From: dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX (The dc-cycles list administrator) To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Errors-To: dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX Subject: dc-cycles digest for 02/13/06 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ __ /-----\ __ 'dc-cycles' is an unmoderated email discussion list (__\/ _____ \/__) about motorcycling in the Washington D.C. area. =( \___/ )= \ ___ / An archive of the dc-cycles list is available at: | / _ \ | http://www.dc-cycles.org/ \ || || / \|| ||/ Subscribe/unsubscribe requests should be sent to: \| |/ dc-cycles-digest-request@XXXXXX |_| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 05:27:33 -0000 From: "John M. Stafford" To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX X-Yahoo-Post-IP: 68.48.129.111 X-Yahoo-Newman-Property: groups-compose Subject: [dc-cycles] Re: Cold Ride....and a question. Do you need a radar detector for Bethesda to Arlington? The Park Police simple don't have enough manpower to put speed traps on the GW Parkway. It's too unsafe to appreciably speed on Wisconsin Ave, because if an idiot turning in front of you doesn't get you, a pothole will. And while there are three speed traps on my favorite route (Arlington Rd, Little Falls Pkwy, Mass Ave, Dalecarlia Pkwy, MacArthur Blvd, Foxhall, Canal, Whitehurst Frwy, Roosevelt Bridge) it is well known that cops park at MacArthur at Cathedral, MacArthur at Ashby, and that there is a Gatso camera on MacArthur east of Reservoir. Plus a radar detector isn't all it's cracked up to be. Besides mere possession being a felony in D.C. and Virginia, with a competent cop they just don't work. If you drive with your eyes open you should be able to see any police officer about 500 ft. before you get into radar range. Rarely do officers clock everyone. They watch everyone with their owns eyes, radar off, waiting until they see a vehicle that appears to be going 12/17/20+ (or whatever the local tag amount is) mph over the speed limit then they flip the switch when the vehicle is close to confirm what their eyeballs have already told them. By the time your detector beeps you've been tagged. If you'd been visually scanning the road ahead, you'd have seen the officer when he saw you and known to slow down before you got into range. A laser detector is worthless because it can only see the beam at the same moment you're being tagged. And the real killer is moving radar, where an officer is heading towards you and tags you as you approach. "You clocked me how?" As for the cold, I've never owned a bike with a utility plug for a vest. But on February 26, 1993 I rode with my brother on the back from Alexandria to New York City on my Yamaha. The high temp that day was 29ºF (-2ºC), the low was 25ºF (-4ºC). We were layered up as much as a couple of dumb kids could be (thermals, jeans, sweats, wool socks, boots, 4 shirts, 3 jackets, sweater, and scarf, and muffs on the handlebars). Well, while those temps are nothing for a cross-town journey they are a killer over 250 miles. I rode the first leg as far as Maryland House until I had to spend a half-hour acquainting myself with the heated hand dryers. We then split the riding, trading off at every rest area. Thankfully the temps rose above freezing for the ride home. That next winter I invested in two things, a truck, and a pair of gloves that use a "D" cell to run a heating element. Enjoy, John M. Stafford --- In dc-cycles@XXXXXX, "Julian Halton" wrote: > I rode last night from Bethesda to Arlington. Temps were -3c (22 F) > with wind chill taking this down to -7c. I had on jeans, my field sheer > mesh summer weight jacket with liner, a Patagonia vest, thin runners > gloves inserted into Held Galaxy racing gloves and of course the trusty > Shoei X-II. Talk about brisk! The tires and the road surface were not > playing well. I decided that since wind chill increases with speed, I > was going to take my time and cruise home at a leisurely 45 miles per > hour or so. By the time I hit Georgetown, my hands were packed in. By > the time I hit my apartment door at in South Arlington, the nerve > endings in my fingers were screaming. I made it. I had to cheat by at > one point wrapping my hands around the undertail and gaining some heat > from the undertail exhaust. I think this was the third coldest my hands > have ever been on a bike and I have decided that this will be my > temperature limit to ride for more than twenty minutes. I had an > emergency plan in my head of various stops I could have made if I really > needed to warm the hands up. I wonder why the pads of the fingers get > colder than the outside. Is it because of contact with the icy cold > clutch and brake levers? > > So if you have read this far, I have a totally unrelated question. I was > perusing my favorite literature before passing out and I saw an ad for > the Escort X 80..some do-it-all; radar slash laser detector. Has anyone > on the list anecdotally heard of the efficacy of these devices or are > they just another scam central? _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 05:28:53 -0500 From: Aaron Maurer To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Re: Cold Ride....and a question. Cc: "John M. Stafford" John writes: > Plus a radar detector isn't all it's cracked up to be. Besides mere possession being a felony in D.C. and Virginia. . . While I agree with most of what John says, let me correct his assertion that possession of a radar detector is a felony. While it is illegal, violation of the ban on radar detectors carries relatively little penalty and is not a felony, at least in Virginia. VIRGINIA In Virginia, using a radar detector is a civil infraction (like speeding) AND no points are given for violating the statute. Contrary to rumors I've heard, the police have no right to keep your radar detector. I believe the fine is currently under $100. Also, I think there's a pretty large loophole in the statute, if someone wanted to challenge it. (Hint, it's in Part A, below and involves FCC recognition of the "Safety Warning System" radar band.) The upshot of all of this is I run a radar detector in Virginia, especially in light of the draconian enfocement of Virginia's "reckless driving" statute. In fact, as a result of that statute, and the jail sentences being handed down for first-time violations, I never drive 80 mph or above in the Commonwealth (so I suppose it's working, eh?). Statute text: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1079 § 46.2-1079. Radar detectors; demerit points not to be awarded. A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth when such vehicle is equipped with any device or mechanism, passive or active, to detect or purposefully interfere with or diminish the measurement capabilities of any radar, laser, or other device or mechanism employed by law-enforcement personnel to measure the speed of motor vehicles on the highways of the Commonwealth for law-enforcement purposes. It shall be unlawful to use any such device or mechanism on any such motor vehicle on the highways. It shall be unlawful to sell any such device or mechanism in the Commonwealth. However, provisions of this section shall not apply to any receiver of radio waves utilized for lawful purposes to receive any signal from a frequency lawfully licensed by any state or federal agency. This section shall not be construed to authorize the forfeiture to the Commonwealth of any such device or mechanism. Any such device or mechanism may be taken by the arresting officer if needed as evidence, and, when no longer needed, shall be returned to the person charged with a violation of this section, or at that person's request, and his expense, mailed to an address specified by him. Any unclaimed devices may be destroyed on court order after six months have elapsed from the final date for filing an appeal. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the presence of any such prohibited device or mechanism in or on a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section. The Commonwealth need not prove that the device or mechanism in question was in an operative condition or being operated. B. A person shall not be guilty of a violation of this section when the device or mechanism in question, at the time of the alleged offense, had no power source and was not readily accessible for use by the driver or any passenger in the vehicle. * * * D. No demerit points shall be awarded by the Commissioner for violations of this section. Any demerit points awarded by the Commissioner prior to July 1, 1992, for any violation of this section shall be rescinded and the driving record of any person awarded demerit points for a violation of this section shall be amended to reflect such rescission. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA As for DC... well, I couldn't find any regulation prohibiting radar detectors in DC online, including through the legal search service Westlaw. That does not mean that one doesn't exist. There are a number of regulations in DC that exist only in paper form. I did find a case from 25 years ago upholding DC's ban on radar detectors and citing "D.C.Pol.Reg.: Art. 25, s 16" which provides "No person shall, in the District of Columbia, sell or offer for sale, or use or have in his possession in a motor vehicle, any device designed to detect or counteract police radar." It doesn't specify whether a violation would be a felony. (It is frustrating to be a resident in a city where the laws -- and the processes to change them -- are unclear and inaccessible.) None of the above is legal advice. Consult a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction before making any decisions... Aaron 2003 BMW R1150GS 2005 Stella _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:43:01 -0500 (EST) From: Wayne Edelen To: Subject: Radar detectors (was Re: [dc-cycles] Cold Ride...) On Mon, 13 Feb 2006, John M. Stafford wrote: > Plus a radar detector isn't all it's cracked up to be. Besides mere possession being a felony > in D.C. and Virginia, with a competent cop they just don't work. If you drive with your eyes > open you should be able to see any police officer about 500 ft. before you get into radar > range. Rarely do officers clock everyone. They watch everyone with their owns eyes, radar > off, waiting until they see a vehicle that appears to be going 12/17/20+ (or whatever the > local tag amount is) mph over the speed limit then they flip the switch when the vehicle is > close to confirm what their eyeballs have already told them. By the time your detector > beeps you've been tagged. If you'd been visually scanning the road ahead, you'd have seen > the officer when he saw you and known to slow down before you got into range. > > A laser detector is worthless because it can only see the beam at the same moment you're > being tagged. I look at a radar detector as another tool in my arsenal for avoiding tickets. Yes, awareness gets you there 90% of the time, but having that extra tool can really help. I have some pretty fast hardware in my garage and I regularly exceeed the speed limit on 2 and 4 wheels. I try to pick my opportunities, but I have been known to just wick it up a little on the interstate (nothing insane, but certainly reckless to VA cops). I have a clean driving record. Is it because of my V1? Not entirely, but it certainly plays a part. My point - I think a good radar detector is worth the money :-) -- Wayne _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Subject: RE: [dc-cycles] Re: Cold Ride....and a question. Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 08:42:02 -0500 From: "Julian Halton" To: "John M. Stafford" , That's my route as well...and really I was just wondering about the technology and how effective it was...Taking the route four nights a week just as an FYI...there is a stationary car on Loughboro just before Dalecarlia..pointing either way depending on the mood of the enforcers that day. There are occasionally traps on Dalecarlia and also that first right off Little Falls Road just before you turn onto Arlington...the name escapes my benumbed mind this morning. My curiosity was about the technology. I have only ever had one performance award on my trike, and that was in my first two weeks of riding in good 'ol Arlington...... A skinny member of the ticket writing tribe whose last name is a synonym for rock, pulled me over in mid-January. I accelerated a little to hard on North Glebe Road and he nailed me from the MT. Olivet parking lot. Despite being a two-wheeler himself, he gave me the full Monty for 13 above. Julian Halton Group Logic julian@XXXXXX 703.527.7979 x 2338 -----Original Message----- From: notify@XXXXXX [mailto:notify@XXXXXX] On Behalf Of John M. Stafford To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX Subject: [dc-cycles] Re: Cold Ride....and a question. Do you need a radar detector for Bethesda to Arlington? The Park Police simple don't have enough manpower to put speed traps on the GW Parkway. It's too unsafe to appreciably speed on Wisconsin Ave, because if an idiot turning in front of you doesn't get you, a pothole will. And while there are three speed traps on my favorite route (Arlington Rd, Little Falls Pkwy, Mass Ave, Dalecarlia Pkwy, MacArthur Blvd, Foxhall, Canal, Whitehurst Frwy, Roosevelt Bridge) it is well known that cops park at MacArthur at Cathedral, MacArthur at Ashby, and that there is a Gatso camera on MacArthur east of Reservoir. Plus a radar detector isn't all it's cracked up to be. Besides mere possession being a felony in D.C. and Virginia, with a competent cop they just don't work. If you drive with your eyes open you should be able to see any police officer about 500 ft. before you get into radar range. Rarely do officers clock everyone. They watch everyone with their owns eyes, radar off, waiting until they see a vehicle that appears to be going 12/17/20+ (or whatever the local tag amount is) mph over the speed limit then they flip the switch when the vehicle is close to confirm what their eyeballs have already told them. By the time your detector beeps you've been tagged. If you'd been visually scanning the road ahead, you'd have seen the officer when he saw you and known to slow down before you got into range. A laser detector is worthless because it can only see the beam at the same moment you're being tagged. And the real killer is moving radar, where an officer is heading towards you and tags you as you approach. "You clocked me how?" As for the cold, I've never owned a bike with a utility plug for a vest. But on February 26, 1993 I rode with my brother on the back from Alexandria to New York City on my Yamaha. The high temp that day was 29ºF (-2ºC), the low was 25ºF (-4ºC). We were layered up as much as a couple of dumb kids could be (thermals, jeans, sweats, wool socks, boots, 4 shirts, 3 jackets, sweater, and scarf, and muffs on the handlebars). Well, while those temps are nothing for a cross-town journey they are a killer over 250 miles. I rode the first leg as far as Maryland House until I had to spend a half-hour acquainting myself with the heated hand dryers. We then split the riding, trading off at every rest area. Thankfully the temps rose above freezing for the ride home. That next winter I invested in two things, a truck, and a pair of gloves that use a "D" cell to run a heating element. Enjoy, John M. Stafford --- In dc-cycles@XXXXXX, "Julian Halton" wrote: > I rode last night from Bethesda to Arlington. Temps were -3c (22 F) > with wind chill taking this down to -7c. I had on jeans, my field > sheer mesh summer weight jacket with liner, a Patagonia vest, thin > runners gloves inserted into Held Galaxy racing gloves and of course > the trusty Shoei X-II. Talk about brisk! The tires and the road > surface were not playing well. I decided that since wind chill > increases with speed, I was going to take my time and cruise home at a > leisurely 45 miles per hour or so. By the time I hit Georgetown, my > hands were packed in. By the time I hit my apartment door at in South > Arlington, the nerve endings in my fingers were screaming. I made it. > I had to cheat by at one point wrapping my hands around the undertail > and gaining some heat from the undertail exhaust. I think this was the > third coldest my hands have ever been on a bike and I have decided > that this will be my temperature limit to ride for more than twenty > minutes. I had an emergency plan in my head of various stops I could > have made if I really needed to warm the hands up. I wonder why the > pads of the fingers get colder than the outside. Is it because of > contact with the icy cold clutch and brake levers? > > So if you have read this far, I have a totally unrelated question. I > was perusing my favorite literature before passing out and I saw an ad > for the Escort X 80..some do-it-all; radar slash laser detector. Has > anyone on the list anecdotally heard of the efficacy of these devices > or are they just another scam central? _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 11:00:25 -0500 From: skip To: Jonathan Broga , DC Cycles Subject: Re: [dc-cycles] Local welder? protype industries in sterling VA does aluminum welding. unsure of their prices. http://www.pro-type.com/sheet_metal.htm --skip Jonathan Broga wrote: > > I am need of some welding to fab an aluminum > undertail/battery box for a Hawk. Anyone know of > someone local that does that stuff? A picture of what > I am going for is here > http://www.hawkgt.com/photoalbum/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=10116&pos=7 > > and here > > http://www.hawkgt.com/photoalbum/displayimage.php?album=198&pos=8 > > sory for the long URL's when I tried to send links > through yahoo it bounced back to me. > > - I need to create the box that is seen > inside the sub-frame rails and a few misc. tabs for > tank/seat/taillight mounting. > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.com _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 12:41:43 -0500 From: Carl Custer To: dc-cycles@XXXXXX, scooteristi@XXXXXX Subject: [dc-cycles] Would that we had commercials like this in the USA... Sun, 12 Feb 2006 14:21:16 -0500 "John M. Stafford" opined, "Would that we had commercials like this in the USA..." Excellent suggestion. How about sending that to your State representatives and recommending that they implements something like that? You're just singing to the choir here. Carl in Bethesda _ _ _ _ .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. .-.-.=\-. (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) (_)=='(_) From: "W.S." To: "DC-Cycles" Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2006 17:13:36 -0500 Subject: [dc-cycles] How Nascar checks lungs A moderately definitive piece on state of the art engine breathing/carb tests. Weather Made to Order for Nascar's Engine Tests http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/automobiles/13CARS.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Bill S. / DC (on digest) '99 VN750 > Whatever happened to vacuum gages? Join the AMA. Help protect my riding fun.