General Cycling Discussion - Got to ride with Koffee

Koffee was in town to visit her brother and sister-in-law for a couple days, so my wife and I got together with her for a ride this morning. The day started with my daughter's Wally World bike blowing a freewheel before we even got started, so she was disappointed to not be able to join us. A visit to the LBS this afternoon ensured that wouldn't happen again.
Anyway, we had mapped out a route that turned out to be about 18.5 miles with very little of it on the road, and it was an enjoyable ride. Koffee just cooks along on that folding bike, and I gotta say I was impressed with her never coming off that 52 tooth ring for a climb. We got to change a tube when I got nailed by debris, and my fellow Northern Virginians showed well with two incidents.
While changing the tube, a gentleman in a minivan stopped and asked if we needed help. Another cyclist did as well.
In another case, a PWC cop bad pulled into the crosswalk for the bike lane at an intersection. When he saw us coming, and couldn't clear the intersection before we got there, he actually backed up and waved us on, despite the stop sign on the bike path and the crossing signal that wasn't in our favor.

Thanks for joining us Koffee, it was a blast!

I did the WoD today myself, got in 90 minutes before the rain hit. Man that trail is busy on weekends-- during the week I can go 15-20 minutes without seeing a soul.

Dave

Yeah I hear it gets busy during the weekends and the evenings. The only time I've had a chance to ride any of it was on a weekday when we hit part of it near Purcellville, and even then we some some traffic, but all of it bikes. We took advantage of the multi-use on Prince William Parkway and the parts of 234 that have been done from Lake Jackson on to Hoadly, and cut across Hoadly. With it being 4 lanes now, it wasn't too bad.

Yeah, Twahl... it was good riding. I sent a PM.

Twahl was good enough to invite me into his family fold for a great ride with gentle rolling hills and good scenery. I was impressed with riding out there- I was practically salivating with the thought of getting back out there again for more riding. Twahl and co. were very good with the descents- I have to admit, I just can't handle the heat, so I just got behind them and drafted the downhills, and it was all good.

*sniff sniff* I sure did feel the love out there! Sorry about the bike problems with Twal's daughter, but that new bike she has is schweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! :D

Let's do it again soon. I had a blast!

Koffee

Descents? Ha! Next time we'll take you out on that Purcellville ride! We were clocking a good 5 miles an hour faster down some of those...and we're rolling windblocks on the hybrids. Absolutely we'll do it again next time you're in town.

Descents? Ha! Next time we'll take you out on that Purcellville ride! We were clocking a good 5 miles an hour faster down some of those...and we're rolling windblocks on the hybrids. Absolutely we'll do it again next time you're in town.For a real descent, take Koffee out to Bluemont and ride up to Mt. Weather and back down!

If it's as big as you're hinting, I may not be ready for that! I was practically screaming when I was riding in the Alps during descents... they are horrifying. I would rather climb a hill for thousands of meters than do a downhill. It is just terrible. I know that it takes time to get used to, and as I knew the road better, it wouldn't be so bad, but in the meantime.... I just have a phobia of heights!

Koffee

For a real descent, take Koffee out to Bluemont and ride up to Mt. Weather and back down!

I did that ride this last April... and yeah... big downhill. And a b*tch of an uphill. Must be a good solid 10 or 12% for a mile and a half. Then goes between 6 and 9% for another mile or two.

A friend told me the decent is tricky and sort of scary, but I actually didn't find it all that bad. I was more concerned that I didn't have good brakes. If I'd had good brakes, the decent would have been fine I think.