[ronwalf]

I watched the clouds, watched some more, then took off just in time for it to drizzle, rain, and pour. Now I get to spend the work day in soggy shorts, and I can’t wait to put on my sopping wet shoes for the ride home!

I actually enjoy these warm rain rides, but drying out is a pain (and it’s murder on my bike parts).

[ronwalf]

Quote:

Some of the things that we are NOT doing on the bike are: texting, reading our email, furiously changing the radio stations, picking our noses….all the things that people in cars are doing.

Not picking their noses? I wish! That’s the biggest unlabeled danger of the iBert front seat: my son trying to feed his boogers to me.

[ronwalf]

I hear you drive. California drivers killed 2,715 people last year. How can you expect non-drivers to identify with your highway infrastructure needs, when you kill so many thousands of people every year?

…

…

Yeah. That wasn’t a question. It was a rant (I hope you feel better). BikeArlington and WABA do educate cyclists to be predictable, aware, and lawful (PAL). Just search this forum for ‘bell’ to see how into it we get.

[ronwalf]

@jnva 55308 wrote:

Hey dirt, how does this look

I wouldn’t be happy with the visible gap between the chain and cog.

[ronwalf]

The Proteus Pastry Peloton passes a disgruntled deer. (The Shortcake Bakery won’t let her in the door).

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-27EqCjJGRIg/Ubzrpq-6EvI/AAAAAAAABJo/v0dWVl53zsQ/w543-h724-no/100_1937.JPG[/img]
[img]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o7qgSvb3DmA/Ubzrr088VqI/AAAAAAAABJw/45pFS_nmB9I/w965-h724-no/100_1938.JPG[/img]

[ronwalf]

@Dirt 54541 wrote:

You’re a role model, Pete. I hope that soon we’ll all be riding around with our spare tire flapping in the wind.

[ronwalf]

Certifried! You’re alive!! (or undead?)

Yesterday
You: a driver yell at me for taking the lane through the Greenbelt metro roundabout. You thought I should use the widened sidewalk to the right.
Me: Even though MD has no side-path requirement for cyclists, I would have gladly used it if I felt it was safe. However, the entrance and exit to the path are both narrow and steeply angled against the direction of travel. At anything other than a walking pace, it is safer to merge with traffic than to take the sidepath.

Today:
You: A firm yellow banana, tucked safely in my panniers.
Me: Wondering where you went, and what this gelatinous brown blob is.

[ronwalf]

@mstone 54007 wrote:

edit to add: I suppose if you can really give them lots of room its moot (like if you’re passing in the left of a full size travel lane with several feet to spare, in which case I probably wouldn’t ding in VA either) but that can’t happen on our trails.

This is actually happens to be a common case for my route (by Lake Artemesia, with maybe a 12 or 14 foot path at points). My unstated point was this: There is not a firm consensus on when to ring for pedestrians. Many people have put a good faith effort into devising appropriate rules, and they have come to differing conclusions, so I suggest rationing our ire at our fellow travelers accordingly.

[ronwalf]

@mstone 54001 wrote:

Eew, that seems like a terrible idea. If you’re moving above a walking pace, you should always announce that you’re going to pass someone. (Note that I’m not limiting that to bikes–joggers running past a little old lady walking should also say something or slow down a bit.)

I guess I should put their entire quote:

Safe Bicycling in Maryland, 2008 wrote:

If they’re walking in a straight, predictable line, pass them without saying anything – but give them lots of room so you do not startle them. Avoid headphones so you can hear others passing or warning you.

[ronwalf]

Amazing! And more amazing?
Moving Time: 08:19:34
Device: Strava iPhone App

That’s good battery life!

[ronwalf]

I find this all odd. Maryland’s SHA puts out a fairly good introduction to safe cycling, and their recommendation is to always announce for cyclists and joggers, but to only announce for walkers if you think there might be an issue. But, given Virginia’s apparent rules on the subject, there are technical solutions.

[ronwalf]

@bobco85 53634 wrote:

I liked biking on those trails, but i did notice that the Paint Branch trail has a lot of 90 degree turns and forks where I’d be lost if it weren’t for the blue markings.

I’m not sure if you saw the signs, but the swamp and tree stumps on the northern end of the Paint Branch trail (4:05 in the video) are remnants of the 2001 tornado that ripped through campus.

[ronwalf]

@Terpfan 53632 wrote:

My second call-out goes to the poor cyclist passing me by the power plant. I never ride behind it, but I felt like a leisurely ride this morning. When I ran across the 5 foot black rat snake slithering along the retaining wall, I stopped to take a photo. You didn’t realize what I was doing and so you looked at me. I should have warned you, but about the exact second you figured it out is when the snake also struck at you. Thankfully, between an elite quick turn and it not being able to judge that speed, it missed.

Yesterday was all about snakes and their modeling debut? I was just about to stop for a cyclist squatting for a shot (nice SLR and lens!) on the Paint Branch when he sees me and waves me through …. towards the 3′ or 4′ black snake making his way across the trail (probably a racer – i noticed a lighter belly). I opted for a short cyclocross detour instead.

[ronwalf]

With my last ride, I crested 750 points, optimizing my chances at a years supply of toilet paper. I don’t think I’m hitting the 5k point level.

[ronwalf]

Peach Tree Sugarloaf loop up near Clarksburg, MD:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2968[/ATTACH]

More pictures here.

[Author]

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