Northeast - Where are the MD people's

hooray to Harry for his stunning graphic work on the cover of Urbanite. Beautiful. I hearby nominate Harry for fulltime designer for Tour du Port.

yah, Skyline is hilly. Did 80 miles there today, so freakin' hot. Even on the drive-99 degrees. Descending to Front Royal was intermittent relief mixed with blasts and pockets of dreadful hot air. I've never sweated so much in my life-ever.

How were the flies? The last time I did the 2 x 100 mile trek from Front Royal to Waynesboro and back, the flies were chasing and biting. I had to stop in Big Meadow to grab a can of Off insect repellent. I took a bath in the stuff, but I was sweating so much that it got diluted and the flies were after me again.

How were the flies?

No problem with flies. or at least the biting variety. Gnats however were bountiful, clouds of them sticking all over our sweaty selves. The heat really took some of the enjoyment away from that ride. It's such a beautiful place, I kept thinking I would like to do it again in much cooler temps --end to end but at a very leisurely touring pace. The overlooks were all hazy. I did take time to notice the laurels blooming, probably at the end of their bloom. The descents were thrilling. I enjoy the long relentless climbs, though I can't figure out how guys older and heavier than me can still climb faster. One guy, younger at 29, was suffering repeated dual quad and ham cramps so I hung with him which was about my speed. I need to get a stress test, cardiac checkup etc.

@GB-Thanks-You obviously remember my rejected t-shirts designs for TDP. The Urbanite cover was actually done about a year ago for Cincinnati Mag. Urbanite called about two hours before press and asked if I had any bike related art as their previous illustration wasn't cutting it. I just so happened to have that piece, it even had row houses at the bottom, perfect right? But they wanted to crop. Glad you noticed it.

Would like to do that 180 mile ride though I doubt I am up for it, despite having a 200 mile ride to do on 6/25. Gals from my RFF team are asking if I'll do the Tour dem Parks, not sure 60 miles of urban riding is appealing to me though. There is also the Crystal Ride down near the Pentagon, you ride the closed course before the Airforce Classic, see how many miles you can do in 3 hrs. Tomorrow thinking of doing that Oxon Hill Rural Legacy ride, though would want to add some miles to it.

Ok. Jack has decided not to do the ride today due to "transportation" problems.

I'm trying to get some breakfast in me, but the cold shrimp fried rice is not going down very easily. :rolleyes: The double-shot coffee (1 tablespoon of instant coffee, 2 tablespoons of sugar in half the water) is going down better. :thumb: I'll be ready to go once I start gritting my teeth from the coffee! YIKES!!!

Susquehanna Paradise Ride Report:

http://www.baltobikeclub.org/index.php?option=com_agora&task=topic&id=1119&Itemid=64

and the Bob version:
http://bikingbeerandtoast.blogspot.com/2011/06/successes-and-failures-on-susquehanna.html

and the Bob version:
http://bikingbeerandtoast.blogspot.com/2011/06/successes-and-failures-on-susquehanna.html

Good report, Bob. I think you made the right decisions as well. You just had and "off" day and I was having an "on" day.

Great reading your report as well. The two of them have a wonderful "two angles of the same scene" feeling. I love it.

Ironically, one of the good things about being "under-trained" for this ride is that today, I've been going over the ways in which I could complete this ride successfully. It's as if I'm ready to try again tomorrow. :)

Ironically, one of the good things about being "under-trained" for this ride is that today, I've been going over the ways in which I could complete this ride successfully. It's as if I'm ready to try again tomorrow. :)

The indomitable spirit of the long distance cyclist!

Talk about indomitable spirit. Alec just made us look like a couple of newbies:
http://velo-orange.blogspot.com/2011/06/alecs-1200k-ride.html
Not sure if he stops by this thread any more, but CONGRATULATIONS dude!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm sure that he stops. Sleep deprivation is too dangerous while on a bike. But, they still have to observe the check-in requirements for controls.

84 Hours 50 minutes / 1,200K = 8.8 mph - so, yeah... he must have stopped to rest.



THIS WEEKEND'S PLANS:

I'm planning on riding the BBC's Delaware-Maryland Flatlands Tour.

My plan, originally, was to ride up Saturday morning and do the century, then ride back home. That morphed into "I want to enjoy the ride", so instead, I'm going to ride to Elkton Friday after work, check into a motel, ride to the school on Saturday for the century, ride into Chesapeake City for the "after century" celebration at the Chesapeake Inn, then ride back to my room in Elkton.

Sunday, I'll check out and ride home.

That's the plan.

<jealous>

<jealous>


Sorry, dude. I wish you could do more of these.

Isaias and GB well done! That's a lot of miles. And the weather was friggin tough. Lots and lots of rain. Enjoyed both of your reports. I can't log on at work anymore so must be at home to post these days...which ain't much.

Isaias and GB well done! That's a lot of miles. And the weather was friggin tough. Lots and lots of rain. Enjoyed both of your reports. I can't log on at work anymore so must be at home to post these days...which ain't much.

Smartphone, Charlie, FTW.

I still have a Dumbphone, but I can at least do some Twitter and Facebook stuff.

BF is not phone friendly, so it sux trying to do anything on a phone here. It's possible, but it sux donkey-D. Same for the BBC website.

I pulled a Ben Bassett on the way home. I killed my left pedal. The spindle held together long enough for me to get home, but when I took it apart, it was dead--bearing balls falling out and one of the bearing race stuck inside not able to be coaxed out.

DEAD!

Back to my Speedplays, at least until I can pick up another pair of Shimano MTBs.

bummer, i had a crank arm fall off on the way to work this week haha

bummer, i had a crank arm fall off on the way to work this week haha


Yeah, that would suck, especially if you don't have a way to re-torque the bolts or whatever is used to lock the thing in place.

If anyone want to ride with O'Malley and possibly do an ask for more on-road accommodations.
http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20110615153417841

Stopped in at Biller's Bike Shop in Havre de Grace (HdG), yesterday, after work. Walt had a single pair of clipless MTB pedals (by Origin-8). They're on the bike today, but I realized that I missed my Speedplays. I didn't miss carrying cleat covers, though, and even forgot to take them off of my shoes trying to clip in on the way home from HdG. :o

I may put the Speedplays back on for this weekend.

I've never sweated so much in my life-ever.

Having returned from 5 days in the extremely humid mountains of Trinidad, I can now say the same thing. I did a little bit of (not too hard, but very steep) hiking there; I think a bike ride would have Killed. Me. Dead. :twitchy:

NR, GB, loved the parallel reports on the Susquehanna ride -- what an effort, as always! :thumb:

Got to ride with some Severna Park Peleton folks on Friday and again today, good times!

Got to ride with some Severna Park Peleton folks on Friday and again today, good times!

Hi, Carl. Good to hear from you.

I need to make an effort to get down for one of the SPP's rides.

Take care and see you on Facebook!

Hey! I saw my name in the BF email digest and had to write in.

Thanks Isaias and Bob - no one could call you guys whimps, though!

I want to come out for the ramble this weekend, but looking at the Time Station Estimates (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/rcfrcast.php?s_N_Entry_IDx=2674&s_N_Year_ID=34), Randy is going to be coming in on Sunday, so I think I'll miss you guys unless he kicks it up or slows down...

Chesapeake beach looks like a great ride, though - have fun guys!

I want to come out for the ramble this weekend, but looking at the Time Station Estimates (http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/raam/rcfrcast.php?s_N_Entry_IDx=2674&s_N_Year_ID=34), Randy is going to be coming in on Sunday, so I think I'll miss you guys unless he kicks it up or slows down...

Chesapeake beach looks like a great ride, though - have fun guys!

Darn! I wanted to be in Annapolis for that, too! Thanks for the reminder, Alec. Well, if I won't be in Annapolis, the least I could do is write something on Randy's blog for the crew to read to him. He -REALLY- appreciates that.

Here's the RSS feed for his crew's posts coming from the blog, if anyone is interested:

http://www.google.com/reader/view/feed/http%3A%2F%2Fmyquestraam2011.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault%3Falt%3Drss

If you could, please send him some words of encouragement!

Yeah. bad timing. I'll check the other riders time tables to see about a ride down there some evening this week. Saturday would be a good time too.
I believe they changed the finish to Generals Hwy near Ram's Head. <burp>

BTW I had a great time doing a check out ride of a dirt road training route up in York co (http://ridewithgps.com/routes/468985). 82 miles. (That's right, the boy who claims he doesn't train is in training mode for D2R2). This has more than a few steep gravel climbs that are tough.
Just what I was hoping for.

Yeah, the official finish is at Ram's Head (it was near the gas station by the mall last year, wasn't it?) but they are still doing the parade finish into Annapolis to the dock, as usual.

And it was nice, the SPP crew called Randy on the phone last Saturday and everyone was sitting there at the Hard Bean getting live updates and I think they somehow plugged the line into a speaker on support car. Technology is awesome.

NoRacer: Yeah, saw you on FB. We'll have to go riding some time. Maybe it's my turn to join a y'all up north for a ride, eh?

I have been planning on riding the BA trail down there to see the finish. Just waiting for a couple of riders/teams to be finishing close together.

Give a shout if anyone is going or wants to go

NR, good weekend? Love that goofy pic of JG and Jeff Adler you've got up on facebook.
Anyone else here ride up for BBC's flatlands?

A bunch of us will be heading down to watch some of the finishers. The SPP group will be down in Annapolis on Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. I think Randy is supposed to arrive later on Sunday.

Anyone else here ride up for BBC's flatlands?

I did the Flatlands-pulling all day long-good training. Couldn't ride up as per family obligations. I did do 50 in the county on Sunday. I'll try for the Rando ride but after Saturday it's unlikely.

Bob is "training" and using Hammer products.....what's next?

I'm not much of a trainer either, can't seem to stick to schedule more than two days.

Bob is "training" and using Hammer products.....what's next?


http://blog.rounds.com/strange-crimes-missed/ (bottom of page #11)

Harry, you and Nigel ready for Saturday? Any riding plan? Anybody else I know going?

Charlie, will you grace us with your presence on Sunday's Chesapeake Beach ride?

im in the d.c. area, and id like to meet up some cyclists to do some riding. but hearing about these 100 mile rides im a little worried as the most ive ever done was 70 miles and i was done. How do you guys manage to do more than 100 in a single day??

anyone down closer to the d.c. metro area near columbia?

im in the d.c. area, and id like to meet up some cyclists to do some riding. but hearing about these 100 mile rides im a little worried as the most ive ever done was 70 miles and i was done. How do you guys manage to do more than 100 in a single day??

1. Practice
2. Nutrition
3. Pace

Ride lots, eat lots, drink lots, and take your time doing it. It's a pretty easy combo once you get it down.

But something to keep in mind: don't worry about distance as that will come in time. Focus on enjoying the ride; that's where it's at.

anyone down closer to the d.c. metro area near columbia?

Ellicott City here, when you looking to ride?

I'm hoping to see the gang at the Subway in Chesapeake Beach tomorrow! I've been a slug about distance this year; pretty much all I've been doing is commuting to work (9.2 miles each way) and taking the occasional 20- or 30-mile spin around the airport. So even though you guys will be passing sooooo close to my house, I'm going to drive to the Davidsonville Park and Ride and jump on GB's route on Muddy Creek Road.

I'll also bail on the return route at Patuxent River Road and Central Avenue (maybe sooner, on one of the other Solomon's Island Road crossings, if I'm feeling toasty). If I figured it right, my ride should be 65 miles, and I should be rolling into the Subway just ahead of you all.

BBC's Rando Ramble - BWI to Chesapeake Beach Plus by iodaniell at Garmin Connect - Details: http://t.co/zi8ZGIk #cycling in Maryland

looks like a nice ride!

disappointed I couldn't make it for the ride had some family visiting from Florida, already penciling in the next one

Yah, I wanted to do the Ches ride as well, a couple more hours and I would have been good, but not at 6 or 7am. I generally don't sleep great after a hard effort, which was the case Saturday night. Felt good to do squat yesterday-and today too!!

looks like a nice ride!

disappointed I couldn't make it for the ride had some family visiting from Florida, already penciling in the next one


Yah, I wanted to do the Ches ride as well, a couple more hours and I would have been good, but not at 6 or 7am. I generally don't sleep great after a hard effort, which was the case Saturday night. Felt good to do squat yesterday-and today too!!

Some of us were effin around at the front; attacks, KOM sprints. Just before lunch my legs had no more power, so I had to settle down. Maxine was waiting for us at Sweet Sue's, so she and I rode to the lunch stop together. Then after lunch, we waited for Dave 1 and Dave 2 to appear. Finally, they did, so we waited for them.

Bob and I took the back of the pack back to BWI. Actually, I stayed with Maxine much of the way.

Then, Maxine, Dave and I ran into Jack Mallicote on the road. He rode with us all of the way to the Harwood Rd rest stop and few miles beyond before heading back through Annapolis and then back down to Deale.

Maxine dropped off at Central to head back to Severn and it wasn't too much after that Jack went on his way.

The Daves dropped off doing their usual pace and Bob and I were together until RT 3 where Bob was distracted by a RAAM rider coming across RT 3 from the other direction. I was not as distracted and continued on to the airport.

At Dorsey Rd, I made a left to hit up the 7-11 just down the road, then did the rest of the BWI Trail loop clockwise to Hammonds Ferry Rd->Daisy->Annapolis->Gwynns Falls Trail->Ostend->Scott->Pratt->Presidents->Felicia->Lancaster->Broadway->Aliceanna->Boston->Clinton. This is where I decided to go for "bonus" miles heading to Keith Ave->Broening->Belclare->Sollers Point->Merritt Blvd->Peninsula Expressway->Bethlehem Blvd->Warf Rd->Northpoint Blvd. I stopped for more food and drink at a 7-11 on Sparrows Pint Rd, then headed back to Essex via Wise Ave->Lynch Rd->Woodwell Rd->German Hill->Merritt Blvd->Eastern Blvd.

Back in Essex, I took a detour out to Cox's Point heading home from there.

A good long day in the saddle with some great folks.

Now, I'm resting my legs by taking it easy all week during my commute to work. Then, on Friday, I leave to do my annual OCMD bike ride. Can't wait, but I definitely need more leg rest time.

Some of us were effin around at the front; attacks, KOM sprints. Just before lunch my legs had no more power, so I had to settle down. Maxine was waiting for us at Sweet Sue's, so she and I rode to the lunch stop together. Then after lunch, we waited for Dave 1 and Dave 2 to appear. Finally, they did, so we waited for them.

Bob and I took the back of the pack back to BWI. Actually, I stayed with Maxine much of the way.

Yeah, GB took the back of the pack, and NoRacer took the waaaaaaaaay back of the pack (i.e. me :lol:) I tried to wave them both off (I hate hate hate making people slow down for me) but they insisted that they needed to defend me against snakes, scorpions, and rude men in random bars in which I might decide to stop for a beer. I ended up riding faster on the way back; for the 28 solo miles down, I averaged 12.2 mph; for the entire 67 miles, I ended up at 12.5.


The Daves dropped off doing their usual pace and Bob and I were together until RT 3 where Bob was distracted by a RAAM rider coming across RT 3 from the other direction. I was not as distracted and continued on to the airport.

Oh, man, the Ramble crossed paths with RAAM? How cool is that!!! :thumb:


A good long day in the saddle with some great folks. Many thumbs up! I ride alone so much, I forget how fun it can be riding with cool bike peeps. It was a very enjoyable afternoon, aching back and all.

Here's some pics I took:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmmcubed/sets/72157626948015081/

Now, I'm resting my legs by taking it easy all week during my commute to work. Then, on Friday, I leave to do my annual OCMD bike ride. Can't wait, but I definitely need more leg rest time.

Speaking of which . . . is your offer of flop space in your room still open? :) I might still be able to make the trip.

I think I might have mentioned Sunday that I had to cancel the leave I'd had scheduled for the 1st and the 5th, so I have just a 3-day weekend now. And my touring bike is in the shop, not due back until the 6th. :( I have only a minimal, kinda wimpy rear rack on the Airborne, so I can only carry my (smaller) front panniers back there. I'll have to see if I can fit everything in them. (I know, I know -- all I need is an empty jersey pocket and a credit card, right?? :lol:)

Work might yet throw a monkey wrench in my plans, though; I may not know for sure until Friday evening whether I need to stick closer to home through the weekend. *sigh*

SPP is going to be doing a ride down to Sweet Sue's pretty soon if anyone wants to run that route again or missed the ride these folks are talking about up above.

Speaking of which . . . is your offer of flop space in your room still open? :) I might still be able to make the trip.

I think I might have mentioned Sunday that I had to cancel the leave I'd had scheduled for the 1st and the 5th, so I have just a 3-day weekend now. And my touring bike is in the shop, not due back until the 6th. :( I have only a minimal, kinda wimpy rear rack on the Airborne, so I can only carry my (smaller) front panniers back there. I'll have to see if I can fit everything in them. (I know, I know -- all I need is an empty jersey pocket and a credit card, right?? :lol:)

Work might yet throw a monkey wrench in my plans, though; I may not know for sure until Friday evening whether I need to stick closer to home through the weekend. *sigh*

The offer still stands Maxine. Just give me a call when you get close. I believe I'm on 60th--on the property just before HALL'S SEAFOOD BUFFET as you're heading south.

SPP is going to be doing a ride down to Sweet Sue's pretty soon if anyone wants to run that route again or missed the ride these folks are talking about up above.

Thanks, Carl, for the invite! As you can see, I'll be heading to the ocean this weekend. I guess I'll have to catch them some other time.

... but they insisted that they needed to defend me against snakes, scorpions, and rude men in random bars in which I might decide to stop for a beer.

Here's some pics I took:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmmcubed/sets/72157626948015081/

Nice pics! Thanks for the share.

Did you stop for a beer after leaving us? We'll have to stop for a Guinness (or whatever) while down the ocean. HALL'S Seafood Buffet is my main source of nourishment while in OCMD, so I'll get a beer or two or six at meals!

We going to try the Cape May thing? If so, I think I'm going to map a trip/route in that area. There looks like somewhere to go heading north along the seashore.

Did you stop for a beer after leaving us?

HA, no, I didn't. I don't think I even passed any beer purveyors while on the way back. I could have used one, though, after that semi-white-knuckle ride on Davidsonville Road. :mad: No shoulder, lots of traffic, and I had to be *very* assertive about taking the lane or they would try their best to squeeze past me without crossing the centerline.[/QUOTE]


We'll have to stop for a Guinness (or whatever) while down the ocean.

:thumb::thumb::beer:


We going to try the Cape May thing? If so, I think I'm going to map a trip/route in that area. There looks like somewhere to go heading north along the seashore.

I don't think that's going to be doable for me on this trip. (Unless you remember to pack the bungee cords so you can drag me along! :D) It's a 30-mile run from Ocean City to the Lewes-Cape May Ferry terminal. (And you *know* how long it's gonna take me to ride that!!! ;)) The ferry crossing takes about 90 minutes one-way (and you probably have to be there 20-30 minutes ahead of time to board.)

When I still had the extra days off, I had thought of staying somewhere further north and doing a day trip over, or maybe spending one night on Cape May and coming back the next day. As it is, though, I'll be riding 75-80 miles to OC on Saturday, and then back on Monday. That's what I did last time, and I made a note to myself that I would have really liked at least one more day in OC! So I don't know how energetic I'm going to be Saturday -- maybe a short ride, tooling around the neighborhood like we did last time (I don't know that part of OC at all), maybe a round of cut-throat mini-golf :lol:, and of course beers/sand/ocean etc.

I'll let you know for sure as soon as I know if I can do it. My plan is again to drive over the Bay Bridge and leave my car at the 50/404 park & ride (I was reading that the Kent Island park & ride is always full of broken glass because it's the underage drinking hangout for Kent Island teenagers. Yay. Guess I'll keep on and go across *that* bridge too, rather than leave my car unattended there for a few days.)

I would plan to leave the park & ride as early as possible, try to set out right after full daylight. I can't remember exactly when I arrived in OC last time. I averaged 14.5 mph on the way there, but stopped for lunch, and for one or two shorter stops.

I would plan to leave the park & ride as early as possible, try to set out right after full daylight. I can't remember exactly when I arrived in OC last time. I averaged 14.5 mph on the way there, but stopped for lunch, and for one or two shorter stops.


Ok. Give me a ring on the cell phone or text me when you get close.

ONE: Have a ton of fun down 'e' ocean you two. Max, I'll buy you a couple rounds if you can get Isaias into a bathing suit and in the water. :D

TWO: This sunday I plan on beating my previous time for riding my dirt roads ride. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/468985 I'll be headed out early to avoid the trail crowds.

THREE: A belated thank you to everyone who I rode with on the Chesapeake Beach Ride. Great catching up with you, Max. I'll post a followup post soon. (been busy at work)

FOUR: I am thinking about scheduling the July ramble , "Charm and Grace" a ride to Havre de Grace, on the 17th. This is the same day as the BBC picnic- a blackout day. It would have to be posted only to MeetUp, the Rando Ramble and whatever facebook action NR gives it. It seems kinda rude to the BBC, but I'm not much of a fan of the black outs anyway. I'm interested in what you think about putting a ride up against the BBC picnic. Should I care?