[Steve]

Sorry I couldn’t stop by tonight but you all looked very blinky! Also fun on the ride today to see 1/8 blow by me like I was standing still for the second time in as many weeks. I need to speed up. Good to ride a bit with you.

[Steve]

@KelOnWheels 35895 wrote:

This. People should be able to go out and easily buy a nice-looking commuter bike that ALREADY HAS fenders, lights, basket, chain guard, etc, and it shouldn’t cost $1500.

Which if you’re in Europe, you can do.

Sadly, we are not there.

WOE.

While we’re making our wish list….

I’d like bikes to be sold with a key that goes to a headset lock (the way my old motor scooter did), so that I can lock the functionality of the bike (I think there are a few aftermarket versions of this). I’d also like a swing arm or something like that on the fork and stays that allow the frame to lock to the wheel, for the same reason. These are my wishes….

[Steve]

@jrenaut 35881 wrote:

@Steve – I’m not sure what you mean by what I should do with my right foot.

Yea, I don’t know how to explain what I’m thinking without being able to demo it. I’m trying to say to open up the hips a bit, to get the right leg off of the bike. Like you would be beginning to roll onto your back. Rotating the hips a bit can allow you to push the bike up, and give you the room to upclip.

[Steve]

It’s probably a little easier to get your right foot on the left side of the bike (under or behind the wheel at least), so that you can push the bike up a little to allow room to unclip. Or, I suppose you could (depending on velcro vs. bindings) try to unstrap and just slide your foot out, leaving the shoe attached to the pedal.

[Steve]

@TwoWheelsDC 35829 wrote:

How does that even make sense? People want to look good while riding, so they buy clothes from this guy’s shop that are made for riding…but they ride more when they feel like they don’t have to wear clothes made for riding??
.

This observation made me laugh. Isn’t it the classic hipster conundrum…how to spend a lot of money and time on how you look, while trying to appear as if you do neither?
But seriously, I think the tweed rides and things like that are great for cycling in general. A lot of people are really turned off by the spandex aspects of cycling. It’s like sometimes we (and I’m putting myself in this category) forget that we didn’t wear spandex as kids, and yet seemed to ride just fine. I know the tweed ride is just as costumed as a spandex kit, but it at least highlights that “normal” clothing can be worn on the bike. I think as advocates, it is equally important for us to ride around sometimes in normal, and I mean more normal than tweed, clothing to remind people that we are somewhat regular people trying to get around town and do regular things. I repeat…somewhat regular…let’s be honest.

[Steve]

@rcannon100 35680 wrote:

You should check out Potomac Pedalers. You might even organize these through PP.

Editing to add: I think this is most excellent and love the effort!

I appreciate the feedback. I might have to look into the PP for help on these. My thought is that I’ll hopefully see how this one goes and then find ways to improve it. Hope to see you there!

[Steve]

Looks like it: http://www.bloondesign.com/2012/09/springtime-picknickbasket/

Though I read that they only have a prototype, so who knows if a real one would ever be made. Still, a pretty cool little idea.

[Steve]

’87 Cannondale S/T (Commuter)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1988[/ATTACH]

’10 Cervelo S1 (Pretending I’m faster than I am)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]1987[/ATTACH]

[Steve]

@ShawnoftheDread 34857 wrote:

So far the parked trucks and cars turning left have required me to merge into or close to the left-hand traffic lane several times. That would be bad news if I were heading in the opposite direction of the traffic.

I can’t disagree with that. That’s part of why I said that it really would only work in a totally separated track, more like 15th St., and not in a bike-lane type situation (which the L street track seems to have a bit of both). Also it doesn’t work if, even when the lane is separated, cars decide to use it. Though it might make throwing things at the driver easier, since they’ll be in front of you.

[Steve]

Another option if safety is the number 1 concern would be to cross Arlington Memorial Bridge (or even 14th St. to avoide the GW Pkwy crossings) and then ride the path down past the Tidal Basin and up toward the Wash Monument. area and then just go up 6th. This is much more of a path than a sidewalk in this area, because it is fairly wide. It may have to include riding Jefferson St. once you get east of the Washington Monument (I’m not sure if the path is still the wide paved or crushed gravel at that point).

I’d try to map this, but my work computer struggles and it would take way to long to load. Sorry!

[Steve]

@ShawnoftheDread 34844 wrote:

So the mixing zones for left turns and garage entrances could result in head-on collisions instead of just side-swipes. I think bikes should always travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicles.

I guess I just disagree with the assertion that it is necessarily more dangerous. I say this only as a result of the 15th street track, where I have felt more comfortable when going in the opposite direction of traffic because of the ability for both the car and rider to see each other. It takes the bike out of a car’s blind spot, which I generally think is good. I agree that when in traffic, or when in bike lanes designed to go with traffic, the salmoning is wrong. However, I don’t agree with Dismal’s assertion that riding designed opposite way tracks would someone lead to more of it. I don’t believe 15th street has caused an outburst of salmoning.

[Steve]

Bobco, thanks for the video. As someone who doesn’t ride up in that part of the city much, it was nice to see what it actually looks like.

Something that stuck me about the track (and most of them) is whether or not it would be better if the tracks on L and M went in the opposite direction. There are some parts of the track that I could see this being problematic (when it is more of just a bike lane, not a separated track), but many that it would help. If bike traffic went in the opposite direction, there would not be a need for the mixing zone, which constantly requires you, as highlighted in the video, to look back over your right shoulder. Furthermore, going the opposite direction allows the rider and driver to see each other more easily, and make eye contact going into the intersection.

I’m no expert by any stretch, and I don’t ride those tracks much, just wondering what people thought about that.

[Steve]

I can come the 8th, but probably can’t make it until 5. Is that ok?

[Steve]

@culimerc 34522 wrote:

Broke the 3rd spoke in as many months this morning on wheels that are only 6 months old. Good thing I have disc brakes, still its getting old.

Agree with economist. It is likely a lack of tension. Bill Mould at Spokes ( Quaker Lane one) is a wheel builder in the area and adamant that lack of spoke tension leads to most wheel problems and under-performance. He also says that most people, when truing your wheels, don’t address tension (they just make it round). Might be worth seeing him, or getting a tension meter if you’re inclined to do it yourself.

[Steve]

Great to meet a lot of you down on Penn today. Thanks for the Penn loop riding. Hope everyone has a good friday and safe rides home….

[Author]

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