[rcannon100]

“My ride would be better if…” I was 20 years younger!

[rcannon100]

@Dirt 20446 wrote:

Honestly and sincerely… My ride to work would only be better if it were longer. I have it pretty easy.

Try taking the long way home. For you, that’s through MoCo, and across Point of Rocks, Right?

[rcannon100]

Every kid walking into REI yesterday sure new which bike they wanted -> one of those bright shiny new bikes sitting strategically positioned right inside the front door.

Mom! Mom! We can buy this bike!

My kid is riding a several times regifted Motobecane that I cant pry out of his hands.

[rcannon100]

Although now that my agency has a bike transportation reimbursement program, that may drop somewhat. I have my first reimbursement claim ready to submit.

Yummmmmmm. $20 per month that kills your metrocheck reimbursement. For me that would be a net loss, and the bike subsidy would not be enough to cover a single thing I bought yesterday.

[rcannon100]

I have it on good authority (the Natl Bike Challenge itself) that I saved $81 dollars this month by cycling.

Of course I just dropped +$200 at LBS yesterday.

Times:
Car Commute ~35 min rush hour
Bike Commute ~ 40 min rush hour
Public Transportation ~ 1 hour rush hour

Car Commute means finding time to exercise, which use to be ultimate frisbee. I am too old to fall on the ground any more. Thus, adding commute time to exercise time, cycling is by far the shortest amount of time.

Not sure what NBC is basing its “$avings” on, but losing the monthly car parking costs did clearly show up in the budget. So does not paying for public transportation (~$7 per day).

[rcannon100]

@mstone 20313 wrote:

This gets back to that whole “it’s hard to find non-racer bikes/shops” meme. If someone’s commuting and wants to carry a bunch of stuff, they should probably not be getting a lightweight road bike

Hybrid urban bike! Takes a beating and is built to carry crap. I am riding a Cannondale Bad Boy. Not as elegant as some of those road bikes I see out there. But its my second hybrid and neither ever gave me trouble (well, when the first one got hit by a car, the fork did bend, the crank did crap out, the head went wobbly, and the wheels did go loopy). Good hybrids can also be very moderately priced.

[rcannon100]

Today REI sold me a cleat that is suppose to release in multiple directions, not just laterally. That’s the cheap solution. If that doesnt work, I will try the Frogs. They look cool. REI salesperson said she didnt like them bc they have too much float. But for me that might be a feature.

Got a new helmet, a new trunk, and some new shirts as well. BOY this cycling thing sure is saving me money! :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help.

[rcannon100]

@mstone 20205 wrote:

Have you adjusted the screw on the pedal that changes the clipping force? Try just turning that down. Alternatively, there’s a version of the SPD clip that allows you to unclip in any direction.

Yup. Thanks for the suggestion. I have been scanning pedals for information about float and other specs – there is very little information out there. Do you have a rec for the SPD clip that allows unclip in any direction.

Gracious.

[rcannon100]

Panniers. Trans it brand. Almost like stuff bags. With the yellow rain cover, they have been very dry. Used them for two years. Strap onto the bike rack very solid and easy.

Anything on your back can ultimately lead to back problems. There is also a risk of the strap snagging on something (branch) as you go by.

[rcannon100]

Reviving an old thread – and reading through it, it is very informative but adds more questions.

Succumbing to peer pressure, I went clipless. I bought Pearl Izumi SPD shoes with pedals that are flat on one side and SPD thingy on the other. LOVE IT. Would definitely say I found another gear or two, and another few miles per hour.

BUT here is the thing – and someone mentioned it a few posts back. I have an old sprained ankle. Torquing my foot out of my pedal puts strain on the foot exactly on the spot of the old sprain. After BTWD I could barely walk. I read thru stuff, and am confident that it is not ankling (its in the front of the foot, not the back).

Is there a solution to this? Are Egg Beaters easier to get out of?

My solution is to by different shoes. If I cant get the shoe off the pedal; I could get the foot out of the shoe. Get velcro strap shoes and just take them on and off.

But reading through the posts, the comment about bad knees and float also concern me.

First, is there a solution to getting out of the pedal and the pain it is causing my foot? Second, is that the same answer for float and bad knees?

Gracious.

[rcannon100]

Yur gonna get wet. Get a dry bag – forget the fenders or the rain gear – and have fun blasting through the puddles!

[BTW, on a shortish commute like from Ole Town, you should be able to watch the weather radar, and shoot the gaps in the clouds. Map out what bridges you can become a troll under in the unlikely event the sky opens up with buckets]

[rcannon100]

So who won the bikes :confused:

[rcannon100]

Same spot. Virtually the same story. My chain jammed. So gray beard stopped and taught me a few things I did not know about chains. And 50 other people offered to help. I am always amazed when I stop how many people offer help!!!!

[rcannon100]

I “manned” the prize table in Ballston and then scurried to “man” the BAC table in Rosslyn.

I thought it was like batman or something. Never see Batman and Adam West in the same room, or however that line goes. First I saw you in Ballston, then poof you were magically at Rosslyn! There had to be two of you!

[rcannon100]

Thank you Bike Arlington, WABA, CABI, goDCgo, LAB, BIDs, NPS, Freshbikes, Revolution Bikes, Phoenix Bikes, REI, Bikespace! and other people I am sure. Thank you also to the BACs. And the Interagency Task Force.

I remember when BTWD was one pitstop, down on Freedom Plaza. Boy have things changed! Back in the day, we use to aggregate in meeting points in the burbs, and “convoy” into Freedom Plaza. 100s of bikes in a pack – I believe at times just taking over bridges. That was fun. But today, 12,500 registered (of course I registered 2000 times trying to win the free bikes)! ~50 pit stops. It was fun pitstop hopping.

You bike advocate people. You done good. We cycle-to-work people ding our bike bells in your general direction in appreciation!!!!

[Author]

Posts