[Rootchopper]

heaven forbid that drivers have to “go out of their way”. Bicyclists shouldn’t be held to a different standard.

[Rootchopper]

For those of us who commute from south of the Beltway to DC and North Arlington, plowing from Tulane Drive makes the most sense. There is no safe passage across the GW Parkway at Belle View/Belle Haven at rush hour. Moreover to get to that point many bike commuters would have to ride on Fort Hunt Road which is definitely not prefered. FHR already lacks shoulders in many places, a condition made worse when snow clogs the edge of the roadway. Plowing and treating the trail from Tulane Drive is the better because it keeps bikes off Fort Hunt Road at rush hour. Most of Mount Vernon north of Little Hunting Creek can use side streets to get to Tulane.

[Rootchopper]

This discussion hints at an interesting question: why does the National Park Service control so many of these neighborhood parks. Not just the pocket parks either. Why to they hold onto Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park for example? I seriously doubt that MH/MX Park gets many out of town visitors who are not brought there by local residents. Why does it control the park land around RFK? These areas are almost exclusively locally used.

[Rootchopper]

I managed to make it across Trollheim this morning despite the boards being very icy. Someone heading south bound wasn’t so lucky. There was a smush mark in the snow where someone apparently went down. Be careful out there.

[Rootchopper]

I saw no salary or age info. These would help.

[Rootchopper]

I have also found a very fine piece of wire embedded in my tire. Not perpendicular to the tube but at an acute angle. Really hard to find. I think these come off of car tires. The only way to find it was to slowly run my bare finger over every millimeter of the inside of the tire until it snagged.

Are you booting the spare? If you have a hole in your tire and don’t boot the spare tube, the hole will ever so gradually open and close on the tube causing a flat. You may see a scuff mark on the tube.

Not that you don’t know this but this will drive you mad.

[Rootchopper]

My big worry is that the Park Service will get to plowing the MVT with all the speed and diligence it has put into fixing the Rock Creek Trail. If so, I will quite literally be dead before they plow an inch of the trail.

Also, let’s keep in mind that this is not a new issue. I have been dealing with this nonsense for over ten years. To read that the Park Service suddenly realized just recently that people commute on the trail is laughable.

I agree that they have massive funding problems. As long as the Congress fears any sensible tax increases we are all going to see more and more of the federally owned infrastructure fall in to disrepair. How long as it been since the car blew through the side of the Memorial Bridge. The broken posts and railing are like a sign saying America the Decrepit. You get what you vote for America.

[Rootchopper]

The Park Service has just as much responsibility to clear snow as it does to clear downed trees and repair damaged bridges after flooding and severe non-winter storms. They do an excellent job of clearing the trail after non-winter storms. We should not settle for half a loaf here. They plow the Parkway. They need to do the same for the trail.

[Rootchopper]

Here’s my blog post about yesterday’s commute from Fort Hunt (Mount Vernon) to Rosslyn. I used a 100 yard portion of the MVT on the way home, but otherwise avoided it altogether. Today’s ride in by the same route was ice free. Some of the traffic lights were annoying but I envy the folks in Del Ray because the Potomac Yard Trail is great.

https://rootchopper.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/taking-the-inland-route/

My biggest concern now is not ice it’s all the sand and salt and grit building up on my drivetrain.

[Rootchopper]

Good: My work id fell out of my bag. Found it the next morning on the street a block from my office.

Better: My work iPhone fell out of my handlebar bag while riding to Whites Ferry. Doubled back and, after ten miles of riding, found it in the grass in the middle of the towpath.

Best: I found $140 (2 $20 bills and a Benjamin) in the street in front of my house.

[Rootchopper]

I am concerned about getting there with the bike and getting home. NYC kind of freaks me out. Also, I’ve never ridden the SIF so that in itself will be fun.

[Rootchopper]

I registered and I am going. Any hints on hotels to stay in on Staten Island?

[Rootchopper]

There are several videos on YouTube that show how to do this. Basically you can get one bead on. Then about 2/3rds of the next and then you are stuck. Make sure the tube has minimal air in it. Pinch the tire into the low point of the rim on the opposite side of the unseated tire bead. Pinch the tire around the rim. A little more bead with seat. Then repeat. Over and over. Don’t use any tire levers. Don’t try to force the bead with your thumbs.

Also, beer helps. Orally. You can try it on the rim too.

[Rootchopper]

Reminds me of signs on highways as you’re leaving New Jersey: Leaving New Jersey – Obey Local Traffic Laws .

These superfluous and idiotically placed signs are proof of a bigger problem. There are too many stops signs in Old Town. Ignored at best. A distraction at worst. Easier fix is to lower the Old Town speed limit to 15 mph which is perfectly appropriate for the area and ticket the crap out of cars and the few cyclists that speed. Also, install more yield signs in place of the stop signs.

[Rootchopper]

And at 19th and Lynn in Rosslyn.

[Author]

Posts