[Rootchopper]

It looked like a few boards on one side of the bridge were damaged. This would be consistent with a heavy vehicle, but you’d have to be a determined idiot to get a motor vehicle there. The trail starts at a curb cut at the end of S Union and takes an abrupt left. Then goes straight for a 100-150 yards before taking a sharp right to the bridge.

No need for bollards here since it’s not under the WWB.

Glad it was repaired so I can avoid the dance of the Catholic SUVs at St Mary’s in the morning

[Rootchopper]

Veloworking: Telling your boss you are teleworking and then going for a nice long ride on your bike.

[Rootchopper]

After crashing yesterday (and watching a car bounce off a curb) I have switched to my snow bike. It’s a Mitsubishi Lancer.

[Rootchopper]

I saw you struggling with the lug nuts. You get bonus points for helping her.

[Rootchopper]

You missed the great blue heron just to the left of the picture. He/she was cowering in the underbrush. Not a happy camper.

[Rootchopper]

Your rack is similar to mine. I am pretty sure that Orliebs would work fine. I have 3 bikes with 2 racks (including my Bike Friday) and I set uip the Ortliebs so that they work on all 3 without adjustment. I have the cheapest Ortliebs. More expensive models are even more adjustable.

[Rootchopper]

I usually wear mittens. The finger of doom becomes a tomahawk chop. Instead of feeling admonished, drivers probably think I am a Braves fan.

[Rootchopper]

This is the same problem at the Rosslyn Circle of Certain Death. The bridge over I66 on Lynn Street has railings on it that obstruct the view of right turners on red. They have to creep into the crosswalk then they get stuck there. Today, a sedan with CT plates was in the crosswalk and was looking left as I came from his right. He started to move and I – and the panhandler on the far side of the crosswalk – yelled at him and he stopped. (Which reminds me, I gotta give the panhandler some $$$.)

[Rootchopper]

I’d hoped there was a connection between MacArthur and the Canal but I never knew about this one. Thanks.

[Rootchopper]

Try to keep in mind that you will have all day to cover the distance. And you can eat all the food you want. Pie. Chocolate. Ice cream. Maybe even something healthy.

I wouldn’t plan on getting stronger as you go, but I was shocked at how good I felt a week into a ten day tour. (Day ten, not so much. )

[Rootchopper]

One thing they should consider is to make the gas tax a percentage of the price (like a sales tax on gas). Then the politicians can stop obsessing about it. Why I, as a bike commuter, should subsidize the building of lanes on I-66 is beyond me.

[Rootchopper]

USB? You must be a young whippersnapper! My lights are all several years old.

[Rootchopper]

Having agreed to use steady lights a few weeks ago, I decided to pay renewed attention to whether red or white blinking lights bother me on the MVT. Short answer, I don’t much care for blinking headlights but I still find most blinking tail lights to be no problem at all. There are a few new-ish blinkies that are quite bright but they don’t pose a hazard for me.

Since going to constant mode on my blinkies, I am going through batteries like crazy. I’m switching back to blink mode.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have had six eye surgeries and I suspect that I now have better vision than the vast majority of people. This brings to mind a number of optical problems that may make seeing at night problematic:

Cataracts are a fogging of the lens. This can put a haze over all lights. (Been there, done that, had the surgery.) Before my cataract surgery, any lights at night were a huge problem. The MVT heading south was practically impossible. The improvement of my night vision after my cataract surgeries was unbelievable. (I now have artificial corrective lenses in my eyes. Science is nifty.)

Astigmatism causes lights at night to be seen with a star pattern. Astigmatism is not often easily corrected. (Been there, done that, have the glasses.)

Botched laser surgery can cause halos and other distortions at night.

If you have a combination of eye conditions as I did, you are likely to be miserable riding at night.

I’m sure there are other conditions of the eye that can make night riding problematic. If you haven’t had you eyes checked in a while, get thee to an ophthalmologist. (Cataract surgery is painless and takes ten minutes.)

Your best defense against nighttime glare is a visor close to your eyes. A cycle cap worn under your helmet can make all the difference in the world.

Even with all this, the headlights on the MVT remain problematic. I’d love to see the NPS plant some shrubs along the Parkway as a light screen.

[Rootchopper]

I’ve done most of both trails over the years. Be thankful you will be on the trail instead of going up and down those hills. They are beasts.

You may find yourself getting stronger as you ride. I wouldn’t count on it, but I was surprosed when it happened to me. And the ride from the Eastern Continental Divide to Cumberland will be a snap (it’s downhill for miles and miles).

That area gets quite a bit of rain so make sure you are prepared. The grit on the GAP trail can gum up your brakes and shifting so make sure wet grit doesn’t get into the works.

Off route facilities can be difficult to get to. Sometimes you have to climb short steep hills. (Like in Belle Vernon PA, Frostburg or Shephardstown WV.) Plan ahead.

If the weather holds you may have another worry. You won’t want to stop. It’s a gorgeous ride.

Good luck

[Rootchopper]

It was back in the day in Albany. My father took off my training wheels and launched me down our dead end street away from the dead end. As I got to the T intersection at the end of the street, a late 50s Chevy driven by a family friend drove across the top of the T. I panicked, forgot how to brake, and t-boned the back fender of the Chevy.

This past year my brother Jim who is one year older claims it was he who t-boned the Chevy.

It was a long time ago. It’s hard to argue over an event that confirms one’s innate stupidity.

[Author]

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