[Riley Casey]

And then there is the corollary to the grocery shopping example of “bike think”. The thinking different about shopping bike think. My grocery trips are defined by my panniers. No buying more , bigger, heavier than can be carried in the pre-defined volume of the panniers and usually a weight limitation in conjunction with my computer backpack. Thus shopping is a nearly everyday stop made a part of my commute home. Somewhat 19th century, very Euro style ( at least French & Italian – the limits of my euro experience ) and much more enjoyable approach. Parking a car at a suburban shopping center is now just plain intolerable. Pulling up to the whole foods on P St on a bike 30 ft from the front door is miles ahead of disappearing into the exhaust infused underground parking lot even in the dead of winter.

[Riley Casey]

Thanks for the contributions folks, particularly that part about running out of knee room when climbing out of the saddle. Thats something that never would have occurred to me in the abstract thinking stage. Dirt, as soon as you mentioned that Novara bike I remembered having seen it at REI. Funny that none of my Googling had turned that up. I see it’s still a current item from their website although I’m not thrilled about the brake and shifter arrangement. Guess I’ll mosey over to REI and see whats to be seen.

[Riley Casey]

You’re just a young squirt if you don’t have your AARP card yet ( although it doesn’t seem to be good for much in the way of bike related discounts LOL ). I suppose the real value of biking is that it tends to make one look not so much like they hold an AARP card.

[Riley Casey]

I can’t believe that this thread has now grown to two pages. Sheese.

[Riley Casey]

Ain’t no such thang as too much light – or too much reflectivity. Helmet lights really do rule particularly in tandem with handle bar light. I can ride pretty much as fast at night as in the day on relatively bad suburban streets and on the unpaved section of the CCT now that I have both. Highly recommended, +1, etc.

[Riley Casey]

I only signed up to win the iPad. I want to send it to my daughter in Chicago so i can use the FaceTime app to see my grandkids on my iPad. Now I’m wondering if it’s going to be raining when I ride home at 11 pm.

[Riley Casey]

whoops …

[Riley Casey]

I bought these to make my commute / general urban riding more bullet proof and for the reflective stripe on the side.

http://www.michelinbicycletire.com/michelinbicycle/index.cfm?event=city.view

[Riley Casey]

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/2d/2da21d5c-6e1a-4427-ad82-cbbc80bde43b_300.jpg

10 bucks at Home Depot. You can wear it while you get over your sartorial reservations.

@Dirt 7867 wrote:

Reflective clothing if possible….

I don’t wear a reflective vest. I probably should. I haven’t found one that I like. I know that is a lame excuse. I need to get

Pete

[Riley Casey]

I ‘liked’ your post but somehow it’s hard to like a story that ends with three cycling deaths in so many weeks. This and the ” move your genius ass over” assault video have me feeling both anxious and pugnacious.

[Riley Casey]

Worth it just for the pic.

[Riley Casey]

I have added various bits of first aid paraphenalia over the years in response to assorted self inflicted wounds i have experienced. My last addition was popsicle sticks to splint my fingers. So many crashes / falls seem to involve the hands meeting the asphalt that more than once immobilizing a sprain was a good idea. The most consistent need has been for sterlizing wipes. Coming to an abrupt halt from 15 mph In a city gutter using ones hands and knees as brakes can really grind some nasty stuff into that oh so tender skin. Only had two crashes in my adult life that I couldn’t ride away from though. Thank the maker.

[Riley Casey]

Three weeks ago now I fell off my bike and fractured my elbow. The orthopedist was adamant that I not ride for six weeks. For years I used to stop at the Whole Foods in Silver Spring every other day and the food Co-op in Takoma Park twice a week. Since injuring my arm I have been to the store exactly once. I stock up in the car or eat what my wife buys but I dislike driving and particularly parking so much that I’d rather go hungry. OK maybe not go hungry exactly but I won’t drive to make up the difference where I can no longer ride. Driving in the urban core just sucks. I don’t own any spandex, I don’t do exotic rides to east no-where, I bike simply because I need to get to work and to shop and to live a life. I almost missed re-registering my car – I was down to the last day last month because I simply don’t use it enough to take note of the windshield sticker. Riding just seems like a normal way to get around to me now. It’s hard to remember when it was otherwise.

[Riley Casey]

Shaving is over rated

[Riley Casey]

As others have said this is not a dangerous route from the perspective of bad neighborhoods. That being said I don’t imagine that Google’s route finding algorithms take the relative security from crime into consideration. Suburbanites often see the whole of DC as a danger zone which is as in this case a false perception but not an entirely groundless one as recent assaults on the MBT and even the Key Bridge. If you are new to the area it would certainly not hurt to make inquires here or on other sites.

@Fontinalis 7112 wrote:

snip … My question regards safety.
One website that I went to advises visitors to the area of safe and unsafe areas… That puzzles me a bit.
Would that path given by Google Directions lead me into seriously unsafe areas ? …

[Author]

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