It’s been a while since we had a good old fashioned gear chat. I haven’t been out for an all-day ride in a few months, but I’ve been puttering around town a fair bit, and one thing I’ve come to appreciate is that the things that make a bike comfortable for an all day ride out in the countryside are the same things that make it comfortable for hauling groceries or riding to an appointment. For me, the two real game-changers were abandoning clipless pedals for nice wide platform pedals, and fitting some big supple tires.
Some folks might protest “but you lose so much efficiency!” To which I would say, eh, maybe a little? On the pedal front, even the hardcore road cyclists at GCN had to admit that in most circumstances, you don’t gain a whole lot from clipless pedals. For me, the benefits of wide platform pedals are twofold: you can wear whatever comfortable (and weather appropriate) shoes you want, and you can move your feet around on the pedals to relieve strain on your legs and find the position that works for your energy level in the moment. This is not to say that platform pedals are objectively better—it’s a personal choice. Lots of people like the secured, connected feeling that clipless pedals provide. But if you’re looking to upgrade an all-day bike or an everyday bike, I’d recommend trying out some wide grippy pedals before committing to clipping in.
On the tire front, the additional grip and shock-absorption of a big tire make a huge difference in comfort—you can worry a lot less about crumbly pavement, the dreaded tree-root washboards that affect some of our older regional trails, and the inevitable gravel and debris that drifts into bike lanes. I will let the delightfully obsessive crew over at Bicycle Quarterly explain why, contrary to popular understanding, big tires don’t really slow you down much either (content warning: extreme nerdiness).
News & Updates:
- You’ve probably already seen it in the news but Mayor Bowser’s budget proposal contains drastic cuts to a host of important programs, including transit, traffic safety, and bike/pedestrian programming. We’re still sorting through spreadsheets and working with coalition partners on a response. Stay tuned.
Things to do this week:
- Applications for DC’s E-bike rebate opened on Monday. Based on a limited budget and a lot of interest, this round will likely go entirely to Preferred Applicants (DC residents enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or the DC Healthcare Alliance). If that’s you or anyone you know, check it out.
- Relatedly, there’s an Ebike Tasting Party with lots of brands to try out as part of the Healthy Homes Fair on Saturday. (Please respect the metaphor and do not lick any bicycles.)
- We could use a few more volunteers to help clean out the old Gearin’ Up space tomorrow.
- Saturday: Urban Sketching on the Met Branch Trail
- Saturday: Women’s History Walk in Alexandria
- Sunday: Tulip Walk on the Mount Vernon Trail
- Monday: Ward 7 Council Candidate Meet and Greet (note: we’re almost at venue capacity for this, so please only sign up if you live in Ward 7)
- Tuesday: Learn about the Rockville’s Mannakee Street Complete Street feasibility study and proposed improvements & provide your suggestions.
- Wednesday: WABA Member Happy Hour in Arlington
- Wednesday: Marvin Gaye Trail Cleanup with the Trail Rangers
- Thursday: Join Alexandria staff for a virtual community meeting on the safety-focused Holland Lane Corridor Improvements Study.
- Thursday: Arlington’s Gateway Park is getting a redesign! Join the project team for an in-person info session and feedback opportunity.
- Take Arlington’s Annual Vision Zero Survey and use the map to flag areas of concern.
- Interested in leading a Bike to Work Day Convoy this year? Sign up here.
- MoCo folks: we’re gearing up for budget season. Let Seth & Peter know if you’d like to get involved.
- Sign up for the Bloom Ride & Spring Picnic on May 4th.
- Register for Bike to Work Day—it’s on Friday, May 17th this year and the t-shirts are a peppy orange.
A Fun Route Idea For the Weekend
The redbuds are blooming! Hop on the C&O and ride out to Great Falls to enjoy the blasts of purple in the woods. If you want to test out your new big soft tires, shoulder your bike and cross the bridge just south of Great Falls and take Berma Road (lol, “road”) along Widewater back to the Angler’s Inn.
Have a great weekend.