[thecyclingeconomist]

@jopamora 30827 wrote:

Whoa! This is a family forum or I need to get my mind out of the gutter.

Even better… it’s not a nut… it’s called a nipple…and I like to make sure they are properly lubricated to make tweaking easier.

[thecyclingeconomist]

http://www.lobosolo.com/visor/

These are popular with the racing recumbent crowd… they deal with sun a lot more than upright bicycles… and since it’s carbon… it won’t weight down the weight weenies (Dirt… I think you self-proclaimed yourself as one… here’s a way to shave a few grams from wearing the cycling cap under the helmet)

ACK… looks like they sold out/(went under??)

You could always affix this through a myriad of ways… http://www.ebay.com/itm/SIXSIXONE-FULL-BRAVO-CARBON-BICYCLE-HELMET-VISOR-FLAT-BLACK-/251018725866?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a71e1c9ea

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jrenaut 31585 wrote:

I was cleaning my chain and whatnot last night, and every time I do that, I think, “I want to ditch this bike and get a fixed gear with no derailleurs and no big cassette and no fenders and maybe just one little brake and just simple”. Then I bike up the hill by Meridian Hill Park and remember that I’m not in shape to do that on a fixie, and I can’t pull the kids in the trailer on a fixie, and I’ve never even ridden a fixie.

But a custom-built steel frame, dayglo orange with maybe some puke green bar tape, bomb-proof 23mm tank treads . . . Covet.

Also, this is my 666th forum post, so think fluffy pink bunny thoughts.

Well, I see you made it to your 667th post, so you’re still OK…

How about getting a belt-drive and running the Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal? It’s what I plan on after saving a bit o’ money for my next upgrade to my frankensteiner-29er.

[thecyclingeconomist]

http://deltacycle.com/Airzound-Bike-Horn

I have an incredibell, but this is for the “in-the-city”… “hey stupid…car driver”…

I wouldn’t use for people/pedestrians or otherwise, but for in-traffic, this is legit.

[thecyclingeconomist]

OH yeah: insofar as being branded as “elite” (as this forum uses) vs. other… I think is truly silly. I have owned, or currently own a full carbon road bike, a 29er (as shown on here) which is frankenstein’d out, a recumbent (Bacchetta Corsa SS, RANS Rocket), a folder (1958 Steel Bianchi), a touring bike (Randonee, similar to the Surly LHT), and I plan on building up a fatbike this year… and that’s on top of the dozen or so road bikes along the way… from steel to aluminum to carbon… they all belong in the stable.

Different stokes for different folks… nah! All strokes for each folk.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@4st7lbs 30889 wrote:

Try being fat and walking into an ELITE shop, the level of ego you get is beyond redonkulous.

I hate to say it, but this does actually tend to be true… I’ve been on the receiving end of some pretty vile looks because I’m a Clydesdale. I’ll never be 165lbs. I’ve been nearly 300, and have worked for nearly a decade to keep around the 200 mark. Even at that wieght, where I can ride back to back century rides, and play the “hammer” rather than the “nail” in some club rides… the ego and image issues and judgement passed is pretty hard to take.

That all being said: Silver Cycles up in Silver Spring (which I visited on my first visits to D.C. when picking out a place to live before moving here) was great. Jenn was extremely helpful on everything I needed.

[thecyclingeconomist]

I donated and went out on a 50 mile club ride two days later (this was in CA, and is a 25 mile ride out into a stiff headwind near Palm Springs). I bonked so hard that I had to stop at the half-way point and call for a ride… brutal.

So, commuting just takes a bit longer, but I keep from doing anything long/rough for a week after.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@KelOnWheels 31047 wrote:

Also, someone needs to explain to me this picture, for I do not think I am ELITE enough to gaze upon this.

That’s a super elite in his rain slicker… it’s non-permeable so that he ensures that he gets nice and glistening when he pulls up next to his competition…

[thecyclingeconomist]

@GuyContinental 30741 wrote:

Ooo you had me at earbud. For that your are forgiven one strobe blinding.

Thanks guy for lightening this back up… too serious for online forums for me. This is a bit different than the forum I am used to at home… I guess I should have sat around longer without getting involved. And…I knew I was getting into murky water, I just didn’t realize how murky. 😮

Time to run to REI and wash out the murkiness with the penguin wash that Dirt recommended…

[thecyclingeconomist]

Thanks for this thread… coming from the west coast where you never get soaked, even on the hardest of rides due to the dryness of the air… this has been a new found problem. I was on the edge of chucking about $750 worth of clothing…something I can’t afford to do!

Time to get some Penguin wash…

Please don’t put your helmet in the dish washer… totally would ruin this integrity of the foam.

Another thumbs up for the Giro pro-light… I love that helmet. Picked up two for a great deal on hucknroll or chainlove (I think?)

[thecyclingeconomist]

In my defense… at least I’m “forgetting”… as in… my intention is to turn them off, which is why I am not so sure I understand the ripping apart of my comments. It doesn’t seem very copacetic to me. I’ve attempted to be fact-based, and open to critique. There is a difference between “reprimand” and critique. Critique is intent on convincing and discussion. The other isn’t. My daughter doesn’t like being reprimanded, and neither do I. As I stated above, it doesn’t help anything, and leads to a defensive posturing where no one gets anything done. It is why politicians are notoriously unable to change/promote action: they get emotions involved, and immediately defensive postures arise. I am doing my best to not react this way, but I must say, it’s pretty harsh to be called names on here. I’m a WABA member, I believe in cycling, and have devoted most of my free time to helping others gain a love for the freedom this sport invokes, as well as time with my church.

My original comment was tied to the first in this thread, where a “roadie” f-bombed someone for having lights on. It’s not cool. I was empathizing with this person.

God bless… I hope my commute home enables me to forget this entire thread.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 30738 wrote:

I’ll take your word for it. Honestly, having ridden the MVT from the north end to Alexandria several times, I simply have trouble seeing how someone could safely average 18-22mph even on a totally clear trail. Thats pretty fast.

Probably not smart considering the hostility since you can now track me home…:confused: but I don’t think that the following commute video shows any close-calls. It also shows the actual amount of riding traffic I see in the AM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNPl2-1-fTQ

As an FYI: if you can’t see my hand, then I’m upright with hands on the brakes.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@jabberwocky 30731 wrote:

Quoted For Truth And Great Justice.

I mean, I’ll cruise at a good clip on the W&OD on the long stretches when nobody is around, but it just isn’t possible to do structured interval training on a popular path IME. Especially the MVT, which is narrow, heavily trafficked and has lots of places with extremely poor sightlines.

For the love of Pete… how many times did I say that I ride within the parameters of what is safe. Of course I’m not pounding along in tight areas where you can’t see around corners. I’m not pounding along near the parks or trail intersections. In spite of that, when it is 6am (yes, I said that too… as that is when I ride in), there are plenty of open stretches.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@rcannon100 30729 wrote:

Good question. It has everything to do with the strobe. The pulsing strobe lights basically operate faster than the average eye can adjust. With strobe on, all that can be seen is white. With strobe off, all that can be seen is darkness. And then it repeats faster than the eye can adjust. (this also includes the strobe to normal beam – as you have still blinded with the strobe pulse).

For the oncoming traffic, you have blinded them.

Car headlights are designed not to blind oncoming traffic. They are pointed down – and they are at an intensity that should not blind oncoming traffic. And they dont strobe. Car high beams can make it very hard for oncoming traffic to see – and generally people do not high beam each other for this reasons. You can also be ticketed for high beaming people.

As far as you putting your own personal safety above mine (as the oncoming traffic), um, look, I just dont know how to say it polite. You are being a schmuck. As the oncoming cyclists to a high beam strobe on a trail, I am blind. That is insanely dangerous.

Your question is a good question. Contrasting cars to bikes. Cars by regulation take care not to blind oncoming traffic. I would ask that you also take that care.

I don’t run strobes at night, it doesn’t even make sense. Never did I say I ran strobes at night. I specifically cited why I run strobes: I was hit by a car during the DAY. And, assuming that this is still a discussion (which means both sides are listening and taking feedback critically): How is putting my safety at risk (by having me limit my visibility) for your benefit any different for the sake of the discussion. Now I guess I’m getting irked. You obviously haven’t read my posts. And, you are ignoring the spirit and candor of my posts. I’ve said OBVIOUSLY that I do take care. If I didn’t give a rip, I’d never have said anything at all! Yowza.

[thecyclingeconomist]

@txgoonie 30727 wrote:

Unfortunately it’s not posted nearly enough, but, the speed limit on the MVT is actually 15mph. I know it’s like most speed limits and everyone feels that it’s too low and you can safely operate your vehicle at a higher speed and everyone pretty much does. Not like there’s any enforcement of it anyway. But it is there for a reason. Just something to keep in mind. When I have a tailwind and can easily cruise at 20mph, sometimes I don’t even realize it, but there’s a time and a place. I think we can all sympathize with not having enough time and wanting to multitask commuting and training, but on the route you’ve chosen, you just can’t have it both ways. An MUT is not a place to train.

The alternate route I take from Alexandria paralleling the MVT goes down Potomac Ave., which, being relatively low on traffic, is an awesome place to do intervals and links back up with the MVT on Crystal Drive. I see people riding back ‘n forth doing workouts out there all the time.

I said: when it’s safe.

LOL… at least my comment is stimulating conversation.

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