[mikoglaces]

Anyone ridden on the TR bridge? Is it clear of ice?

[mikoglaces]

How is the TR bridge? I rode in on Key Bridge – sidewalk is clear – but would like to take TR home.

[mikoglaces]

Rode in on the W&OD and Custis from Dunn Loring today. Once, along 4 mile run, and then under a bridge on Custis, I went through a puddle so deep (and pretty long too) that my feet and therefore hubs and bottom bracket were totally underwater. But there was a tailwind so it was great. Notably, the drain on the Custis where it runs along the apartments as you approach Lee Highway was not clogged and there was no puddle. No trees or bid branches down.

[mikoglaces]

Guy on a scooter came off this new ped bridge onto the TR bridge and ran into me when I was biking home last week. Be careful out there.

[mikoglaces]

@JustinW 193410 wrote:

Hello Bike-iverse,

My spouse is currently considering the purchase of an e-bike. She is getting somewhat comfortable with the array of primary features and price levels and such, but getting a completely clear picture of what her options are is proving elusive. Plus, her ability to absorb info from her spouse (that’s me) can vary as well, so I’m hoping info from others wil help.

Her primary goals for this bike involve taming some hills (she *hates* hills) for both bike commutes and recreational rides, as well as making it easier for her to accompany her spouse on rides despite a difference in natural pace and endurance. She has just started to do some test rides after conducting some amount of research online. She is dismayed overall at the prices she is seeing and thus is focusing on lower end models, perhaps to an extreme.

So, a few questions for those who have conducted similar searches and / or are e-bike-educated…

– Some have suggested that a Cat 3 e-bike is optimal for taming hills. True? If so, how can that difference be quantified in human (feel) terms?

– Power – what are you seeing as the minimum wattage (motor power) required for happy riding in this area?

– Are there any features that you absolutely love (i.e. a specific form of instrumentation or lighting or whatever)?

– Any experience with Rad Power bikes, both in terms of the pre-purchase research and then post-purchase?

– Has anyone purchased a specific model and found it lacking, and why?

– Lastly, does anyone have a fave e-bike that they’d like to rave about?

Happy to take this offline if helpful – if so please message me.

Thanks much, Justin

I doubt she needs a class 3. I just bought a class 1 e-assist tandem with a Shimano Steps motor that I ride with my disabled son. I bought it precisely for the reason you mentioned — it was very hard to get up hills because my son is big but not a strong rider. The Shimano Steps motor is plenty to get us up any hill we meet, and my son is essentially 130 pounds of added weight (plus a heavy tandem). I didn’t do a lot of research, but I thought the mid-bike motors (i.e., Shimano or Bosch) were optimal and plenty powerful. I’d say go test-ride some and see what you think.

[mikoglaces]

This is a great ride. Do it.

[mikoglaces]

Has anyone used the new bike valet at Audi Field? https://www.twowheelvalet.com/audifield Website says you leave bike without a lock. I have always locked at National bike valet. I am going Wednesday night and thinking of leaving commuting backpack at work because of stadium no-bag policy, in which case I wouldn’t be carrying my U-lock.

[mikoglaces]

Great ride. I’d never ridden along the Anacostia before, or on most of these trails and roads. The city looks different at night, and when you are sleepy. Wise Guys has great pizza – or does it just seem so at 1:30 a.m.? Thanks to Steve O for leading.

[mikoglaces]

I am a maybe. Probably better than 50% chance.

[mikoglaces]

This is the route I would use. I have ridden it or parts of it many times (I live around the middle of it). It gets you to East Falls Church. It does go for a short distance on Route 7, though there’s ways to avoid that.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29262585

If W&OD is impassable even at that point (which it generally is not), then I take Washington Blvd. – just north of the end pint of this rote – to Clarendon, then Clarendon Blvd to Lynn St., then Lynn to Key Bridge.

[mikoglaces]

Coldest I have ever ridden in was 1 degree F. We are lucky in DC area in that it doesn’t get into single digits much. Today I had on 5 layers (upper body), 2 balaclavas and a hat, winter cycling shoes with chem footwarmers, winter gloves with chem handwarmers, and heavy tights. I was very comfortable. It is never as bad as you think it is going to be. My face was a bit cold and uncomfortable but it got better as I rode. Biggest fear in cold weather is getting a flat tire cuz I find it hard to change with gloves on.

[mikoglaces]

I rode the W&OD east from Virginia Lane. From Virginia lane to Shreve it had a thin coating of ice/snow, passable easily on my 35 mm studded tires. I suspect its the same further west. I bailed and took the road at the section along the tennis courts where there is always more accumulation (there was last night at 830 on my ride home). I resumed the path in Falls Church City. The path was bumpy ice. Okay with studded tires but I bailed after a bit and took roads until EFC where the path was cleared last night.

[mikoglaces]

Anyone know whether the W&OD and Custis are clear from Falls Church into DC? Deciding whether to ride studs or road tires tomorrow. Studs slowed me down all last week but I am conservative and will ride on them if there’s any ice.

[mikoglaces]

Is TR bridge clear?

[mikoglaces]

Is the TR bridge cleared? I doubt it but thought I’d ask.

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