Northeast - Where are the MD people's

Question for all you MD-ers. I'm a native of NC in Columbia, MD for the summer. I'm looking for some good Saturday morning group rides. I'm not terribly fast, so no racers-only events for me. Any thoughts?

qnn, if you find any good rides let me know im in burtonsville, md just a little south of you. Im slow, so....

Question for all you MD-ers. I'm a native of NC in Columbia, MD for the summer. I'm looking for some good Saturday morning group rides. I'm not terribly fast, so no racers-only events for me. Any thoughts?


qnn, if you find any good rides let me know im in burtonsville, md just a little south of you. Im slow, so....

Check the Baltimore Bike Club's ride schedule here:

http://www.baltobikeclub.org

Speaking of easy, low intensity rides--Bud Lippert's BBC ride, today, including some pictures:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/34845

So, intense, my average heart rate for nearly 30 miles of riding in the heat was 87 beats per minute!

Question for all you MD-ers. I'm a native of NC in Columbia, MD for the summer. I'm looking for some good Saturday morning group rides. I'm not terribly fast, so no racers-only events for me. Any thoughts?

Qnn300 you might also want to check with Race Pace Bikes in Columbia, as well as Princton sports as both run rides in the warmer weather. Performance bikes is also supposed to open soon in Columbia and I am sure they will have riding as well. I live in Columbia also, but I commute all week on my bike, so other than running errands to the other side of Columbia I take it easy. Recreation rides are usually on the NCR, or C&O canal and on the canal either camping somewhere along the canal or spending an evening or weekend in Washington is preferred. Columbia boasts 93 miles of paths, but they don't go anywhere, other than one which leads to the south to Savage and beyond. The BBC website has lots of routes you can do on your own at your own pace.

Sunday's metric century:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/34900

So, intense, my average heart rate for nearly 30 miles of riding in the heat was 87 beats per minute!

Funny thinking of you holding back that much. 87? you must have been sleeping.

So did a really great ride in the Adirondacks last weekend. Met some great people up in Saratoga Springs, couple of them rode with us, two on the first day and one for the last three. We rode out of Saratoga Springs up to Indian Lake hugging and crossing the Hudson at various points. The group quickly broke up with a few fast guys off the front, I had decided that I would be sweep as I am sort of the mid speed guy between fast and slow, so I hung back. Beautiful riding, long tapered climbs, just one really steep ascent on day 1, rest manageable. For night one we had access to a cabin on a lake which I just fell in love with, gotta have. Beach, dock, what you would expect. Guy named Carl took me out for a kayak ride just like that, never met the guy. Turns out he used to work for the News America, small world, moved up to Albany when Cuomo was going to run for pres. We jkayaked into this cove that just had me rapt, so beautiful, water like glass, good conversation, like I said, gotta get that.
Day 2 had us ride north west over a few climbs as we circumnavigated the high peaks up to Lake Placid. A very pleasant day, more long climbs and long descents, again I stayed back with the slower riders including Stef, who won't be in the back for long, great climber. Did I mention that we had a sag, my minivan has been re-purposed now as official support vehicle. My brother in law was the driver, very funny, held up mileage signs for us as well as signs with words like "virgins" and an arrow.
We camped outside of Lake Placid and woke to rain on day 3. With no choice we took down our tents in the rain and proceeded on the 50 mile downhill to Lake Champlain, yes, if you look at the elevation profile it is all down to the lake, very fun, very fast, and very wet, torrents in fact. We got to the ferry very wet and cold, longish ferry ride to Burlington where we got dumped on yet again. Short ride to our next hosts house but several of us decided on a hotel, best f-ing shower of my life-and longest!
Day 4 was south out of Burlington. Last two times in Burlington I was really put off by the amount of traffic for such a small town, crazy. Our mapping had been perfect up until today where we got off cue and onto Rt 7. They say this is a bike route, it is NOT, it is a truck route, the two cannot coexist. We literally came very close to being dead, seriously. We were stopped along highway, on the minimal and very chewed up shoulder when somebody yelled "get off!!". We all pitched into the grass as an over sized load carrying a monster land mover rocketed past. I watched it pass and the 3 foot treads of the tractor completely took out the shoulder. We quickly got back on cue.
Rode down to the ferry at Ticonderoga traversing some long gravel stretches along the rolling hills along the lake, stunning views but the Madone not great choice for that surface. Got back on the NY side and made our way down the west side of Lake George on a great road. NY for the most part has great cycling roads, wide shoulders.
Our hosts in S Springs were amazing, let us stay in their giant Victorian guest house, pizza and beer on their big wraparound porch. Such moments don't come along often.
Think I'll order a custom Serotta, they make em in S Springs, get fitted, pick it up and ride it home.

Pics on Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52299475@N06/sets/72157624553981818/

^^^^^^^
Great pics, Harry! Looks like a fantastic time!

Welcome home Harry....again! Travelling man. Looks like a nice trip. I'm thinking of touring up there this fall or the finger lakes area. Guess you missed the 100F days we have been having They really sucked. Seems Isaias is the only one cranking. I'm either working on my truck, canoe and bikes for an upcoming Maine Vacation or laying submerged in water

Today was a bizzare day for me. Typical commute but realized lots of fallen trees and tons of debris in the roads in PG county near work. Arrived to no electricity, we were on backup generators, lots of crashed computers, my microscope was down, no internet. Since most of our labs were under similar electrical problems so we were told to leave. No more trains until evening rush hour. So I road the 30 miles home from work. Delightful ride I might say. I actually took a few extra turns to increase the distance. A few new roads! Strange day but good times.

@Harry: Post a cue for your ride if you have it
@NR 60 miles yesterday is unbelievable. good job

Good morning, all!

Charlie, I saw this link to SHA, yesterday--it showed a lot of closed roads due to that last line of t-storms that went through (Sunday):

http://www.chart.state.md.us/TravInfo/Default.aspx

In other news:

Lance Armstrong arrives for his latest press conference: on Twitpic (http://twitpic.com/28xiwo)

17th Heat-Related Death Reported In Md. - wjz.com (http://wjz.com/local/July.warm.wet.2.1825363.html)

Autobahn Overtaken By One Million Cyclists | Wend Magazine - Greenery - StumbleUpon (http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1U1Ve8/www.wendmag.com/greenery/2010/07/autobahn-overtaken-by-one-million-cyclists//r:t)

Portland airport installs bike assembly station for travellers - Springwise (http://springwise.com/transportation/pdxbikestation/) \

Lots of heat related deaths. Here's a young cyclist that also succumbed to the heat.
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0710/758221.html

They closed the Autobahn for bikes, very nice. And Portland continues to lead our country in promoting bicycling. good links

Charlie, the weather was pretty good up there, typically pleasant night temps, pretty hot in the day but not as bad as here. I think I have one more trip in me for teh summer, my brother's place on Marco Island in FLA. It would be cheap and I could work while my teenager hangs by the pool or beach. Maine sounds good, love Maine.

I have our entire route on mapmyride. I think if you just search ADK you'll find them.

Roadie in PG County. I'm glad I clicked on this thread. Just getting back on bike after three years. Been bitten by the bug again. New bike, new gear, etc. I saw on the first page about Balt. Bike Club's rides, especially the Civil War Century. I'll definitely be checking that out! For the other PG County riders among us, what regular rides do you recommend? I have lived in PG for only four years and haven't found anything out this way yet. I usually go into DC for my riding.

Roadie in PG County. I'm glad I clicked on this thread. Just getting back on bike after three years. Been bitten by the bug again. New bike, new gear, etc. I saw on the first page about Balt. Bike Club's rides, especially the Civil War Century. I'll definitely be checking that out! For the other PG County riders among us, what regular rides do you recommend? I have lived in PG for only four years and haven't found anything out this way yet. I usually go into DC for my riding.

Hi there! Have you checked out the Oxon Hill club? Depending on where in PG County you are, some of their rides might not be too far to get to. They do a really pretty annual century ride (Sep. 12 this year), the Southern Maryland/Indian Head 100.

http://www.ohbike.org/

Hi there! Have you checked out the Oxon Hill club? Depending on where in PG County you are, some of their rides might not be too far to get to. They do a really pretty annual century ride (Sep. 12 this year), the Southern Maryland/Indian Head 100.

http://www.ohbike.org/

Yes, I had heard of Oxon Hill Club when I first moved out here, but since I had stopped riding I had forgotten about them. Thanks for the info. I'll have to decide between the IH metric or the CW metric as a tune-up for the Seagull.

Please keep the suggestions coming!

Yo GB: Isaias posted something on BBC that your still wounded? Are U biking? AT still an issue? I can give "free" medical advise(from my wife,therapist). If it hurts when you ride, don't ride. I will also say that tendinitis can become chronic if you continue to pursue activities that aggravate the injury.

@ asindc: check GBs Rando rides(BBCwebsite), leave from downtown B-more heading somewhere for an all day excursion, often approaching double metric distances. Many riders bike to the start for an even longer ride.

Yo GB: Isaias posted something on BBC that your still wounded? Are U biking? AT still an issue? I can give "free" medical advise(from my wife,therapist). If it hurts when you ride, don't ride. I will also say that tendinitis can become chronic if you continue to pursue activities that aggravate the injury.

@ asindc: check GBs Rando rides(BBCwebsite), leave from downtown B-more heading somewhere for an all day excursion, often approaching double metric distances. Many riders bike to the start for an even longer ride.

Thanks, I will check out that site some more. I'm only 40 minutes from downtown B'more, straight up the Parkway (man, do I wish the Parkway had bike lanes in the median). Good to hear that Baltimore has an active cycling scene.

I'll have to decide between the IH metric or the CW metric as a tune-up for the Seagull.

I hope to do the CWC and Indian Head Century back to back. Looks like I'll do Seagull this year as well.

Maybe we should do a MD Peeps BF ride for those three centuries?! I haven't done the supported CWC since the rider cap; never have done Indian Head, and did Seagull back in, I think, 2007(?)

At least one of them as a BF ride. The Indian Head is a bit of a drive. If I do the CWC and that back to back may just drive straight down there to hotel or camp.

I had this loose idea of doing the Seagull with this woman at Mbrook who's survived both a heart attack and breast cancer in past year or so. I gotta check in with ere and see how those plans are progressing, more the merrier.

Was just checking the OH Bike site and there are quite a few fall centuries to choose from.

Maybe we should do a MD Peeps BF ride for those three centuries?! I haven't done the supported CWC since the rider cap; never have done Indian Head, and did Seagull back in, I think, 2007(?)

Seagull has way too many riders. I believe the CWC has a lot as well. Never done a supported ride. Always like self supported. If you get something organized for IH I might bite.

Seagull has way too many riders. I believe the CWC has a lot as well. Never done a supported ride. Always like self supported. If you get something organized for IH I might bite.
Seagull is huge. I tend to get depressed and lonely on my solo rides, I spend most of my time alone when working so I think I prefer to have warm bodies about. The ADK worked well, though hard to do long days after drinking beer and bourbon all night : )

Whoops! I've been neglecting my MD Peeps.

So... where am I? The achilles is doing just great. Steve Z's BBC ride last week was the first ride that I gave it a full test and I had no lingering pains.
I will continue to monitor the situation though. I think dropping the saddle 1/4" and sliding the cleat all the way back on that side has made a positive effect. Hoping that's the end of it.

Been commuting hard again this week- gotta keep up those mileage goals.

I am very undecided about September centuries. I'm not sure where to put the Ramble. I've got a lot going on in Sept. The only real sunday I've got open is the 12th. Ed Hopkins already has a 15-17 long ride scheduled that day. And, I kinda wanted to get in a supported ride sometime this year. The Indian Head is a nice one and it is also the 12th.

If you all are up for riding the Indian Head, then I'd be way up for a MD Peeps carpool down there.
I'll squeeze the Ramble into the month somehow.

If you all are up for riding the Indian Head, then I'd be way up for a MD Peeps carpool down there.
I'll squeeze the Ramble into the month somehow.

:thumb:

Check this out.

While playing around with Trimble Outdoors, I found out that their online (free) mapping application will create turn-by-turn directions automatically, if you set it up properly:

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/828568

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/828596

These two routes are candidates for a ride that I may do on Sunday, if I can talk Bud Lippert into giving me a ride from the Whitehall McDonald's on US50 to the ride start and then a ride back over the bridge after the ride.

The first link has a "something like" in the description that I wrote using Bikely, then TO wrote the next set as a result of my mapping of the route.

That's pretty cool. I'll have to mess around with that one. Jon Baler gave me this link http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/
I believe it can import/export gps files into/out of Bikely. I haven't tried messing around with that yet.

I just thought of a possible way of scheduling a ramble into my busy schedule. Carl Boyd has a ride on sunday, Aug 29
His description: "I'm working on putting together a route to sandy point state park. I'm hoping to put together a picnic lunch of some sort for us all to enjoy as well!"

AND... that happens to be the same day that Maxine will be tearing up the pavement down at the 24hrs of Booty. Maybe Carl would be up for a ride from Carroll Park or Ellicott City to go visit Max and then over to BWI, Sandy point and back.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Maryland+Ave&daddr=39.251531,-76.798983+to:Unknown+road+to:Annapolis,+Maryland+21409+(Sandy+Point+State+Park+Marina)+to:Bwi+Trail+ to:Ridge+Rd+to:Grist+Mill+Trail+at+Patapsco+Valley+State+Park+to:College+Ave+to:Oella+Ave&hl=en&geocode=FZItVwIdKjJs-w%3B%3BFQLVVQIdegFs-w%3BFbpEUwIdtD9y-yFoFpdANd7ulg%3BFe0NVgIdASlu-w%3BFYAxVgIdOplt-w%3BFZGiVgId3hRt-w%3BFdvyVgIdsWhs-w%3BFRgvVwIdKDls-w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1,2,4,5,6,7&dirflg=b&sll=39.244684,-76.781387&sspn=0.054041,0.107803&ie=UTF8&ll=39.143375,-76.68972&spn=0.216477,0.431213&z=12&lci=bike

Always thinking. -GB

Hello, MD peeps! I haven't been posting too much lately, either. I'm in kind of a mental downer funk. Work is *majorly* stressful right now, family's having some issues, one of my cats is giving me fits, my car's A/C keeps flaking out at random moments. *sigh* Of course, that last just means I'm riding more, LOL! (If I don't move the car from the house, I can keep it in the shade, so it's not too hot if I have to use it for anything in the evening.)

Randomly-disorganized ride thoughts:

I swore that last year would be my last Seagull -- the ride has gotten ginormous. But they sent me a brochure about a month ago, and lo and behold, this year there are *two* century routes. One is the Assateague Century, which is the route they've always done; the other is called the "Snow Hill" Century. It appears that the Snow Hill route is very similar to the route that the MS150 used to follow on the 100-mile day, for the few years that the MS150 was held in that neck of the woods. I always thought that that was a *much* more pleasant and scenic (as much as you can get on the Eastern Shore, anyway) ride than the Seagull. One of the rest stops is Furnace Town, which is a cool little historical spot. So now I'm debating another return to Salisbury . . .

I only did the Indian Head century once, in 2003, I think, and I loved it. No more than a few hundred riders, rolly terrain, lots of trees, very quiet and remote, very pretty. I'm on vacation in the Outer Banks the week immediately prior to that Sunday, but I've thought about driving directly to Indian Head from OBX on Saturday (our check-out day). As I recall from 2003, motels/hotels were pretty sparse in that area; the only thing really close was an el cheapo, slightly rundown Econo-Lodge that, besides me, was full of early-rising fishermen. I don’t know yet if I'm open that weekend, though; I should know for sure in two weeks.

The visit of Charlie, Isaias, and Bob was the highlight of last year's 24 Hours of Booty ride for me! :) I haven't been doing much riding lately except commuting to work, so I need to spend the next few weekends building up the sit-bones ;) in prep for Booty.

Harry, I am waaaaay jealous of that ADK trip! :lol: The pics looked fantastic.

I am in Montgomery County on the Gaithersburg/Rockville line.

I am in Montgomery County on the Gaithersburg/Rockville line.

Welcome, Chris.

okay I've decided that after my summertime non-biking activities (weddings, family vacations, etc) have tapered off I'd start posting on this thread.

an re-introduction: My name is Boson and I reside in baltimore, md. I volunteer at Velocipede and have done one ride w/ bob (monument to monument) and hopefully I will squeeze some longer rides in the future.

definitely not a racer type: all of my bikes are steel and very of the late 70's - 80's "sports touring" type. I like to ride longish distances and eat delicious foods and ride back.

anyways, hi again!

I like to ride longish distances and eat delicious foods and ride back.

:thumb: :D

an re-introduction: My name is Boson and I reside in baltimore, md. I volunteer at Velocipede and have done one ride w/ bob (monument to monument) and hopefully I will squeeze some longer rides in the future.


it's about time you joined us on this thread! Bob Wagner is here (aka, greaterbrown), Barry Childress (aka, thehumancar), me--Isaias

End of the month ride in 2 parts:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/35041

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/35056

I completed the month with 1,495 miles.

Bud Lippert's Kent Narrows X-Trails to Prospect Bay Ride - 3 parts

I took it easier today and drove to the airport :rolleyes:

Getting there - http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/35085 - Part 1
Bud's ride - http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/35086 - Part 2
Getting back - http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/post/10783/35087 - Part 3

NR: I've ridden that trail before. How many miles is the Kent Narrows trail? I think it was 5-10 when I rode it a few years back.

I road with the Catonsville Rail Trail group on Sunday. I am working with them trying to connect with Baltimore City Gwynns Falls trail. We were scouting out possible route options. Very nice group. We finished with a climb up Hilltop. Not too many mile but a beautiful day.

Welcome again Boson and Chris.

NR: I've ridden that trail before. How many miles is the Kent Narrows trail? I think it was 5-10 when I rode it a few years back.



Bud and I did 3 miles of trails before the rest of the riders arrived. On Bud's ride, it looks like we only did about 7 miles of trails as we headed east, then picked up Rt 18. From Rt 18 we made a right on Perry's Corner Rd, then a right on Prospect Bay Rd. We pretty much followed the same route back, except we didn't stop back out at Swan Cove Lane.

Here's the ride, including the 3 miles Bud and I did, shared on Trimble Outdoors:

http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/834477

GB's Rando Ramble Century ride. This Sunday August, 8th

http://randoramble.posterous.com/

A steamy commute this AM. Dripping when I go to work and none of it was rain.

GB: Gonna miss the next ramble as I am headed to Maine this week. Gonna be gone for 2 weeks camping along Maine's 'Bold Coast'. Check out this guys pix of the area. He's a good photographer.

http://www.vermontphoto.com/maine/Bold%20Coast%20Gallery2/index.html

Y'all have a great ride, be safe. Might have some internet connections but probably not.

headed to Maine this week. Gonna be gone for 2 weeks camping along Maine's 'Bold Coast'.


Have a great time Charlie, sounds great. Where is the bold coast? North of Acadia? The guys and girl that I rode the ADK with are tentatively planning next year's tour up the Maine coast. Have to check routes as tourist traffic and roads can be dicey.
Doubt I can do Rando, been riding the fixie this week as other bikes are in disrepair.

Anyone riding out to the Corn roast ride tomorrow?

The last date I am staying in Baltimore for is a family camping trip to Maple Tree Campground from 8/15-8/18 I hope to leave within a week after that. (Friends are welcome but I'm not sure about logingistics.)

So I'll probably do the rando ride on Sunday as well but be warned I am a bit out of shape.

The latest issues on the website:
Tweet this O'Malley (http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100806173718487) (Tying to improve bike/ped funding)
Gregg Bernstein for Baltimore City States Attorney (http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100806124721519) (For a politics topic tangentially related to cycling this is going viral (comparatively speaking that is.))

So I'll probably do the rando ride on Sunday as well but be warned I am a bit out of shape.
:)

:)

Apparently, Barry has more bike problems, according to his Facebook status.

NR, GB, Harry, Charlie -- "you've got PM!"

Chain broke, fixed chain, with the derailleur on the third sprocket (top gear) the throw or bottom gear went into my spokes. I now have a bent derailleur and missing spokes. This is the second time something like this happened in short order and I am baffled on the fix (I had a new chain and new derailleur.)

Chain broke, fixed chain, with the derailleur on the third sprocket (top gear) the throw or bottom gear went into my spokes. I now have a bent derailleur and missing spokes. This is the second time something like this happened in short order and I am baffled on the fix (I had a new chain and new derailleur.)

So, you checked the limit screws on the RD?

Limit screws are fine, right now my thinking is somehow the chain gets stuck in the throw arm of the derailleur and all heck breaks lose (literally.)

Yowch!! I managed to scoop a bee out of the air with my ear this morning during my commute. I resisted putting a finger in there for several seconds hoping it would buzz its way out without stinging me, but it didn't seem to be able to get out and I was worried it might get into my ear canal. So, as quickly as I could, I crunched him out of there with my finger, but it stung me anyway. By the time I got to work I was in a lot of pain. A co-worker brought me some benadril which I'm sure helped. By 11AM it was at its worst with my ear so swollen my co-worker told me it looked like a badly produced prosthetic ear made of red clay. Swelling has gone down considerably, but it's still hurting.
Should I wear earmuffs tomorrow on my way in?

Yowch!! I managed to scoop a bee out of the air with my ear this morning during my commute. I resisted putting a finger in there for several seconds hoping it would buzz its way out without stinging me, but it didn't seem to be able to get out and I was worried it might get into my ear canal. So, as quickly as I could, I crunched him out of there with my finger, but it stung me anyway. By the time I got to work I was in a lot of pain. A co-worker brought me some benadril which I'm sure helped. By 11AM it was at its worst with my ear so swollen my co-worker told me it looked like a badly produced prosthetic ear made of red clay. Swelling has gone down considerably, but it's still hurting.
Should I wear earmuffs tomorrow on my way in?

YeoW! I haven't had any of that action, yet, but that's one of the reasons I wear a cycling cap.

Bob, have you considered an ear bob? Or pinned back? LOL! <j/k> :innocent:

So, as quickly as I could, I crunched him out of there with my finger, but it stung me anyway.

:eek:

Great presence of mind, GB! I probably would have wrecked as soon as he flew into my ear.

Thankfully, while I have had other insect run-ins, I have never had a bug-in-ear incident. Maybe you could design and market some mesh earmuffs . . .