[vvill]

My experience with a trailer (containing a 3 y.o.) is that it’s harder to get started, harder on hills, and yes definitely difficult to stand up and pedal in without getting strange back and forth feedback, as Tim mentioned.

I attach mine either to my hybrid (flat bar with 700x32c) or 26″ MTB.

I have some sort of drugstore compression socks that are made for long flights. I’ve tried them for recovery (most recently after a jaunt to Purcellville and back), but I haven’t been riding long enough to tell if they make that much difference. It’s not really my calves that feel tired after a long ride anyway.

[vvill]

Surely the C&O?

[vvill]

I wear spandex for almost any ride. You just might not be able to see it. Spent too many years riding and sweating without “technical” fabrics.

[vvill]

@americancyclo 13923 wrote:

Tim has 3 lungs.

Yeah if I recall correctly, he went back and did several hills twice on the Kill Bill ride while waiting for the rest of us to make it up once.

[vvill]

Good ol’ 41st St. I love that hill, although I only made it on my 3rd attempt, back when I mostly rode my hybrid. When I first took my road bike up it I realised I had a higher lower gear than before (double vs triple crankset) but I think the reduced weight of the road bike let me still climb it (just). Really need to pace yourself on that one, unless you have 3 lungs.

[vvill]

I use Target and Old Navy branded gym/activewear. I also have a Buff, which I mostly use around my neck but sometimes also pulled up to shield my nose and mouth. It also works as a hair covering if you want.

I got a discounted light MTB jacket on some online store for about $20, and I wear it almost every winter ride. It’s thin with a mesh liner but almost windproof and the cuffs have elastic so no cold air comes in there either. I would ultimately prefer something with pit vents but it works great. If I’m wearing two layers under it, I’m always warm after 10 mins of riding, or at least so far this season.

I paid normal price for a few items – fleece lined leg warmers and balaclava. Both worth the money. With leg warmers I never feel like I need anything more – just the one layer is enough. Balaclava is usually too warm but great when it’s truly needed.

I’ve used the winter boots trick once on a short ride and it worked great. I’ve tried quite a few things (not chemical warmers yet) to warm up my feet using regular bike shoes but that’s one thing I still haven’t solved yet for winter riding.

[vvill]

@Marcella 13850 wrote:

Is there a reason why some sharrows in Arlington are in the middle of the lane and others are along the right side? I think the ones on the right reinforce the notion that cyclists should hug the curb, which encourages drivers to pass dangerously close.

Yeah I noticed that too yesterday; I rode George Mason (both ways) from Yorktown down to Wilson Blvd. A few uncomfortable passes from cars, even on a Sunday afternoon.

[vvill]

@Marcella 13748 wrote:

Ride up Lorraine Ave in McLean.

Noted! That’s pretty close to my neighbourhood, and adjacent to another hill I often like to ride up when I go for a quick ride.

[vvill]

Impressed that you made it there without getting (significantly) lost! Although I noticed you had a smartphone to help (yes I did watch the whole thing). I always get lost around EFC where the trails detours (I’ve only been through there perhaps 5 times in 5 years).

[vvill]

If it’s truly dark (I haven’t had to ride under these conditions much) I ride with
non-flashing helmet front + rear lights – just a few LEDs, don’t know how many lumens but not many – to be seen
non-flashing front light on handlebar – an older Blackburn halogen powered by 4 x AAs, to be seen – not that bright
rear light – just a few LEDs, to be seen. usually on slow flashing pattern. (I nearly always ride with this light on if I’m going in traffic.)
front LED flashlight, allegedly 900 lumens but it’s a cheap made-in-China one so I don’t know (XM-L T6).Mounted under the handlebar and aimed down to hit just in front of my front wheel and actually lights up my front wheel quite a bit too.
reflective vest + ankle cuffs

I’m only on the Custis/Key Bridge for 2 of my 9 mile commute and that includes the Lynn St intersection so I don’t adjust my lighting much for the trails. Usually just change the LED flashlight to low power mode or turn it off.

(video of a morning commute that starts “truly dark” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOOqtHZXxiw only click if you’re borrred)

[vvill]

@Dirt 13715 wrote:

That ride will return for 2012. Honestly, I’m not sure I even need to change the route.

😎

@CCrew 13716 wrote:

Thanks for the chuckle. I only live 10 miles further west and come into DC. I (seriously) love catching references to how gawdawful far we are from civilization

I’m amazed at how far you ride! But I (seriously) don’t like driving early in the morning, or after riding 100 mi. My wife has family in WV so we’re out around Winchester a fair bit but on that day I think I bonked some way into the return drive and it seemed to take hours.

[vvill]

I’ve only done the Backroads Century (last year) and I thought it was mostly awesome (my first century). It does take awhile to get out there though.

I’m considering the Air Force Cycling Challenge Crystal Ride (up to 100km) and the Reston Century this year amongst others but I really don’t want to pay for a group ride on the W&OD. I think I’ll do Bike DC this year too as I’ve always thought it sounded fun (when they close off the GW Parkway). I think I need at least another year of cycling to figure out what I can actually do – don’t think I could finish the Total 200 or the more extreme climbing events, fun as they sound.

The Oxon Hill club maintain a good list of events here
http://ohbike.org/events/

[vvill]

I can’t help much around Veterans Hospital but I do avoid M St. if I’m on my way home from DC to Virginia via Key Bridge. I take K St NW (underneath the Whitehurst Fwy) and then go right up the hill of Potomac St, go up the kerb between the bollards (slight left), and cross the first bridge across the canal (steps on the south side – you have to dismount). I then ride up to Big Wheel Bikes and take a left through the alley to 34th St at which point you’re on the east side crossing of Key Bridge. It’s cobble-y and slow going but beats M St. imo and it’s all paved unlike other canal bike options. K St has a lot of stop signs but if you can ride on the south side which has bike trails and avoid those too (although you have to cross K St to get to Potomac St, there’s usually very little traffic since that’s almost the end of K St).

There are probably better options than this, esp since you’d be coming from NE of M St. I guess I enjoy the cobbles.

[vvill]

Nice! I took a short ride around in my neighbourhood on Sat morning just to enjoy my Nokians. It was a blast.

[vvill]

It’s not really headphones in particular, but that one of your senses is being dulled. I ride through a lot of neighbourhoods that have little roads with not much traffic but also not that much visibility and I rely on my ears as much as my eyes to know that a vehicle is approaching – esp when pausing at a stop sign. I don’t mind if someone else chooses to ride with them in but based on my time riding with and without I don’t think I’ll ever go back to them.

But I think generally I have a harder time with pedestrians on trails, etc. Most days I’ll have one case of people walking 2 or 3 abreast without any awareness of what’s around them, sometimes that’s headphones, a cell phone, or whatever.

[Author]

Replies