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@Dirt 21064 wrote:

Be careful out there. There are some things you can do to limit your risk when you’re riding in questionable conditions, but ultimately the only way to seriously increase your safety when there’s lightning strikes and tornadoes out is to not be outside in them.

Here’s what I do when I ride in questionable conditions:
1) Before going out, I have my route planned and know where I can get shelter along the way if I need it. Think outside the box on that.. Not just things that you encounter on the trail, but stuff that might be a block off.
b) As I ride, always keep in mind where my next shelter is, and where the last shelter is that I passed.
6) Improvise: I’ve weathered many a cloud burst in some stranger’s carport. Is it the perfect shelter? No. But it beats a lot of other alternatives.

Love,

Pete

Carports always seem to be full of moldy cardboard boxes full of Atari games – if anyone has that godawful ET game let me know.

I’m going to play radar tag from about 3pm on to try to squeeze in my ride between a gap in the storms. Capital Weather Gang seems to think that it will be spotty storms at least during the first part of this afternoon, turning into a solid soaking later on in the evening.

As long as you are on the trail and it is JUST rain, there really isn’t much to worry about – besides the flooding but if you can’t see a gigantic torrent of water coming your way, you probably shouldn’t be out on a bike. On-street riding, hail, thunder, high winds, all equal “Call to wife.”

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@GuyContinental 21028 wrote:

Yup- I think this is one for the “My ride would be better if…” thread. I usually terminate my trail pm ride at that Lee exit and navigating the crazy roots at the top, braking hard through the gravel and then navigating around the bollard, onto Lee and across the I-66 entrance is one of the more interesting sections… Or are you talking about the steep ramp on the CVS side of Lee? If so, the curb cut at the garbage cans (75′ up) is fine and not on a blind corner.

I think they are talking about that ridiculous ramp on the CVS side next to Giant that requires the Swooping U-Turn to head towards Rosslyn.

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Sierra Nevada has a 12-seater, which is just insane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l5D1wCjZyI

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@mstone 20936 wrote:

For those of us who are men of a certain age, the tie doesn’t also help with sunburn the way the headsweats do

I’m a big fan of the full head shave combined with mutton chops, a good copstache, or a Vincent Price. I tried growing out a proper mustachio for Cinco de Mustache – but my wife made me shave it off.

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@DismalScientist 20908 wrote:

Don’t give in to the blob. Long khaki pants and a polo shirt are all any commuter needs.:rolleyes:

Biking isn’t proper without a tie. Albeit, said tie can be cinched firmly around the forehead region thus killing the proverbial two birds with one stone of multitasking. Disclaimer: said tie will be ruined.

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+1 for a beautiful ride. -1,000 for stealing my mulberries. I’m going to secretly plant hops there and see if they take off. Also, the glut of Fairweatherers made for some creative passing of 12 person caravans.

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Got a contractor’s course to go to otherwise I’d be in like this man named Flynn.

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Why has no one invented the ice pack-gel chamois yet? Seriously, put it in the freezer for and hour or two until it gets a bit of freezer squish then BAM cooling down downtown no diggity.

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@jrenaut 20762 wrote:

Heat index hit 95 and they’ve issued a hyperthermia alert. Stay cool and hydrated out there.

Time for the old “cup of cold water over jersey before leaving office.” Sure you look like you have hyperthyroidism, which I do, but it keeps your man chest cool. Could also work for lady chests, I’m not a scientition.

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@Dirt 20758 wrote:

I think we should let Ann design some outfits for us to wear while commuting. It would make us MUCH easier to identify.

Bike Commuter Pirate Hats – let’s make it happen.

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@KelOnWheels 20659 wrote:

Goal set! We were admiring some fixies at CityBikes today

Also, I have decided to call all passes even when walking [ATTACH]1114[/ATTACH]

Awesome, I wimped out and built up a 1×7 29er as my backup bike. What we need more of around here are belt-mounted air horns.

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@dbb 20586 wrote:

It seems to always be the economists trying to find the boundary conditions for any problem! I’m halfway there – just need the racing bike.

I forgot to add in the coefficient of Jelly Doughnut and divide by Funk. Redact, redact.

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@Terpfan 20563 wrote:

Most of the survey options included “better bike pathways or sidewalks” in discussion commutes. I got the impression they were looking at wholestic ways to reduce traffic and improve transit. I suggested better bike pathes via widening, more dedicated bike lanes, and a real big wish list item a pressured air pump station along MVT haha (and I realize it’s fed property, but eh I can dream).

I also suggested trial improvements, economic incentives, and other normal things.

My last suggestion was that they tax the hell out of little people who insist on driving Hummers. Seriously, an H2 weighs 6,614lbs. Riding solo in one of those things, assuming a 120 svelte owner, your Jackassery Index is right above 55. Take a little Camry and four people and you drop it down to a manageable 4.7. Take my rocking road bike and I have an index of .1.

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@americancyclo 20469 wrote:

I was out of town for a while, so this was the first day I rode the Custis eastbound over 66, and I noticed that the hard lip of the bridge (at the top of the hill in rosslyn) has been filled in with asphalt. So smooth now!

Nice work Tim!

That was pretty rad to see, actually had my arms braced for the traditional “bunny hop for freedom.” However, the little engineer inside my head kept saying “What about thermal expansion and contraction?” I hate that guy.

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I’m about ready to commando-style lay some concrete in the Land of a Thousand Potholes along Memorial Bridge. Also, Jet Packs.

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