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FWIW, my near term bike bucket list includes this trip but I kinda want to do it camping style.

I have no plans. No dates. I don’t have the right bike for it. I don’t have a tent to use. But I have a dream…and someday…someday.

(I am sharing this non-helpful information b/c I learned somewhere that when you make your dreams and goals public they are more likely to come true b/c karma?)

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Well, this is kind of embarrassing given the standard that’s been set but…it works for my two bikes and gear. I guess it could use some tidying up.

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Boeing sees your Strava art and raises you a 747 flight plan….

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Via: http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/1/30/5362510/boeing-seahawks-flight-photos

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@slebo3213 75701 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I’m familiar with the Old Gtown part of the Trolley Trail. How is the CCT in the spring/summer/fall during morning and evening rush hour? Crowded? Do you think a moderately in shape, novice’ish, cyclist can do it in under an hour?

I’ve never found the CCT to be too crowded during rush hour. Nice weather weekends are worse, actually. More walkers, dogs, and kids on bikes. I love kids, but kids on bikes on trails are the most treacherous.

Under an hour is doable and probably more like 30 minutes. You’re really only talking about eight miles. Depending on your fitness level, the inbound trip will be maybe 10 minutes faster than the uphill ride home. My commute is 19 miles from near Rockville Town Center to Conn. Ave and M st. On a typical day it takes 1:15 going in about about 1:25 coming home.

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Howdy. I commute from Rockville to DuPont. I would think from where you are the best bet is the Bethesda Trolley Trail south into Bethesda and then the CCT to Georgetown and then hop over the river on the Key Bridge.

Unfortunately, the Bethesda Trolley Trail isn’t really that simple. There’s a decent-sized section where you have to ride the sidewalk along Old Georgetown Road but depending on where you are starting from you might find a better way to get into downtown Bethesda. From there, it’s pretty easy on the CCT (assuming it’s not packed with snow and ice).

Weekends are a great time to explore various routes. When you are ready, hit me up and we can go for a ride.

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and a little video of a little snow ride…

http://instagram.com/p/jckVwqnyhS/

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Weather is about to turn to suck.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/01/16/return-of-the-polar-vortex-cold-at-times-downright-frigid-for-end-of-january-increasing-snow-chances/

“Temperatures should average well below normal starting around next Tuesday, lasting at least through the end of January.”

“Throughout this period, chances for snow are above normal. I think light snow events are more likely, but cannot rule out more significant storminess.”

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@jrenaut 74948 wrote:

I saw a cockroach the size of a beaver near the bike cages in the basement yesterday, does that count?

Since we are on the topic…sort of…I have a question as someone new to the area (~18months, moved from Phoenix). It seemed to me that there is a road kill season in the area that “feels” like roughly October and November. Am I making this up or is there actually more road kill during certain parts of the year?

Also: Taking pictures of dead animals from a bike would be an interesting, albeit super creepy, project.

Also: I once ran over a large black snake the size of a garden hose on the CCT and deer frighten me…a lot.

Sorry for the diversion into…this.

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@jrenaut 74793 wrote:

… for underneath a shoe cover.

I’ve tried a few different brands both inside and outside the shoe and none seem to work so I’ve given up and resigned myself to having cold toes. Haven’t bothered with hand warmers. My ski gloves with wool liners/inserts work fine on even the coldest days with just a little finger wiggle.

Frozen saddles? How about frozen toes! amirite

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Is this a large group thing or individual?

So, do I need to go out and find my own “Washington” now or do we all start working on Adams?

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Today was a tough call.

Knowing that it would warm up for the afternoon, I originally planned to ride the road bike to the metro, take it on the train (before 7am…although that rule is something we could talk about), go to FCC, ride to the office, and then ride all the way home.

But when I walked outside at 6am it was just too slushy and icy for even a short ride on 23s so I rode the hybrid to the metro but then didn’t really feel like riding it all the way home so I left it there.

I spent a LOT of time last night and this morning thinking about all the various permutations which also included which clothes to wear, what to pack for lunch, how/if to bring in a fresh towel and spare clothes for the office shower, when to shower, etc.

It’s all pretty nuts when you step back and think about the amount of energy spent on determining one day’s commute. But I wouldn’t change a thing! (Except the weather of course.)

Sincerly,

Anonymous Crazy Commuter

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@DismalScientist 74409 wrote:

It’s basically a freeway with a shoulder there. Bikeable? Yes. Legal? Don’t know.
The preceding maneuver is easier eastbound than westbound.

My earlier comment was just about the bridge over the Potomac.

That makes sense. So probably best to do this loop clockwise: White’s Ferry => Leesburg => Harpers Ferry => MoCo

Thanks!

Anyone wanna ride?

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Speedplay zeros on the roadbike (which I love) but I’ve been thinking about this question for my n+1 CX bike that will hopefully soon be joining my basement bikeshop.

I want pedals that I can reasonably use for short (under two miles) rides in street shoes but then also are good for da mud and muck and fun.

I can’t remember the exact model, but I saw some crack bro’s with a platform that might work or otherwise someone suggested SPDs. Thoughts?

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@DismalScientist 74403 wrote:

From Brunswick, I would be tempted to take 180 west onto 340 for 1/2 mile and hop the median to get to Keep Tryst Road which only intersects eastbound 340 at that point. This would avoid the entirety of the towpath.

Is 340 bikeable? I thought I read somewhere it wasn’t…or maybe that was just the bridge.

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@DismalScientist 74379 wrote:

http://www.strava.com/activities/45204781
In retrospect, I should have taken the towpath from Point of Rocks to Brunswick. Point of Rocks road was nearly the end of me.:rolleyes: There is a bit of Towpath in there after Brunswick, but get on Keep Tryst Road as soon as possible.

After this route, I turned south on Harper’s Ferry Road and took this: http://www.strava.com/activities/45204645 to Purcellville and back on the WOD.

Nice! I’m trying to avoid the canal as much as possible and keep this a road bike adventure. I don’t (yet) have the right equipment for that gravel that I’d be willing to ride this far.

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