[vern]

What sucks…getting a flat on a drizzly day when your racing home because it is your son’s birthday.

[vern]

@consularrider 87013 wrote:

As of 6 pm. the W&OD/Wilson Blvd underpass was clear with puddles. However, several of the 4MRT slab fords between Rte 50 and Columbia Pike were flooded.

About a half hour earlier it was still underwater – an inch or two – which really surprised me since it had done little more than drizzle.

[vern]

@dasgeh 86953 wrote:

The wooden bridge on the MVT underneath the Teddy Roosevelt/I66 bridge. Yes, I know it’s NPS. Yes, we’ve reported the issue to NPS. They do nothing to fix it.

oh, well, that’s a different creature run by a different park’s authority. Shame they aren’t responsive.

[vern]

@dasgeh 86913 wrote:

Can you tell the folks that fixed it about the Troll Bridge. There are definitely loose boards…

Which bridge is the Troll Bridge?

[vern]

Yeah…this is a bit beyond me. The bike I’m riding tomorrow is leaning against the wall by the back door of my wife’s art studio (she has a ton of space!) and the other is tucked in the hideaway space under the stairs. Tools, such as they are, are on a converted bookshelf in the storage room of the basement. Most work is done outside because there’s space and light, or I use the floor in my wife’s studio (what are those dirty spots on the floor!!??).

[vern]

I just figured out based on present mileage and planned commutes the next two days that when I get home on Friday evening I will have logged 999.9 miles for the month. Knowing that now, I can’t deviate, as i think it would be cool to go to bed with that number in the books, and then get up Saturday morning, go for a ride and roll it over.

[vern]

@vern 86723 wrote:

There are three wood decked bridges on the W&OD between Columbia Pike and Carlin Springs. The western most two of these both have broken and/or loose boards on the decking.

Edit: I have reported the above via email to the parks authority.

On the trip home it appeared the parks authority had replaced the broken board on the deck of the 2nd bridge, but had not yet addressed the board on the westernmost of the three bridges that is splitting. But good for them for responding quickly to begin addressing the problem.

[vern]

There are three wood decked bridges on the W&OD between Columbia Pike and Carlin Springs. The western most two of these both have broken and/or loose boards on the decking.

Edit: I have reported the above via email to the parks authority.

[vern]

Thanks. The detour signs were still up this morning so I didn’t bother to look and instead, just headed up Eads (but only one tour bus parked this morning!).

[vern]

@Tim Kelley 83164 wrote:

Late breaking news:

The contractor reports that the trail should be open the 23rd of May and the project will be completed during the first week of June!

Does anyone know if the trail has, in fact, reopened?

[vern]

@cyclingfool 86308 wrote:

It wasn’t even raining anymore when I went home (left the office at 6), but the roads were still wet enough, I guess, that despite my fenders the wet took its toll. I’ve got a rag and a bottle of chain lube at home, so it’ll be good as new for tomorrow’s commute. I’ll just have to keep apologizing to my chain until I get home. I can almost feel its pain with every squeak.

The bearings in my rear hub were noisy this morning. I think all the rain last week must have done them in, which is irritating considering the bike doesn’t have more than 2500 miles on it. Now I have a weekend project.

[vern]

“Me: You’re right, but I’m sorry my bike light hurt your vagina. Son, in over 40 years of road and mountain biking I’ve never heard of a bike light “blinding” someone in broad day light, but I’m thankful you interrupted my conversation to tell me because someone with less patience would have knifed you for being so aggressive. Now continuing biking, sir, and remember cycling is a happy event, not an ocassion to act out because you are failing in other parts of your life. Bye-bye, and good luck.

Cyclists sure have changed in the last 40 years. “If I could turn back time….” Hope it happens again so I can YouTube it. Must buy a low-profile video camera. The light will stay on; it’s been great at road intersections (drivers actually stop for us now even at or near Cedar Lane and the “Intersection of Doom”) and alerting pedestrians to our presence throughout the trail. Great safety feature.“

I don’t get how your light could cause a problem like that in daytime, but I don’t think the situation calls for the level of hostility evident from either participant.

That said, your retelling of the story reflects poorly on you in that you resort to a sexist remark. You pretty much lost me there.

[vern]

@dkel 86150 wrote:

My friend here at work who has been a cyclist forever (commuting, but also mega-touring all over Europe–even crossed the alps in a snow storm!) will not make the W&OD crossings at Hunter Mill or Cedar because of the stuff he’s seen there: cars spinning out into each other, etc. Sometimes I wonder if using exclusively on-street routes would be safer than any MUP that includes road crossings. He’s decided not to ride his commute from Reston into the District anymore; he rides a mile to a bus stop and locks his bike up there.

Cedar seems more problematic than Hunter Mill. In my experience the drivers on Hunter Mill are more inclined to stop. Cedar is fine in for me in the morning because I’m there before 6:30, but at night I hit it after 5, and a lot of drivers there seem pretty hostile to cyclists. Cedar is my least favorite intersection from Reston to Shirlington.

[vern]

The primary way I recover between legs of my commute is to do what I just did…I just finished sitting in the spa pool at the Sport & Health Club in my building. My legs felt sore and tired prior to the soak, but just 5 minutes in the pool revived them. I do that everyday at midday and it never fails to work.

[vern]

@KLizotte 86013 wrote:

Hahaha. I’d be hungry even *without* biking if that is all I ate before dinner.

Some suggestions for late afternoon snacks:

Apples with natural peanut butter (not that Skippy stuff)
Fill a pita pocket with hummus and veggies
A handful of nuts (e.g., roasted almonds) and some fruit (e.g., banana)
Bowl of cereal or oatmeal with fresh or dried fruit or nuts (muesli is very filling)
A veggie salad with egg, nuts, cheese, fruit, etc.
Kind brand granola bar(s)
Soup or chili
Pita or tortilla chips with salsa, avocado, and beans or tabbouleh
Whole grain crackers with cheese
Roasted pumpkin seeds (high in protein, zinc and magnesium)

Plenty more ideas here:

http://www.pinterest.com/ccasali/healthy-easy-lunches-snacks-for-work/

Try to eat an hour before you ride so your body has time to break it down into energy.

Haha…you pretty much described about half of my diet. I just packed my food for tomorrow…rolled oats, walnuts and dried cherries (for the oatmeal), OJ, milk, hummus and tabbouleh with pita and falafel, various raw veggies, apple, banana, bag of nuts for an afternoon snack.

[Author]

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