<p>After <a href=”http://connect.garmin.com/activity/157081208″>a treacherous ride</a> on the <a href=”http://www.wodfriends.org/trail.html”>W&amp;OD Trail</a> Sunday afternoon, I decided to add it to the list of things I avoid at all costs. The following is a list of the places I avoid, when I avoid them, and why I avoid them. You’ll note a common theme.</p>
<p><strong>Riding multipurpose trails on a weekend between 1PM and 7PM when the temperature is between 60 and 80 degrees</strong>. This is when the idiots come out to play. On my ride on Sunday, I nearly crushed two pedestrians who felt the need to ignore my passing warning and jump into the passing lane for no good reason. If I need to get a ride in during these hours and these temps (they only coincide for a month or two each year), I need to drive somewhere for a road ride or drive somewhere for a mountain ride.</p>
<p><strong>Riding the “Arlington Loop”</strong> (triangle created by the W&amp;OD, <a href=”http://bikewashington.org/trails/wad/custis.htm”>Custis</a>, and <a href=”http://bikewashington.org/trails/vernon/index.php”>Mount Vernon</a> trails) <strong>in the dark</strong>. Poorly maintained pavement means a lot of difficult to see potholes and such. I’ll stick to the W&amp;OD in the dark; better paved and straight as an arrow.</p>
<p><strong>The gym after work</strong>. Too many people.</p>
<p><strong>Grocery stores on weekends and between 5 and 8 on weeknights</strong>. Too many people.</p>
<p><strong>Driving between 5 and 8 on a weeknight</strong>. Too many people.</p>
<p><strong>Springfield, Rosslyn, and Georgetown</strong>. All terrible.</p>
<p><strong>Outside the beltway</strong>. Yes, I grew up there. No, it’s not the same as it used to be. Most everyone out there has a massive commute that causes them to hate life and be angry. Once you pass under 495, there’s a clear difference in demeanor.</p>
<p><strong>Maryland</strong>. 9 times out of 10 when I’m cutoff or see someone pull some asinine or inconsiderate maneuver on the roads while IN VIRGINIA, they have Maryland tags. It’s difficult to avoid Marylanders on Virginia roads, but it’s easy to avoid Maryland altogether… so I do.</p>
<p>I hope you were able to pick up on the common theme, which is most unfortunate; as other folks workout more, I’m likely to workout less. Alas, it’ll be hot soon and all my worries will be melted away, back into their centrally cooled little huts and eventually, I’ll live somewhere where there are simply fewer people. Time is on my side.</p>
<p>Surely you avoid certain things. What, when, and why?</p>