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@consularrider 169358 wrote:

Multiple construction detours on today’s route (along the Main, not in the DMV). I’m not sure what the point of the barriers was along this stretch of the cyclepath/sidewalk.

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Repaving that section?

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@lordofthemark 167378 wrote:

Of course I expect that the paving on Maine will deteriorate before the paving in the PBL does . But even so, I think the prime barrier to bike usage is not the pedestrians, but the connections at each end. In particular the sidewalk NW of the PBL, by the fish market, which is the way any low confidence rider is going to go between the PBL and points west, is absolutely terrible. That’s why I suspect getting the construction workers to stick to the sidewalk is not a high priority for DC govt. I do think that when the construction is done, the proportion of riders in the PBL will increase relative to the number of peds, and that will increase further when the connections are improved. Whether the number of riders in the PBLs will ever increase to the point that all pedestrians avoid walking in them, as in certain European cities, I do not know – but it was my observation that even now, with few riders in them, pedestrians favored the sidewalk over the PBL.

I also think that as transportation biking reaches its full potential, the share making short slow “Dutch style” trips, versus the kind of long fast commutes done by people who consider taking the lane on Maine 100% comfortable, will increase.

Until the entire project is complete, connections will remain a problem. The construction at the Fish Market runs into spring of next year. Until then, a problem. (And even then, there is that section from under the 14th St Bridge to 12th, which is always a delicate sharing act with pedestrians) At the other end, from 7th to St Augustine’s, Phase 2’s three new buildings will not be ready until 2020. Access through the Old Channel Inn site will disappear in the next few months.

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[Looking up] I observed the same thing, Friday night, around 10:30pm. So this will be a problem this time every night when The Anthem lets out.

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@jabberwocky 167510 wrote:

Who is the mod team here? I know Tim was the admin for a long time, but I don’t know that he visits anymore. Maybe the forum needs to appoint a few junior mods to help smack the spammer moles down.

There are MANY to smack down. The “Your Latest Bike Project” thread, just by itself, is overrun with them.

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@hozn 167455 wrote:

That Raven light looks great, thanks for sharing! U might get that as a backup/new-primary light.

I saw. *That* is what I am hoping to see more of from domestic vendors. A “proper low beam” for street and W&OD use that puts usable light on the road and not in oncoming riders’ eyes. The StVZO reference standard remains, from Busch+Muller (IXON Core): [ATTACH=CONFIG]15680[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15681[/ATTACH],

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@Steve O 166829 wrote:

Here’s my new Busch & Muller Lumotec IQ CYO Premium T Senso Plus. It is connected to my Schmidt Dyno-hub. Like all German manufactured lights, it has an engineered beam that illuminates the trail but does not shine in oncoming cyclists’ eyes.
The “senso” means it has two settings – day and night, which it can automatically sense. In daylight, the LED running lights are brighter and the main beam is dimmer (since it’s not really needed), for better visibility. At night the main beam is brighter, so you can see the trail better.
I used this for the first time last Thursday and then for Midnight Saddles. Both Mr. Happy and I are happy with it.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]15619[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15620[/ATTACH]
The two little wires hanging off the back are for a generator-run taillight, which I do not currently have.

Aha! That’s the light I was running for the past couple of years, before I fitted my current B+M IQ-X this spring- you saw the newer light when I ran Midnight Saddles this past July. Isn’t that big wide beam fun?[ATTACH=CONFIG]15621[/ATTACH] (*This* is the quality of light Steve O has to work with now… No, I don’t have a beam shot of the my IQ-X just yet.)

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More from the raid: Biggest mission objective was finding food that was vegan, per one of our rider’s request. Only half of the available restaurants were open today, and all were quite busy. Found what we sought at the (very) freshly opened Velo Café @ District Hardware and Bike.[ATTACH=CONFIG]15603[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15604[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15605[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15606[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15607[/ATTACH]

Riding down there, less auto and pedestrian traffic than we expected.
Overall, an easy ride.

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Aloha. Papillon Cycles ran to District Wharf today (RAID Papillon-District Wharf). Maybe not the first bike shop there, but the first with pictures. First up, bikes have free run of the place, though it was crowded enough with people that we locked up (plenty of bike racks, end to end). [ATTACH=CONFIG]15598[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15599[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15600[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15601[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]15602[/ATTACH]

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The ride- RAID Papillon-District Wharf. What might be the first Coffeeneuring shot from the newly opened Velo Café @ District Hardware and Bike.[ATTACH=CONFIG]15597[/ATTACH]

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Steve: Can’t do this one tonight- I must be rested for my own ride (RAID Papillon-District Wharf) in the morning.

For anyone on the fence about riding in total darkness with friends- *GO*. You won’t get a better October evening than tonight. And Steve O will not lead you to “certain death”…

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T – one day to RAID Papillon-District Wharf. Enough of the shops and restaurants/cafes are open, including the Velo Cafe I was banking on (to anyone doing the Coffeeneuring Challenge, here’s a chance to quickly notch one) to make this more than worthwhile. Still fine tuning the route- that last quarter mile to the Wharf, but the raid is a GO.

See you tomorrow morning!

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@dkel 166729 wrote:

I started my dad’s ‘76 Corolla in third once to impress a date. It worked fine except for the burning smell that started shortly thereafter. I doubt the girl was that impressed.

Ah, the smell of fried clutch on a date!

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Getting closer… Some restaurants and cafes, including the Velo Café at District Hardware and Bike, are already open, more to follow by the weekend. Based on all the “Wharf Garage Full” signboards, getting there by bike *might* be the easiest way of all!

Fine-tuning the route to work with and/or sidestep Maine Ave, and dance around fish market traffic, is an ongoing process. P.S. I am serious about this being a ride for anyone at a non-race pace. My wife will refuse to ride otherwise. A bikeshare bike of any sort? Cargo bike with kids aboard? Why not?

One more time: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/raid-papillon-district-wharf-tickets-38486966553

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@Judd 166663 wrote:

Last report from the Velocafe on Twitter was that they’re opening up tomorrow (10/17).

They indeed look like they’re open!

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