commuting consistency

Recently, I have been trying to ride to work a little more. Lately I have been much better about trying to ride once a week. Part of the reason I don't ride more is that my knees aren't the best. Compounding this problem is the fact that I still like to run sometimes. I also have been trying to lift regularly for about the first time in my life, just to have a different way to get some exercise. As a result, riding every day is tough. Sometimes it kills my knees enough that I don't want to run or lift. So with biking, as with anything else, I've tried to practice some balance. I don't want it to be my only form of exercise.

That being said, biking is the most fun I have. Especially my early morning ride, when DC is completely quite and barely lit. I really can't tell you how much I love riding at that time of day. This week, I have Friday off. Thursday, I am going to a concert straight from work, and it'll be a late night. Therefore, for my purposes, the only possible riding days are Monday-Wednesday. My goal is to ride all 3 days. I hope it works. Getting more consistent with riding to work is something I've wanted to do for a while, and I look forward to the challenge. The planning, time, and effort riding takes is part of the rolling resistance that this blog is named after. Overcoming rolling resistance is difficult at first, but once you start going becomes easier. The more we use the bike to commute or run errands, the easier it becomes. Getting into a routine of packing, checking the bike, riding, and getting showered and into work makes the routine become easier.

I wish everyone safe commuting and hope to report back in a few days about my 3 days of commuting.

cold weather commute, how i miss you

Today's commute was a hot one. This morning when I left, at 5:30, it was already 73 degrees. It reminded me of a huge misconception about cycling, and especially bicycle commuting. A lot of people think that to ride a lot, and to consistently commute by bike, that you need to live somewhere warm. Now, while snow can have a big affect on limiting your ability to ride to work, the warm/cold argument can really be the opposite of what you'd think.

It doesn't snow very much here, and in most of the country, it doesn't snow that much, that often. Cold weather can actually make commuting much easier and more enjoyable. With proper riding gear, the cold weather really doesn't bother you at all. I don't have extreme cold riding gear, but I have the right clothes to ride down to about 35 degrees or so. With proper clothes, the cold barely bothers me at all (especially once you get about a mile in, and your body heats up your clothes a bit). The benefit of the cold is the fact that it significantly reduces your sweating and how hot you get. I shower when I get to work, but on days like today, you sometime want to break back into that workout sweat immediately after showering. During the winter, the shower is refreshing and the outdoor temperature feels good to bring by body temp back down from the ride. I never get the "re-sweats" during the winter. Also, for those without showers at work, the winter increases the riding distance that an employee can endure without needing to shower. For flat urban riding, the winter can make it the one time of year that riding to work without a shower is possible, or that riding in a suit (like on city bikes) doesn't make the rider get too hot.

It isn't simply by chance that the two iconic two-wheeled companies are both located in the cold weather state of Wisconsin (Trek and Harley Davidson). So don't be afraid of the cold and have some good winter riding.

tour de fat

I don't know what to say other than New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat was unbelievable. I had an amazing time. The games were cool, entertainment fun, atmosphere party, and of course, the beer was delicious. The event was equal parts bike event, carnival, and party. We had a fun group together for a really great Saturday. The weather certainly didn't hurt. Here are a few pics that hopefully capture the great time we had!

friday ride

As I've been saying lately, I'm really enjoying casual riding this year. That being said, sometimes it's fun to go work hard on a bike. I put in a nice 30 mile ride on my day off. It was great to get out and ride hard. The weather was absolutely perfect. The wind was low. And the trails were fairly empty. I rode the Capital Crescent Trail for the first time in a while. I forgot how beautiful the ride is. I also rode part of the Georgetown Branch Trail for the first time ever, but turned around when it became gravel. On the way home, I did some exploring and rode under the Humpback Bridge and north to take the bridge over to Boundary Channel Drive. From there I rode up to Henderson Hall and onto Ft. Meyer. I rode out the 2nd St. gate and up to the Thomas Jefferson Center. I went over the green pedestrian bridge to cross 50 and then up Irving to Ballston.

It was a really enjoyable ride. Being out on the trail alone is so much fun and so peaceful. It was a great start to the weekend, getting ready for Tour de Fat.

clarendon cup

I had a great time Saturday at Clarendon Cup. The racing was great. Breakaway after breakaway went out and were pulled back in. Early in the race, we were leaning by the barrier and a rider clipped the leg of the barrier. The loud clang nearly gave everyone around us a heart attack. All in all just a great and exciting day. Here are a few pics of the race.

Can't wait for Tour de Fat next weekend!

Happy riding.

the sad part of cycling

The following post is about the cyclist struck by a car yesterday crossing the GW Parkway. The article is here: http://www.arlnow.com/2012/06/05/cyclist-struck-injured-on-gw-parkway/ .

I ride this area a decent amount, including my commute to work when I ride to work (admittedly I go a flatter route home, what can I say, I'm tired). It's damn scary. I really hate seeing and reading this. I've been out on the W&OD before and seen the aftermath of a wreck that killed a cyclist turning off of Walter Reed. It shakes you up. When I read this, I was so scared that the fiancé might be involved in a wreck like that. Then I worry a little myself.

This wreck highlights a real difficulty we have in the DC area, and that is multiple jurisdictions. To highlight, that small section of trail is fed by the Mount Vernon Trail, which is in Virginia. However, that section is in DC. Still yet, the National Park Service is in charge of that land. This all leads to no real ownership of problems or solutions. The crossing is dreadful. Cars fly through, despite the low speed limit. By cars, I include myself. There is no business having crosswalks under the current speed conditions. It simply isn't safe. No one is sure who has the right of way, no one is sure who is going to do what, it is just a mess. Something has to be done about the intersection.

In my opinion, some of the lanes must be reduced. This would reduce overall speed but likely have little impact on throughput. Crossing less lanes makes thing so much more predictable, due to the removal of the danger of one lane stopping and another roaring through. Furthermore rumble strips and crossing ahead signs would help to reduce speeds and alert drivers of the oncoming crosswalk. This should help to dramatically increase safety.

I am by no means an expert in this area. I simply like to ride, and try to examine what I think could help. There are so many people at WABA, Arlington BAC, and Bike Arlington that know much more about it. I know they will advocate for better conditions as they always do, which is why so much cycling in this area is great.

It's a sad and scary day to read about a wreck like this, especially when we all know it's such a bad intersection. But let's not forget, cycling is a safe, healthy, and great activity. One bad story shouldn't scare anyone off the bike.

Safe riding everyone!

(thanks to ARLnow.com for the great reporting)

bamboo bike in old town

This is actually the first time I've seen one in real life. A pretty cool bike if I do say so.