[SpaceJockey]

@dbb 198704 wrote:

Some additional thoughts. I just sent these to FHWA. Feel free to crib.

Why is there a different speed limit for the two directions on South Joyce? The drawings show the stretch of Joyce heading towards Columbia Pike as having a speed limit of 35 mph and the opposite direction having a speed limit of 25 mph. Please reconsider the suggested speed limits, given Columbia Pike is shown as 25 mph. Having a portion of Joyce at 35 mph will encourage speeding on Columbia Pike.

The side paths on the north side of Columbia Pike have a 8 foot sidewalk and a 10 foot cycletrack. At the intersection of Columbia Pike and Joyce, the 18 feet of side paths (8 and 10 feet) become a single 10 foot path on the east side of Joyce. Because this east side path is likely to pick up the bulk of the bicycle and pedestrian traffic from the north side of Columbia Pike, there is a strong chance the “necking down” of the paths will induce conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians. Please take a look at the accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists along Joyce.

Makes perfect sense if there is a photo-ticketing machine on the 25MPH side. In recent news AAA pulled support for DC traffic enforcement, which it deemed predatory for income generation and not in the interest of public safety.

[SpaceJockey]

At night that road is nightmare fuel. Looks like the biggest obstacle is the overhanging branches, at least with those trimmed a single-track can develop. Surprised at how pristine those lamp-posts look.

[SpaceJockey]

@mstone 197782 wrote:

Oooh, that’s an excellent example of the DOT mindset of “protect the drivers and screw the plebs on the sidewalk”!

Considering drivers knock down lamp-posts on the sidewalks all the time I doubt that lamp-posts built in the middle of the road will have any chance at survival.

[SpaceJockey]

Are bollards in a bad spot? YES
Do freak occurrences happen that may result in a Rube-Goldberg-esque series of events that caused an exceptionally safe and aware cyclist to meet their end upon a static piece of infrastructure? YES
Do people make mistakes? YES

It sucks, be smart and do your best to ride safe.
One “rider level” fix……what about signage or yellow tape if you notice a trail hazard? There are emergent issues that cannot be resolved within the timeline of public debate and government approval.
I’m accustomed to no assumption of personal safety. In fact, I’ve experienced a life-threatening trauma pneumothorax and had a tree fall literally one foot from me while on a bike. It happens.

[SpaceJockey]

@drevil 197650 wrote:

In honor of Laugh and Get Rich Day on February 8 (which I just discovered, and yeah, it’s real), we are going to bike to different spots in DC and Maryland where local hometown hero and world famous comedian Dave Chappelle grew up, earned his chops, and made a mark. I am still working on the route, but here are some key details:

1. When: Saturday, February 8, starting at 10 in the AM
2. Starting point: This is TBD, but somewhere in downtown DC.
3. Route: I’m still working on it with some others, but as soon as it’s ironed out, I can post the route. I do know we’re starting and ending in downtown DC, and heading up to Silver Spring where Dave grew up. I’m shooting for between 25-30 miles, with lunch somewhere in Silver Spring. Social 12-14 mph pace, no-drop.
4. Bring: a lock, lunch money, and your humor (because although I’ve led plenty of mountain bike rides, I can’t recall leading any road rides ).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]20981[/ATTACH]

I will update this post with details when they are developed. Cheers, rickyd.

Sounds like a great idea for an event and love the picture I’m guessing there will be film-making? I think Dave will appreciate the homage.

[SpaceJockey]

@Hancockbs 196866 wrote:

Got a link?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nite-Ize-Spokelit-Led-Wheel-Light-Disco-Select/173998458

[SpaceJockey]

The method I use that has worked pretty well for me employs the following 3 items:
1) Bike-mounted blinky red tail-light to show passing drivers I’m there
2) Spoke-mounted color-changing light ($10) that is continuous and visibly “bounces” with my rear-wheel when moving, this indicates motion
3) Helmet-mounted solid white light to serve as my headlight which I control simply by turning my head. This allows me to illuminate a dark path, avoid blinding oncoming traffic, and move the light naturally towards whatever draws (or rather demands) my attention. Additionally, the light that I use attaches directly to the GoPro mount already on my helmet since I never record at night.

[SpaceJockey]

@smb9600 196728 wrote:

#FS2020tacoloco Taco Hunt

I zoomed down the hill full of anticipation. Alas, just meat tacos were all that were there to meet me…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It appears the cow was spelling the other farm animal’s name correctly after all…… EAT MOR!!

[SpaceJockey]

@LuisFilipe 196681 wrote:

TACO HUNT Clue!!!
If you go riding down hill from Courthouse you better brake for the autenticos tacos Mexicanos. You’all just been served.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You mean there’s people that don’t know about that taco truck? Yea they are definitely legit. For secondary taco options, I’m a fan of monday night fish tacos at Continental and fish tacos sold at the DC Wharf seafood market. However, I believe the #1 taco in the DMV belongs to Taco Bamba, which recently opened a new location in Chinatown. I used to go out to Leesburg Pike near Tyson’s specifically to get those tacos for a few years, well worth the trip.

ALSO: +1 Taco Bamba used to sell a shirt that said “F*** Burritos”

[SpaceJockey]

@EasyRider 196600 wrote:

Indeed, let’s keep it up. Here’s a situation i can imagine using blinky mode on a headlight.

A few weeks ago I was following another cyclist on N. Irving towards 50, maybe a block or two behind. They were using a white/headlight as a rear light; I guess either their red light died and they had an extra headlight, or they didn’t know better. Anyway, once I convinced my brain that the cyclist wasn’t approaching me, I noticed that their steady white rear light looked a lot like a distant streetlights (we were going downhill too.) In the dark, I could see a driver thinking it was streetlight and not realizing it wasn’t until they were right on top of the cyclist. So if one must put a headlight on the rear, maybe aim it down and only then, put it on blinky mode.

I’m pretty sure bright lights in blinky mode is what people do in tactical situations to disorient the other person. Never understood the benefit of having a blinky headlight.

[SpaceJockey]

@secstate 196489 wrote:

There’s no real solution to this. The bells annoy some people, others (like me) nearly jump out out their pants if a bike passes without audible warning.

I agree. Sometimes I even make the decision to “engage the silent drive” and pedal to prevent the audible clicking of my freewheel. Not only does an audible warning annoy some people, it can also cause them to make an erratic movement right before I pass them, instead of right after.

[SpaceJockey]

@Smitty2k1 195719 wrote:

I live by the Chick-Fil-A on Maryland Ave NE DC. That place is craaaazytown

Partially related…..

Me: Pulling up to a light on H St NE on my 700c commuter.
You: 30-ish, blonde, strong, brave, empathetic, hearing-other-than-abled.
Me: I heard you the first time you told me to not jeopardize my life by riding down H St NE when there are other roads available for me to ride on (side note: sinister city-planning afoot if the SF-in-DC NOMA neighborhood is really a bike deathtrap due to light-rail system). However, I vocally agreed with you immediately, partially due to you being in a 2000+ pound vehicle. Nonetheless, you continued. I appreciate your insistence I comply with you while I too was held captive at that light and eager to be within earshot of your riveting lecture.

[SpaceJockey]

@phog 193705 wrote:

Reminds me of the heroic Bicycle Repairman by Monty Python ! De he stop on a venture after seeing you pushing your disable bike along, or did you flag him down? And if so, how did you know he’d have a chain tool or a link, or a spare chain of the correct gauge? Most commuters are in such a hurry they might not think to stop.

Great reference! Here it is for nostalgia and indoctrination purposes:

[video=dailymotion;x2pk2t9]https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2pk2t9[/video]

[SpaceJockey]

I am currently using an eccentric bottom bracket and it stays nice and tight. I do not recommend if you do a lot of mashing up hills because the added tightness and force will quickly result in a snapped chain, but this is excellent for the flats. Just keep your chain oiled to account for the higher forces on the rollers.

[SpaceJockey]

@Smitty2k1 192900 wrote:

I’m always up for activities in the CapHill/Navy Yard area, but I would not call anything that comes from Slipstream “inexpensive”

I got a cold brew coffee cheaper than at Starbucks….

[Author]

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