Northeast - Where are the MD people's

Hey NR I assume you are talking about Saturday??? That is my sons last day home before he heads back to Pendleton. Doesn't mean he wants to spend it with us though:D I might be able to meet you early near BWI/B&A, ride for awhile, then head back. I know I can't make Thomas Point tomorrow. If it is early enough I should be able to squeeze a ride to Annapolis. Let me know if it is Saturday and your ETA at BWI area. Charlie


Yes, Saturday.

I will leave at 5:30am and be at the corner of Dorsey Rd and Stewart Ave in ~1 hour and 45 minutes. If you'd like, we can exchange cell phone numbers over PM.

What Charlie said! :) I won't know until later tonight whether Saturday or Sunday can be my "main" ride day this weekend, but if I can I may try to meet up with you guys at BWI.

Cool! The more the merrier!

Derath?! Barry?!

(I know GreaterBrown is working...:crash:)

Anyone else want to see me humping around 25-30 pounds of mostly useless STUFF?

I thought this was your beach weekend? Just heading down to annapolis and back? Prolly can't get down there in time. Plus I gotta finally get my coast downs done and stuff.

-D

I thought this was your beach weekend? Just heading down to annapolis and back? Prolly can't get down there in time. Plus I gotta finally get my coast downs done and stuff.

-D

No, not this weekend, since I'm going for the 4th of July. This weekend will be the last long "training" ride with a full pack weekend.

Anyone else want to see me humping around 25-30 pounds of mostly useless STUFF?

See, it's all part of my diabolical plan . . . that 25-30 pounds represents my one (slim) hope of being able to keep up with you! :lol:

I'll PM you my cell number.

Anyone else want to see me humping around 25-30 pounds of mostly useless STUFF?

At least put a six pack of beer in there:rolleyes:

I am 99% in for the ride. I do have to be somewhere in the late afternoon so I have to account for that. Just have to run it past my wife when I get home. PM sent w/ home and cell phones Charlie

At least put a six pack of beer in there:rolleyes:

I am 99% in for the ride. I do have to be somewhere in the late afternoon so I have to account for that. Just have to run it past my wife when I get home. PM sent w/ home and cell phones Charlie

Ok... phone numbers exchanged. Great!

Charlie, don't temp me--I'm sure that the DNR (trail police) wouldn't take kindly :notamused: to alcoholic beverages :beer: being consumed on park land--not that they'd catch us. :innocent:

Imagine when you tried to pop one of those suckers open after being in my pack for 22+ miles. :trainwreck: :bang: :cry: I probably wouldn't have much in my stomach resulting in :bike2: or :bike:.

Ok... phone numbers exchanged. Great!

Charlie, don't temp me--I'm sure that the DNR (trail police) wouldn't take kindly :notamused: to alcoholic beverages :beer: being consumed on park land--not that they'd catch us. :innocent:

Imagine when you tried to pop one of those suckers open after being in my pack for 22+ miles. :trainwreck: :bang: :cry: I probably wouldn't have much in my stomach resulting in :bike2: or :bike:.

where do you get all of those silly smileys.
You don't have to drink 'em. We just want you to carry them. maxine I sent you my contacts as well. Just in case our fearless leader breaks down or sleeps in. Charlie

where do you get all of those silly smileys.


From the [More] link under the smilies you can use if you edit your message using Advanced.




You don't have to drink 'em. We just want you to carry them.

Oh.h..h.h.h.h.h no. If I'm going to carry them, what better way to get rid of the "evil extra weight" then to drink it away. :beer: x 6

Well, maybe we'll just stop in Annapolis and grab one. :thumb:

From the [More] link under the smilies you can use if you edit your message using Advanced.




Oh.h..h.h.h.h.h no. If I'm going to carry them, what better way to get rid of the "evil extra weight" then to drink it away. :beer: x 6

Well, maybe we'll just stop in Annapolis and grab one. :thumb:

They really have a lot more smileys these days. I never noticed when they added so many. I am 100% in. I'll meet you at 7:15ish at Dorsey and Stewart. Is this the intersection where the BWI trail heads off to the B&A trail. Charlie

Is this the intersection where the BWI trail heads off to the B&A trail. Charlie

Yes, sir. See you then.

Okay, I'm in too! It's kind of late, so I don't want to call anyone right now; I'll send some PMs as well.

Charlie, after doing the math (the necessity of getting myself out of bed at o-dark-30 times my sloth-like pace divided by the heat and humidity squared by stuff to be done in the early evening etc. etc. :D) I've decided I'm going to drive to the Dorsey/Stewart rendezvous and meet you and Isaias there. I've never been to Thomas Point, so I'd really like to do the whole latter part of the ride, rather than have to turn around in Annapolis.

I'll be riding my titanium Airborne Carpe Diem, with a rear rack festooned with geeky reflector tape. (More tape on the forks and cranks.) I might have a Camelbak on. (Of course, it's not like the trail is going to be swamped with cyclists at 0715! I'm sure we'll spot one another without too much trouble.)

Okay, I'm in too! It's kind of late, so I don't want to call anyone right now; I'll send some PMs as well.

Charlie, after doing the math (the necessity of getting myself out of bed at o-dark-30 times my sloth-like pace divided by the heat and humidity squared by stuff to be done in the early evening etc. etc. :D) I've decided I'm going to drive to the Dorsey/Stewart rendezvous and meet you and Isaias there. I've never been to Thomas Point, so I'd really like to do the whole latter part of the ride, rather than have to turn around in Annapolis.

I'll be riding my titanium Airborne Carpe Diem, with a rear rack festooned with geeky reflector tape. (More tape on the forks and cranks.) I might have a Camelbak on. (Of course, it's not like the trail is going to be swamped with cyclists at 0715! I'm sure we'll spot one another without too much trouble.)

I'll be wearing the brightest orange shirt in the history of the world. see you tomorrow Charlie

I'm moving (to Pikesville) this weekend so I'll not be able to join you guys. Long, long day today and I just got the internet up and running. So have fun!

FWIW I road down to the Flicks on the Hill (Thursday) with two coolers + 16lbs of ice + 4 liters of refreshments + other miscellaneous snacks + deck chair + stadium chair and I was still the fastest in the group. Which was really good for my ego. So I think I'll hang on to that for a bit till I ride with noracer and watch him leave me in the dust.

Okay, I'm in too! It's kind of late, so I don't want to call anyone right now; I'll send some PMs as well.

Charlie, after doing the math (the necessity of getting myself out of bed at o-dark-30 times my sloth-like pace divided by the heat and humidity squared by stuff to be done in the early evening etc. etc. :D) I've decided I'm going to drive to the Dorsey/Stewart rendezvous and meet you and Isaias there. I've never been to Thomas Point, so I'd really like to do the whole latter part of the ride, rather than have to turn around in Annapolis.

I'll be riding my titanium Airborne Carpe Diem, with a rear rack festooned with geeky reflector tape. (More tape on the forks and cranks.) I might have a Camelbak on. (Of course, it's not like the trail is going to be swamped with cyclists at 0715! I'm sure we'll spot one another without too much trouble.)

:thumb: Yay! - I guess you all can see that I'm up already--having oatmeal and coffee.

FWIW I road down to the Flicks on the Hill (Thursday) with two coolers + 16lbs of ice + 4 liters of refreshments + other miscellaneous snacks + deck chair + stadium chair and I was still the fastest in the group. Which was really good for my ego. So I think I'll hang on to that for a bit till I ride with noracer and watch him leave me in the dust.

I don't know about that. I weighed me and the pack sans 2 x 20 oz bottles of Gatorade and I'm coming in at 182 pounds. I estimate the bike is ~20 pounds with the lights and fenders, so I'm pushing ~200 pounds. That's got to slow me down a bit don't-ya-think. :cheers:

I don't know about that. I weighed me and the pack sans 2 x 20 oz bottles of Gatorade and I'm coming in at 182 pounds. I estimate the bike is ~20 pounds with the lights and fenders, so I'm pushing ~200 pounds. That's got to slow me down a bit don't-ya-think. :cheers:

That's just depressing, considering I had to do my weight for my new ibike this week.

-D

I don't know about that. I weighed me and the pack sans 2 x 20 oz bottles of Gatorade and I'm coming in at 182 pounds. I estimate the bike is ~20 pounds with the lights and fenders, so I'm pushing ~200 pounds. That's got to slow me down a bit don't-ya-think. :cheers:

Yeah, not so much. :) I spent most of the ride watching NoRacer's humongous backpack bobbing up and down and side to side as he cranked along, frequently standing up. :eek: He and BaltoCharlie were both very gracious, periodically turning their heads to make sure I wasn't curled up into a sweaty fetal position by the side of the road.

Seriously, it was a great ride (very challenging for me, as I really was trying not to fall *too* far behind!) and overall a fun day. Lunch in Annapolis was tasty (and shady!!), Thomas Point was very pretty, egging the more-cautious NoRacer into going through the forbiddingly (but, as it turned out, only apparently) closed gate to the park ("C'mon, let's do it, I'll bail us out if we get arrested!") was a hoot, and the heat and humidity of the return trip was . . . um, character-building. :twitchy: Because I wimped out and met the guys at the airport to start, my total ride was only 54 miles.

It was really nice to meet my neighbor Charlie, and NoRacer without the winter swaddling. Thanks for having me along for the ride!

Sounds like a fun ride.

I went out this afternoon to FINALLY attempt to calibrate my new toy. Failed miserably. The wind picked up, which was bad, and my unfamiliarity with the device caused the calibration ride to get all mucked up.

So instead I just rode hard to burn off some steam. Rode to meet the rest of the family at a friend's house. Got off the bike, took off shoes and socks, and jumped in their pool. Then kicked back with a brew.

-D

Question for NoRacer. I'm heading to Stone Harbor and next WE and will do a ride found on BIKELY. It doesn't show the ride written out turn by turn - just a map. Do the rides on BIKELY show maps only? Also, read your posts about annapolis. How do you get from the B & A down to the Annapolis waterfront? Are the roads OK - we'll be on a single and a tandem with a 6 year old stoker.

Question for NoRacer. I'm heading to Stone Harbor and next WE and will do a ride found on BIKELY. It doesn't show the ride written out turn by turn - just a map. Do the rides on BIKELY show maps only? Also, read your posts about annapolis. How do you get from the B & A down to the Annapolis waterfront? Are the roads OK - we'll be on a single and a tandem with a 6 year old stoker.

Hey,

Getting into annapolis is pretty easy. Once the trail ends you will end up on Rt 450 that takes you over the Naval academy bridge (big shoulder). You have to grit your teeth a small amount as there is no shoulder. I usually turn down King George street. Once there you also have no shoulder, and Annapolis roads aren't real wide. But traffic is typically pretty slow so I have never had any issues.

And yes Bikely is just maps. I usually do an export of the ride, a little data massage and import it into my Garmin as a course.

Oh and I know you said the question was for NoRacer, but i grew up down there and still bike into Annapolis a lot with my dad.

Also, I would be interested in your setup on your tandem. My daughter is 5 and I was thinking she would like the stoker setup better than a tag a long type solution.

-D

I'm not Noracer but... If a route on Bikely does not have a cue sheet you can copy the route to your user by downloading the GPX file and then upload that as a new route under your user. You can then step through the route marking L or R turns and roads and bikely will automatically calculate the mileage and generate a cue sheet.

Not everyone is comfortable with biking the roads in Annapolis but there is enough bike traffic to make all roads to the water front area OK for bicycling.

Question for NoRacer. I'm heading to Stone Harbor and next WE and will do a ride found on BIKELY. It doesn't show the ride written out turn by turn - just a map. Do the rides on BIKELY show maps only?


The route maker has to go through the exercise of describing each turn. Once that is done, under the "Show" menu item -should- be a Cue Sheet option.



Also, read your posts about annapolis. How do you get from the B & A down to the Annapolis waterfront? Are the roads OK - we'll be on a single and a tandem with a 6 year old stoker.

At the most southern terminus of the trail, cross over the road (Bolters Way) and follow it up and around to Ritchie Hwy/Route 450 (big shoulders). Make a right on 450 and follow it across the Naval Academy Bridge. At the second traffic light (King George St), make a left and follow it all of the way, making a right at (Randall St). Follow Randall until you get to the shops and marina. It you go right, passing through the traffic circle, you'll be on Main St.

Seriously, it was a great ride (very challenging for me, as I really was trying not to fall *too* far behind!) and overall a fun day. Lunch in Annapolis was tasty (and shady!!), Thomas Point was very pretty, egging the more-cautious NoRacer into going through the forbiddingly (but, as it turned out, only apparently) closed gate to the park ("C'mon, let's do it, I'll bail us out if we get arrested!") was a hoot, and the heat and humidity of the return trip was . . . um, character-building. :twitchy: Because I wimped out and met the guys at the airport to start, my total ride was only 54 miles.


+1

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/Thomas%20Point%20Park%202008/0628080959.jpg

By the time I got back home, I found that I was 5 miles and change short of a century. I was 5 quarts low and had to get off of the bike or suffer the consequences, otherwise I would have tried to make the full century by riding around the neighborhood.

But, it was too darned hot. As both Charlie and Maxine can attest, I lose water by the buckets. It's very hard for me to keep hydrated. It was my own fault, though... I should have kept it dialed back the whole trip never letting the heart rate or wattage go above certain values.

Here's a rather blurry (I -really- need to carry my digital camera instead of using my cell phone) slideshow of the ride:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/Thomas%20Point%20Park%202008/?albumview=slideshow

Sounds like a fun ride.

I went out this afternoon to FINALLY attempt to calibrate my new toy. Failed miserably. The wind picked up, which was bad, and my unfamiliarity with the device caused the calibration ride to get all mucked up.

So instead I just rode hard to burn off some steam. Rode to meet the rest of the family at a friend's house. Got off the bike, took off shoes and socks, and jumped in their pool. Then kicked back with a brew.

-D

Until you can do the whole calibration thing, you can get away with doing a single coastdown.

Until you can do the whole calibration thing, you can get away with doing a single coastdown.

Well that is what I did. But I don't know if it was good. It seemed good. But my Watts seem high.

Thomas Point to hot? Not how I remember it.

http://www.holoski.com/gallery/d/1267-2/20070224N2048.jpg

-D

Well that is what I did. But I don't know if it was good. It seemed good. But my Watts seem high.

Thomas Point to hot? Not how I remember it.

http://www.holoski.com/gallery/d/1267-2/20070224N2048.jpg

-D


February 24th, 2007!

It was great to meet up and bike with 2 BF members yesterday, Maxine and NoRacer. It was really hot especially the last few miles when I rode on the roads. NR didn't bring any beer and he really sweats:eek: His packed weighed a lot!! More than his bike. I thought I was a sweaty mess but he has me beat. Maxine you had no problem keeping up yesterday. I sent a link w/ the trolley trail from rt1 and Levering rd to edmonson. It will dump you onto Edmondson rd w/ a bike lane. The best way to avoid the hills in Catonsville. It runs through a really nice gorge as it nears Ellicott city.
I wish I could have followed y'all down to the Point, next time. Riding really early is the only way to ride this time of the year. I am taking a break today, first day off in over 1 week.

Barry: You moved!!! Left the city for the burbs. Pikesville is county right? 16lbs of ice and 4 L....I hope you carried a few beers.
Later all Charlie

Sorry, forgot to attach
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2031149

Hey Noracer. What kind of pack do you use. If you ever want to I could let you try mine out. I had picked up Wingnut pack. They are AMAZING on the bike, as they are designed specifically for cycling. Much more comfortable IMO than a normal backpack.

-D

Hey Noracer. What kind of pack do you use. If you ever want to I could let you try mine out. I had picked up Wingnut pack. They are AMAZING on the bike, as they are designed specifically for cycling. Much more comfortable IMO than a normal backpack.

-D

-D,

I have a NorthFace pack that is orange (and black) so that it stands out a bit. It has a chest strap and waist cinch, but I didn't have the waist cinch all that tight (so I could breath better) during yesterday's ride.

It's the one shown in this pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/ivestarted.jpg

If anyone has Friday off, we are going to do another group ride out of Easton on the 4th.

Today's pace was anywhere from 19 MPH during the warmup to 33.5 MPH on the flats when they started hammering. It'll be good times.

noracer

what time did you get back? I was going to go but the wife thought I wouldbe out past 1pm, wouldn't she have been right?

noracer

what time did you get back? I was going to go but the wife thought I wouldbe out past 1pm, wouldn't she have been right?

We got to the airport at 1:30pm, so yes you would not have been back.

I covered the 95 miles in 6.5 hours (ride time), but we stopped at Annapolis and at Thomas Point Park and to get something to eat on the way back through Annapolis and later at the ranger's station on the B&A to get water. I probably got back by 3:30pm or so.

I guess its good I didn't go, she would have flipped if I got back @ 3pm, Maybe the weekend after the forth we can do a 100 miler.

I guess its good I didn't go, she would have flipped if I got back @ 3pm, Maybe the weekend after the forth we can do a 100 miler.

Sounds good to me. Plan on 7 hours.

I want to thank Charlie for the use of a Delaware bike map. It has come in very handy, as I have incorporated a few changes that will alleviate the stress of riding over the Chesapeake City bridge. Instead, I can go east just before the bridge and pick up Chesapeake City Rd to Summit Bridge Rd (Route 896) where there is a recommended bike pathway. This will take me to Route 15, Choptank Rd, which was already on the cue sheet.

Thanks again, Charlie.

Derath and NoRacer, thanks - great ride. We ended up hooking up with BBC - they were doing a ride from Marley Station Mall to Annapolis. Derath - we've had our son on an older TREK tandem (LARGE/SMALL) with a stoker kit since he turned 6 . He's might be tall enough to take the stoker kit off and use extenders but we'll probably wait until summers end to do that. He loves it. We usually ride about 30 - 40ish miles with him - he gets a bit cranky (as does his mother) beyond that.

I don't know about that. I weighed me and the pack sans 2 x 20 oz bottles of Gatorade and I'm coming in at 182 pounds. I estimate the bike is ~20 pounds with the lights and fenders, so I'm pushing ~200 pounds. That's got to slow me down a bit don't-ya-think. :cheers:

Nothing slows you down! ;)

Barry: You moved!!! Left the city for the burbs. Pikesville is county right? 16lbs of ice and 4 L....I hope you carried a few beers.
Later all Charlie
I'm 3.5 miles from my old place which puts my out in the county now. None of the people I was riding with that night wanted a beer (some people are just weired) so I was beerless that night. I had a real good time though.

I'm pre-populating this reply with some image tags. During my trip to Ocean City I'll send pics to my Photobucket account. They will start appearing on this page upon each upload.

So, watch this post for my progress:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/a.jpgHavre de Grace, MD
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/b.jpgPort Deposit, MD
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/c.jpgNorth East, MD
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/d.jpgChesapeake City, MD
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/e.jpgOdessa, DE
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/f.jpgLeipsic, DE
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/g.jpgFrederica, DE
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/h.jpgDewey Beach, DE
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/i.jpgBethany Beach, DE
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/j.jpgOcean City, MD

Sorry, forgot to attach
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2031149

Thanks, Charlie, I will be checking that out!

I want to thank Charlie for the use of a Delaware bike map. It has come in very handy, as I have incorporated a few changes that will alleviate the stress of riding over the Chesapeake City bridge. Instead, I can go east just before the bridge and pick up Chesapeake City Rd to Summit Bridge Rd (Route 896) where there is a recommended bike pathway. This will take me to Route 15, Choptank Rd, which was already on the cue sheet.

Thanks again, Charlie.

Glad to help, enjoy your trip this wknd. Charlie

Thanks, Charlie, I will be checking that out!

I went home that way last night after the train and got hammered by a huge rain storm. It was still a nice ride and I didn't need to drink any water Charlie

[QUOTE=NoRacer;6985383]
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/f.jpgLeipsic, DE


Glad to see you and the pack made it safely. I had a nice 7-4 city ride which ended in a really sketchy hood. Yesterday the yard called me to duty...7hrs!!

You home okay NoRacer?

Waiting on a trip report.

-GB

You home okay NoRacer?

Waiting on a trip report.

-GB

Working on it.

Waiting on a trip report.

-GB

Man! Where to start?

How about a summary:

Thursday: 186.5 miles @ 14.4 mph
Friday: 8.4 miles @ 14.2
Saturday: 51.9 miles @ 19.3 mph
Sunday: 173 miles @ 17 mph (one unintentional change in route and one intentional change in route)
--------------------------------
Approximately 420 miles in 4 days


Thursday
=============
Start time 5:15am.

I left Essex via Route 40 East following it all of the way to Edgewood. In Edgewood, I stopped at a McDonald's for a breakfast sandwhich and to load up with Gatorade. The Gatorade was spilt between two water bottles. Two 20 oz bottles were carried on the backpack bringing it's weight up to about 25 pounds.

The ride to Havre de Grace was uneventful until it came time to climb up Route 155. As always, and especially when weighed down with a heavy load, it's a slow grind, the starting portion of the climb is 6% (9.7% at it's steepest) for 0.6 miles, but the entire climb averages 3.7% over 1.8 miles.

Once I made it to Darlington RD, I followed it north to Rock Run Rd where I was greeted by some nice descending road surfaces all of the way into the Susquehanna State Park and Stafford Rd. Stafford Rd runs parallel to the Susquehanna River for a good while and I took Rock Run Rd to avoid the gravel section of Stafford if I were to have taken any other road east of Rock Run.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/0703080829.jpg


Stafford leads to Shuresville leads to US 1 where I cross the Susquehanna River at the Conowingo Dam. After the cross, it's a right turn to Route 222 on to a very nicely paved road surface that leads to Port Deposit.

In Port Deposit, I stop at a little mom and pop type store on Main Street for a rest break and to pick up more fuel. Minutes later I'm on my way and climbing out of Port Deposit up Bainbridge Rd which is another road with a 3.7% average grade (9.6% steep section). Once at the top, there's a right turn TRO 222 all of the way to Perryville where I rejoined Route 40 east.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/NoRacer/0703080934.jpg

I followed the bike lane on Route 40 through North East, MD and then to Elkton, MD where I stopped at a Royal Farm Store for something to eat and drink and stock up on supplies.

After having seeing a map of Newcastle County, DE I decided to take a different route across the C & D canal instead of crossing over the Chesapeake City bridge, which is my normal route over the C & D.

The ride was pretty while paralleling the canal waters, but then I started hitting changes in road direction that seemed counter-intuitive in search of Route 896, which according to the map I borrowed, showed 896 as a suggested bike route, but with a high volume of traffic. Well, maybe someday in the future, but when I reached 896, it was under construction. I had a decision to make--do I ride all of the way back to Chesapeake City and cross there or do I "d-up" and ride with the traffic passing through this construction area.

I "d'ed up" and it almost cost me the ultimate cost.

The light turns green. I turn on to Route 896. I notice that there's nowhere to go. Concrete barriers on both sides of the lane. There's no hiding and no stopping. I'm traveling as fast as I can, but there's probably about a mile of this. Cars are passing me. No problem--they're being careful. Then, a big friggen truck (I can't tell you exactly what kind it was, because at this stage I was too scared and focused to take notice) passes me a little faster than I appreciated and within 6 inches of my hands. I'm within 6 inches of the concrete barrier on the other side. Adrenalin shoots way up and I'm just staying very focused at not panicking--not getting smushed like a pancake.

The truck passes and I start breathing again. I stick my left palm out to the following traffic to signal them to stop passing me as I move out into the lane. I catch my breath for a second, then I wave the followers through as I catch quick glimpses of whether another truck was coming. I take the lane a couple more times, to try and shake off the effects of the near miss. I survive the crossing of the C & D. The construction ends.

[It wasn't until today, when I processed my ride files, that I saw the effect of this near disaster in the record. My heart rate reached 197 BPM. Usually, I can only hit 197 BPM when running a hard 5K running race! I've never seen that number on a bicycle.]

I was a little bit disoriented after this, so I continued to follow Rt 896 until I came across something familiar--like DE Rt 13 Dupont Hwy. I knew that if I followed 13 long enough it would take me to Odessa, DE where I would pick up Rt 299 followed by Rt 9. Rt 9 leads to RT 1 Coastal Hwy and ultimately to OCMD.

I stopped in Odessa to take a break at their volunteer fire department building.

The breaks started coming more often--I stopped in Leipsic DE, outside the gates of the air museum east of Dover, Air Force Base, once at a Volero gas station for more Gatorade and water and lastly at a McDonalds in OC for a Big Mac.

I checked into my hotel at about 9pm or so, showered and went to bed.


Friday
======
Rested much of the day. I didn't want to be out in the sun (Duh! Then why did you go to the beach?) But, hunger forced me to go hunting for food and drink, so I rode to the southern end of the boardwalk, locked the bike, walked to Burger King and got two breakfast sandwhiches and an orange juice. I returned to where I could keep an eye on my bike, ate, and people-watched.

After eating, I strolled up and down the boardwalk for a while, had enough, and biked back to my hotel room.

Later in the day, I picked up supplies for Saturday's ride with Mark Mueller (Team BBC teammate visiting OCMD) and Gloria "G" Shoemaker (local woman CAT 4 racer) after calling them and confirming plans.

When evening came, I ordered room service (Hah!)... I mean I called for a pizza to be delivered from Pizza Hut. After having half of it along with some cinnamon bread sticks and drinking a gallon of water, I hit the sack--no fireworks for this kid. Besides, a really nice t-storm came rolling through the area at the time the fireworks should have been that probably made my decision to stay in worth it.


Saturday
========
Spoke to "G" about the ride planned for 9am. We decided that we'd probably be ok regarding the rain. At 8am, I headed out to a 7-11 to get some food in my stomach and then continued to Mark Mueller's place to meet him. He and I met "G" at a candy shop on Fenwick Island. We waited for a while for her friend Lolo, but she didn't show up, so we decided to go. Dewey Beach, here we come.

There was a little bit of a tailwind on the way out, but I wanted to stay conservative since I would be leaving tomorrow morning for B'more. We were holding 22 MPH for much of the ride, until "G" pushed it up to 25 MPH on her "pull". So, we (Mark & I) reset to that pace.

Reaching Dewey Beach, we stopped for coffee and munchies at a really nice coffee shop, then we headed back.

Expecting a headwind on the way back, we fould it not too bad and pushed the pace back up to around 24 MPH. My slower riding to Mark's place and back to my room netted a 19.3 mph average for the ride--a little harder than I wanted to do over 51.9 miles of riding.

I stayed in the rest of the day, resting; finished off the pizza for dinner; went to bed.


Sunday
======
Short and sweet--waited for a t-storm to clear the area. I didn't check out until about 6am. I rode to Mark's place and dropped off my backpack so that I wouldn't have to carry a bunch of non-essentials. THANK YOU MARK!!!!!! I opt'ed to carry a smaller bag on my back containing a spare tire, tools, spare head light (L&M ARC HID and it's big heavy battery), spare batteries for the other lights, and my rain coat.

I lollygagged a bit at a Volero gas station on the way into DE to decide how I was going to handle hydration and I picked up food to bring along on the ride, something I couldn't do with the backpack, because there simply was no more room.

The ride went great. Got caught in the rain a few times, but just put on the cycling cap and rain coat and all was well.

Made good time--tailwind I guess. I was averaging nearly 18 MPH back up the coast. It wasn't until I stopped in Elkton for a meal that I slowed down, some of which was from no more tailwind and also from the difference in road surfaces. As shown above, I still averaged 17 MPH for the trip back.

Unintentional reroute--missed a turn north of Leipsic. Wound up in Smyrna.

Intentional reroute through North East, Rising Sun, across the Conowingo, Belair, Rt 152 Mountain Rd, Route 40, home.

It was fun. I won't do it again any time soon.


--
Isaias

NoRacer, I'm glad to hear you made it back safe and sound -- that C&D crossing sounds like it was a real nightmare! :eek:

NoRacer, I'm glad to hear you made it back safe and sound -- that C&D crossing sounds like it was a real nightmare! :eek:

It was. I'm still thinking about it today.

I'll not go into a road construction area like that again, that's for sure.