[Supermau]

@peterw_diy 97110 wrote:

It’s the law in VA, yes: http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter10/section46.2-1015/

Not so crazy about all the ninja hate. Sure, total blackout is bad, but cyclists shouldn’t need 2w headlamps and hi viz to stay alive. Motorists should pay more attention.

No hate. But I disagree. There are many roads where, in my opinion, a cyclist with no lights has no business on at night. They (we) really can be hard to see until they (we) become a hood ornament.

[Supermau]

Here’s my current setup. A couple more blinkers and a disco ball and I’ll be a regular rock show.

[video=youtube_share;PtzmaODUvgA]http://youtu.be/PtzmaODUvgA[/video]

[Supermau]

I couldn’t agree more. I see so many ninjas around here, specifically on Franconia Rd where motorists speed like crazy. I don’t get it. Not long after I began cycling again this spring I saw a guy on Franconia in broad daylight with a powerful strobe on his bars and that truly opened my eyes about bike lights. I could SEE the guy.

I leave work after dark, near the Capitol. Ninjas everywhere.

[Supermau]

@vern 96975 wrote:

I was covered by dozens and dozens of bugs when I got home. I assume most were dead; none were moving. Face, head, chest, even down to my belly (sweat carried them there?), covered with bugs. I noticed that as I passed through the Crystal City Connector onto the MVT that it was solid bugs for a couple hundred yards, so I suppose most of them rode the final 21 miles home with me. Damn freeloaders…

I ate a bug last night on a grocery run. Not sure what it was but it tasted kind of bittersweet!

[Supermau]

@hozn 96971 wrote:

Took the day off to go for a bike ride with a friend; I don’t really have time to do that on weekends, so this is a good use of vacation.

Came down Berryville Rd for the first time toward the end of the loop. Beautiful.

Mostly just the rolling countryside. We are lucky to have so many pleasant country roads so close to the city.

Turns out I routed us over some gravel; that plus the wet roads meant the bike was pretty gritty.

Mostly, it was just fantastic to spend the good part of the day in the saddle.

Good stuff!

[Supermau]

Finally got some free time to explore the Holmes Run Trail yesterday. I’ve been passing it all summer on my way to DC, wondering about it. Fun ride, and close enough to get to from my house.

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[Supermau]

Wet and quiet. But my rain gear did it’s job.

[Supermau]

I wish I could join. I’ll be reporting on my commute to work instead.

Oops. Too late already.

[Supermau]

I installed my new fenders just in time, and…they work!

Four Mile Run was flooded between Commonwealth and the MVT. Only about two inches deep but I didn’t expect that. Nice ride this morning with empty trails.

[Supermau]

@Harry Meatmotor 95954 wrote:

I know this is going to come off as arrogant or apologist for the poor behavior of those riders, but what happened there is pretty common if you’re used to riding in groups. it’s not “good,” that’s for sure, but there’s one simple concept that applies to any kind of riding (well, except for spinning on a trainer in your basement): your front wheel is your responsibility.

Yes, they passed too closely, and yes, she should have apologized immediately for bumping you (which she did later, and many of her cohorts did on her behalf), but I’m going to go out on a limb and assume that the majority of those riders have participated in races of some sort, where bumping elbows, hips, and shoulders is just what happens, especially when negotiating corners in a group. folks who race (or ride in groups) just get used to the contact – in fact, some riders actually practice “bump drills” where contact between riders is mandatory, to build confidence and bike handling skills. And if you bump somebody unintentionally, it’s generally not the kind of thing that group riders get too worked up over. Sure, we might yell things like “HOLD YOUR LINE” if somebody starts chopping a corner, but at the end of the day, i know that my front wheel is my responsibility.

Again – I know that sounds like I’m defending those ELITE SOBs, but it helps to understand where they’re coming from, too. The only other advice I can give is when you hear a bunch of chatter that sounds like a large-ish 2×2 paceline, stay to your right and ride predictably – no swerving or braking.

let the Dislikes fly!

I get the point here but it’s kind of like saying if you walk by the dojo at the strip mall, expect to get kicked in the head, after all, the martial arts students are used to it.

Those riders had a country mile on the left to pass safely. Sally didn’t even acknowledge the infraction when it occurred. Shame on her. I couldn’t imagine bumping an innocent rider on the streets and not immediately apologizing for my idiocy and lack of attention.

Not to jump all over you, Harry. Just my two cents.

[Supermau]

I’ve never considered salmoning there. I always just cross the street and ride around the Jefferson. I do tend to use the road on the way back though I’ve yet to witness a salmon coming my way.

[Supermau]

@dasgeh 95736 wrote:

Traffic was pretty bad downtown, so drivers were correspondingly more awful than usual. And tonight, I saw the worst abuse of cycling infrastructure I’ve seen in DC: I was head westbound on the Pennsylvania Ave NW cycletrack. Traffic was much heavier than normal along PA. Drivers apparently thought this meant that rules of the road no longer applied: They completely ignored the “left only” lane into the Reagan Building (13 1/2th St NW) and made that lane a “straight” lane — which put drivers into the WB lanes of the cycletrack. This wasn’t one lone idiot, but an entire line of unapologetic jerkholes that drove in the cycletrack for half a block, until the cycletrack veered left, and continuing straight cars ended up in the new left lane on PA. I was dumbfounded. Flabbergasted. I was really, really pissed. I couldn’t really think of what to do. The best I could come up with is snap and tweet a picture of it (which accidentally went from @kidicalmassarl instead of @dasgeh – oh well).

So I’ve been meaning to ask: does anyone have contacts for DC’s bike ombudsman and/or their BAC? We need to talk.

*edit to add: as those of you who bike here during rush hour know, there was a steady stream of cyclists riding both east- and westbound at this time, so it’s not as if the jerkhole drivers could have thought no one was using the cycletrack.

And here’s the photo

That’s a pretty clear illustration of why painted lines are totally useless.

[Supermau]

@dbb 95806 wrote:

I think it involves use of the right pedal on the floor

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[Supermau]

Roundabouts aside, it seems no one knows what YIELD means anymore.

[Supermau]

Wish I could but I’ll be at work. Love that beer!

[Author]

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