Northeast - Where are the MD people's

Sundays M2M ride. I am all set to go. I am battling a minor cold(drove today, ugh!). Hopefully I will be fully recovered by Sunday.
GB send me a cue so I can print it out for the "hard of seeing";-) Maybe I should get 'cues on tape' and listen.

Maybe I should get 'cues on tape' and listen.

That's what NR does with vz navigator. :)
Here's the full cue sheet for M2M:
http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=74&func=download&id=33&chk=692b7f266b79a71f5ee79fe32b3e7919&no_html=1

NR... Yeah, that's a bit of a hike up and back and up and back again. :) Love to come ride another time though.

As for the bike. Picked up a MASI 3VC Team Issue carbon w/ SRAM Force and Spinergy wheels. :D Love it and SUPER fast.

That's what NR does with vz navigator. :)
Here's the full cue sheet for M2M:
http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=74&func=download&id=33&chk=692b7f266b79a71f5ee79fe32b3e7919&no_html=1

I think that's what Barry used when we mnt. biked through Wyman park. Thanks for the cue, lots and lots of turns!!! Still got the cold, drove again just so I can be healthy on Sunday.

tried to download the cue but keeps saying...Illegal download. Where are you sending me, some porn site?? Don't worry about it.

Hey Harry good luck in coaching tomorrow.

M2M is gonna be a hot one.

@ those of riding tomorrow. See ya at the monument. Still got my cold. I ride sweep as I'll be shooting snot rockets all the way to DC:-)

Edit: @ GB nevermind I got it at BC site.

Where are you sending me, some porn site??

Nearly. That's the link from the BBC cue download. It no workie no more.
Must be the curse of the of the dynamic link again. Not helpful at all BBC

I uploaded an updated version to my googledocs.
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0By9qerQIUo-4YTVkZjliZWQtNDZkYi00NTgwLThlMGQtZGZlZTcyYjY5MDg4&hl=en

It will be interesting tomorrow. Might be several new faces (I hope) and several challenging you for the "lantern rouge"
I will be riding it slow and steady, trying to keep the rests as short as possible.
Might not see NR tomorrow. He melted in today's heat. I'm sure he'll give gory details.

Might not see NR tomorrow. He melted in today's heat.

As did I. :eek: (Tho' not with NR.) I decided rather impulsively to ride the Six Pillars Century -- it starts out of Cambridge, and winds through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The short story: yes, I made it, despite not having ridden any further than 40 miles at a pop this year, but I was feeling like an over-broiled chicken by the end.

Gotta eat something and shower; details later.

I look forward to pics. I was at the stadium with the t ballers. Got in 24 miles this am just to stay on track. May 2nd=89 degrees= global warming.

M2M was excellent. 13 riders in all, most made the entire ride. Met some really nice folks. Some from Velocipede, some BBC and some BF. I struggled near the end. I leave the big write-up for GB.
My legs were starting to cramp especially when I got to the hills near my home. I'm showered, fed and sipping a nut brown ale now:-)
My totals were (no century today) 99.31 miles @ 13.4mph. Not blistering but the sun was. That's the most miles I have ridden under a century. A few years back I rode 99.1 miles. That last mile can be tough.
Bob good job.

This AM's commute was wet, muggy and very late. I was still spent from yesterdays ride and raining buckets so I rolled over bed and took the "last train to Beltsvillle".

@ GB: Here's a link to the Met Branch trail. http://www.metbranchtrail.com/map.html
Take a look at the crossing at Michigan(I think). the one next to the Basillica. It looks like the trail goes under Mich?? or this trail also has some problems crossing Mich. We were riding parallel to the trail along 4th and 2nd.

Had a blast yesterday. Thanks Charlie, always great riding with you.
That Met Branch Trail is exactly what we needed. That would cut off all of that nasty 4th and Florida mess. However, according to their site the section we would have needed (New York ave to Rhode Island ave) will not be completed until May. (which of course, it is, but doesn't look like they are quite done yet.)

Ride report coming. Today, I'm finishing up my Long Distance riding talk for this tuesday at Velocipede.

"I'm finishing up my Long Distance riding talk for this tuesday at Velociped"

When is the talk? Anybody else get invited to the Baltimore Bike Alliance meeting tonight?
It's in Hampden near the intersection of Falls and 41st. Let me know if you want info.

7PM http://velocipedebikeproject.org/news/

You coming?

"You coming?"

I would have to cut out of my son's b ball game early, so maybe.

Would have loved to have done the MtoM yesterday, like that route, but dad duty trumps all.
I'll get on one of these Rando rides someday.

Will you talk about sub 240 rides? believe that's an overnighter.

7PM http://velocipedebikeproject.org/news/

You coming?

I think I'm going to be in that neck of the woods after work for another errand -- if so, I shall be there! (I promise not to throw any popcorn.) :D

Sorry I missed the M2M ride. I had to get into some woods, and I did so. . . once again on the fixed. About 200 miles over three days, with about 6,000 ft elevation gain, half of that accrued on Saturday alone. I don't know exactly how hot it was but, holy eff, that day in particular was all kinds of brutal. Starting off ragged after camping a little too close to a marsh by a locked-up PATC cabin by Burkittsville, my route had me climbing off that bat up South Mountain. There was a great deal of pushing and cussing of the lord involved in that, as well as a flat tire. Got to Boonsboro and set about climbing South Mountain once again, going kinda/sorta the other way (back over it), and after no climbing break to speak of, started up the backside of Catoctin Mountain. The theory of relativity as it pertains to bikes going up steep hills with no gears and heavy loads was full in effect: the only descents I can really think of was going down the backside of South Mountain the first time and saying to a hurt-looking, climbing spandex roadie, "If I can do it. . . " And then going down the hill in Catoctin, which was amazing. At a bar in Thurmont, as I walked in, someone shouted out, "You a horse jockey!?" (Context: they were watching, and had all bet on, the Kentucky derby.) Anyhow, I didn't even know Maryland had those kind of mountains.

Sunday's ride home, 60 or so miles I guess, felt like cake: tail wind, predominantly downhill, saw some weird country thanks to Google bike directions (dirt roads, thanks), two huge snakes. A good feeling is rolling into town on Liberty through Randallstown and all you can smell for like two miles is Old Bay.

I took some snaps of this trip, but they were done with my TLR so I have wait to get the film developed etc.

@ bob Don't forget to mention the manna from heaven....The mangoes. They saved my behind.
@ HArry: I was suppose to get info on that meeting. Rachel (1 less car) said I was on the email list. Apparently not. Please post the info for me as well as others. I can't make tonight though. if there's an email link post that as well. If you go post about it tomorrow. Find out how this group differs from the Mayors bike group. I hope they differ greatly because I hate when we have more committees than volunteers.
@elk: nice report, still working the fixing I see!! South mnt is big

Hey, M2M was amazing. thanks for setting it up, Bob

(btw this is Boson, member of velocipede.... on the long haul. according to rod's computer we ended up with 98 miles or so and that + my commute to and from the monument meant that I did my first century yesterday...)

and yes, rando talk at the shop 7pm... it should be cool.

when's the next rando ride?

@ bob Don't forget to mention the manna from heaven....The mangoes. They saved my behind.
@ HArry: I was suppose to get info on that meeting. Rachel (1 less car) said I was on the email list. Apparently not. Please post the info for me as well as others. I can't make tonight though. if there's an email link post that as well. If you go post about it tomorrow. Find out how this group differs from the Mayors bike group. I hope they differ greatly because I hate when we have more committees than volunteers.
@elk: nice report, still working the fixing I see!! South mnt is big

First, this is different than the mayor's bike group in that it's independent of city hall. (I also don't think what the mayor's bike group does is advocacy in the classic what-we-need sense, this is. Compare to WABA.) The Baltimore Bicycle Alliance will be a collection of interested and active folks in the city's bike community that will be getting together to, first, set an agenda (what we need to have happen in Baltimore) and write up a mission and so forth. These initial meets will be focused on that and the more people involved from as many different parts of the Baltimore bike community, the better. The first meeting is set for tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Knott Foundation in Hampden.

Pics of BB & BBW May Day Roll http://www.flickr.com/photos/49014342@N03/sets/72157623859118143/

FWIW The Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee is a grassroots organization and has no ties to City Hall other then that they recognize us as representing cyclists in the city. OLC Baltimore Bicycle Alliance is to focus on Baltimore City and County (if not the rest of the metro area.) This should have some advantages being recognized as a non-profit advocacy group, what else they can do depends on involvement.


Tonight - OLC's First Baltimore Bicycle Alliance Development Committee Meeting

Next time we will give you more notice! The First Baltimore Bicycle Alliance Development Committee Meeting will be held tonight (May 3rd) at 6:30pm at the Knott Foundation located at 3904 Hickory Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21211. We expect the meeting to last from 6:30 to 8pm.
Our first order of business is developing:
• a clear mission statement
• list of goals
• developing an outreach strategy to build a strong large grass roots following

This meeting is specifically for folks who want to join the Alliance Development Committee and can donate approximately 4 hours a month to passionately promote bicycling in Baltimore City and County.

If you can't attend this meeting but would like to be a regular Alliance member please Click Here and check the bicycling box. Join the Alliance to help strengthen the Three Foot Rule, promote bicycle safety legislation and to make additional bicycle lanes and facilities a priority in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

I'm bummed I missed the M2M ride, sounds awesome!

Hi Boson! :welcome

I guess when you have in the name "Mayor's", it doesn't come of as particularly independent. Aren't there city employees on the committee? I also don't see much if any outreach or advocacy--which is different from representation--from the advisory committee. There's a feeling of city government insider-ness, I would say.

where's Isaias?? No trip report, no twitter? What's up?

Bike Alliance: The fact they include Baltimore Co. is good, as Balto county is way behind the biking curve. Heck we make PG county look good.
I will say that on the few Mayor bike committee meetings I witnessed I saw nothing that would indicate that the Mayor(or others) influenced the decisions of the group. They seemed very independent to me.

Rachel (1 less car) said I was on the email list. Apparently not.

My bad sorry, one less car was being filtered out in my gmail acct lately.

where's Isaias?? No trip report, no twitter? What's up?

I know he had a nasty spell of cramping on his Saturday ride.
I was a bit concerned too, but I checked his bim tracking and noticed he rode in today.

where's Isaias?? No trip report, no twitter? What's up?

I'm friggin' disgusted by what is starting to become a "history" for me with this heat thing.

I drank more than usual--Gatorade--and still... Maybe, I'm expecting too much of myself. Dunno. I need to work this problem out.

Anyway, I'm glad no one else was around. It would have been scary to the uninitiated. DC RAND has witnessed it--was not a pretty sight.

By the time my sister came and got me, the worse was over, so they didn't see it either.

Bah.

that sux. sorry to hear that.
wasn't there a character in the Tick cartoon who was so overwhelmed by his own muscles that he could barely even move?
This what I'm imagining.

water and electrolytes are understood to be contributors to cramping, but researchers really don't know the full story of why muscles cramp. It's an electrical thing. there are sad cases of people who cramp constantly even though they're well hydrated and not exerting themselves.

that sux. sorry to hear that.
wasn't there a character in the Tick cartoon who was so overwhelmed by his own muscles that he could barely even move?
This what I'm imagining.

water and electrolytes are understood to be contributors to cramping, but researchers really don't know the full story of why muscles cramp. It's an electrical thing. there are sad cases of people who cramp constantly even though they're well hydrated and not exerting themselves.

I'm glad that I'm NOT -that- afflicted. Wow, I couldn't imagine the pain. Some of my leg cramps are so severe, it feels like they could break bones, though.

I'm not blogging the ride, but here's what I wrote in the Notes:



Hit the "wall". Hurt myself--again. Cramps in both legs, singly and both at the same time, in my right quad muscles, shoulders, and feet. I even got a cramp in the right side of my face, which must've looked strange, but doesn't hurt like the others.

I need to work on a cooling vest or some other method of keeping my core temp down on hot/humid days like today.

I guess I should have not tried to ride 35 miles to the ride start, then ride hard with the racers. Altogether, my "climbing index" was nearly a 10 (8395 ft of climbing / (85.61 miles x 100) = an index of 9.8--I think). Did I mention that it was hot and humid?

I got scared enough that I called my parents' home for help. My brother and sister came out to get me at Harford Elementary School off of Pylesville Rd. By the time they found me (doesn't anyone else in my family know how to use Google Maps or have a GPS?) the worst of the "heat attack" was over.

Besides--I had no choice, but to get up and start moving around. The place on the lawn where I was laying down, in the shade, had big black ants. They were crawling on me. I made the mistake of killing a few. They didn't like that, so they started biting. I had to get up, if even just to get away from the ants.

I'm friggin' disgusted by what is starting to become a "history" for me with this heat thing.

I drank more than usual--Gatorade--and still... Maybe, I'm expecting too much of myself. Dunno. I need to work this problem out.

Anyway, I'm glad no one else was around. It would have been scary to the uninitiated. DC RAND has witnessed it--was not a pretty sight.

By the time my sister came and got me, the worse was over, so they didn't see it either.

Bah.

bummer Sounds like you got the type where the muscle cramps and won't let go. I've gotten them over the years. Sometimes during sleep after hard workout. Wakes me up!!! This weekend I got small shooting ones down the leg. If I mashed at all they would turn into the bad ones. They seem to happen after a rest stop. I would drink a lot and eat some salty stuff but they still came then subsided. Didn't stop me but slowed me down.
I know that foods high in GI can give you an insulin peak which is not really good for a long ride. Leg cramps are also tied to diabetes so I'm wondering since diabetes is an insulin problem then anything affecting sharp insulin peaks might also cause cramps. Since diabetes runs in my family I keep an eye on myself. I'm not diabetic but am guessing I lean in that direction. I try to watch my high GI intake on long rides which is hard since this is what I crave. That mango saved my butt.
FWIW: I drank 2 big bottles of gatorade(>QT,~48oz), 1 soda, and at least 5 liters of water and still cramped a little. Seems like enough fluids but I only took 1 piss until I got home. How much more water can I drink??? Best, Dr. Charlie

Your face cramped???

I might be preaching to the choir but do you know how to stretch a muscle to get rid of a cramp? Each muscle can be moved(stretched) to eliminate the cramp. BUT you better know which way to move it or you'll increase the cramp.

Your face cramped???

Yes. During a wince in pain from a leg cramp, my right face cheek muscle cramped for a second. :rolleyes:

I might be preaching to the choir but do you know how to stretch a muscle to get rid of a cramp? Each muscle can be moved(stretched) to eliminate the cramp. BUT you better know which way to move it or you'll increase the cramp.

I'd have to catch it at the first sign of tightening. That's usually while still on the bike. I'd have to ... stop.

But that day, in that area, there is no respite from the sun. Delta Rd is wide open to the sun. It becomes Pylesville Rd--open to the sun. If I would've made it farther south, Mountain Rd--open to the sun, then Rt 40... more of the same. The result would have been the same. Dessication.

It was the wrong day to do that ride and any hard riding on top of it.

Yeeeesh, NR, massive multiple cramps, attacked by ants . . . :eek: :(

I've read, in various contexts, that Gatorade is next to worthless for really hardcore endurance riding -- it just doesn't have enough electrolytes and potassium or what-all else that's needed. (I wonder how many RAAM racers have Gatorade sloshing in their water bottles?)

Do you think you're getting enough calories, on a steady basis, over the course of your rides?

(My sympathies! I also have always had issues with high heat/humidity; I've never been able to cope with it very well.)

spent lunch reading on cramping. Magnesium might now be considered the most important electrolyte. Bean burritos at lunch.

http://www.cptips.com/muspain.htm

spent lunch reading on cramping. Magnesium might now be considered the most important electrolyte. Bean burritos at lunch.

http://www.cptips.com/muspain.htm

I have some magnesium supplements, but I quit using them, because they didn't seem to work for me. Maybe I should give them another try.

I still need to think of a way to keep my core temp down, though. Water bottles filled with ice in my back pockets perhaps? Maybe, all I need is to slow down on hot days. I've not had this problem during my ride to Ocean City the past three years--and, that's in July!

I still need to think of a way to keep my core temp down, though. Water bottles filled with ice in my back pockets perhaps? Maybe, all I need is to slow down on hot days. I've not had this problem during my ride to Ocean City the past three years--and, that's in July!

Well . . . those were some pretty freakish temperatures for the 1st of May. (I did the Six Pillars Century that day over on the Eastern Shore, with very little shade. I didn't suffer any cramps, but the unrelenting sun and heat were *not* doing me any favors!) By July, most years, you've had at least some opportunity to acclimate a bit to the heat.

I recall reading accounts of a 1200k a few years back (I think it was the Gold Rush Randonee?) at which blistering temperatures were really taking a toll on the randos. Some of them resorted to filling tube socks with ice and then knotting the ends and draping them around their necks. (Of course, they got a lot of water dripping all over them, but apparently it was worth it for the extra chill factor.)

It sounds counter-intuitive, but I sometimes think my Camelbak helps in this regard -- yeah, it's extra weight and material, but it does block more sunshine from my back, and the water, which is resting against my back, stays much colder longer than it does in bottles. I dunno, though, I have kind of a love-hate thing going with the 'bak . . . :)

the reason folks put cold stuff around their neck is to cool their arteries which cools their brain. This may also help NR. I have one of those bandanas which hold cold water and goes around your neck.

bike alliance meeting: how did it go?

M2M ride report is up:
http://randoramble.posterous.com/18100138

Hey NR, have you tried using NUUN in your water bottles? They are awesome and taste great. http://www.nuun.com/ all of our racers use it and live by it.

Hey NR, have you tried using NUUN in your water bottles? They are awesome and taste great. http://www.nuun.com/ all of our racers use it and live by it.

Thanks, Rick, I may give that stuff a try.

I did do ZYM for a while, but it's expensive. NUUN seems to be less so.

M2M ride report is up:
http://randoramble.posterous.com/18100138

GB, nice report! I really enjoyed that route when I rode down to meet some Pittsburgh friends for the weekend last month. As you note, it's kind of surprising how tranquil most of it is. Hopefully by next year's Ramble I'll be a bit faster and able to join the group for the day ride. :) (That new MetBranch trail will be a HUGE improvement, too!)

I'm sorry I missed your long-distance talk at Velocipede last night. ([bleep]ing work! :mad: I need to retire! :D) How did it go?

Went to Bob's thing over at Velocipede last night. Very good. Appropriate for it's audience. There were about 20 folks there, I would guess.

As a side note: it's weird riding east on North Avenue at 8:30pm. There were lots of people out of their houses visiting with each other or just enjoying the evening by sitting on their stoup.

Sinclair Ln was a bit challenging, especially by the Baltimore cemetery--lots of glass along the edge of the road. I was glad that I was not running skinny tires.

GB: Nice write up and loved the picture of the buttercups. I remember that stretch and thought how beautiful it looked. I forgot to tell y'all about the osprey that dove into the Annacostia and grabbed a fish and flew off. Couldn't make your talk, sorry.

Elk or Harry:Baltimore Alliance update or a link of what happened at the meeting and next meeting date.

Biking in Balto: here's arecent link from the City Paper
http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=20132
You know most of what's in the article but it is a "call to arms" for cyclist. We gotta get more vocal.

@trek or nuun users: How many do you do? every bottle of water, I drink a lot?

As a side note: it's weird riding east on North Avenue at 8:30pm. There were lots of people out of their houses visiting with each other or just enjoying the evening by sitting on their stoup.



I was just on the west side of North Ave a week or 2 ago and saw the same sights. The folks were having a great time with neighbors. Much more boring in the 'burbs.

Biking in Balto: here's a recent link from the City Paper

http://www.citypaper.com/news/story.asp?id=20132

You know most of what's in the article but it is a "call to arms" for cyclist. We gotta get more vocal.




Great synopsis of the current cycling "environment" in Baltimore and surrounding major cities.

Damn! The Ramble's gettin' some serious checking out. Over 100 views in less than 24hrs.
:thumb:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4581615521_b8c6bea5ce.jpg

How many of these people should I expect for the January 2011 ride? ;)

A newbie here. Been riding for a little over a month now - Live in Bethesda, so I've mainly done Beach Drive and Capital Crescent. Any other biker friendly routes that's readily accessible, possibly in DC after I get off of CCT? Thanks.

-Jon

A newbie here. Been riding for a little over a month now - Live in Bethesda, so I've mainly done Beach Drive and Capital Crescent. Any other biker friendly routes that's readily accessible, possibly in DC after I get off of CCT? Thanks.

-Jon

@BC You can use one tablet in each bottle if you want, it depends on your need. A lot of our guys use one bottle of NUUN and one plain in their cages.