[Rootchopper]

I am driving to Shirlington. Car repairs took a day longer than planned.

[Rootchopper]

Motto in conflict

On the one hand:

“Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles.”

On the other;

“The farther one travels, the less one knows.”

(Bet you can guess what I do for a living.)

Signed
The Happy Idiot

[Rootchopper]

My fanny has supported my 220 pound engine for many a mile on Brooks saddles. I started with a B17 on The Mule, my touring bike. It was orders of magnitude more comfortable that the two previous saddles (a Specialized Body Geometry and a Terry with a cut out). It died after I broke one of the rails at only 7,000 miles. I cried. Then I bought another. It too only lasted 7,000 miles. Snap went the seat rail. Tears. Then I bought a Brooks Flyer (a B17 with springs). It lasted another 7,000 miles. I forget what happened to that one. My latest Flyer has about 10,000 miles on it. I somehow broke the tension adjusting screw. It’s pretty much ready for replacement but fits my sit bones like a baseball in the pocket of a glove. I will ride it until it says “Uncle”.

I had a Brooks B67 (wider, suspension) on my Bike Friday. It is still in great shape after 8,000 miles, but I decided I liked the feel of the narrower Flyer better. That Flyer has 2 or 3,000 miles. It looks like new.

None of these Brooks saddles have cut outs. They support my sit bones so I don’t get numb down yonder.

Like they say in those AT&T ads: It’s not complicated.

Buy a B17. Just a plain old B17. It works. You’ll like it now but you’ll love it later. It will last a long time.

Bicycle Space sells them.

(No, I don’t work for Brooks or Bicycle Space.)

[Rootchopper]

From Sunday thru Friday I’ll have about 170 miles in so the double metric will pretty much do me in.

I am riding from Rosslyn down the MVT to 4MR following the scent of Kolsch the whole way

[Rootchopper]

Suddenly, I am thirsty. Count me in. I must make sure I am properly beerdrated for the 50 States/Backroads double metric century this weekend. Also, Mrs. Rootchopper will probably be coming too.

[Rootchopper]

You won’t have trouble finding people to ride with. Groups form/fall apart spontaneously throughout the ride.

[Rootchopper]

Amen, brother. I’ve nearly been hit several times and have seen EMTs take people away all too many times. It is shameful that Arlington Cty lets this go on after so many people have been hurt.

[Rootchopper]

The TR Bridge sidepath is worthy of a 3rd world country. I ride it every Friday morning from DC to Virginia and have to stop 5 times to let DC-bound riders by. Suppose we built roads for cars this way. Would it be acceptable?

Fixing the side path is probably not the solution. The bridge is an eyesore. It’s lousy for cars too. And judging by the underside that I can see from the MVT it’s in awful shape.

Wouldn’t it be great for everyone, if we blew it up and started over?

[Rootchopper]

I did Niagara Falls to Albany on the canal and Bike Route 5. It’s incredibly flat but for a couple of hills in the Little Falls area. The canal is lots of fun with free camping and nearby services. Highly recommended.
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=654&v=11

[Rootchopper]

The parking spaces along L’Enfant Promenade were once filled with cars with handicapped tags, often the kind hanging from the rear view mirror. I am certain that unless L’Enfant Plaza was a mysterious cluster of handicapped people, that many of these were bogus. What a shame that this sort of abuse ruins something that is obviously needed by the few among us who are impaired.

[Rootchopper]

Best way past that section is to go through Fort Belvoir. You need to show id at the gate.

Enter at Walker Gate, about a half mile before the Mount Vernon Hwy hits US 1. You can either exit at Tulley Gate or Kingman. If the former, continue across US 1 to Braddock to FFX CTY Parkway. Right turn to Telegraph. LT to US 1. Then pick up the map’s route.

[Rootchopper]

Sadly I will escorting my daughter to her freshman move in date at college. Empty nest countdown has begun!!!

[Rootchopper]

Many thanks to Dickie for setting this up. Sorry Big Nellie and I had to leave early-ish. We made it home just before sundown after a pleasant tour of the streets of Arlington.

[Rootchopper]

Suddenly, I feel thristy. I’ll be there.

[Rootchopper]

Another advantage to Jones Point Park is that you won’t cross any intersections getting to the bridge. You follow the trail up a ramp to the Washington Street Deck, then turn left and left again to access the Bridge trail.

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