[wheelswings]

@Steve O 142166 wrote:

This discussion is a couple days late for me. I just ordered some new tape from the UK, but–as with women’s shoes–comfort came second.

Your women’s shoes aren’t so comfortable? Sorry to hear, Steve O. But I’m sure you look pretty in them.

[wheelswings]

In case anyone missed it, NPR has a fun follow-up on the coconut contraption that can turn your bike into a galloping horse.
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/06/24/483380243/need-for-steed-this-bike-gadget-gallops-like-king-arthur?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium
The video clips are worth a look.

[wheelswings]

In case anyone missed it, NPR has a fun follow-up on the coconut contraption that can turn your bike into a galloping horse.
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/06/24/483380243/need-for-steed-this-bike-gadget-gallops-like-king-arthur?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium
The video clips are worth a look.

[wheelswings]

Ooh! I’d be interested in buying the Garmin…
Why are you selling it?
Thx,
w&w

[wheelswings]

I like to carry grapes, apple slices, almonds and cheese sticks, though bars and the kids’ dinnertime leftovers go down easily too… I’m not particularly choosy so long as it’s calories.

But what does matter is consuming liquids. Be sure to drink, drink, drink. Heat exhaustion /heat stroke are creepy (dizziness, nausea, fevers and fainting) and once you’ve tried them, you quickly realize they’re worth avoiding in future, even if the darn bottle of “gourmet” water costs three dollars. If that’s your only option, it’s worth every penny.

[wheelswings]

Crashing computer. Major 5 pm deadlines for chemical reviews. All in all, a strenuous day at the office.

Finally I headed out to the street (I lock up on the crowded Van Ness Metro racks), only to find that my bike was pinned down by another u-locked bicycle that had fallen on top of it. I struggled to extract my bike, with no luck. Ultimately I gave up and just stood there staring at it. As it turned out, a guy on a bench had been watching me – he came over and asked if I needed help (yes, please!). He was bigger and stronger than I (well, duh) and able to maneuver the fallen bike and lift it off. Hooray!! I expressed my sincere thanks and handed him one of the Wet Wipe packets that I always carry (dislodging the bike was greasy business).

So my kudos tonight go to this stranger for his kindness… and actually I suspect it was a high point in his day too.
Happy Friday, everyone! w&w

[wheelswings]

@vern 140955 wrote:

I got hit by a car this morning at the intersection of the WOD and Great Falls. The motorist stopped at the crossing, so I proceeded across, at which time he decided it was a good time to go. I’m ok, but my left front wheel is shaped like a potato chip. I haven’t inspected the frame or fork closely yet. I think the wheel took the brunt of it. Hilariously, he’s already called his insurance company and said he is not at fault. If you know the intersection, you know there are signs posted instructing motorists to stop for individuals crossing.

Sending hugs to my teammate vern. What a rotten way to start the day. Sorry about the potato-chip wheel. Hope you are okay. Sorry the driver was so self-serving.

[wheelswings]

I don’t know of less-hilly routes, either. But here are a few thoughts.
-Be sure to hydrate, especially for your steep return trip.
-The hills get easier, like Emm said. In a few weeks, you will be amazed by what you can do.
-Keep in mind that this is just about the toughest time of the year to be out on the bike, with the mercury close to 90F. Spring, fall, and much of the winter are easier. Summer in DC is a bear.
-A number of folks in our bicycle commuting community have shed major pounds. They look awesome. And they are keeping the weight off ‘cause they gotta get to work every day…bicycle commuting becomes part of your life, it’s your transportation.
-Once you get used to riding everywhere, you will never look back. Keep it up!
Warmest wishes. w&w

[wheelswings]

Perhaps at one of these meetings the County can give another update on progress (or lack thereof) at Lynn and Lee…

A lot of drivers have been ignoring the microscopic no-turn-on-red sign. Again this afternoon, a car blocked me with its right turn at the start of the pedestrian signal. After that, myself and a rider heading the opposite direction were each one-third across, when yet another car whipped through the middle third of the intersection.

The itty bitty no-right-turn signal is not doing its job, and yet those few seconds are really the only time it is half-ways “safe” for bicycle riders or pedestrians to enter the intersection; the countdown clock is just a free for all for right-turning drivers. Most of the time, bicycle riders may as well wait it out, unless they are feeling suicidal.

I understand that some of the desired fixes will take time, but in the interim can’t the County do any better than this? At the very least,
Why not install a BIG and BRIGHT no-turn sign?
How about putting up a red light camera so that drivers who ignore the red get a ticket?
Can we paint and re-texture the crosswalk, if nothing else?
There must be something we could do to make it safer, short of the real fixes like removing the pole and re-configuring the intersection.

[wheelswings]

@ginacico 140722 wrote:

Open box, out jumps bike. Cool trick!

Wow, that must’ve taken a lot of planning!
So out pops your [Bike]-in-the-Box, you spend a couple hours assembling, and then what do you do with the box itself? Seems like it would be quite cumbersome to hitch to a rack…

[wheelswings]

no no no…. i woulda loved that low five or even a hug, but as a Saddle Guardian who stands on pedals I was ill-positioned to let go at that very moment! Next time I see you I’ll make up for it… w&w

[wheelswings]

Congrats to our DC-area May winners:

Dave B of Washington, DC won 1 year’s supply of Cottonelle Product!!

and

Kate Kyle of Washington, DC won a Bontrager helmet.

woohoo!

[wheelswings]

I’m a bit confused because under the Points column, NBC is displaying my strava miles for the month, roughly 710. But the NBC website is no longer giving points for riding each day… I thought that first mile was supposed to count extra.

Whatevah. Time to get back on the bike!

[wheelswings]

Congrats to all the intrepid riders who sweated their way through Kill Bill today. And to all those with the common sense to abstain. And a big thank-you to Bob Cannon for hosting such a festive and well-stocked pit stop at the mid-way point…what a fun celebration.

[wheelswings]

Thanks Jon and Bob for the tips. I will keep them for next time it happens (as this was not the first nor, I expect, the last time I shall experience the multi-day spin-cycle on Strava syncing).

Actually what worked just now was to log additional rides. I was worried that trying to save the extra rides would just block up my Strava more, but instead the new rides seemed to push everything through… a good dose of fiber, so to speak!

It’s funny how most of the year I don’t bother with recording my rides. I just ride. But when I do use Strava (for FS and NBC) I want it to work and I fret when it doesn’t. Working in a partial way just isn’t okay.

Thx much for your help! w&w

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