it tonight since I just got home from a bad wipeout on my bike. I did a spectacular splat on one of the boardwalks near Mt Vernon (covered in algae, very slippery). Now have my first black eye, some road rash (minor), but think I might have broken something in my hand so am heading to urgent care now. Grrrrrr

Goddamn that BOARDWALK TROLL! He almost took me out this morning, underinflated tires! Feel better.

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@dasgeh 26066 wrote:

Wouldn’t it be better to start with getting the police to enforce the laws when they see violations happen with their own eyes?

+1 for having some sort of camera on you at all times – cellphone, polaroid, Leica, what have you. If not for the accidents then for the AMAZING sunrises, random geese, and tourists wearing “Female Body Inspector” t-shirts.

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@GuyContinental 25962 wrote:

I kid you not- the Texas GOP Platform doc has that covered too (in the Privacy section):

“We further oppose any national ID program, including the Real ID Act and the use of Radio Frequency Identification Chips (RFID) on humans.”

But what about helper robots?! Should they be tagged?

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4REAL! Carbon seat stays and a carbon fork make for fewer crowns and bridges. Then again, I’ve always somewhat longed to be one of those chill looking guys rocking the full-suspension, 6″ travel frames on the MVT. They are going anywhere fast, but they are getting there in style.

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@DaveK 25870 wrote:

I can’t get behind the privacy implications of this (nor the fact that the Supreme Court recently ruled warrantless GPS tracking of vehicles to be unconstitutional) but if a better mechanism could be found I like the idea. Anything that moves us towards a true user fee. We can’t solely fund roads and construction off user fees – my bike was shipped to the store in a truck after all even if I didn’t own a car – but the cost of driving should be more clear and the choices we make should take that cost into account more than they do now.

/edit – ^^ stunning that the lawyer is better at succinctly making an argument than the engineer. ^^

Richard Nixon: My fellow Earthicans, we enjoy so much freedom, it’s almost sickening. We’re free to choose which hand our sex-monitoring chip is implanted in. And if we don’t want to pay our taxes, why, we’re free to spend a weekend with the Pain Monster!
Pain Monster: See you April 15 folks!

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Not sure, but I definitely had a kamikaze tourist almost take me out on Memorial Bridge, they were actually hiding behind the column on the VA side and jumped out at me Halloween style. Many f-bombs were wasted.

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The Charge Tap definitely fits the bill of a “ready-to-go commuter bike.”

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I booked it from Metro Center around 5:20 and was bone dry, with the exception of some sweat, when I got home.

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@PotomacCyclist 25616 wrote:

101F on Wednesday. “Isolated T-storms” in the afternoon. (Hopefully that really means no T-storms within 40 miles of D.C.)

Yesterday’s ride home was pretty brutal, might take a water/rest break this afternoon at the midpoint.

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I know the woes of Cannondale proprietary parts. I still have an original Moto crank from my old CAAD4 team bike that was a BEAST – light, stiff, and awesome looking. The problem being that has a tendency to squeak with anything other than late-90’s coda BBs – sad.

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@DaveK 24929 wrote:

Although the Litespeed looks aero, testing showed it to be less so than most other “aero bikes” when it comes to drag. Does that matter? Not a single bit. No one outside of a pro will ever notice.

I really like the Tarmac personally, the geometry is spot-on (for me, anyway) and it’s a proven frame. You really can’t go wrong with any of those frames. The recent Tarmac frames have a little higher head tube than the older ones so the difference to the Roubaix, especially in smaller frame sizes, isn’t as noticeable.

Bottom like though, those are all great and you should ride them all and pick the one that speaks to you.

If you’re on a budget, I promise you the bike manufacturers can buy components cheaper than you can. Just buy a complete bike.

If you are confident in your ability to build up a bike and get the fit right from afar – GEOMETRY SKILLS! Then I would add another option, direct-order frame build. I bought a carbon frame and fork combo off of http://www.e-hongfu-bikes.com/ and built it up with SRAM Rival, threw on some Rolf Vector Pros (yep they are still rocking it 10 years on) and have been loving it. It isn’t for the faint of heart, but I was able to get a beast of a bike for right around $1,300. Something to think about.

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I worked at a number of local bike shops back in the 90’s and have a pretty solid idea of things on the mechanic side of things:

REI at Bailey’s Crossroads – Prices tend to be a bit high except during their attic sales, service is good, and the mechanics are excellent. I never worked there but kinda wish I had.
Bikenetic on W Broad St in Falls Church (just off the W&OD at West St) – Me like. Close to house. Got me a shifter.
Papillon Cycles on Columbia Pike at Walter Reed – These guys rock socks. Bailey is a freaking legend and deserves to be. Weld on some dropouts, try to find someone else who will. This was my first job and I think these guys are still the best service shop in Arlington.
Spokes Etc on Quaker Lane in Alexandria (just north of Rte 7) – Great all around shop. Good sales, slightly high in terms of price, but great selection. Massive mechanic area and great wrenches. Ricky has been working as a mechanic there for more than a decade now – they also treat their people right.
Bike Pro Shop on Duke St in Alexandria and on M St in Georgetown at the Key Bridge – Have Cannondale – will ride?
Hudson Trail Offitters in Pentagon Row – I hated working here, overpriced, management tended to not give a damn, bike sales were bad.
Bike Club on Washington St (Lee Highway) in Falls Church – You can crack a beer with them, not sure about the service though.
Big Wheel (Lee Highway) Falls Church – You would be better off taking your business elsewhere. The major brands, read Trek, Specialized, etc… won’t work with them. That should be enough of a hint to stay away.

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