[Steve]

This post made me happy because sometimes it gets lonely crossing the river. I don’t know too much about the Wilson bridge crossing, but my understanding is that it does not put you in particularly bike friendly areas. I could be wrong about this, as I have never crossed there, but even using maps I just don’t see a good way to get up to JBAB or St. E’s from the Wilson Bridge. What most folks (myself included) seem to do is cross 14th St. Bridge, ride along the SW Waterfront, and then cross over the South Capitol St. Bridge. The bridge crossing puts you on a path the rides right down to the Firth Sterling gate a JBAB. From there I’m not sure exactly how you’d get to St. E’s, but I think minimal exploring could help you find a way. The safest (traffic wise) option would probably be to enter base at that gate, ride across to the main gate at Malcolm X Ave, and head up to St. E’s that way.

As far as safety goes, I don’t really find it to be a problem. That said, all I do is cross the bridge and head to the gate, so I can’t completely speak to it. I’d be surprised if you found it to be a problem though. It may depend, working at a hospital, on how odd your hours are.

One resource you might want to check is Bicycle Space (bicyclespacedc.com). They lead a weekly “Hills of Anacostia” ride, and so they probably have a lot of knowledge of riding thru this area.

Best of luck! If you need any help when you move down here, or want to ride down there to see the route, I’d be more than happy to help.
Side note: jrenaut, I am a short 7 days away from my holiday trip to Bell’s…. one of the real benefits of having a wife from Battle Creek.

[Steve]

@eminva 38354 wrote:

Nice to see Tim! He was doing that thing I’ve heard about called “running.”
Liz

Is that like pedaling while out of the saddle?

[Steve]

Last commute of the year this year. I can’t ride tomorrow because of some after-work activities, and then it’s off to the Midwest for the holidays. I hope everyone has a great holiday themselves, and safe riding around here. This trip is going to make me desperately want a travel bike. I think I might take my pedals and shoes just in case I find myself in a bike shop…..

One fun story from yesterday’s commute…..I got dressed for my ride and was about to leave work but stopped off in the restroom. When I walked in and turned to the wall, I noticed that all of the sinks behind my turned on. As I spent my time there, I could hear them turning on and off the whole time, and then when I got a little closer to wash my hands, all the sinks were on again. I realized that the BikeArlington reflective vest I was wearing was giving the automatic sinks hell. They couldn’t handle the light. At least now I know it is very reflective!

[Steve]

Totally bummed that I will be out of town for this. Best of luck and thanks for what you are doing. I think it’s a great idea/cause.

While there aren’t any climbs, the HP headwinds might be strong enough for people to run next to you in a devil costume or speedo waving the American flag. I know I would….

[Steve]

Just about to finish “The Geography of Nowhere” by Kunstler, and absolutely loved it. While it might not techncially be a cycling book, it certainly supports it as a valuable form of transportation. On the whole, the book is more about suburban expansion and the development of cities designed completely on the scale of the automobile. It can be dry in some areas, but on the whole I found it really compelling.

Also love “Just Ride” and BSNY, as many others have commented.

[Steve]

@mstone 38123 wrote:

Weather forecast said it would be around freezing. Put on my warmer gear this morning and hit the road. After a few minutes I decided that my hands were unusually numb, and decided to head back. Checked the thermometer and it said 23 degrees. Apparently that’s an important 10 degree difference; I didn’t realize just how bad my hands were until they started to warm up–if I’d gone the whole 19 miles I definitely would have had some issues. Mental notes: 1) check thermometer before leaving, rather than after returning 2) order those moose mitts.

Yea, they lied on the forecast. Lied! My god it was cold this morning. My body warmed up pretty well, but my thighs and digits were pretty cooooold. And my shower at work doesn’t have adjustable temperatures, so it inevitably feels scalding hot.

[Steve]

@mstone 38001 wrote:

That would be fine. Even if there were a collision, it would be a low-speed annoyance rather than a death-dealing blow by someone pushing a couple of tons of steel 40+ MPH. (Assuming police the stop for cars any better than they enforce the speed limit.)

Not it wouldn’t. The crossings in question here are where low level traffic streets (residential) cross the Custis trail to get to Lee highway (like Quinn). The conflicts here are cars that are barely moving. The problem is that it is a steep downhill section of the Custis where riders are going fast and cars pull out in front of them to see if they can turn right on Lee.

[Steve]

@KelOnWheels 37982 wrote:

I wish the Roper came in the Furley colors – I saw the black Furley at Revolution and it was hawt. The Roper is a little over my budget but would be worth saving up for. Except it’s brown. :p

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2155[/ATTACH]
You should check out the 2012 Roper.

[Steve]

I agree with most of what has been said here in that the main issue is visibility. Particularly with the speed that you can carry downhill on the Custis in that area. The Quinn location, I believe, even has a big brick housing development sign that blocks nearly all the visibility up the trail.

I guess my question would be how do you regulate the right of way? If visibility is the problem, then stop signs don’t really help, because cars will still have to pull forward to make the eventual turn. If they can’t see up the trail from the stop sign (which they can’t), the only way is to pull into the trail. The only solution then is to have a signaled crossing (with no turn on red) that defaults to green for the path, and changes only when a car trips the light (by weight, I would assume).

[Steve]

I’d rather have someone make almost any light infraction (blinkies on the trail, lights from behind for a prolong period, etc.) than have no lights at all. This morning when I was riding in, I went to make a right turn off of a path and a bike passed me on the left. No yell, no bell, and no light. At a little before 0600, when someone passes you unexpectedly, it’s a bit of a heart attack moment. Unfortunately I had turned already by the time I wanted to say something, which was mostly to ask why would you be commuting in complete darkness without any lights? Ninjas…..

[Steve]

My highlight of the year is also about joining the forum, but more than that I guess is getting to the point where I wanted to participate more in advocacy and cycling as a community. It has been a great year to learn so much about so much (transportation, urban design, bikes, gear, etc.). Between the forum, the ABAC, and the washcycle, over the past year I think cycling, especially in terms of transportation, has really gone from something I enjoy to something I am passionate about. As a result of all this, rides like the Arlington Fun Ride and the No U-Turns ride were a great time for me, and highlights of the year.

I can’t thank everyone enough for the free education and motivation, though I’m fairly sure it has killed my productivity at work…..

[Steve]

@Vicegrip 37541 wrote:

Had a tight chain chainring related click on another bike. I ended up finding it when I got around to cleaning and and inspecting the big chain ring. I found a slightly bent and dinged tooth. Unbent it with an ajustable wrench and filed off the ding for the fix. Only clicked when on the big ring in front and a one of big sprockets in back. (Did someone say “sprokets”? Now we dance!)

I’d be careful with messing with the chainring. If you look closely at one you will see that the teeth are not uniform in size or shape, and sometimes even a little out of line. It looks like the tips of some have broken off too. But that’s intentional and how it looks brand new. These little differences help with the chain catching more easily.

[Steve]

@GuyContinental 32766 wrote:

Of course you did… why wouldn’t Dirt have had a 36″ unicycle? Hmmm Anything more obscure in cycling that we think Dirt might have owned? Purpose-built Polo bike? hand-bike? eliptical? rowing? Penny-farthing? Triple(+) tandem? Burning-man art bike? Sled dog Scooter? 36″ Beach Cruiser?

lol

ElliptiGO?

[Steve]

Another update to this story today…..

http://www.wtop.com/120/3142707/Va-to-consider-tougher-laws-on-texting-while-driving

[Steve]

Steve Appel – http://app.strava.com/athletes/1411897

Now I’m nervous.

[Author]

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