[txgoonie]

@jabberwocky 31613 wrote:

I’m one of those people who can eat damn near anything on long rides. I’m hoping the aid stations have M&Ms.

I have extensive experience with M&Ms, so I know I could have those

[txgoonie]

@dasgeh 31609 wrote:

I was shocked by how few people were on the Custis yesterday in the 5:30pm-6pm range. I felt bad for everyone not out there. Then happy because it was practically ALL MINE.

I went through there a bit later and had the same reaction. My day at work was high on the suck-o-meter, so I was grumpy and annoyed at having to get kitted up to go home. But once I was out there, I realized that every single time I push myself to get out on the bike, I’m never sorry. And they had plain caramel apples (i.e. sans peanuts) at the store, which is rare find, so my day ended on a much better note

[txgoonie]

The PowerBar bites have too much protein to be a good energy source, IMHO. Fine for recovery, but a poor choice for a during a ride. FYI. And they taste like *ss.

It’s dicey to eat stuff you’ve never tried before during an event anyway. I’ll be doing the ride, but carrying most of what I’m gonna eat;-)

[txgoonie]

@Dirt 31463 wrote:

I know it is a bit on the pricy side (hell… it wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t finding a more expensive way to do something), but I really like the Mavic Vision line of clothing. Mavic sponsored the TJROW this year and we each got a vest and they are the real deal. Lots of companies put reflective stuff on their clothes and that is good. Mavic went the extra distance and had all of their Vision line certified by German safety standards. They make Jerseys, arm warmers, vests, rain jackets and a winter soft-shell. I think I’m going to be collecting the entire set. The stuff is built to last for sure!

I know the vest of which you speak, and it is covet-able. As anyone who has seen the yellow shoes knows, Mavic stuff definitely gets noticed

[txgoonie]

@Tim Kelley 31412 wrote:

They are all out of stock!!

It’s a new product and hasn’t been released yet. The men’s version is available now, though.

http://www.rapha.cc/hivis-gilet/

[txgoonie]

Oh yes, she will be mine.

http://www.rapha.cc/womens-hivis-gilet

Yes, Pete, they have a boy version:rolleyes:

[txgoonie]

@Tim Kelley 31327 wrote:

I’ve found that as it ages, it tends to lose some of it’s kick. But some now to use two years from now!!

Oh, well maybe the stuff I have from last season will be aged to perfection now! I’m quite curious about the warming oil, too. Like Dirt, I am a fan of the MA chamois cream.

[txgoonie]

@Bilsko 31289 wrote:

This is why I love the forums. I’ve been year-round commuting for 6 or 7 years now (34F rainy weather is the worst) and never once heard of embrocations. Now I need to go see what its all about. This looks promising: http://madalchemy.com/

Beware! I have the mellowest variety they make of the heated stuff, and it is wicked. It’s amazing when it’s really cold out but horrible if it’s slightly too warm. It takes a really long while — probably over an hour — to heat up, so it’s deceiving. But, once it does, it is more burning than warming. And it lasts FOREVER. Hours after you’re done riding. Putting on pants or going into a normally heated room and you bust into a drenching sweat. And don’t even think about going into a hot shower. Holy @#$%, that hurts! Get some Dawn and use cool water to wash it off properly.

How to remove embro…
http://gritandglimmer.com/psa-how-to-remove-embrocation-fast/

[txgoonie]

@benbhsu 30831 wrote:

Petzl makes a rock climbing helmet specifically designed for ponytails (the helmet is supposed to be for women, but if you’re a dude with a ponytail it’s just as functional). If there’s a market for it in climbing I imagine there’s a market for it in cycling, which seems (by my crude observations) to have many more female participants.

You don’t need a women’s specific helmet to be able to do this. Most mountain/road helmets nowadays have a pretty standard design where the shell covers to top of your noggin, and there’s some kind of strap that hits near the base of your head in the back to keep it secure. I have two regular helmets and one women’s one, and the bun works with all of them. I don’t find the women’s one — which is made to accommodate a ponytail — makes it any easier frankly. If, however, you use an “urban” helmet, like a Nutcase, that goes lower in the back or a skiing/boarding helmet, it won’t work.

[txgoonie]

The bun happynicky shows is too high for what I’m talking about. The way I do it is basically to start with a loose low ponytail, then put your helmet on (pulling the ponytail through the hole between the helmet and adjustable strap in the back – not all helmets will allow this), then roll the ponytail up with another hair elastic into a bun. If I do the bun first then try to get the helmet on, my rolled up hair won’t fit through the hole.

[txgoonie]

@thecyclingeconomist 30712 wrote:

I attempt to maintain an 18-22mph avg. on the MVT when safe (yes, I ride for exercise…on every commute. I have a schedule, a goal heart rate, I do sprint intervals, leg-drops etc etc.)

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.

[txgoonie]

Best I can suggest is a bun. This is what I do on the commute in and during workouts at lunch. If I’m lucky I can just take it down and brush it out. I find I really don’t get helmet head. If my hair isn’t cooperating, I spend the rest of the day with it in a ponytail. I prefer this to braid b/c the bun leaves a nice wave in my hair, whereas braids leave it weird and kinky with straight ends. Not sexy. I work in a place where a ponytail is acceptable, though.

[txgoonie]

Last night, riding SB on MVT around 8:30. I guess it has been a while since I’ve ridden when it was quite that dark out –– holy jeez! Between the fact that I don’t have my winter light setup on my bike yet (just the single handlebar one) and the oncoming car headlights and the bike/ped ninjas, it was treacherous. I’m afraid that a connection out there won’t be a missed one pretty soon. Stay alert! Ride with care!

[txgoonie]

@jnva 30390 wrote:

I hate it when people tailgate me, in a car or on my bike. Passive aggressive behavior won’t change people, and most likely it just makes the situation more dangerous. Just take a deep breath and let it go!

Can’t disagree with you there, and it’s not something I resort to much at all. However, this rider was quite plainly riding like a jerk and making unnecessarily dangerous moves. And while I can’t say that there wasn’t some small satisfaction on my part, his passes – on a crowded path at rush hour – needed to be called out. And the epilogue I left out – near the 4 Mile Run intersection he did start calling out, so I let him be after that.

[txgoonie]

@aflapr 30349 wrote:

In both cases, there were safe places to pass that would have required the slightest of delays. If you’re choosing an option that requires everything to go right for it to work, maybe that’s worth re-thinking? No harm – no foul this morning, but something to ponder on the ride home.

Had the same thought yesterday. On the way home at Gravely Point, I slowed behind two other riders b/c we were approaching the southbound part where the fence begins, which is a slight uphill and enough of a curve to be blind. This pause allowed the rider behind me to catch up, and he used that spot to pass (unannounced). Luckily for all of us, no one was coming, but I was a tad miffed and witnessed him making several more questionable calls. So I used the opportunity to wheel suck the offender for the next two miles and loudly call the passes he was failing to announce before me. He tried to drop me on any downhill sections, but was unsuccessful. Perhaps not the most enlightened way to handle the situation, but somehow didn’t feel that guilty about it

[Author]

Posts