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@CCrew 16720 wrote:

Every time I think about riding in a storm I think about the day I hit Reston to see cars bobbing in the Park & Ride like ducks in a pond….

That said though, with lightning I usually duck for cover. Especially since most of my commute is on the W&OD right under all the electrical towers. I’m not sure if they’d ultimately protect or increase the chances of a strike, but I’ll opt not to press my luck.

I actually backtracked a mile from my office that evening to witness the floating parking lot in person. Absolutely incredible!!!

But I’m with you on the lightning. I’m surprised I’ve never run into you out there… or I have, and just not noticed!

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In heavy, heavy thunderstorms, I get very, very wet. I do nothing at all when it rains, I just ride on as if nothing happened. In the flood-rain we had last summer, I rode home barefoot because of the deep standing water and having to carry the bike across a few river crossings, but otherwise it’s just business as usual.

If it’s lightning, I’ll hide under cover until it passes, but otherwise I don’t care. I’m waterproof, and my clothes will dry.

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@americancyclo 16468 wrote:

Dirt recommended Penguin Sport Wash. http://www.penguinapparelcare.com/sport.htm

If anyone knows how to get stinky, it’s Dirt.

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@vvill 16471 wrote:

Wonder what colour the T-shirts will be this year.

I usually go to Freedom Plaza but I might stop at Rosslyn too this year.

I’ve grown quite fond of the purple ones.

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@Tim Kelley 16464 wrote:

Yup, but on May 18th you get free breakfast, a t-shirt, prizes and more…

Last year, the manager of A-1 Cycling even gave me a free tube!
Of course, I had just purchased a new bike from him two weeks prior, and it came with a flat tire.

That said, excellent customer service!

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The simple solution to all of this is to stop at stop signs. Even if it’s just a quick 3-4 second track stand, it’s worth it.

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Wait, isn’t every day bike to work today?

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Wash them in the laundry, then hang them in the sun to dry. I’ve been using the same gloves for about 3-4 years now, and they get washed weekly.

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After a few years of commuting 365, I’ve got TONS. I’ll throw in a few short ones:

Got a honk and a “GET OFF THE F*&%^ ROAD, A8(*^#%(@” one time. Dude sped off, to be immediately caught by the next light. I pulled up to his window and politely explained that I was legally supposed to ride in the road. Turned into a brief but honest conversation, and he apologized.

Had another lady clip my elbow with her SUV’s mirror on her way to a light. In return, as I passed her stopped SUV, I hit the mirror back and carried on. She cut off a few people and caught up a couple blocks later, cussing at me (while I ignored her) from the right lane. Then she cut me off, and the car that was to my left… The car to my left flipped on his blue flashing lights, and I smiled as I rode past her now-stopped SUV.

Riding down Lewinsville one morning, a driver gave a long blare of the horn as he RACED past (in a 35mph section with huge lanes). I wrote it off until I got to the 495 bridge, where I found a half-mile-or-longer traffic backup. Guess who was right there at the tail of it. I rode past the entire jam and turned onto the logjammed 123, and proceeded to pass all of them too and arrive at work in a great mood.

Twice last year, I was no-signal passed by spandexed road warriors on the W&OD, only to find them pumping flat tires within a mile or so.

And my favorite was a gentleman who deliberately ran me into the grass leaving my workplace one evening, twice. I returned the next morning and swung by the security office (real police, not rent-a-cops), where they were able to pull up the tape and later “have a conversation” with the driver. LOVE it.

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@vvill 12651 wrote:

Yep… I liked the free cookies in reception though.

Actually I didn’t mind the place overall. Helluva lot cheaper than owning a house

I dunno, I moved out and bought a house, my monthly expenses are MUCH lower. Bonus: My rent will never increase again! No free cookies though.

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Mine do that whenever the shifter cable or chain need replacing. Check both, replace what’s needed.

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@mstone 13466 wrote:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Admittedly, my butt is the least likely thing to get cold thanks to the chamois padding. I need a bridge-of-my-freaking-nose warmer for the sub-freezing days.

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Herndon to Reston was well plowed by Monday morning, save for the bridges. I took the MTB but on standard mud knobbies, and had NO issues. Rather pleasant.

Back on the roadie today, horray thaw!

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@MCL1981 13441 wrote:

Like a dream. It was especially satisfying pedaling past people trying to walk (or more like waddle) their bike. Braking action was impressive. I brought it up to about about 12mph and dumped the brakes. The stopping distance was obviously longer than it would have been on dry or wet pavement. But it stayed upright and straight ahead and stopped firmly and predictably in a perfectly acceptable distance. No slipping when pedaling under power. To contrast this, I tried these conditions last year with normal mountain bike tires and I nearly died. Apply the brakes resulted in my ass on the ground and pedaling just spun the wheel.

Now, with bike tire ruts and foot prints in the ice, steering is more like “aiming”. But it was a very controlled aim.

Advice for that, instead of looking down, look ahead and “ride loose” in the saddle. Let the bike take the bumps and slips, but don’t focus on correcting for them. Rather let the bike kinda ride over them. Look at professional downhill racers and you’ll see what I mean.

Works pretty good for me! KNOCK ON WOOD!

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Wundermap is awesome. Don’t forget Full Screen Weather!
http://www.wunderground.com/auto/wxmap/

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