DismalScientist
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DismalScientist
ParticipantI ride an old-school touring bike and just bungie cord my briefcase to the rack. I am going to experiment with an old school racing bike using wider tire. There are racks that clamp only on the seatpost and can be easily removed when not needed. It think it will be possible to mount relatively light-weight luggage on top of such a rack. I don’t think such a rack would be good for mounting paniers. However, such a rack and mounting system might be a solution for you.
DismalScientist
ParticipantI’m excited its going to be 95 F too.
Enjoy.
DismalScientist
ParticipantFrom the Custis to the bike lanes, I’ll do one of four things. If the light for Wakefield is green (i.e. Fairfax is red), I cross at Wakefield. I make sure I am not getting in the way of any traffic at Wakefield.
If not, I continue on the sidewalk to the second driveway (being careful about cars in the driveway not expecting a bike on the sidewalk.) If the westbound traffic on Fairfax is clear, I turn onto eastbound Fairfax from the driveway. I’ll stop in the middle of Fairfax for eastbound traffic.
If there is a steady flow of westbound traffic on Fairfax, I’ll proceed on the sidewalk to Glebe. If the traffic light has southbound Glebe stopped (even with the left arrow to eastbound Fairfax lit, I’ll take the crosswalk halfway across the southbound lanes and wait for the green arrow to turn left on Fairfax.
If southbound Glebe is moving, I’ll take the crosswalk across Fairfax and stop at the bike lane and wait for the green as eastbound Fairfax traffic.This area is a dangerous design. The bike path puts you not only on a sidewalk, but a sidewalk in the opposite direction of traffic. Be very careful of drivers not seeing where you are, because you may be in a place that from their perspective they would never expect you.
DismalScientist
ParticipantOn a related, but non-bike subject, I was taught in driver’s ed, that one was to flash ones lights to indicate that you wanted to pass and, in particular, do so when in the left lane to “remind” the person in front of you when they have completed their pass. Around here, people take great offense at this as well as any suggestion that they maintain lane discipline. How and why did this occur?
DismalScientist
ParticipantBrendan: I think it depends on the slope of the incline. If it were significant, I would argue, using the sailboat/motorboat analogy, that whoever has more control over their speed should yield, which in this case would be the uphill rider. On the other hand, if the slope is less significant and speed control is no issue, I would think the downhill rider should yield because he/she gain recover speed more quickly. Or maybe the right-of-way should go to the most lycra.
DismalScientist
ParticipantOh goodie…
I can ignore all traffic signs up the Rosslyn hill. I did not realize that those new traffic signals could not only be ignored, but self-righteously ignored. Now I don’t have to stop on the W&OD all the way from Shirlington to Gallows Road.
DismalScientist
ParticipantBeer at the top of the 300 foot hill I just pounded through in 90 degree whether? How could I resist?
DismalScientist
ParticipantHey, I resemble that remark.
DismalScientist
ParticipantI’ve never thought the bicycling community is particularly well served by introducing politics, and especially partisan politics, into its advocacy. My views are certainly closer to the Republicans than the Democrats. The biggest bicycle advocate in the upcoming presidential race is likely Gary Johnson.
DismalScientist
ParticipantI get 25.2, but that may be due to my having to do switchbacks on the W&OD trail climbing up the Four Mile Run valley
DismalScientist
ParticipantNot even the scent of fresh blood on the pavement will dissuade me from taking this alternative to the corridor of carnage that is the Custis Trail.
BTW, the asphalt has hardened nicely but it is mighty bumpy down Wilson.
DismalScientist
ParticipantBesides google, another source of free bicycle mapping (and this one shows VA route 1) is http://www.opencyclemap.org/
DismalScientist
ParticipantNeither would be enjoyable. To go to Leesburg, take the W&OD trail, which is paved. For more fun, come back via White’s Ferry and the C&O towpath, which is not paved. Although I have not taken it, to go south to Aquia, you may want to look at VA bike route 1, which is essentially the same as the Atlantic Coast bike route from Adventure Cycling. This map may help: http://www.virginiadot.org/bikemap/
April 28, 2011 at 1:23 pm in reply to: New traffic lights for Bicycles and Pedestrians in Rosslyn #925681DismalScientist
ParticipantI think the walk/don’t walk signals were “ineffective” because people chose to ignore them. I don’t see how these signals will change anything.
April 12, 2011 at 6:12 pm in reply to: Recommended Route from Custis Trail/W&OD to 17th & L? #925544DismalScientist
ParticipantMy route is down the Mount Vernon trail briefly from Rosslyn and cross the Roosevelt bridge right after Roosevelt Island. Get off the sidewalk and go on New Hampshire across Virginia and Washington Circle. Right on L for 5 blocks or so.
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