[Phatboing]

@dkel 79923 wrote:

Wow. The W&OD is clear from Lee Hwy all the way to Hunter Mill Rd. Even the bridges have a wide track, with the exception of Citizens’ Bridge, which has a very narrow track, but it’s also mostly slush. It was a fun ride.

Was that you in front of me from gallows to falls church today? (Me in white helmet and green jacket and on a Fargo)

[Phatboing]

@jnva 79894 wrote:

Saw the snow blower machine in falls church on the W&OD so hopefully it should be cleared all the way to vienna by tonight.

Great jumping bananahammers this is excellent news.

[Phatboing]

It was a bit dismal yesterday. I’m not a fan of gray skies.

[ATTACH]4998[/ATTACH]

[Phatboing]

@GuyContinental 79856 wrote:

He’s got an enclave… several acres right up against I-66, 1880’s farmhouse that ended up stranded when I-66 was built. Also has a private exit/entrance from/to 66 EB since it’s technically his driveway:

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.890399,-77.211246,3a,75y,95.25h,76.81t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s_0ozyZRY309JYp4hmF9TNg!2e0
http://www.google.com/maps/@38.890638,-77.209959,3a,75y,215.09h,73.25t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s1iRkupPTaSwtuKya-4PReA!2e0

Weird real estate quirk.

On the flip side (and definitely not excusing the parking) he and I have had some animated conversations about cyclist behavior along Virginia/WOD. If I wanted to document bad behavior, the intersection at the bottom of VA Ln would be a good place to do so.

What a fascinating and bizarre arrangement. I’ve noticed his car parked at that W&OD intersection and thought many uncharitable thoughts, but now I’m a bit more sympathetic.

[Phatboing]

What little I saw of the W&OD from Falls Church to Gallows was still slushy and/or icy (surface streets, though, have been remarkably well-cleared).

The Gallows road bike lane has some dodgy spots that push you to the left, but is otherwise not too bad.

[Phatboing]

The W&OD east of EFC station has received a token plowing (the plowman went through and made two passable tracks with his tires, but didn’t actually have his plow down).

The Custis, beginning at the W&OD junction, has had a more than token plowing, but with patches that are sure to become icy overnight.

Bluemont is plowed only between Ballston and the Wilson/George Mason intersection.

West of EFC, the W&OD is a bit of a mess. Some parts have been stomped onto submission by those on foot (and to a lesser extent, an excellent Phat person with 2.4-inch tires), but is a slog regardless of steed.

If you commute in Arlington county, I envy you significantly.

[Phatboing]

@hozn 79691 wrote:

I am sure they are wet.

But looks like it might freeze again next week!

Update: I confirmed with my buddy out in Reston; Lake Fairfax trails are wet. But people have been riding them … and destroying them. I am sure it is preaching to the choir here, but please don’t ride wet trails!

Aw bollards. Not that I’m surprised. Thanks.

[Phatboing]

Has anyone been out on the mtb trails? I feel like some off-roading is in order for me this weekend

[Phatboing]

Every time I need to put a ride in perspective, I think about my last day on the C&O coming in from Pittsburgh.

(Disclaimer: My horrible conditions are my own stupid fault. The weather was glorious.)

I’d made some dumb choices on this trip: used my mtb saddle instead of the more cushy commutey saddle, went all Grant Petersen-y and eschewed the bike shorts for wool boxer briefs (which are rather nice for the usual commute), and through some sort of silliness, gotten my achilles tendon all siezed up (on day 2, no less).

All of this led to my undercarriage getting even more wrecked by mile 2 of the C&O, and my mood then being further soured by the C&O’s blandness compared to the GAP.

Anyway, the last day. I was 90 miles from Georgetown, contemplating going maybe 60-ish and then camping out before doing the last bit and getting home in time for lunch. Then I reached Harper’s Ferry, and remember thinking, “It’s Harper’s Ferry. I know this place. I’ve biked to this place before. I can bike home too.” And so I did. Ninety miles on a loaded bike, with a stiff ankle, trying not to pay attention to the smashed nethers getting smashed-er on a brick saddle, bouncing on the C&O. Ran out of food before Great Falls, got hissed at by geese in Great Falls, a burst of joyous speed when I saw the first buildings in Rosslyn, and nearly broke down in tears when I got to the Key Bridge.

But I’d do that trip again in a heartbeat. With a better saddle.

[Phatboing]

@ShawnoftheDread 79437 wrote:

But then aren’t your hoods and levers at a weird angle? Are the hoods still comfortable?

They are slightly flared outward, which I found quite agreeable – having the brakes angled slightly outward increases the leverage my pinkies have on them. On my old bike, I had them set up so I was riding in the drops primarily, so the hoods weren’t especially usable. Right now, I’ve got them set up more like this:

[Phatboing]

@dasgeh 79428 wrote:

Phatboing has them on his AMAZINGLY AWESOME Fargo that he let me test ride last weekend. That bike is an AMAZINGLY AWESOME machine. (Like rider like bike)

Haha, the bars on the Fargo are extra-special kooky, and not these.

(In comparison to the Woodchipper bars, the Portola bar featured here is quite subdued)

[Phatboing]

@TwoWheelsDC 79420 wrote:

I like the concept, but I’ve never been able to get on board with the aesthetics of that style bar. Crosschecks come with something similar and for whatever reason I just don’t care for it. Good thing I really like my bullhorns!

A shame.

I gravitate rather strongly to the kooky, myself.

[Phatboing]

@TwoWheelsDC 77277 wrote:

It looked like the drops that they would’ve included were sort of not-quite-track-drops/not-quite-compacts, so it’s probably better that I now have the option of picking up some compact drops later, which might make riding on the curves a little easier. BTW, it’s gonna look like this (except with brakes)

In lieu of compact drops, here are “urban” dirt-drops:

[IMG]http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-3773699254952_2268_28267191[/IMG]

The drops are wonderful for climbing, and if you set it up right, you can use the drops as your primary position, even.

[Phatboing]

I’m with Pete. The keeping on will be kept on.

[Phatboing]

@dasgeh 79149 wrote:

All of that makes sense, but what about butterfly/trekking handlebars? The first time I saw them, my gut feeling was that I wanted them. But I like different.

This is precisely why I have them

@dasgeh 79149 wrote:

Will they work with hydro/MTB disc’s (Sheldon seems to think so)? Will they work better with a touring/CX geometry than flat?

And will I be sorry that they’re not more “normal” (e.g. I don’t think they work with bar mitts)?

They’ll work with MTB levers, definitely. Can’t say for sure about geometry, but they were nice enough on my MTB, especially after I got a longer stem.

With bar mitts, they’ll technically work, in that you’ll be able to put the bar mitts on. What I’d worry about with that is your hands will be stuck in the flat section, which is the least fun section. (the sides are like bar-ends, and is where I ended up spending most of my time)

If you want to try em, I’ve got one hanging in my closet right now (much to my SO’s chagrin/amusement, I have more spare handlebars than I have bikes). If you hate them, I’ll have them back, and if you like them, money can change hands, maybe?

[Author]

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