[Tania]

We have a 12th floor south-facing rooftop at metro center and had prime viewing. Once I got back to my desk and read the stats about each plane (and learned that is the only flying B-29), I wished I’d paid more attention to this event beforehand. Super cool.

[Tania]

@bentbike33 115307 wrote:

My PAL instinct is to not enter the crosswalk after the countdown starts as this may garner the most respect from lawful motorists. What say others?

I tend to stop if I arrive at the crosswalk during the countdown, unless there is ped/bike traffic already in the crosswalk inhibiting the motorists. I have been shoaled however making this stop by cyclists looking to assert the right of way during the countdown.

Agreed BUT this is the situation I was in this am, not to mention the several bikes directly behind me. I was in the middle of a pack of bikes/joggers flowing both ways.

That section through Rosslyn is my least favorite part of my commute. And it’s NOT because of the cars.

[Tania]

And stopping with five or six bikes right on my tail, three or four passing in the other direction plus a few pedestrians/joggers in the mix would have been any safer? The light was still green and the walk signal was still in our favor.

[Tania]

@americancyclo 115272 wrote:

forgot to mention yesterday that riding through the Intersection of Doom there was a steady stream of cyclists that nearly got the walk count down to zero before cars could begin turning. It was nice.

A bunch of us made it through this am as the clock was ticking down to 4…3…2. I kinda felt bad for the cars waiting to turn. Kinda.

[Tania]

I hadn’t actually thought about trying it on my commuter bike first. Doh. I’ll do that tomorrow – a 28 mile round trip should be a good test!

[Tania]

dasgeh – I’d love to meet up with you one afternoon so you can show me. I just can’t see it on a map!

[Tania]

@dasgeh 114937 wrote:

Most cyclists cross Virginia there and take the sidewalk (which is a bike path there) along the south side of Virginia and to curve around onto 25th and onto the TR Bridge. Much more comfortable than some of the drivers there in the evening.

I’ve tried that but unless I’m missing something, you’re not crossing at a light or making a legal turn and I try to think “WWPD?” (What Would Pete/Dirt Do?) in those situations. Honestly though, taking the lane around the circle isn’t bad at all. It’s my routine now so I have a level of comfort with it. (This amazes even me because the idea of biking in city was terrifying…before I actually DID it.) My first couple of trips in were with Dirt and dcv and this is the route they took me and Dirt was awesome at giving me city biking tips and etiquette pointers. I credit them for my ease in biking that route.

[Tania]

I work at Metro Center (12th and G) and bike in a few days a week. Happy to ride in with you a few times til you’re more comfortable.

I’ve done the Key Bridge through Georgetown (gah! NO) and the Roosevelt Bridge which, while it does have a low railing, it’s not THAT bad unless it’s super windy (I’m not big).

Here’s how I go – traffic-wise it’s actually relatively pleasant in the am although the bike lane along G frequently doubles as a parking zone or a U-Turn Launching Zone. Stay alert on G…

After Roosevelt Island, the trail will split (right after Trollheim, the wooden bridge). Stay right and climb the short hill and that puts you on Roosevelt Bridge. This dumps you out at Kennedy Center. The first chance you physically have to get off the sidewalk/trail and onto the road, take it. This puts you on 25th St.. Go straight through the first traffic light (Virginia Avenue) and then make a right at the first stop sign which is H. Stay on H (no bike lane but it’s relatively low traffic and low speed – it’s NBD and I’m a chicken in traffic) til 20th (there’s a light and it looks initially like it’s a dead end but it’s not). So left on 20th, go one block to Pennsylvania. Right on Pennsylvania. No bike lane but also relatively low traffic. Pennsylvania til you hit the White House at 17th Street. Cross 17th Street and go through the White House plaza til you hit 15th Street. Make a brief right onto 15th (cycletrack) then a left on G (bike lane) after half a block.

Going home can be tricky since there’s more pedestrian traffic. G to and through White House plaza, then a quick left on 17th at Wells Fargo and a quick right to continue on G. Stay on G til you reach Virigina Avenue, make a right on to Va Ave and then stay in the right lane to go around the traffic circle (it’s a right turn only lane but the right turn is for the circle). Just take the entire lane (I do!). You can either take the first exit (which is really more like just going straight across Va Avenue, past the Saudi Embassy and then make a left on F Street (Kennedy Center right in front of you), or take second right off the Virginia Avenue circle which puts you on 25th St and is the same street you biked in on. Then you can pick up the entrance to the path across the Roosevelt Bridge. Once you come down off the bridge, you’ll cross Trollheim again and you’re back at Roosevelt Island parking lot.

Yes, there are other ways to go. I’ve gone a few different ways this way for me is the least stressful traffic wise (I find the pedestrians to be a little more tricky).

I need to learn how to get out of town along the MVT so I can have an alternate (but longer) route coming home when the White House is closed.

[Tania]

@Arlingtonrider 114902 wrote:

It doesn’t seem to be working for me at this point. No time now to fool around with it.

I manually synced it from my NBC profile (worked fine, just not automagically).

[Tania]

Just joined the team. I think (didn’t see the # go up).

[Tania]

Thanks to Barry, a nice gentleman in a yellow windbreaker, for escorting me out of the city and along the MVT so I could pick up the 4MR into Shirlington. Without you, I would have gotten lost repeatedly. I’m glad I asked you which way you were headed at the light by the Washington Monument!

It was a pleasure riding with you sir.

[Tania]

Thanks everyone!!! We’ve got some good options here.

[Tania]

I see a guy who does M.A.T. (https://muscleactivation.com/) He’s a triathlete, works with professional athletes and I’ve been using him for over a year now. He’s in Ballston, near Wilson/George Mason. In my experiences with PT’s, they’ve just treated my symptoms rather than the underlying cause or given me remedial rehab exercises that likely will work for your average person, but not for someone who slings as much weight as me. (that was a complete generalization, I realize)

http://www.jeremyrucker.com/

Editing to also recommend Airrosti. It’s EXPENSIVE and incredibly painful but it totally works. I go to Josiah when I need to bring in the big guns for something acute and specific (as in, I’ve tweaked my back because my hip flexors are super angry and now I can’t stand up). I see Jeremy almost weekly for pre-hab/maintenance.

http://www.airrosti.com/provider/josiah-ryabinov-dc/

[Tania]

@DaDitka 114253 wrote:

After riding all of the above except for the Konas, I eliminated the Trek, Felt F65x, CAADX. The only aluminum bike I rode that I liked nearly as much as the steel bikes was the Felt V85, which is a more upright and less race oriented Felt 65x (or so it seems to me).

Curious as to why you crossed off the CAADX, which is what I have. I am NOT an experienced cross/road biker and this is my first road bike since I was a teenager. I bought mine because it was the only thing in my size (44), my price range and it didn’t feel terrible to ride (other than the cantis….I miss disc brakes). I’ve had it for a little over a year now and other than the brakes (UGH) I can’t complain but then I don’t know what I don’t know.

Thus, I’m asking more for my own education.

[Tania]

If there’s no caravan I’ll do my best to find Java Shack on my own. Otherwise, you can find me roaming the mean streets of the neighborhood.

[Author]

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